ROYAN ROMAN CATHOLIC CEMETERY
Charente-Maritime
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 45.62933, Longitude: -1.02409
Location Information
Royan is a seaside resort at the mouth of the Girande about 118 kilometres from Bordeaux. The Roman Catholic Cemetery is on the north side of the town about 500 metres north-west of the railway station and the same distance north-east of the Town Hall. There are 7 Commonwealth burials of the 1939-1945 war here, 1 of which is unidentified, 45 metres immediately behind the caretaker's hour, in Plot K.
Identified Casualties: Australia 3, United Kingdom 3. Total 6.
Unidentified Casualty: 1.
Royan is a seaside resort at the mouth of the Girande about 118 kilometres from Bordeaux. The Roman Catholic Cemetery is on the north side of the town about 500 metres north-west of the railway station and the same distance north-east of the Town Hall. There are 7 Commonwealth burials of the 1939-1945 war here, 1 of which is unidentified, 45 metres immediately behind the caretaker's hour, in Plot K.
Identified Casualties: Australia 3, United Kingdom 3. Total 6.
Unidentified Casualty: 1.
Images in this gallery © Jean-Claude Graux
The Cargo ship Magdenburg off the Royan, France on 13th August 1944, smothered in smoke during an attack from rocket and cannon firing beaufighter aircraft or R. A. F. coastal command. Reconnaissance on the following day showed one ship sunk and the other still burning.
638850 Flight Sergeant
Leonard Copley
214 Squadron, Royal Air Force
11th April 1943, aged 23.
Plot K. 3. 2.
Son of John William and Ada Copley; husband of Dorothy Copley, of Stanley, Yorkshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "Beautiful Memories Of A Smiling Face, A Broken Link I Can Never Replace"
Leonard Copley
214 Squadron, Royal Air Force
11th April 1943, aged 23.
Plot K. 3. 2.
Son of John William and Ada Copley; husband of Dorothy Copley, of Stanley, Yorkshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "Beautiful Memories Of A Smiling Face, A Broken Link I Can Never Replace"
Other Burial Details
425630 Flight Sergeant Charles Leslie Fincham, Royal Australian Air Force, died 5th January 1945, aged 23. Son of Charles and Selina Mary Fincham; husband of Marie Robertson Fincham, of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. His headstone bears the inscription "Like Our Saviour He Died For Us That We Might Live. God's Will Be Done"
2218746 Sergeant Ernest Albert Freeman, 463 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 5th January 1945, aged 21. Son of Ernest Albert and Ada Freeman, of Fulwell, Sunderland, Co. Durham. His headstone bears the inscription "Remembered Always By His Loving Mother"
418292 Flying Officer Jack Milne, Royal Australian Air Force, died 5th January 1945, aged 22. Son of William Henry and Amy Eliza Jane Milne, of Dandenong, Victoria, Australia. His headstone bears the inscription "Ever Remembered"
424635 Flight Sergeant John Francis Prince, Royal Australian Air Force, died 5th January 1945, aged 20. Son of William Henry John and Kathleen Adeline Prince, of Hamilton, New South Wales, Australia. His headstone bears the inscription "Our Love And Thoughts Hallow This Place For Ever. Father And Mother"
1330321 Sergeant Joseph Byrne Woods, 214 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 11th April 1943, aged 21.
Son of Thomas Henry and Katie Woods, of Wimbledon, Surrey. His headstone bears the inscription "To Live In Hearts We Leave Behind Is Not To Die R. I. P. "
425630 Flight Sergeant Charles Leslie Fincham, Royal Australian Air Force, died 5th January 1945, aged 23. Son of Charles and Selina Mary Fincham; husband of Marie Robertson Fincham, of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. His headstone bears the inscription "Like Our Saviour He Died For Us That We Might Live. God's Will Be Done"
2218746 Sergeant Ernest Albert Freeman, 463 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 5th January 1945, aged 21. Son of Ernest Albert and Ada Freeman, of Fulwell, Sunderland, Co. Durham. His headstone bears the inscription "Remembered Always By His Loving Mother"
418292 Flying Officer Jack Milne, Royal Australian Air Force, died 5th January 1945, aged 22. Son of William Henry and Amy Eliza Jane Milne, of Dandenong, Victoria, Australia. His headstone bears the inscription "Ever Remembered"
424635 Flight Sergeant John Francis Prince, Royal Australian Air Force, died 5th January 1945, aged 20. Son of William Henry John and Kathleen Adeline Prince, of Hamilton, New South Wales, Australia. His headstone bears the inscription "Our Love And Thoughts Hallow This Place For Ever. Father And Mother"
1330321 Sergeant Joseph Byrne Woods, 214 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 11th April 1943, aged 21.
Son of Thomas Henry and Katie Woods, of Wimbledon, Surrey. His headstone bears the inscription "To Live In Hearts We Leave Behind Is Not To Die R. I. P. "
Off Royan, France. Circa January 1945, an attack by Beaufighter aircraft of RAF Coastal Command with cannon and rockets on Sperrbrecher. The ship subsequently sank.
