VILLERS-LE-CHÂTEAU CHURCHYARD
Marne
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 48.95952, Longitude: 4.26972
Image above © Johan Pauwels
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.
Images in gallery below © Johan Pauwels
416041 Warrant Officer
Ronald Howard Boyd
Royal Australian Air Force
4th May 1944, aged 32.
Son of Edward James Boyd and Ada Louisa Boyd; husband of Esma Madge Boyd, of Hackney, South Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "Dearly Loved And Sadly Missed By His Wife Madge, Of Adelaide"
Ronald Howard Boyd
Royal Australian Air Force
4th May 1944, aged 32.
Son of Edward James Boyd and Ada Louisa Boyd; husband of Esma Madge Boyd, of Hackney, South Australia.
His headstone bears the 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
4th May 1944, aged 32.
Son of Patrick A. Casey and Matilda Casey; husband of Dora Casey, of Pembroke. Ontario, Canada.
George Francis Casey
Air Gunner in 103 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
4th May 1944, aged 32.
Son of Patrick A. Casey and 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
4th May 1944, aged 23.
Son of Herbert Victor and Beryl Florence Dane, of Belvedere, Kent. His brother, Gerald Herbert, also died on service and is buried in Haasrode Churchyard in Belgium.
His headstone bears the inscription "Brother Of Pilot Officer G. H. Dane. Buried At Haesrode, Near Lovain, Belgium"
Eric John Dane
Navigator in 103 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
4th May 1944, aged 23.
Son of Herbert Victor and Beryl Florence Dane, of Belvedere, Kent. His brother, Gerald Herbert, also died on service and is buried in Haasrode Churchyard in Belgium.
His headstone bears the inscription "Brother Of Pilot Officer G. H. Dane. Buried At Haesrode, Near Lovain, Belgium"
1430823 Sergeant
Dennis Allen Hadden
Flight Engineer in 103 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
4th May 1944, aged 22.
Son of William Thomas Henry and Blanche Ellen Hadden, of Abbey Wood London.
His headstone bears the inscription "He Died That We Might Live"
Dennis Allen Hadden
Flight Engineer in 103 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
4th May 1944, aged 22.
Son of William Thomas Henry and Blanche Ellen Hadden, of Abbey Wood London.
His headstone bears the inscription "He Died That We Might Live"
Original Marker
R/208112 Sergeant
Jack Raymond Rankin
Air Gunner in 103 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
4th May 1944.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. George Rankin of 103 Glen Road. Westdale.
Jack Raymond Rankin
Air Gunner in 103 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
4th May 1944.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. George Rankin of 103 Glen Road. Westdale.
645575 Warrant Officer
John Coates Smith
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in 103 Squadron, Royal Air Force
4th May 1944, aged 23.
Son of Henry Thompson Smith and Hannah Jane Smith. of Stamford Bridge, Yorkshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Loving Memory Of John, Our Youngest Son. He Gave His Life For His Loved Ones"
John Coates Smith
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner in 103 Squadron, Royal Air Force
4th May 1944, aged 23.
Son of Henry Thompson Smith and Hannah Jane Smith. of Stamford Bridge, Yorkshire.
His headstone bears the 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
4th May 1944, aged 32.
Son of George and Jessie Swanston; husband of Edith Swanston, of Little Testwood, Hampshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Proud And Loving Memory Of "Jock" Dearly Loved Husband Of Edith"
Harold (Jock) Swanston
Pilot in 103 Squadron, 103 Squadron, Royal Air Force
4th May 1944, aged 32.
Son of George and Jessie Swanston; husband of Edith Swanston, of Little Testwood, Hampshire.
His headstone bears the inscription "In Proud And Loving Memory Of "Jock" Dearly Loved Husband Of Edith"
