WANCOURT COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Pas De Calais
France
Location Information
Wancourt is a village and commune in the Department of the Pas-de-Calais, 8 kilometres south-east of Arras and 2 kilometres south of the main road (N.39) to Cambrai. The communal cemetery is about 1 kilometre west of the church, on the D.34 road to the neighbouring village of Neuville-Vitasse. Near the western boundary and south of the entrance are the graves of 5 WW2 soldiers of the United Kingdom forces, 3 of whom are not identified, and an airman of the Royal Air Force.
Flight Details:
Base: R.A.F. Biggin Hill, south-east of Croydon
Unit: 242 Sqdn. Fighter Command
Aircraft: Hurricane Mk I, serial P2089
Target: Escort duty northern France
Incident: The aircraft was shot down down over Arras by German ME 109 Messerschmitt fighters
(Information above provided by Barry Cuttell)
Burial Details:
39381 Flying Officer John William Graafstra, Pilot in 242 Squadron, Royal Air Force, died 23rd May 1940, aged 27. Son of Thomas and Sarah Bingham Graafstra of Souris, Manitoba, Canada.
4459488 Private Alfred McConochie, 10th Bn. Durham Light Infantry, 20th May 1940, aged 23. Son of Hugh and Ethel McConochie of Sunderland, Co. Durham.
4457098 Private James William Rigby, 11th Bn. Durham Light Infantry, 20th May 1940, aged 21. Son of John Thomas and Florence Rigby of Sunderland, Co. Durham; husband of Mildred Rigby of Sunderland.
Pictures © Johan Pauwels
Wancourt is a village and commune in the Department of the Pas-de-Calais, 8 kilometres south-east of Arras and 2 kilometres south of the main road (N.39) to Cambrai. The communal cemetery is about 1 kilometre west of the church, on the D.34 road to the neighbouring village of Neuville-Vitasse. Near the western boundary and south of the entrance are the graves of 5 WW2 soldiers of the United Kingdom forces, 3 of whom are not identified, and an airman of the Royal Air Force.
Flight Details:
Base: R.A.F. Biggin Hill, south-east of Croydon
Unit: 242 Sqdn. Fighter Command
Aircraft: Hurricane Mk I, serial P2089
Target: Escort duty northern France
Incident: The aircraft was shot down down over Arras by German ME 109 Messerschmitt fighters
(Information above provided by Barry Cuttell)
Burial Details:
39381 Flying Officer John William Graafstra, Pilot in 242 Squadron, Royal Air Force, died 23rd May 1940, aged 27. Son of Thomas and Sarah Bingham Graafstra of Souris, Manitoba, Canada.
4459488 Private Alfred McConochie, 10th Bn. Durham Light Infantry, 20th May 1940, aged 23. Son of Hugh and Ethel McConochie of Sunderland, Co. Durham.
4457098 Private James William Rigby, 11th Bn. Durham Light Infantry, 20th May 1940, aged 21. Son of John Thomas and Florence Rigby of Sunderland, Co. Durham; husband of Mildred Rigby of Sunderland.
Pictures © Johan Pauwels
