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.

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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. 

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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. 

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​Commemorated at

  the Lighthouse Memorial in St Helier, Jersey & St Ouen's war Memorial 

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Find out more here

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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.

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Buried at:

ST. HELIER WAR CEMETERY, HOWARD-DAVIS PARK, JERSEY

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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

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

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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. 

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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.

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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. 

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Squadron Leader (Pilot)
HENRI ALPHONSE CLEMENT GONAY
Service Number 81635

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263 Squadron Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross

Croix de Guerre (1939-1945)

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.

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Buried at

BRUSSELS TOWN CEMETERY BELGIAN AIRMEN'S FIELD OF HONOUR

Location:

Brussels - Capital Region, Belgium

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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.

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Merchant Seaman

EDWARD ROCCANTI

First Engineer

US Merchant Navy

Merchant Ship

USAT ST-674

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Edward John Roccanti had married Dorothy Jean Boyd Roccanti in 1944

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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.

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Soundman Third Class

TIMOTHY MANNING

Service #8110229

U.S. Navy

United States Naval Reserve

​USS ATR 2 

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Buried at

Plot D Row 15 Grave 28
Normandy American Cemetery
Colleville-sur-Mer, France

William H Kearns

30th October 1944

Aged 25

On the night of the 30th of October 1944, William H Kearns 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.

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Fire Fighter Third Class

WILLIAM KEARNS

Service #8520575

U.S. Navy

United States Naval Reserve

USS ATR 2 

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Buried at

Plot C Row 8 Grave 47
Normandy American Cemetery
Colleville-sur-Mer, France

Junius J. Stout

30th October 1944

Aged 31

On the night of the 30th of October 1944, Junius J. Stout

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.

Photographer's Mate First Class

JUNIUS STOUT

Service #4120891

U.S. Navy

United States Naval Reserve

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​

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Buried at

Plot C Row 3 Grave 3
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

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​

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.

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Commemorated at

RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL

Location: Surrey, United Kingdom

Cemetery/memorial reference:

Panel 101

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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.     

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​

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.

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Buried at 

DARTMOUTH (LONGCROSS) CEMETERY

Location: Devon, United Kingdom

Cemetery/memorial reference:

Sec. G. Grave 136.

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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. 

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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

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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

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Commemorated at

Tablets of the Missing
Brittany American Cemetery
Montjoie Saint Martin, France

Ermene G. J. Pallatine

30th October 1944

Aged 28

On the night of the 30th of October 1944, Ermene Pallatine 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.

First Lieutenant

ERMENE PALLATINE

Service# O-680067

Headquarters

31st Anti-Tank Group

U.S Army

​

Buried at

Plot D Row 22 Grave 4
Normandy American Cemetery
Colleville-sur-Mer, France

William H Kearns

30th October 1944

Aged 25

On the night of the 30th of October 1944, William H Kearns 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.

​

Fire Fighter Third Class

WILLIAM KEARNS

Service #8520575

U.S. Navy

United States Naval Reserve

USS ATR 2 

​

Buried at

Plot C Row 8 Grave 47
Normandy American Cemetery
Colleville-sur-Mer, 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

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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

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​

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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

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​

​

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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

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​

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Buried at

Plot C Row 13 Grave 47
Normandy American Cemetery
Colleville-sur-Mer, France

William H. Westemeier

30th October 1944

Aged 24

On the night of the 30th of October 1944, William H. Westemeier 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.

Private

ERMENE PALLATINE

Service# 16047394

1403rd Army Air Force Base Unit

U.S. Army Air Forces

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Buried at

lot D Row 21 Grave 43
Normandy American Cemetery
Colleville-sur-Mer, France

Edward J. Pycz

30th October 1944

Aged 23

On the night of the 30th of October 1944, Edward J. Pycz 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.

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Soundman Third Class

EDWARD PYCZ

Service #8619350

U.S. Navy

United States Naval Reserve

USS ATR 2 

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Buried at

Plot C Row 3 Grave 23
Normandy American Cemetery
Colleville-sur-Mer, France

Frederick Roger Lightoller

Lieutenant

Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve

H.M.S. Odyssey

Aged 38

Buried at BAYEUX WAR CEMETERY

Location: Calvados, France
Number of casualties: 4258

Cemetery/memorial reference: VIII. B. 22.

John Daniel Cullen

Able Seaman

​Royal Navy

SS Kyle Castle 

C/JX267749C

Buried at BAYEUX WAR CEMETERY

Location: Calvados, France
Number of casualties: 4258

Cemetery/memorial reference: VIII. B. 24.

William Callum Fraser (MBE)

Merchant Navy

SS Kyle Castle 

Aged 46

Buried at BAYEUX WAR CEMETERY

Location: Calvados, France
Number of casualties: 4258

Cemetery/memorial reference: VIII. B. 25.

George Bell

Fireman

Merchant Navy

SS Kyle Castle 

Aged 20

Buried at BAYEUX WAR CEMETERY

Location: Calvados, France
Number of casualties: 4258

Cemetery/memorial reference: VIII. C. 26.

Charles William Olsson

Able Seaman

Merchant Navy

SS Kyle Castle 

Aged 33

Buried at BAYEUX WAR CEMETERY

Location: Calvados, France
Number of casualties: 4258

Cemetery/memorial reference: VIII. B. 26.

Andrew McNeilly Wright

Master

Marchant Navy

SS Eskwood

Aged 43

Buried at BAYEUX WAR CEMETERY

Location: Calvados, France
Number of casualties: 4258

Cemetery/memorial reference: VIII. B. 21.

Gordon Hector Wills

Able Seaman

Marchant Navy

SS Nephrite

Aged 22

Buried at BAYEUX WAR CEMETERY

Location: Calvados, France
Number of casualties: 4258

Cemetery/memorial reference: VIII. B. 23.

Richard Arthur Lees

Able Seaman

Royal Navy

SS Nephrite

Aged 32

Buried at BAYEUX WAR CEMETERY

Location: Calvados, France
Number of casualties: 4258

Cemetery/memorial reference: VIII. B. 25.

Robert J Moore

Soundman Second Class

United States Naval Reserve

Service #6581579

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Buried at:
Plot J Row 17 Grave 11
Brittany American Cemetery
Montjoie Saint Martin, France

James F Newman

Seaman Second Class

United States Naval Reserve

Service #6349482

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Buried at:
Plot J Row 14 Grave 11
Brittany American Cemetery
Montjoie Saint Martin, France

Robert M Rowland

Storekeeper Second Class

United States Naval Reserve

Service #4471260

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Buried at:
Plot J Row 8 Grave 6
Brittany American Cemetery
Montjoie Saint Martin, France

Ernest J Lightfoot

Seaman First Class

United States Naval Reserve

Service #7619441

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Buried at:
Plot F Row 13 Grave 1
Brittany American Cemetery
Montjoie Saint Martin, France

Daniel G Riley

Radioman Third Class

United States Naval Reserve

Service #2039938

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Buried at:
Plot D Row 18 Grave 4
Brittany American Cemetery
Montjoie Saint Martin, France

Lucien J Lacroix

Seaman First Class

United States Navy

Service #8255954

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Tablets of the Missing
Brittany American Cemetery
Montjoie Saint Martin, France