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| General "Lest We Forget" has 4 pages: 1 · 2 · 3 · 4Re: "Lest We Forget" | Livingin29 replied on 07/11/2009 at 23:47
 e-mail Livingin29 | This is an account of the attempted rescue of General de Gaulle’s family in June 1940.
On 17 June 1940, the day the General escaped to England, Mme De Gaulle and her children were at Carantec on the north coast of Brittany. They had taken refuge there with an aunt after leaving the family home at Colombey Les Deux Eglises about a month before. The Germans were advancing fast towards Western France. When General De Gaulle reached London, he asked that urgent steps be taken to rescue his wife and family. It was decided, with Winston Churchill's agreement, to send a plane with an SOE intelligence officer, Capt Norman Hope, who was fluent in French, to carry out this daring rescue.
On 17 June 1040, Captain Hope travelled with his orders to a Coastal Command base near Plymouth, and was directed to a Supermarine Walrus, an amphibious aircraft with a crew of three, Flt Lt John Bell RAAF (aged 24-years), Sgt Charles Harris RAAF (aged 31-years) and Cpl Bernard Nowell RAF (aged 25-years). The purpose of the flight was so secret that no one at the base knew where the aircraft was going; Capt Hope's briefing was to the crew only. They took off at about 0300 on 18 June with the intention of reaching Carantec at first light. They crossed the coast of Brittany about 20km west of Carantec, and it is believed they were fired on by the Germans or possibly the French. Having been hit, the pilot attempted to land in a field close to Ploudaniel, about 18km inland, but the aircraft hit a low embankment, burst into flames and all four men were killed. Mme de Gaulle knew nothing of the attempted rescue and she managed to get through to Brest the following day and escaped on the last ship to England.
The crew of the Walrus are buried together at Ploudaniel Churchyard. |
| Livingin29 replied on 08/11/2009 at 11:20
e-mail Livingin29 | | Molly C. I have checked my records and would like to add the following comment to your most interesting piece about Flying Officer William Joseph Freeman, RCAF, who is buried at Carhaix Communal Cemetery. At the time of his death on 13 February 1943, Flying Officer Freeman was a member of 35 Squadron. This squadron was part of the elite "Pathfinder Force' which was used to accurately mark targets for other squadrons to bomb. Pathfinders were normally the first aircraft to arrive over the target and often one of the last to leave the target area. Finally, my records show that Freeman was an Air Gunner and not the pilot of the aircraft (CWGC and his headstone record this fact). |
| wilson replied on 08/11/2009 at 12:30
e-mail wilson | Hello
I would like to contribute to this interestig thread.
A lot of the air crews who died whilst flying over Brittany, were lost at the sea. For example, a daylight raid on Brest, on the 24,07,1942, cost the loss of a total of 15 aircraft. 3 Spitfires, 2 Hampden and 10 Wellingtons. Of the airmen, who did not return that day 3 evaded capture, 13 were taken prisoner and 54 killed in action. Out of the 54 who died, only 11 bodies were recoverd and buried by the Germans.
Here is the details from one such air craft. It is taken from several sources, including the excelent web site "Lost bombers of the RAF WWII"
Wellington II w5380 of No 12 sqn
Took off from Driffield at 11,38 last seen at 15,55 altitude 5000ft NE of Brest. Other bomber crews repoted that the aircraft was being atacked by at least four German fighter aircraft. It was also reported that the Wellington made two passes over the target to ensure accurate bombing.
The crew were: Flt/sgt H Heald 23years , Sgt R K Godfrey , Flt/sgt F J Hardman 25years , Flt:sgt C R Preece 20years , Sgt A W Felton 23years , Sgt J R Mason 19years.
The airmens bodieds were never found, and are listed on the "Runnymede memorial"
lest we forget
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| Molly C replied on 09/11/2009 at 13:45
e-mail Molly C | Hello livingin29.
Thankyou for correcting my mistake and adding to the story of PO Freeman.
I hope this thread will last a little longer. It's two days from the 11 nov and these accounts, of the war, are both interesting and appropriate; If anyone has a story from the war, related to your area, why not tell it hear.
Reguards
Molly C
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