Laneuville Communal Cemetery - RAF 1940

[Paul Reed]

Was out at work this week, and saw a GWGC sign on this communal cemetery as we were passing, so popped in for a look and found two RAF crew. The cemetery is in the French Ardennes, near to the town of Stenay, and just west of the Meuse river. Details from CWGC:

Laneuville-sur-Meuse is a village and commune 36 kilometres south-east of Sedan. It is on the left bank of the river Meuse, opposite the small town of Stenay. The cemetery is on the northern side of the village, on the D.30 road to Beaumont-en-Argonne. Near the south-eastern comer and the south wall is the joint grave of two airmen of the Royal Air Force.

[Paul Reed]

The two men were:

Name: DE MONTMORENCY, REYMOND HERVEY Initials: R H
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Flying Officer (Pilot)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force
Unit Text: 139 Sqdn.
Age: 23
Date of Death: 14/05/1940
Service No: 33185
Additional information: Son of Reymond Hervey de Montmorency and Gwynedd de Montmorency.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Joint grave 1.

Name: WALLIS, HOWARD BECKETT
Initials: H B
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sergeant (Obs.)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force
Unit Text: 139 Sqdn.
Age: 22
Date of Death: 14/05/1940
Service No: 580532
Additional information: Son of William Henry and Mary Elizabeth Wallis, of Kempsey, Worcestershire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: Joint grave 1.

[Paul Reed]

First grave:

[Paul Reed]

Second:

[Paul Reed]

Details of 139 Squadron from: RAF History - Bomber Command 60th Anniversary

At the beginning of the last war it was equipped with Blenheims and flew the first RAF sortie to cross the German frontier; and it won one of the first two decorations of the war.

After duty in France (during which it suffered very heavy casualties) the squadron returned to England, re-formed, and subsequently made many attacks on fringe targets in NW Europe - including the invasion ports - and many anti-shipping sweeps.



First Operational Mission in WWII:

• 3rd September 1939 : Photo reconnaissance of Wilhelmshaven and airfields in NW Germany by one Blenheim.

First Bombing Mission in WWII:

• 12th May 1940 : 9 Blenheims dive-bombed German troops advancing along the Maastricht- Tongres road. The formation was subsequently attacked by enemy fighters and only 2 a/c returned. 2 of missing a/c believed shot down in flames. 2 crews later rejoined sqdn after having forced-landed near enemy lines.

[Owen]

See they were from a Blenheim.
139 SquadronBlenheim Mk IVTotal aircraft :16Base:Plivot
Royal Air force, Order of Battle, France, 10th May 1940

[Paul Reed]

So - anyone any ideas with these guys? I think Blenheims had a 3 man crew - seems the other survived? Or perhaps he is on Runnymeade?

[Owen]

ATB Blitzkrieg In The West has this on page 225.
Regards the Sedan battle May 14th.

Most bombers available to the Advanced Air Striking Force were commited in the afternoon, about 70 bombing bridges and troops in the Meuse valley in three attacks over a total of 45 minutes...No.71 Wing sent 15 Battles and 8 Blenhiems, in the second attack losing 10 Battles and 5 Blenheims...

139 Sqn being in 71 Wing according to earlier link I posted.

Also photo of one of their Blenheims on page 67.
Have a look at IWM Photo Archive, I searched for "139 Squadron" and found some good photos of them in 1939/40.

[Peter Clare]

14 May 1940

139 Squadron
Blenheim IV. L9179. XD-
Op: Sedan.

Crew.
F/O. R H. de Montmorency +
Sgt. H B. Wallis +
LAC. V S G. Barrow inj

Took off Plivot. Crashed near Laneuville-sur-Meuse, on the left bank of the Meuse, 2 km west of Stenay, France. LAC. Barrow was reported to be in hospital at Angers (Maine-et-Loire).

Bomber Command Losses Vol 1 W R. Chorley.

The Meuse, Holland.

28 Blenheims to bomb bridges and German troops who were making a new break through on the River Meuse; 6 Blenheims lost. 6 further Blenheims to bomb road junction at Breda, no losses.

Bomber Command War Diaries. Middlebrook - Everitt.

[Paul Reed]

Thanks Peter - very interesting.

I checked Barrow's name on CWGC and found this man. Do you think it's the same person? Different squadron, though?


Name: BARROW, VICTOR ST GEORGE
Initials: V S G
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.)
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force
Unit Text: 114 Sqdn.
Age: 24
Date of Death: 01/08/1940
Service No: 542271
Additional information: Son of Victor St. George Barrow and Mary Lyon Barrow; husband of Florence Louise Barrow, of Cranwell, Lincolnshire.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: 4. D. 11.
Cemetery: BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY