WISSANT COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Pas De Calais
France
GPS Coordinates: Latitude: 50.8843, Longitude: 1.6775
Location Information
Wissant is a village on the coastal road (N.40) between Calais and Boulogne, 20 kilometres south-west of Calais. The communal cemetery is about 1 kilometre east of the village set amongst agricultural land.
Leave the village on the D940 Calais road. Turn right at the first set of traffic lights onto Fond Ceasar. This road is signposted as leading to Herlen. After 200 metres turn left onto Chemin du Vivier and continue along this narrow track to the Communal Cemetery.
The Commonwealth burials are near the eastern boundary of the Communal Cemetery, six from Australia and five from the U. K.
Wissant is a village on the coastal road (N.40) between Calais and Boulogne, 20 kilometres south-west of Calais. The communal cemetery is about 1 kilometre east of the village set amongst agricultural land.
Leave the village on the D940 Calais road. Turn right at the first set of traffic lights onto Fond Ceasar. This road is signposted as leading to Herlen. After 200 metres turn left onto Chemin du Vivier and continue along this narrow track to the Communal Cemetery.
The Commonwealth burials are near the eastern boundary of the Communal Cemetery, six from Australia and five from the U. K.
The crew of Lancaster LM 223 (463 Squadron) were all killed on the 26th September 1944 when their plane crashed at Wissant, three miles Northeast of the target during a daylight raid on enemy strong points at Cap Gris Nez.
427787 Pilot Officer
Robert Joseph Acres
463 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force
26th September 1944, aged 23.
Son of Francis Joseph and Nellie Sylvia Acres, of Leederville, Western Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "His Duty Fearlessly And Nobly Done. Ever Remembered R. I. P."
Robert Joseph Acres
463 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force
26th September 1944, aged 23.
Son of Francis Joseph and Nellie Sylvia Acres, of Leederville, Western Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "His Duty Fearlessly And Nobly Done. Ever Remembered R. I. P."
418913 Flying Officer
Norman Jack Bowman
463 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force
26th September 1944, aged 27.
Son of Thomas William and Cecilia Bowman; husband of Hazel Bowman, of Essendon, Victoria, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "His Life Given For Australia And Freedom"
Norman Jack Bowman
463 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force
26th September 1944, aged 27.
Son of Thomas William and Cecilia Bowman; husband of Hazel Bowman, of Essendon, Victoria, Australia.
His headstone bears the inscription "His Life Given For Australia And Freedom"
410144 Flight Sergeant Ronald Charles Brookman, Royal Australian Air Force, aged 26. Son of Charles William and Bertha Minnie Brookman, of Canterbury, Victoria, Australia. His headstone bears the inscription "Gone But Not Forgotten. Loved By All"
426253 Warrant Officer Beresford George Douglas Dillon, Royal Australian Air Force, aged 20. Son of George Lionel and Violet Bertha Dillon, of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. His headstone bears the inscription "Most Dearly Loved Son Of Mr. And Mrs. G. L. Dillon of Brisbane, Australia"
171018 Flying Officer John Edward Morris, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, aged 34. Son of Walter John and Eleanor Jane Morris; husband of Sonia Morris, of Upper Norwood, Surrey. His headstone bears the inscription "Deep In Our Hearts A Memory Is Kept Of One That We Love And Will Never Forget"
158226 Flying Officer Maurice Alvey Oakley, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, aged 32. Son of Olly and Winifred Margaret Oakley, of East Sheen, Surrey. His headstone bears the inscription "His Smiling Face No More We'll See But His Memory Will Live For Ever"
1583253 Flight Sergeant Reginald James Patrick, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, aged 21. Son of Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Patrick, of Wellingborough, Northamptonshire.
410819 Pilot Officer Sidney Wallace Smith, Royal Australian Air Force, aged 30. Son of Sidney Wallace and Jessie Smith; husband of Ann Wallace Smith, of Malvern, Victoria. Australia. His headstone bears the inscription "Dearly Loved And Sadly Missed By Loving Wife Ann, Sons John And Paul. R. I. P."
418209 Flight Lieutenant Anthony Bowen Loftus Tottenham, D. F. C. Royal Australian Air Force, aged 21. Son of Harold William Loftus Tottenham and Veronica Mary Elizabeth Bowen Tottenham, of Mullingar, West Meath, Irish Republic. His headstone bears the inscription "Rust Not The Sword Of His Glory With Your Tears"
D. F. C. Citation
Flying Officer Tottenham has shown himself an able and courageous pilot and captain of aircraft whose many sorties on the most heavily defended and distant targets in Germany have been accomplished with determination and fine airmanship. On one occasion in August, 1944, when detailed to attack a harbour at Brest, his bomb aimer was wounded and the aircraft severly damaged by anti-aircraft fire, but undeterred by the the enemy attack, Flying Officer Tottenham completed the mission.
426253 Warrant Officer Beresford George Douglas Dillon, Royal Australian Air Force, aged 20. Son of George Lionel and Violet Bertha Dillon, of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. His headstone bears the inscription "Most Dearly Loved Son Of Mr. And Mrs. G. L. Dillon of Brisbane, Australia"
171018 Flying Officer John Edward Morris, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, aged 34. Son of Walter John and Eleanor Jane Morris; husband of Sonia Morris, of Upper Norwood, Surrey. His headstone bears the inscription "Deep In Our Hearts A Memory Is Kept Of One That We Love And Will Never Forget"
158226 Flying Officer Maurice Alvey Oakley, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, aged 32. Son of Olly and Winifred Margaret Oakley, of East Sheen, Surrey. His headstone bears the inscription "His Smiling Face No More We'll See But His Memory Will Live For Ever"
1583253 Flight Sergeant Reginald James Patrick, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, aged 21. Son of Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Patrick, of Wellingborough, Northamptonshire.
410819 Pilot Officer Sidney Wallace Smith, Royal Australian Air Force, aged 30. Son of Sidney Wallace and Jessie Smith; husband of Ann Wallace Smith, of Malvern, Victoria. Australia. His headstone bears the inscription "Dearly Loved And Sadly Missed By Loving Wife Ann, Sons John And Paul. R. I. P."
418209 Flight Lieutenant Anthony Bowen Loftus Tottenham, D. F. C. Royal Australian Air Force, aged 21. Son of Harold William Loftus Tottenham and Veronica Mary Elizabeth Bowen Tottenham, of Mullingar, West Meath, Irish Republic. His headstone bears the inscription "Rust Not The Sword Of His Glory With Your Tears"
D. F. C. Citation
Flying Officer Tottenham has shown himself an able and courageous pilot and captain of aircraft whose many sorties on the most heavily defended and distant targets in Germany have been accomplished with determination and fine airmanship. On one occasion in August, 1944, when detailed to attack a harbour at Brest, his bomb aimer was wounded and the aircraft severly damaged by anti-aircraft fire, but undeterred by the the enemy attack, Flying Officer Tottenham completed the mission.
Two Other Airmen are buried in this cemetery
741278 Sergeant Lionel Charles William Daisley, 264 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 28th May 1940 and is buried in a private memorial. Son of Lionel James Edward and Jane Daisley, of Cambridge.
1853662 Sergeant J Harman, 514 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 20th September 1944.
741278 Sergeant Lionel Charles William Daisley, 264 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 28th May 1940 and is buried in a private memorial. Son of Lionel James Edward and Jane Daisley, of Cambridge.
1853662 Sergeant J Harman, 514 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, died 20th September 1944.
