I am working on this page and I hope to complete it in time for VE75/Liberation75.
This page is dedicated to all the brave women, children and men whose stories are all connected to Jersey but did not get to see victory in Europe or liberation.
They all made the ultimate sacrifice on the road to liberation and will not be forgotten.
Allied Forces
Robert Sinckler Woodward
7th of December 1942
Aged 23
On the 7th of December 1942, Squadron Leader Robert Sinckler Woodward took off from RAF Fairwood Common for an anti-shipping mission against German Naval forces in Jersey's water. He led his planes to attack German trawlers off St Brelade’s Bay and after dropping his bombs his Whirlwind P7105 was hit by heavy flak, causing it to crash into the sea. Robert Sinckler did not survive
Squadron Leader
ROBERT SINCKLER WOODWARD
Service Number 74698
263 Squadron Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
Son of Charles Palgrave Woodward, and of Dorothy M. Woodward, of Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire; husband of Virginia Woodward, of Hassocks, Sussex.
Commemorated at
RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
Location: Surrey, United Kingdom
Cemetery/memorial reference:
Panel 65
Abraham Holden
11th of April 1943
Aged 22
On the 10th of April 1943, Abraham Holden took off at 23.22 hours, as the Navigator of Wellington Mark X HE213F from 431 Squadron. The mission was to bomb targets in Frankfurt, on the return and low on fuel they avoid Paris but it puts them on a direct track to the Channel Islands. Dropping from 13,000 feet to 3,000 the German Flak batteries of the Channel Islands hit the Wellington immediately causing it to ditch into St Ouen’s bay. George Booth died from injuries sustained by the flak fire.
Sergeant (Observer)
ABRAHAM HOLDEN
Service Number 591390
431 Squadron Royal Air Force
Son of Shepherd and Florence Holden husband of Elsie Holden, of Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire.
Buried at:
ST. HELIER WAR CEMETERY, HOWARD-DAVIS PARK, JERSEY
Cemetery/memorial reference: Grave 2.
Henri Alphonse Clement Gonay
14th June 1944
Aged 30
On 14th June 1944, whilst leading a formation of 8 Typhoons, Squadron Leader Henri Gonay's plane was hit by flak whilst attacking two German Navy vessels off the coast of Jersey. Henri Gonay was killed trying to crash land on the northwestern part of Jersey.
Squadron Leader (Pilot)
HENRI ALPHONSE CLEMENT GONAY
Service Number 81635
263 Squadron Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
Croix de Guerre (1939-1945)
.
Buried at
BRUSSELS TOWN CEMETERY BELGIAN AIRMEN'S FIELD OF HONOUR
Location:
Brussels - Capital Region, Belgium
Edward J. Roccanti
30th October 1944
Aged 24
On the night of the 30th of October 1944, Edward J Roccanti was a passenger onboard a transportation flight from Villacoublay (close to Paris) to Querqueville, (close to Cherbourg). He was flying with ten others on a Douglas C-47 Skytrain #43-48592. Due to an electrical fault and lousy weather, the aircraft was following a German radar beam directly to German Occupied island of Jersey. The pilot believed that flak fire from the German Anti-Aircraft Batteries was accidental US friendly fire. The C-47 fired identification flares, however, moments later, the C-47 was downed by the German guns. Due to the low altitude, The C-47 ditched into the sea north to Bouley Bay. They survived the landing, but heavy sea conditions resulted in the drowning of all but the pilot.
Merchant Seaman
EDWARD ROCCANTI
First Engineer
US Merchant Navy
Merchant Ship
USAT ST-674
Edward John Roccanti had married Dorothy Jean Boyd Roccanti in 1944
Buried at
Plot E Row 18 Grave 11
Brittany American Cemetery
Montjoie Saint Martin, France
Timothy J. Manning
30th October 1944
Aged 27
On the night of the 30th of October 1944, Timothy J. Manning was a passenger onboard a transportation flight from Villacoublay (close to Paris) to Querqueville, (close to Cherbourg). He was flying with ten others on a Douglas C-47 Skytrain #43-48592. Due to an electrical fault and lousy weather, the aircraft was following a German radar beam directly to German Occupied island of Jersey. The pilot believed that flak fire from the German Anti-Aircraft Batteries was accidental US friendly fire. The C-47 fired identification flares, however, moments later, the C-47 was downed by the German guns. Due to the low altitude, The C-47 ditched into the sea north to Bouley Bay. They survived the landing, but heavy sea conditions resulted in the drowning of all but the pilot.
Soundman Third Class
TIMOTHY MANNING
Service #8110229
U.S. Navy
United States Naval Reserve
USS ATR 2
Buried at
Plot D Row 15 Grave 28
Normandy American Cemetery
Colleville-sur-Mer, France
Donald Burton McPhail
7th of December 1942
Aged 25
On the 7th of December 1942, Royal Canadian Air Force pilot Donald Burton McPhail took off from RAF Fairwood Common for an anti-shipping mission against German Naval forces in Jersey's water. During the mission his Whirlwind P6987 was hit by heavy flak, causing it to crash into the sea. Donald Burton McPhail did not survive
Warrant Officer Class I
DONALD BURTON MCPHAIL
Service Number R/67887
263 Squadron Royal Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
Son of Albert Harold and Florence Louise McPhail, of Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
Commemorated at
RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
Location: Surrey, United Kingdom
Cemetery/memorial reference:
Panel 101
Philip Atterbury Ayton
26th of December 1943
Aged 22
On Christmas Day in 1943 Captain Philip. Ayton led the only Allied raid on Jersey “Operation Hardtack 28”. At the end of the mission, while attempting to signal a Royal Navy Machine Gunboat (MGB 329) for extraction, Philip Ayton stood on an improvised explosive device receiving mortal wounds and sadly passing away the following day.
Captain
PHILIP ATTERBURY AYTON
Service Number 184637
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
and No. 2 Section Special Boat Service
Son of Sydney Harry and Elsie Alice Ayton, of Eastbourne, Sussex.
Buried at
DARTMOUTH (LONGCROSS) CEMETERY
Location: Devon, United Kingdom
Cemetery/memorial reference:
Sec. G. Grave 136.
Damien François Selles
11th August 1944
Age 23
On 10th August 1944, Operation Ditcher planned to drop French SAS Paratroopers in the Saone-et-Loire area of France. After passing close to Jersey his transport, a Stirling (EF256 c) of Squadron 620, was hit by flak crashing in to the sea between Jersey and the French coast. Damien Selles and Roger d-Astis are killed, three other troopers and the flight crew survive and are rescued.
Paratroper
DAMIEN SELLES
3rd Parachute Chasseur Regiment
3rd SAS Regiment
French Army
The 3rd Parachute Chasseur Regiment or 3e RCP, was a French unit of Second World War known, in the British Army, under the designation of 3rd SAS Regiment.
Buried/Memorial
TBC
James R Carroll 30th October 1944
Aged 26
On the night of the 30th of October 1944, James R Carroll was a crew-member onboard a transportation flight from Villacoublay (close to Paris) to Querqueville, (close to Cherbourg). He was flying with ten others on a Douglas C-47 Skytrain #43-48592. Due to an electrical fault and lousy weather, the aircraft was following a German radar beam directly to German Occupied island of Jersey. The pilot believed that flak fire from the German Anti-Aircraft Batteries was accidental US friendly fire. The C-47 fired identification flares, however, moments later, the C-47 was downed by the German guns. Due to the low altitude, The C-47 ditched into the sea north to Bouley Bay. They survived the landing, but heavy sea conditions resulted in the drowning of all but the pilot.
Staff Sergeant
JAMES CARROLL
Service #33190258
U.S. Army Air Forces
326th Squadron
31st Transport Group
Commemorated at
Tablets of the Missing
Brittany American Cemetery
Montjoie Saint Martin, France
George Arnold Booth
11th of April 1943
Aged 30
On the 10th of April 1943, George Booth took off at 23.22 hours, manning the rear gun of a Wellington Mark X HE213F from 431 Squadron. The mission was to bomb targets in Frankfurt, on the return and low on fuel they avoid Paris but it puts them on a direct track to the Channel Islands. Dropping from 13,000 feet to 3,000 the German Flak batteries of the Channel Islands hit the Wellington immediately causing it to ditch into St Ouen’s bay. George Booth died from injuries sustained by the flak fire.
Flight Sergeant
GEORGE ARNOLD BOOTH
Service Number R/135580
431 Squadron Royal Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
Son of George Edward and Lillie May Booth, of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Commemorated at
RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
Location: Surrey, United Kingdom
Cemetery/memorial reference:
Panel 181
William A. Marangello
31st December 1943
Aged 27
On the 31st of December 1943 US Air Force pilot William Marangello flying a P-47 (#416357) crashed into Channel south to Jersey. It is not clear on the cause but it may have been Oxygen Failure. Local diaries recall seeing the US and British Planes but there was no Anti-Aircraft fire against them from the Germans
First Lieutenant
WILLIAM MARANGELLO
Service #O-792722
U.S. Army
61st Fighter Squadron
56th Fighter Group
New Jersey
Commemorated at
Tablets of the Missing
Brittany American Cemetery
Montjoie Saint Martin, France
Roger Nicolas d'Astis
11th August 1944
Age 20
On 10th August 1944, Operation Ditcher planned to drop French SAS Paratroopers in the Saone-et-Loire area of France. After passing close to Jersey his transport, a Stirling (EF256 c) of Squadron 620, was hit by flak crashing in to the sea between Jersey and the French coast. Damien Selles and Roger d-Astis are killed, three other troopers and the flight crew survive and are rescued.
Paratroper
ROGER d'ASTIS
3rd Parachute Chasseur Regiment
3rd SAS Regiment
French Army
The 3rd Parachute Chasseur Regiment or 3e RCP, was a French unit of Second World War known, in the British Army, under the designation of 3rd SAS Regiment.
Buried/Memorial
TBC
Joseph E. Fiset 30th October 1944
Aged 26
On the night of the 30th of October 1944, Joseph E. Fiset was a crew-member onboard a transportation flight from Villacoublay (close to Paris) to Querqueville, (close to Cherbourg). He was flying with ten others on a Douglas C-47 Skytrain #43-48592. Due to an electrical fault and lousy weather, the aircraft was following a German radar beam directly to German Occupied island of Jersey. The pilot believed that flak fire from the German Anti-Aircraft Batteries was accidental US friendly fire. The C-47 fired identification flares, however, moments later, the C-47 was downed by the German guns. Due to the low altitude, The C-47 ditched into the sea north to Bouley Bay. They survived the landing, but heavy sea conditions resulted in the drowning of all but the pilot.
Sergeant
JOSEPH FIEST
Service #32491115
U.S. Army Air Forces
326th Squadron
31st Transport Group
Buried at
Plot C Row 13 Grave 47
Normandy American Cemetery
Colleville-sur-Mer, France
Civilians
Dennis Audrain
3rd May1942
Aged 16
Dennis Audrain attempted to escape from German Occupation with friends Maurice Gould and Peter Hassall. They had gathered photos, maps and details of the German strongpoints and were heading to England. They left on the 3rd of May 1942 but due to issues with the escape boat they were overwhelmed by surf off Green Island throwing the three friends into the water.
Sadly Dennis drowned, whilst Maurice and Peter were arrested after swimming back to shore.
Burial site to be confirmed.
Louisa Mary Gould
13th of February 1945
Aged 53
Feodor ‘Bill’ Buryi, was an escaped Russian forced labourer from German Forced Labour Immelmann. He was sheltered by Louisa Gould and she with the help of friends and family set Bill up with a new life on Jersey. Two sisters living close to Louisa, Maud and Lily Vibert wrote to the Geheime Feldpolizei (secret military police of the German Wehrmacht) advising them of Bill in the hope of a financial reward.
Louisa Gould was sentenced to a total of 2 years’ imprisonment for failing to surrender a wireless radio, prohibited reception of a wireless transmission and abetting breach of the German working peace and unauthorised removal. She was taken to Ravensbrück Concentration Camp where initially she gave English lessons to her companions, before falling ill and eventually being taken to the gas chamber. She was executed on the 13th of February 1945.
Commemorated at
the Lighthouse Memorial in St Helier, Jersey & St Ouen's war Memorial
Maurice Jay Gould
1st October 1943
Aged 19
Maurice Gould attempted to escape from German Occupied Jersey with friends Dennis Audrain and Peter Hassall. They had gathered photos, maps and details of the German strongpoints and were heading to England. They left on the 3rd of May 1942 but due to issues with the escape boat they were overwhelmed by surf off Green Island throwing the three friends into the water.
Sadly Dennis drowned, whilst Maurice and Peter attempted to save him they could not and swam back to shore. The German Harbour Police were waiting for them after being tipped off By Peter's own mother. The two were arrested and deported to France. Having passed through various prisons and camps, Maurice contracted tuberculosis and died in Wittlich Prison, Germany on the 1st of October 1943. Peter survived the war and petitioned for many years to have Maurice’s body returned to Jersey. He was eventually reburied here in May 1997.
Buried at:
ST. HELIER WAR CEMETERY, HOWARD-DAVIS PARK, JERSEY
Clifford John Cohu
20th September 1944
Aged 61
Clifford Cohu was Guernseyman who made a home in Jersey with his wife and was a priest providing an oportunity to share BBC news with many others. He was arrested by the Geheime Feldpolizei (secret military police of the German Wehrmacht) on the 12th of March 1943 and sentenced on the 9th of April 1943 for one year and six months hard labour. The crime was failing to surrender leaflets and for disseminating anti-German news. Clifford Cohu would be transferred to various prisons in Europe and finally dies of fatigue and beatings in Zöschen Forced Labour & Education camp, Spergau Germany in September 1944.
Around April 15, 1945, the US 2nd Infantry Division liberated some one thousand prisoners incarcerated in the camp at Spergau. The US soldiers interviewed prisoners and interrogated captured SS guards to ascertain conditions in the camp, identify and locate perpetrators, and gather evidence for war crimes prosecution.
Commemorated at
the Lighthouse Memorial in St Helier, Jersey
