15^th June 2019

Gannes (Oise)

75^th anniversary of the crash of Lancaster HK559

115 RAF Squadron

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        En français

On the night of 17^th to 18^th June 1944, during a bombing mission on the Montdidier station, Lancaster HK559 was shot down in flames near Gannes station, resulting in the death of the seven members of its Australian and British crew.

To commemorate the 75^th anniversary of this tragedy, a remembrance ceremony was held first in the village cemetery where the airmen rest and then at the crash site.

We had the great honour of having among us nine descendants of the crew members, surrounded by local elected officials, Veterans' Associations and village inhabitants.

- for Ernest STAPLEY: his daughter Anne accompanied by her husband Dennis, from England.
- for Peter DUFF: his nephew Ian with his son Mike and his granddaughter Isabel, from Scotland.
- for Ian SMITH: his nephew Geoffrey, from Australia.

Outside the cemetery before the ceremony.

 

The graves.

 

The ceremony began with the laying of wreaths at the foot of the seven airmen's graves.

  

                                                   Royal Australian Air Force.
                                       His uniform included the medals of his uncle.

 

commemorating this 75^th anniversary.

Mr. Olivier Debeule recalled the tragic circumstances that struck his village during the night of 17^th to 18^th June 1944. This speech was followed by a tribute to the dead, a minute of silence and the national anthems of Australia, Great Britain and France.

 

The Dawson, Duff, Smith and Stapley families gathered at the burials of their ancestors
on which small poppies have been deposited.

We then went to the small stele on the exact location of the Lancaster crash for a second wreath laying.

specially brought over from Sydney.

 

the circumstances of the crash were explained to the families of the airmen and to the audience.
On the left, the house which was partly devastated by the fall of the aircraft.

 

June 1944 - The same house with part of the roof taken away,in the middle of a show of desolation after the fatal crash.

This day ended with a moment of conviviality in the village hall. Debris from the aircraft found around the crash site were exhibited.

The memory of the seven young airmen who were killed for our freedom in this small village of Picardy must never be forgotten.