Cemetery / headstone photographs taken in France & England - April 2018

Discussion in 'War Grave Photographs' started by DaveB, Mar 11, 2018.

  1. DaveB

    DaveB Very Senior Member

    I will be travelling around France & England during April. As I tour around I don't mind stopping at various cemeteries to get any headstone photos that anyone requires.


    The planning is pretty fluid, but I am thinking of heading towards Strasbourg to start followed by Saumur then pretty much through Normandy to Calais to catch the train to London.


    I will also be driving around some parts of England but I don't know if much is still required.


    I will have a look through various threads on here to see if I can offer any assistance, but anyone can take the lead and either contact me with a list or provide a link to whatever thread their wants lists are already on


    The more info up front the better it will be all round as I don’t want to be chasing down obscure requests when the info is readily available to the requester.
     
  2. temptage

    temptage I thought it would only take a few weeks......

    I have a list of names within Normandy that I require here.

    I shall have another look through my lists to see if there is anything else I can push your way.

    Thanks
     
  3. DaveB

    DaveB Very Senior Member

    Cheers TT - it looks like a few for you and that's it so far
     
  4. temptage

    temptage I thought it would only take a few weeks......

    What sort of areas are you driving round England? I have plenty of names on the Runnymede Memorial if you fancy a trip there? Also a couple on the Brookwood Memorial.
    Then I have 2 Memorials on the south coast at Hollybrook Mem in Southampton and Lee-on-Solent Memorial about 15 miles up the road.
    If they arent on your planned areas then not to worry.
     
    DaveB likes this.
  5. temptage

    temptage I thought it would only take a few weeks......

    I can also provide you with some more places en route from Strasbourg where I have mainly RAF personnel who are buried in rarely visited Cemeteries across the middle of the country.
     
  6. DaveB

    DaveB Very Senior Member

    Sorry TT - I missed these latest couple of posts. My plans for the UK are as vague as ever. Probably up to Duxford for a day or two and possibly down to Bovington for a day trip to see the Tiger collection.

    But definitely pass on the details for the blokes buried near Strasbourg and just about anywhere else in France because I just plan on enjoying the driving and trying to stay off the highways / tollways etc
     
  7. temptage

    temptage I thought it would only take a few weeks......

    Firstly, yes, you can cross Bayeux off your list, thank you.

    I have made a list of all my stragglers out in the middle of nowhere, with a suggestion of a possible route zig zagging across the country. You can see on the attached pic where they are.

    1 I. E. 1 NEWHAM GEORGE WILLIAM G W Durham Light Infantry HERMONVILLE MILITARY CEMETERY

    2 I. AA. 4 FISHER OSCAR EDWARD O E Lincolnshire Regiment VENDRESSE BRITISH CEMETERY
    2 I. H. 9 WAUMSLEY HAROLD VICKERS H V Yorkshire Regiment VENDRESSE BRITISH CEMETERY

    3 Grave 22 HARRISON EDWARD ARTHUR E A Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve LAON (ST. JUST) COMMUNAL CEMETERY

    4 Grave 2 MARPER ARNOLD A Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve AUGER ST. VINCENT COMMUNAL CEMETERY

    5 Row A. Grave 14 MARSHALL THOMAS ROBERT T R Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve VIROFLAY NEW COMMUNAL CEMETERY

    6 Western boundary STEEL WILLIAM ARTHUR W A Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve ALLAINVILLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY

    7 Plot 2. Grave 596 RIPPON DAN CARRIGAN D C Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve CHATEAUDUN EASTERN COMMUNAL CEMETERY

    8 Plot 38. 1939-45 Row B. Grave 23 FIELDING PETER SAMUEL ASHTON P S A Royal Air Force LE MANS WEST CEMETERY

    NORMANDY

    9 Eastern corner NEWBY CHARLES C South Staffordshire Regiment AMFREVILLE LA MI VOIE COMMUNAL CEMETERY

    10 V. A. 1A FERRIER JAMES JOHN Royal Garrison Artillery MONT HUON MILITARY CEMETERY, LE TREPORT
     

    Attached Files:

  8. temptage

    temptage I thought it would only take a few weeks......

    I just realised that I hadnt got Memorials highlighted on my Google maps. Ive just found I have 3 names on the Soissons Memorial which is between 3 and 4 on the map, and 2 names on La Ferte sous Jouarre which is a bit out the way between 4 and 5. Can I add them?
     

    Attached Files:

  9. DaveB

    DaveB Very Senior Member

    Hi Temptage - most of that looks doable. The way I see it you still need the handful of photos from Hermanville & Hottot in Normandy plus what's on the list above.

    This is my rough plan so far: France: CDG Airport to Normandy, on to Caen & Nantes before driving to Saumur then across to Strausborg before heading to Calais - around 2200 KM (so definitely a full day's driving, ha ha). I have 8 days or so in France and my plans are very fluid - I will see how I get on and if I have enough time I am thinking of heading to Calais via Germany & Belgium instead of the more direct route.

    I was originally thinking of going in a clockwise direction but now I am looking at doing it all counter-clockwise.

    I'm not booked in anywhere at this point so I can change my mind if time gets away from me.


    Hermanville War Cemetery
    1. I. 1 - Gambrill, George
    1. P. 15 - Rimes, Frederick Arthur
    1. Q. 7 - Parkin, Donald

    Hottot Les Bagues War Cemetery
    8. D. 15 - Smith, Leonard
     
  10. temptage

    temptage I thought it would only take a few weeks......

    Could you also fit in this one? Doesnt matter if you cant.

    Ranville War Cemetery
    V. C. 2 - Allenby, James

    Here are the Memorials (roughly) on route.

    Soissons Memorial
    Stone 6 BROWN, WILLIAM ROBERT Lincolnshire Regiment
    Stone 21 CHANTRY, SIDNEY Sherwood Foresters
    Stone 21 BARRETT, THOMAS REDMOND Sherwood Foresters

    La Ferte Sous Jouarre
    Panel 9 JOHNSON, THOMAS MORTON Lincolnshire Regiment
    Panel 9 TOWL, GEORGE Lincolnshire Regiment

    As it stands the most southerly place in Germany I have is Cologne, and apart from a single one in Brussels most of my other Belgium needs are covered. My nose twitched when I saw you said you was going to Nantes, as I have men at two Cemeteries on the coast (thinking it was nearby). Only when I looked on Google Earth I realised that they are over 50 miles away. Maybe I should have zoomed in a bit more!

    T
     
  11. DaveB

    DaveB Very Senior Member

    I got in to Paris airport mid-afternoon and once my hire car was sorted I decided to go straight to Viroflay - I took photos of Sergeant Marshall and all of the other headstones.

    Ranville wont be a problem but I don't know if I will make it to Nantes and definitely not 50 miles towards the coast from there.

    The plans for Germany & Belgium will sort themselves out after I'm finished in France
     
  12. temptage

    temptage I thought it would only take a few weeks......

    I didnt realise your trip was so imminent. Thankyou for getting to Viroflay. As you have done there, taking photos of all the CWGC headstones, if there are any others like it on your trip where there are only a few headstones, it would be great if you could photograph them all as they are very rarely visited so the chances of others getting photos from them are as rare as rocking horse shite. Either you or I can upload them onto Find A Grave. Either way. Have a great trip Dave. Keep me updated.
     
  13. DaveB

    DaveB Very Senior Member

    Cheers. I always try to take as many photos as I can, except in the places that have 1000s of burials. I just don't have the stamina for those.

    We can discuss what to do with the extra photos later as i have 1000s of them already from other sites. I really need to do something with them all
     
    Last edited: Apr 5, 2018
  14. temptage

    temptage I thought it would only take a few weeks......

    It was only after sending you the last message that i had a look at Viroflay, expecting maybe 1 or 2 crews, and then seeing over 70 CWGC burials there really surprised me.

    I salute you, Sir
     
  15. DaveB

    DaveB Very Senior Member

    A very successful day, and thanks for putting me into Ranville. It wasn't until I got there that I worked out that this was Pegasus Bridge territory. I had a good look around at the bridge site etc. Coupled with the sights & flavours etc as I go through some of these smaller towns I am really getting a great experience out of this trip so far.

    Tomorrow I plan on spending at Saumur, after I quickly go to the cemetery in Le Mans

    Today's results:


    Allenby, James (and a handful of the other 2200 headstones) at Ranville War Cemetery (Ranville was the first village to be liberated in France when the bridge over the Caen Canal was captured intact in the early hours of 6 June by troops of the 6th Airborne Division, who were landed nearby by parachute and glider. The cemetery contains 2236 Commonwealth burials of WW2)

    Hermanville War Cemetery - GAMBRILL, George / RIMES, Frederick Arthur / PARKIN, Donald (and a handful of the other 1000 headstones) (The village of Hermanville lay behind Sword beach and was occupied early on 6 June by men of the South Lancashire regiment. Later the same day, the Shropshire Light Infantry supported by the armour of the Staffordshire Yeomanry managed to reach and hold Bieville-Benville, four kilometres to the south of Hermanville. The cemetery contains 1003 WW2 burials)

    (Whereas Ranville had a bunch of info about their place in the war and seemed quite chuffed about it all, I couldn't see anything similar in Hermanville or Bieville-Benville)

    SMITH, Leonard (and a handful of the other 1000 headstones) at Hottot Les Bagues War Cemetery (The cemetery contains 1005 Commonwealth burials of WW2)

    NEWBY, Charles - the only CWGC burial at Amfreville La Mi Voie Communal Cemetery

    FERRIER, James John (and seven burials from WW2) at Mont Huon Military Cemetery, Le Treport (The Cemetery has 2128 Commonwealth burials of WW1)

    Private REGINALD FREDERICK BEEZLEY Royal Army Medical Corps 7266018 of 5 General Hospital
    Gunner JOSEPH WILLIAM BURLISON Royal Artillery 822735 of 365 Bty., 92 Field Regt.
    Sister ELLEN FRANCES DAVIDSON Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service D/1027 of Reserve.
    Pilot Officer JOHN HAROLD DAY Royal Air Force 41676 of 13 Sqdn.
    Lance Corporal DONALD ARTHUR JUKES Corps of Military Police 6666569 of
    Private SIDNEY ERNEST KEEPING Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry 5384594 of 1st Bucks. Bn.
    Major THOMAS FRANCIS TODD Royal Army Medical Corps 93591 of 6 General Hospital
    Lieutenant GEOFFREY BEVILLE SHONE MC South Staffordshire Regiment - WW1 of 56 SQN Royal Flying Corps
    Private SYDNEY FOX WHITE Australian Infantry 2267 of 51st Bn. - WW1
     
    Last edited: May 6, 2018
    temptage and CL1 like this.
  16. temptage

    temptage I thought it would only take a few weeks......

    OMG. I cant thank you enough. How easy was Amfreville to get to? Thats one I thought I would never get being a lonesome one which is awkward to get to.

    I should organise self drive holidays for people. Now theres an idea. Keep up the good work Dave.

    Tony
     
  17. Recce_Mitch

    Recce_Mitch Very Senior Member

    Dave what is your plan for England as I have 2 requests left.

    Cheers
    Paul
     
  18. DaveB

    DaveB Very Senior Member

    Cheers Paul - as above it isn't really set as yet. Most of my time will be in London but I plan on hiring a car and getting out of there when the Marathon is on the weekend of the 21st

    I don't need to be surrounded by horrid sweaty yoiks who are fitter & healthier than me (& probably more attractive)

    I will probably be heading to IWM Duxford and there are a few militaria shows on that weekend too - I just have to work out which of them is the most reachable

    Basically, give me the details and I will see if it fits on. You don't know if you don't ask.
     
  19. DaveB

    DaveB Very Senior Member

    Amfreville was not too difficult, I ended up staying at a great hotel just down the road overlooking the Seine - absolutely brilliant. But Private Newby sure is lonely - you will appreciate how much so when you see the photos.

    I ended up in a few other small sites yesterday enroute from A to B - a few more lonely burials photographed.

    Here are the results (I will expand on all of this later when I have time, so that anyone looking for info / photographs might see that the photos are available):

    VILLIERS-SUR-LOIR COMMUNAL CEMETERY - photographed the 1 Commonwealth burial of WW2 – Gunner WINCHESTER, ALEXANDER 1461543 of 162 Bty., 54 (9th Bn. The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) Lt. A.A. Regt. Royal Artillery - Died 06/06/1940

    MOISY COMMUNAL CEMETERY - photographed the 1 Commonwealth burial of WW2 – Sergeant (Wireless Op./Air Gunner) LEWIS, CECIL THOMAS 550668 RAF of 88SQN - Died 07/06/1940

    ALLAINVILLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY (photographed the joint grave of 2 airmen, 1 RAF and 1 RCAF, near the middle of the western boundary) Flying Officer (Pilot) MOSS, CLAUDE ALEXANDER (BUD) Royal Canadian Air Force J/28603 of 427 SQN & Sergeant (Flight Engineer) STEEL, WILLIAM ARTHUR RAF 2206920 of 427 (R.C.A.F.) SQN


    CHATEAUDUN EASTERN COMMUNAL CEMETERY - near the eastern boundary and north of the central path are the graves of eight airmen - seven RAF and one RCAF

    Sergeant WILLIAM THOMAS ROBERT HUNTER RAF 633310 of 101 SQN

    Flying Officer HAROLD HERBERT KING Royal Canadian Air Force J/35114 of 101 (RAF) SQN

    Flying Officer FRANCIS JOHN LYNAM RAF 152007 of 101 SQN

    Pilot Officer DAN CARRIGAN RIPPON RAF 172870 of 101 SQN

    Sergeant RONALD ALFRED SMITH RAF 1585911 of 101 SQN

    Flight Sergeant RICHARD WILLIAM SNELL RAF 1321695 of 101 SQN

    Sergeant RONALD DESMOND STACK RAF 2206324 of 101 SQN

    Sergeant BARRY WHITEHEAD RAF 1515878 of 101 SQN

    AUNEAU COMMUNAL CEMETERY - near the monument is the collective grave of a RAF airman and three RCAF airmen - all photographed

    Flying Officer ALEXANDER THOMAS ARMSTRONG Royal Canadian Air Force J/21336 of 405 Sqdn.
    Pilot Officer JOSEPH JACQUES GUY DAGENAIS Royal Canadian Air Force J/87660 of 405 Sqdn.
    Flying Officer JOHN LIONEL EMERY Royal Canadian Air Force J/22230 of 405 Sqdn.
    Flight Sergeant MARTIN ARTHUR THORNHILL Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 1333987 of 405 (R.C.A.F.) Sqdn.

    THEUVILLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY - near the crucifix in the centre are the graves of six airmen, one RAF and five RCAF - all photographed


    Pilot Officer WILLIAM JOSEPH CHUDZIK Royal Canadian Air Force J/89953 of 420 Sqdn.
    Pilot Officer FRANK GRANT HARROP Royal Canadian Air Force C/86741 of 420 Sqdn.
    Pilot Officer LUCAS HOLOWAY Royal Canadian Air Force J/86147 of 420 Sqdn.
    Pilot Officer ROBERT MURRAY IRWIN Royal Canadian Air Force J/87543 of 420 Sqdn.
    Flying Officer JOHN DOUGLAS LANCASTER Royal Canadian Air Force J/21526 of 420 Sqdn.
    Flight Sergeant HARRY WALLER Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 1819414 of 420 Sqdn.


    DONNEMAIN-SAINT-MAMES COMMUNAL CEMETERY - adjacent to the eastern wall are the graves of six airmen - all photographed

    Pilot Officer LESLIE McLEAN Royal Canadian Air Force J/90928 of 460 (R.A.A.F.) Sqdn.
    Sergeant GEORGE CYRIL ROWLAND MICKLEFIELD Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 1216702 of 460 (R.A.A.F.) Sqdn.
    Flight Sergeant FREDERICK ALLEN READ Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 1529486 of 487 (R.N.Z.A.F.) Sqdn.
    Pilot Officer JOHN ALBERT SOLOMON Royal Australian Air Force 417528 of 460 Sqdn.
    Warrant Officer BRYAN WARD Royal New Zealand Air Force 403484 of 487 Sqdn.
    Sergeant FREDERICK DAVID WILLS Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 1352077 of 460 (R.A.A.F.) Sqdn.


    VENDOME TOWN CEMETERY – a WW1 Flying School was opened by the R. N. A. S. at Vendome in November 1916, and gradually expanded; the choice of the site was dictated by the fact that the winter weather in Central France is more suitable for flying training than it is in England. All 22 headstones photographed:

    Flight Cadet HUGH COURTENAY BAILEY Royal Air Force of 2125th Training Depot Station
    Second Lieutenant BARKER Royal Air Force of 205th Training Depot Station
    Second Lieutenant EDWARD VINCENT BAYLEY Royal Flying Corps
    Flight Cadet STANLEY FREDERICK BLADWELL Royal Air Force
    Flight Cadet IAN HAMILTON BLAKE Royal Naval Air Service
    Probationary Flight Officer HAROLD THOMAS COO Royal Naval Air Service
    Flight Cadet DONEY Royal Air Force of 212th Training Depot Station
    Probationary Flight Officer WILLIAM FRANCIS FERRIER Royal Naval Air Service
    Lieutenant SIDNEY JOHN FISHER Canadian Infantry (British Columbia)
    Probationary Flight Officer LANGSTONE Royal Naval Air Service
    Probationary Flight Officer LOCKIE Royal Naval Air Service
    Second Lieutenant ARTHUR MARK McELHINNEY Royal Air Force
    Flight Commander MURRAY Royal Naval Air Service
    Second Lieutenant HARRY AWTY ROBINSON Royal Flying Corps
    Lieutenant MERVYN ALFRED SAMS Royal Air Force
    Lieutenant STOKES-REES Royal Air Force of 205th Training Depot Station
    Flight Cadet STANLEY P. THOMPSON Royal Air Force of 205th Training Depot Station
    Private 1st Class ADOLPHUS CHARLES TOWILL Royal Air Force238602
    Captain TURNER Royal Air Force of 212th Training Depot Station
    Flight Cadet WEAVER Royal Air Force
    Flight Cadet DUNDAS WEMYSS-GORMAN Royal Air Force of 205th Training Depot Station
    Probationary Flight Officer WHITING Royal Naval Air Service


    FIELDING, Peter Samuel Ashton RAF - Plot 38. 1939-45 Row B. Grave 23 LE MANS WEST CEMETERY (Plot 38 contains 90 identified CWGC WW2 burials (including 1 Polish Foreign National) plus 8 unidentified burials - all photographed - see separate post)
     
    Last edited: May 7, 2018
    temptage, CL1 and Owen like this.
  20. Recce_Mitch

    Recce_Mitch Very Senior Member

    Hi Dave the 2 in England are

    FLEET CEMETERY Hampshire

    43rd Reconnaissance Regt

    Lieutenant DAVID CHARLES WITHERS Sec. C. Grave 79.

    MOUNT PLEASANT CEMETERY, WISBECH Cambridgeshire

    53rd Regt Reconnaissance Corps

    Craftsman MAURICE MATTHEWS Western Div. 3. Grave 9.

    Cheers
    Paul
     
    DaveB likes this.

Share This Page