Mount
Bures Community Web Site
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During my research I was
very fortunate on being contacted by Mary Kemp in France, Sgt Arthur Charles Brown
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 463 (RAFVR)) Sqdn Arthur is not commemorated on the Mount
Bures War Memorial, but in Bures. |
My name is Mary Kemp and I have a house in Morienne, Normandy. The next village to me
is Ellecourt and the cemetery there has 7 commonwealth graves for the
Lancaster crew that was shot down 4/5th July 1944. My grandson and I decided
to do a project on this crew so that he could understand a little bit
more about the history of WW2. They have been easier to trace because Australia keeps very good records. |
On the night of 4/5th July 1944, Bomber Command sent a force of 231 Lancaster's and 15 Mosquito's to attack the V1 supply depot at Saint Leu D'Esserent. With the target area having been identified previously, the air crews mapped their route in order to miss major towns and known flak installations which they might encounter over France.
What had not been foreseen was the amount of Luftwaffe fighters which had been assembled to defend the supply depot. This force would have a serious outcome with no less than 13 RAF Lancaster's being shot down over occupied territory. Many of the crews would die in their valiant effort to bring an end to the V1 reign of terror over England.
The bombing raid over Saint Leu D'Esserent was planned at night with the 'bombs
away' set for 01.45 am. This particular night was a clear sky with bright moonlight.
The attacking force assembled over England between 23.30 and started it journey
over the English Channel and the French coast.
With the bomber formation now over French territory they faced the defending
force of German Luftwaffe fighters. The fighters would harass the bomber crews
all the way to the target and on their return journey.
By no means was this a 'milk
run'.
The first aircraft to succumb was 463 squadron's Lancaster HK536 JO-H. It was
shot down over the town of Ellecourt in the Seine-Maritime department north
west of Beauvais.
The crew of seven are all buried in the Ellecourt Communal cemetery. Four of the crew were RAAF. A claim is made by Luftwaffe fighter pilot Uffz.Grätz 3/JG301 at around 01H15.
The Commonwealth Lancaster crew
were:
F/O A.K.Carter (RAAF), Sgt B.J.Watts, F/S R.H.Norman, Sgt A.C.Brown, F/S T.F.Maher
(RAAF), F/S G.R.Whimpey (BEM RAAF), F/S G.E.Dowling.
Sgt Arthur Charles Brown Royal
Air Force Volunteer Reserve 463 (RAFVR) Sqdn Age 21 Service Number 1399195
Duty:- Bomb aimer
son of William and Alice
May Brown, Valley Green Farm Mount Bures
Ellecourt Communal Cemetery Ellecourt is a village and commune 60 kilometres north-east of Rouen, and 4 kilometres north-north-west of Aumale, which is a small town on the Amiens-Rouen road (N.29) about 60 kilometres) south-east of Dieppe. The cemetery is some 300 metres south-east of the church. A few yards south of the crucifix in the centre of the cemetery are the graves of seven airmen. |
The seven graves of our fallen airman. Arthur Brown's headstone is 4th from the left.
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Mary Kemps grandson, George Deverall-Bartlette standing by the graves in Ellencourt.
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Mary Kemps late husband Jeremy standing by a V1 site in Normandy with grandson George Deverall-Bartlette. This was the site the Lancaster was intending to bomb before it met Luftwaffe enemy fire. |
Ellecourt Communal Cemetery, Seine-Maritime
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Luftwaffe records of this
flight
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With sincere thanks to Mary in Normandy who sadly
lost her husband Jeremy in May 2014
A marvellous tribute to our lost airmen
Additional research by Alan Beales
11/06/2014
updated 12/06/2014
updated 14/06/201
updated 04/03/2019
updated 23/06/2019