Remembering Today 17/9/43 Thomas Roberts, RAFVR

Remembering today:
Thomas Ainslie Roberts
Rank:Sergeant 1005778
RAFVR, 158 Squadron
Date of Death:17/9/1943
Buried: Lyon (La Doua) Frenck National cemetery.
Son of Alexander Malcolm and Maggie Broome Roberts, of Eskbank, Midlothian.

Remembered with honour.

 

Remembering today:
Thomas Ainslie Roberts
Rank:Sergeant 1005778
RAFVR, 158 Squadron
Date of Death:17/9/1943
Buried: Lyon (La Doua) Frenck National cemetery.
Son of Alexander Malcolm and Maggie Broome Roberts, of Eskbank, Midlothian.

Remembered with honour.

Details of the above loss.

16-17 September 1843

158 Squadron
Halifax II JN904 NP-K
Op. Modane

Took off from Lissett at 1933 hrs. Crashed into a wooded area known as le Bois due Rivoireau at St. Georges d' Esperanche. 14 km east of Vienne, France.

Crew.

Sgt. E. Le Huray +
Sgt. H. Pennell +
Sgt. F G. Shaw +
gt. T A. Roberts +
Sgt. C. Budd +
Sgt. A V M. Barron +
Sgt. V G E. Briant +

Source - RAF Bomber Command Losses Vol.4 - W R. Chorley

 

My brothers and i have just returned from St George d' Esperanche having flown down for the anniversary of the crash of Halifax JN904 NP-K, we were made very welcome by the Mayor and were taken to the crash site where they have a memorial. They are planning a large service for next year which we shall be attending. We also visited the garves of the crew at La Doua war cemetery which was very moving.
Our uncle was Eric Le Huray (Pilot) we have may photo's and would be glade to send then to you if you wish
Tim

 

I realise it is over 5 years since you posted this so i hope you are still involved with this site. My uncle was Thomas Ainslie Roberts and I too have visited the cemetery in Lyon. As you are aware it is a very large space but the very first grave I looked at was his. My wife and i were stunned. It was na s though he had led us there.It was a very moving experience. Although I never met Tom he was my dad's favourite brother and he always spoke kindly of him, even though Tom stole his first girlfriend. He is commemorated in a war memorial in his home town of Dalkeith, though they managed to get his rank wrong.
I have information about the crash and photos of the plane and crew. My grandfather and father went over to France after the war to attend a memorial service for the official internment for , as you probably know, the local French hid the bodies and protected this knowledge till after the war,

 

Recherche de France-Crashes 39-45

TD