STE. MARIE-DE-RÉ COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Île-de-Ré
Charente-Maritime
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 46.1485, Longitude: -1.31074
Location Information
Ste. Marie is a village near the most south-eastern point of the Île de Ré, an island in the Bay of Biscay. The island is reached by a short ferry crossing from La Pallice, the twin port of La Rochelle. The cemetery is close to the church, and towards the right from the entrance are the war graves.
History Information
There are 7 Commonwealth burials of the 1939-1945 war here, 1 of which is unidentified.
World War Two Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 6.
Ste. Marie is a village near the most south-eastern point of the Île de Ré, an island in the Bay of Biscay. The island is reached by a short ferry crossing from La Pallice, the twin port of La Rochelle. The cemetery is close to the church, and towards the right from the entrance are the war graves.
History Information
There are 7 Commonwealth burials of the 1939-1945 war here, 1 of which is unidentified.
World War Two Identified Casualties: United Kingdom 6.
Images in this gallery © Jean-Claude Graux
1189810 Sergeant
Cyril George Parr
115 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
16th October 1942, aged 29.
Son of George Thomas Parr and Eveline Parr; husband of Gwyneth M. Parr, of Gravesend, Kent.
His headstone bears the inscription "At The Going Down Of The Sun And In The Morning We Will Remember Him"
Cyril was born on 8 June 1913 in St Thomas, Devon. He was the only child of George Thomas Parr and Evelyn Josh (nee Wills).
He married Gwyneth May Allen 5 September 1939 at Christchurch, Gravesend and they lived at 21 Thomas Drive, Gravesend. Their daughter, Averil Ann Parr was born 27 June 1940.
In January 1939 Cyril volunteered as a Special Constable in the Gravesend War Reserve Police.
A year later, in January 1940, Cyril enlisted in the RAFVR and qualified as a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner. He later joined 115 Squadron in September 1942, along with the crew he had trained with, and they were based at RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk.
During October, Cyril flew six sorties with his regular crew
Sergeant (Pilot) Douglas Huntly Gordon (413408)
Sergeant (Navigator) David Buchanan (1375544)
Sergeant (Air Bomber) Cyril Robert Stoward (1290986)
Sergeant (Wireless Operator) Cyril George Parr (1189810)
Sergeant (Rear Gunner) Edwin Thomas Port (655703)
On the evening of 16 October 1942, 115 Squadron conducted a minelaying operation off the western coast of France. Wellington III X3946 KO-Q took off at 1800 on their seventh sortie, along with 11 other aircraft they were carrying 22 1500lb Mines and 18 500lb general purpose bombs.
Their aircraft was one of two that failed to return and was lost in the target area, crashing into the sea with the loss of all of the crew.
Cyril’s body was washed ashore along with Sgt David Buchanan and they were buried in a joint grave (no.5) at Sainte-Marie-de-Ré Communal Cemetery, Île de Ré in January 1943.
Images and biography courtesy of Andrew Marshall
Cyril George Parr
115 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
16th October 1942, aged 29.
Son of George Thomas Parr and Eveline Parr; husband of Gwyneth M. Parr, of Gravesend, Kent.
His headstone bears the inscription "At The Going Down Of The Sun And In The Morning We Will Remember Him"
Cyril was born on 8 June 1913 in St Thomas, Devon. He was the only child of George Thomas Parr and Evelyn Josh (nee Wills).
He married Gwyneth May Allen 5 September 1939 at Christchurch, Gravesend and they lived at 21 Thomas Drive, Gravesend. Their daughter, Averil Ann Parr was born 27 June 1940.
In January 1939 Cyril volunteered as a Special Constable in the Gravesend War Reserve Police.
A year later, in January 1940, Cyril enlisted in the RAFVR and qualified as a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner. He later joined 115 Squadron in September 1942, along with the crew he had trained with, and they were based at RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk.
During October, Cyril flew six sorties with his regular crew
Sergeant (Pilot) Douglas Huntly Gordon (413408)
Sergeant (Navigator) David Buchanan (1375544)
Sergeant (Air Bomber) Cyril Robert Stoward (1290986)
Sergeant (Wireless Operator) Cyril George Parr (1189810)
Sergeant (Rear Gunner) Edwin Thomas Port (655703)
On the evening of 16 October 1942, 115 Squadron conducted a minelaying operation off the western coast of France. Wellington III X3946 KO-Q took off at 1800 on their seventh sortie, along with 11 other aircraft they were carrying 22 1500lb Mines and 18 500lb general purpose bombs.
Their aircraft was one of two that failed to return and was lost in the target area, crashing into the sea with the loss of all of the crew.
Cyril’s body was washed ashore along with Sgt David Buchanan and they were buried in a joint grave (no.5) at Sainte-Marie-de-Ré Communal Cemetery, Île de Ré in January 1943.
Images and biography courtesy of Andrew Marshall
Other Burial Details:
2976833 Serjeant John Blain, 6th Bn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, died 17th June 1940.
1375544 Sergeant David Buchanan, 115 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 16th October 1942.
T/33717 Sergeant Leonard William Dyas, Royal Army Service Corps, died 17th June 1940, aged 33. Son of William Francis and Edith Annie Elliott Dyas, of Aldershot, Hampshire.
101732 Private William Sullivan, Aux. Mil. Pioneer Corps, died 17th June 1940, aged 36. Son of William and Esther Sullivan, husband of Mary Ellen Sullivan, of Manningham, Bradford, Yorkshire. His headstone bears the inscription "We Will Always Remember You Although You Lie In A Foreign Grave"
7624405 Private Cyril George Worrall, 2 Ordnance Workshop Company, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, died 16th June 1940 and 14 July 1940, aged 23. Son of Meshak and Mary Elizabeth Worrall, of Stanley, Derbyshire.
2976833 Serjeant John Blain, 6th Bn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, died 17th June 1940.
1375544 Sergeant David Buchanan, 115 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 16th October 1942.
T/33717 Sergeant Leonard William Dyas, Royal Army Service Corps, died 17th June 1940, aged 33. Son of William Francis and Edith Annie Elliott Dyas, of Aldershot, Hampshire.
101732 Private William Sullivan, Aux. Mil. Pioneer Corps, died 17th June 1940, aged 36. Son of William and Esther Sullivan, husband of Mary Ellen Sullivan, of Manningham, Bradford, Yorkshire. His headstone bears the inscription "We Will Always Remember You Although You Lie In A Foreign Grave"
7624405 Private Cyril George Worrall, 2 Ordnance Workshop Company, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, died 16th June 1940 and 14 July 1940, aged 23. Son of Meshak and Mary Elizabeth Worrall, of Stanley, Derbyshire.
S. S. Lancastria |
Wellington Bomber |
