Guidel Communal Cemetery, Morbihan, France

Guidel Communal Cemetery, Morbihan, France.

There are in total 107 service men buried here in this very pristine cemetery, I have not photographed them all. The main reason for my visit was to photograph the headstones of RAAF personnel for 'spidge', however there was 2 graves/headstones that seemed a little different to the rest, and these I have detailed seperately from the RAAF ones.






CHAPMAN, FREDERICK RUSSELL FORBES

Rank:
Flying Officer
Trade:
Nav.
Service No:
127265
Date of Death:
13/02/1943
Age:
32
Regiment/Service:
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

420 (R.C.A.F.) Sqdn.
Grave Reference
Row 6. Grave 19.
Cemetery
GUIDEL COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Additional Information:
Son of Frederick C. C. Chapman and Lorna Chapman, of Kew, Victoria, Australia.


FOGDEN, EDMUND DANIEL

Rank:
Warrant Officer
Service No:
403045
Date of Death:
12/08/1943
Age:
24
Regiment/Service:
Royal Australian Air Force
Grave Reference
Row 6. Grave 3.
Cemetery
GUIDEL COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Additional Information:
Son of Edmund Watt Fogden and Esther May Fogden; husband of Gwladys Jane Fogden, of Concord, New South Wales, Australia.


HAMOOD, FRANK NORMAN

Rank:
Flight Sergeant
Service No:
409046
Date of Death:
12/08/1943
Age:
23
Regiment/Service:
Royal Australian Air Force
Grave Reference
Row 6. Grave 7.
Cemetery
GUIDEL COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Additional Information:
Son of Norman and Alvena Ann Caroline Hamood, of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.


LEWIS, RALPH

Rank:
Sergeant
Trade:
Flt. Engr.
Service No:
540757
Date of Death:
07/02/1943
Age:
23
Regiment/Service:
Royal Air Force

158 Sqdn.
Awards:
D F M
Grave Reference
Row 4. Grave 7.
Cemetery
GUIDEL COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Additional Information:
Son of Harry and Mary Lewis, of Bondi, New South Wales, Australia.


STUBBS, ALEXANDER WILLIAM

Rank:
Pilot Officer
Service No:
401568
Date of Death:
16/02/1943
Age:
28
Regiment/Service:
Royal Australian Air Force
Grave Reference
Row 5. Grave 18.
Cemetery
GUIDEL COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Additional Information:
Son of George Lewis Stubbs and Marion Jane Stubbs, of Middle Park, Victoria, Australia.


SULLIVAN, CHARLES BARRY

Rank:
Flight Sergeant
Service No:
408713
Date of Death:
07/02/1943
Age:
21
Regiment/Service:
Royal Australian Air Force
Grave Reference
Row 3. Grave 19.
Cemetery
GUIDEL COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Additional Information:
Son of James Barry Sullivan and Neuressa Jean Sullivan, of Elwood, Victoria, Australia.


WINCHESTER, WILLIAM VICTOR BRYAN

Rank:
Flight Sergeant
Service No:
409265
Date of Death:
12/08/1943
Age:
25
Regiment/Service:
Royal Australian Air Force
Grave Reference
Row 6. Grave 6.
Cemetery
GUIDEL COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Additional Information:
Son of Herbert Killick Winchester and Agnes Adeline Winchester, of East Maitland, New South Wales, Australia.


YOUNG, JOHN CHARLES HARLEY

Rank:
Pilot Officer
Service No:
403065
Date of Death:
16/02/1943
Age:
28
Regiment/Service:
Royal Australian Air Force
Grave Reference
Row 5. Grave 15.
Cemetery
GUIDEL COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Additional Information:
Son of Reginald St. Chad Young and Bronwen Young; husband of Sheila Margaret Young, of Yanco, New South Wales, Australia.

 

This one struck me as interesting because on the bottom of the headstone is carved the inscription:

"Formerly Captain - Kings Liverpool Regt (TA)



CHARLESWORTH, EDGAR RICHARD

Rank:
Pilot Officer
Trade:
Nav.
Service No:
128692
Date of Death:
15/01/1943
Age:
32
Regiment/Service:
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

427 (R.C.A.F.) Sqdn. formerly (Capt.) The King's Regiment (Liverpool)
Grave Reference
Row 2. Coll. grave 15-18.
Cemetery
GUIDEL COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Additional Information:
Son of Percy H. Charlesworth and Sarah Charlesworth, of Meliden, Flintshire. Old Lerpoolian.

 

The other one I noted of interest, but stupidly forgot to take a photograph of was of the only naval grave in this cemetery:

WRIGHT, BRYAN HENRY

Rank:
Able Seaman
Service No:
P/J 40530
Date of Death:
29/11/1940
Age:
42
Regiment/Service:
Royal Navy

H.M.S. Javelin.
Grave Reference
Row 6. Grave 29.
Cemetery
GUIDEL COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Additional Information:
Husband of Florrie Wright, of Grimsby, Lincolnshire.

http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-37J-Javelin.htm

28th Sailed from Plymouth with HM Destroyers JACKAL, JUPITER, JERSEY and KASHMIR
to intercept German destroyers reported by an aircraft on passage in Channel from Brest.
Deployed on patrol line between Lands End and Start Point.
29th Sighted enemy destroyers which had attacked convoy off Start Point sinking two ships.
Took part in night action against KARL GASTNER, HANS LODY and RICHARD
BEITZEN during which enemy ships fired torpedoes. Hit by torpedo forward and another aft
causing extensive damage.
Complete bow structure forward of gun mounting demolished and after structure were both
demolished with extensive fire caused when magazine exploded.
Major flooding of other compartments and ship totally disabled. Only 155 feet of original
353 feet length of hull remained. 46 of ship’s company lost their lives
For full details see DESTROYER MAN by AF Pugsley who was in command of the ship.
Casualties were taken off by HMS JACKAL and the other ships returned to scene after a
fruitless chase of the German destroyers.
Air attacks were driven off by RAF aircraft and ship taken in tow to Plymouth by a Falmouth
tug escorted by HMS KASHMIR.
30th Arrived at Plymouth and taken in hand for repair by Devonport Dockyard.
(Note: Captain Lord Mountbatten was on board the ship during this action and in command of
the Flotilla. The execution of this attack has been the subject of much criticism. See
above reference, HOLD THE NARROW SEA by P Smith and ENGAGE THE ENEMY
MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett.)

 

Thanks TD,

Really great photos - Another three cemeteries off the list.


Cheers

Geoff

 

Hi spidge

Thanks for that - Lewis is an interesting combination - also if there are details about what happened with the aircraft it would round off this thread nicely.

Also Chapman, as on his headstone it states (of Australia), in the RAFVR and flying in a Canadian squadron.

The other interesting combination is Charlesworth, who was presumably a Captain in the Army (TA) and converted at some point to the RAF, at the age of 32 that seems fast to me.

TD