RANVILLE WAR CEMETERY
Calvados
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 49.23113, Longitude: -0.25776
Image above © Carl Liversage @carl_liversage
Location Information
Ranville is best reached by taking the D513 north-eastwards out of Caen, and after about 9 kilometres turning left at Herouvillette. Go north for one kilometre and then turn left into Ranville village. The War Cemetery is on Rue des Airbornes.
Historical Information
The Allied offensive in north-western Europe began with the Normandy landings of 6 June 1944.
Ranville was the first village to be liberated in France when the bridge over the Caen Canal was captured intact in the early hours of 6 June by troops of the 6th Airborne Division, who were landed nearby by parachute and glider. Many of the division's casualties are buried in Ranville War Cemetery and the adjoining churchyard
The CEMETERY contains 2,236 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, 90 of them unidentified. There are also 323 German graves and a few burials of other nationalities.
Total Burials: 2,566.
World War Two Commonwealth Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 2,059, Canada 76, New Zealand 3, Australia 2, . Total 2,140.
German World War Two Casualties: 323.
The CHURCHYARD contains 47 Commonwealth burials, one of which is unidentified, and one German grave.
Total Burials: 48.
Ranville is best reached by taking the D513 north-eastwards out of Caen, and after about 9 kilometres turning left at Herouvillette. Go north for one kilometre and then turn left into Ranville village. The War Cemetery is on Rue des Airbornes.
Historical Information
The Allied offensive in north-western Europe began with the Normandy landings of 6 June 1944.
Ranville was the first village to be liberated in France when the bridge over the Caen Canal was captured intact in the early hours of 6 June by troops of the 6th Airborne Division, who were landed nearby by parachute and glider. Many of the division's casualties are buried in Ranville War Cemetery and the adjoining churchyard
The CEMETERY contains 2,236 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, 90 of them unidentified. There are also 323 German graves and a few burials of other nationalities.
Total Burials: 2,566.
World War Two Commonwealth Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 2,059, Canada 76, New Zealand 3, Australia 2, . Total 2,140.
German World War Two Casualties: 323.
The CHURCHYARD contains 47 Commonwealth burials, one of which is unidentified, and one German grave.
Total Burials: 48.
Cemetery images in gallery below © Werner Van Caneghem
229197 Lieutenant
Douglas Forsyth Alexander
Staffordshire Yeomanry, Royal Armoured Corps
6th June 1944, aged 23.
Plot II. F. 19.
Son of James and Mary Forsyth Alexander, of Bearsden, Dunbartonshire.
Douglas Forsyth Alexander
Staffordshire Yeomanry, Royal Armoured Corps
6th June 1944, aged 23.
Plot II. F. 19.
Son of James and Mary Forsyth Alexander, of Bearsden, Dunbartonshire.
4446823 Lance Sergeant
Angus Armstrong
12th Bn. Parachute Regiment, (10th Bn. The Green Howards)
12th June 1944, aged 34.
Plot IVA. D. 11.
Son of Archibald and Eleanor Armstrong of Humbledon, Sunderland, Co Durham, husband of Beatrice Helena Armstrong and father of Angus Armstrong Jr.
His headstone bears the inscription "Tender Love, Deep Regret We Who Loved You Never Forget"
TENDER LOVE, DEEP REGRET WE WHO LOVED YOU NEVER FORGET
He enlisted with the 1st Battalion Green Howards when he was 18 in 1928 and served with them overseas in Shanghai and India. He was a boilermaker in Sunderland shipyards when war broke out and was posted to 10th Battalion Green Howards which was later converted into the 12th Battalion Parachute Regiment in 1943. His final training jump report listed him as "a good all round performer". He was a member of the boxing team and the beloved younger brother of my grandfather Bill Armstrong.
Picture courtesy of Helen Ingham, great niece of this soldier
2765093 Private
William Henry Bibby
1st Bn. Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
21st June 1944, aged 33.
Plot II. E. 16.
William Henry Bibby
1st Bn. Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)
21st June 1944, aged 33.
Plot II. E. 16.
5044858 Sergeant
George Stanley Cook
6th Bn. North Staffordshire Regiment
9th July 1944, aged 37.
Plot III. D. 24.
Son of Charles and Annie Cook; husband of Eliza Cook, of Newcastle, Staffordshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "And I Give Unto Them Eternal Life" St. John X28."
Enlisted on 18th August 1926. His trade on enlistment was a miner and he was Church of England. His height on enlistment was 5 ft 9 1/2 ins, Weight 118 lbs, Chest 34 ins, Complexion Dark, Eyes Blue, Hair Black.
He was killed in action 9th July 1944. He was blown up by a land mine whilst riding a motorcycle along with Sergeant Major Baskyfield/ Baskyville.
On his death he left behind a wife, Eliza Cook and two young children myself aged 9 and my sister Ethel Cook aged 7. He also had two brothers who were also killed in action, Geoff/Jeff Cook killed at Dunkirk, the second brother was killed on the borders of Germany, in a forest, I am unsure of his name, it may of been Ian Cook. I would be very grateful for any information from anyone about my family. I have enclosed a photograph of my father as it was in his soldiers service and pay book, army book 64.
If anyone has information they would like to pass on to Ivan, please Contact Us and we will pass it on.
Image courtesy of Sergeant Cook's son, Ivan Cook
George Stanley Cook
6th Bn. North Staffordshire Regiment
9th July 1944, aged 37.
Plot III. D. 24.
Son of Charles and Annie Cook; husband of Eliza Cook, of Newcastle, Staffordshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "And I Give Unto Them Eternal Life" St. John X28."
Enlisted on 18th August 1926. His trade on enlistment was a miner and he was Church of England. His height on enlistment was 5 ft 9 1/2 ins, Weight 118 lbs, Chest 34 ins, Complexion Dark, Eyes Blue, Hair Black.
He was killed in action 9th July 1944. He was blown up by a land mine whilst riding a motorcycle along with Sergeant Major Baskyfield/ Baskyville.
On his death he left behind a wife, Eliza Cook and two young children myself aged 9 and my sister Ethel Cook aged 7. He also had two brothers who were also killed in action, Geoff/Jeff Cook killed at Dunkirk, the second brother was killed on the borders of Germany, in a forest, I am unsure of his name, it may of been Ian Cook. I would be very grateful for any information from anyone about my family. I have enclosed a photograph of my father as it was in his soldiers service and pay book, army book 64.
If anyone has information they would like to pass on to Ivan, please Contact Us and we will pass it on.
Image courtesy of Sergeant Cook's son, Ivan Cook
14410713 Private
Emile Servais Corteil
9th Bn. The Parachute Regiment, A. A. C
6th June 1944, aged 19.
Plot IA. G. 13.
Son of Servais Corteil, and of Jessie Amelia Corteil, of Watford, Hertfordshire. His Paratroop dog 'Glen' died at his side and is buried with him.
His headstone bears the inscription Had You Known Our Boy You Would Have Loved Him Too "Glen" His Paratroop Dog Was Killed With Him
Emile Servais Corteil
9th Bn. The Parachute Regiment, A. A. C
6th June 1944, aged 19.
Plot IA. G. 13.
Son of Servais Corteil, and of Jessie Amelia Corteil, of Watford, Hertfordshire. His Paratroop dog 'Glen' died at his side and is buried with him.
His headstone bears the inscription Had You Known Our Boy You Would Have Loved Him Too "Glen" His Paratroop Dog Was Killed With Him
Picture © Johan Pauwels.
14000028 Private
Edward Charles Fisher
Parachute Regiment, A. A. C. 12th Bn. Yorkshire Regiment (The Green Howards)
12th June 1944, aged 20
Plot IV A. O. 17.
Picture shows Edward Fisher in the uniform of The Black Watch, his regiment before volunteering for the Parachute Regiment
Son of Charles Mortimer Fisher and Daisy Fisher, of Walthamstow, Essex.
His headstone bears the inscription "Brave Heart, Sleep On; Your Course Is Run. A Father Mourns His Only Son"
Pictures courtesy of Malcolm Ford, Edward Fisher's Nephew
Joseph Philippe Rousseau and Joseph Maurice Rousseau
|
Lieutenant
Joseph Philippe Rousseau 1st Canadian Parachute Bn. R. C. I. C. 7th June 1944, aged 23. Plot V. A. G. 8. Son of J. M. A. L. and Gabrielle Fafard Rousseau, of Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada. His headstone bears the inscription "Ses Vingt Ans Sont Tombés Sur Le Sol Immortel D'Ou Jaillirent Ses Aieux" |
Lieutenant
Joseph Maurice Rousseau 1st Canadian Parachute Bn. R. C. I. C. attached to Special Air Service, A. A. C. 20th September 1944. Plot V. A. G. 7. Son of J. M. A. L. and Gabrielle Fafard Rousseau, of Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada; husband of Agnes Hornby Rousseau, of Montreal. His headstone bears the inscription "Né A Montreal, Canada. Epoux D,Agnes Hornby. Mort A. Igney, Meurthe-et-Moselle" |
933870 Gunner
William Rodwell Thornber
113 Bty., 33 Field Regt., Royal Artillery
18th June 1944, aged 26.
Plot I. F. 25.
Son of William and Sarah Thornber; husband of Ivy Irene Thornber, of Burnley, Lancashire.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Loving Memory Of My Darling Husband Bill Always Remembered. Wife Ivy"
William Rodwell Thornber
113 Bty., 33 Field Regt., Royal Artillery
18th June 1944, aged 26.
Plot I. F. 25.
Son of William and Sarah Thornber; husband of Ivy Irene Thornber, of Burnley, Lancashire.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Loving Memory Of My Darling Husband Bill Always Remembered. Wife Ivy"
