VILLERS-LE-CHÂTEAU CHURCHYARD
Marne
France
Location Information
Villers-le-Château is a village and commune 8 kilometres west of Châlons-en-Champagne. In the churchyard, in the left-hand corner from the main entrance, are the graves of four British, two Canadian and one Australian airmen.
Flight Details:
R.A.F. Base: Elsham Wolds, Lincolnshire
Unit: 103 Sqdn. Bomber Command
Aircraft: Lancaster Mk III, serial ND905
Target: German Installations, Mailly-le-Camp (Aube)
Incident: The aircraft crashed at Villers-le-Château. There were no survivors.
Burial Details
416041 Warrant Officer Ronald Howard Boyd, Royal Australian Air Force, died 4th May 1944, aged 32. Son of Edward James Boyd and Ada Louisa Boyd; husband of Esma Madge Boyd, of Hackney, South Australia. INSCRIPTION. DEARLY LOVED AND SADLY MISSED BY HIS WIFE MADGE, OF ADELAIDE.
R/204074 Sergeant George Francis Casey, Air Gunner in 103 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, died 4th May 1944, aged 32. Matilda Casey; husband of Dora Casey, of Pembroke. Ontario, Canada.
144340 Flying Officer Eric John Dane, Navigator in 103 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve ,died 4th May 1944, aged 23. Son of Herbert Victor and Beryl Florence Dane, of Belvedere, Kent. His brother, Gerald Herbert, also died on service. INSCRIPTION. BROTHER OF PILOT OFFICER G. H. DANE. BURIED AT HAESRODE NEAR LOUVAIN, BELGIUM.
1430823 Sergeant Dennis Allen Hadden, Flight Engineer in 103 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 4th May 1944, aged 22. Son of William Thomas Henry and Blanche Ellen Hadden, of Abbey Wood, London. INSCRIPTION. HE DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE.
R/208112 Sergeant Jack Raymond Rankin, Air Gunner in 103 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, died 4th May 1944.
645575 Warrant Officer John Coates Smith, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in 103 Squadron, Royal Air Force, died 4th May 1944, aged 23. Son of Henry Thompson Smith and Hannah Jane Smith. of Stamford Bridge, Yorkshire. INSCRIPTION. IN LOVING MEMORY OF JOHN, OUR YOUNGEST SON. HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR HIS LOVED ONES.
70659 Squadron Leader Harold (Jock) Swanston, Pilot in 103 Squadron, 103 Squadron, Royal Air Force, died 4th May 1944, aged 32. Son of George and Jessie Swanston; husband of Edith Swanston, of Little Testwood, Hampshire.
Pictures © Barry Cuttell
Villers-le-Château is a village and commune 8 kilometres west of Châlons-en-Champagne. In the churchyard, in the left-hand corner from the main entrance, are the graves of four British, two Canadian and one Australian airmen.
Flight Details:
R.A.F. Base: Elsham Wolds, Lincolnshire
Unit: 103 Sqdn. Bomber Command
Aircraft: Lancaster Mk III, serial ND905
Target: German Installations, Mailly-le-Camp (Aube)
Incident: The aircraft crashed at Villers-le-Château. There were no survivors.
Burial Details
416041 Warrant Officer Ronald Howard Boyd, Royal Australian Air Force, died 4th May 1944, aged 32. Son of Edward James Boyd and Ada Louisa Boyd; husband of Esma Madge Boyd, of Hackney, South Australia. INSCRIPTION. DEARLY LOVED AND SADLY MISSED BY HIS WIFE MADGE, OF ADELAIDE.
R/204074 Sergeant George Francis Casey, Air Gunner in 103 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, died 4th May 1944, aged 32. Matilda Casey; husband of Dora Casey, of Pembroke. Ontario, Canada.
144340 Flying Officer Eric John Dane, Navigator in 103 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve ,died 4th May 1944, aged 23. Son of Herbert Victor and Beryl Florence Dane, of Belvedere, Kent. His brother, Gerald Herbert, also died on service. INSCRIPTION. BROTHER OF PILOT OFFICER G. H. DANE. BURIED AT HAESRODE NEAR LOUVAIN, BELGIUM.
1430823 Sergeant Dennis Allen Hadden, Flight Engineer in 103 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 4th May 1944, aged 22. Son of William Thomas Henry and Blanche Ellen Hadden, of Abbey Wood, London. INSCRIPTION. HE DIED THAT WE MIGHT LIVE.
R/208112 Sergeant Jack Raymond Rankin, Air Gunner in 103 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, died 4th May 1944.
645575 Warrant Officer John Coates Smith, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in 103 Squadron, Royal Air Force, died 4th May 1944, aged 23. Son of Henry Thompson Smith and Hannah Jane Smith. of Stamford Bridge, Yorkshire. INSCRIPTION. IN LOVING MEMORY OF JOHN, OUR YOUNGEST SON. HE GAVE HIS LIFE FOR HIS LOVED ONES.
70659 Squadron Leader Harold (Jock) Swanston, Pilot in 103 Squadron, 103 Squadron, Royal Air Force, died 4th May 1944, aged 32. Son of George and Jessie Swanston; husband of Edith Swanston, of Little Testwood, Hampshire.
Pictures © Barry Cuttell
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