VOID COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Meuse
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 48.69181, Longitude: 5.62343
Image above © Thierry Grier
Location Information
Void is a village and commune 40 kilometres by road east of Bar-le-Duc, at the crossing of the Paris-Nancy road and the Verdun-Cantrexeville road. The Communal Cemetery is on the northern side of the village. On the right hand side of the path which leads from the cemetery entrance to the chapel are the graves of 5 airmen who belonged to the Royal Air Force.
Images in gallery below © Thierry Grier
Based in Oakington, Cambridge, The eight crew members were flying in a Sterling I (serial number BF358), which was shot down by a night fighter at Void-Vacon 12 miles west of Toul during a raid on Munich. Four crew members are buried here and the other four Airmen are Commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial in Surrey.
137567 Pilot Officer
Alwyne Clarendon Redfern Laundon
Air Gunner in 7 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 21st December 1942, aged 25.
Son of J. H. R. Laundon and Winifred L. Laundon, of Hove, Sussex.
His headstone bears the inscription "Per Ardua Ad Astra"
Alwyne Clarendon Redfern Laundon
Air Gunner in 7 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 21st December 1942, aged 25.
Son of J. H. R. Laundon and Winifred L. Laundon, of Hove, Sussex.
His headstone bears the inscription "Per Ardua Ad Astra"
Other Airmen's Details
1298071 Sergeant Henry William Frost, Flight Engineer in 7 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 21st December 1942, aged 21. Son of Henry W. Frost and Elizabeth A. Frost, of Custom House, Essex. His headstone bears the inscription "In Loving Memory Of My Beloved Only Son Who Gave His Life That Others Might Live" Mum
1347529 Sergeant Patrick Joseph Gillan, Air Gunner in 7 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 21st December 1942, aged 25. Son of Patrick and Margaret T. Gillan, of Antrim, Northern Ireland. His headstone bears the inscription "Per Ardua Ad Astra"
1031421 Sergeant Arthur Staff, Navigator in 7 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 21st December 1942.
Son of Jane Staff, of Murton Colliery, Co. Durham; husband of M. Staff, of Murton Colliery. His headstone bears the inscription "Per Ardua Ad Astra"
1298071 Sergeant Henry William Frost, Flight Engineer in 7 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 21st December 1942, aged 21. Son of Henry W. Frost and Elizabeth A. Frost, of Custom House, Essex. His headstone bears the inscription "In Loving Memory Of My Beloved Only Son Who Gave His Life That Others Might Live" Mum
1347529 Sergeant Patrick Joseph Gillan, Air Gunner in 7 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 21st December 1942, aged 25. Son of Patrick and Margaret T. Gillan, of Antrim, Northern Ireland. His headstone bears the inscription "Per Ardua Ad Astra"
1031421 Sergeant Arthur Staff, Navigator in 7 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 21st December 1942.
Son of Jane Staff, of Murton Colliery, Co. Durham; husband of M. Staff, of Murton Colliery. His headstone bears the inscription "Per Ardua Ad Astra"
