Operation: Railway junctions at Culmont

Date: 12/13th July 1944 (Wednesday/Thursday)

Unit: No. 9 Squadron

Type: Lancaster I

Serial: LM221

Code: WS-K

Base: RAF Bardney, Lincolnshire.

Location: Cour-I'Évêque, Haute-Marne, France

Pilot: F/O. William Alfred Martin Hallett J/85794 RCAF Age 21. Killed

Fl/Eng: Sgt. Allan Fleming Grieve 1822215 RAFVR Age 19. Killed

Nav: F/O. John Frederick Armstrong J/24240 RCAF Age 21. Killed

Air/Bmr: Fl/Sgt. Donald George Wentworth Brown AUS/420436 RAAF Age 24. Killed

W/Op/Air/Gnr: Sgt. Frank 'Midge' Everett Shaw 1332113 RAFVR Age 21. Killed

Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Allen Douglas Tagget AUS/421769 RAAF Age 26. Killed

Air/Gnr: Fl/Sgt. Malcolm Henry Payne AUS/417512 RAAF Age 22. Killed

REASON FOR LOSS:

Some reports state that this Lancaster was lost due to a collision. Ongoing research, we welcome any further information on this.

In the meantime, we are researching the other crew members, who, the family would very much like to be placed in contact with.

The three Australian members of the crew and the Canadian pilot, L-R Fl/Sgt. Tagget, Fl/Sgt. Payne, Fl/Sgt. Brown and standing, the pilot, F/O. Hallett (courtesy Australian Archives)

Wonderful photographs sent in by relatives - taken on 23rd July 1946. The mothers of Sgt. Allan Grieve and Sgt. Shaw (courtesy Pat Shaw)

The memorial 1946 and as it is today, beautifully cared for by the people from the village.

The locals from the village all turned out on the day described as very touching indeed by the relatives who attended. This selection of photographs kindly submitted by Pat Shaw and Sandra Fincham (nee Shaw) of the Remembrance Service held on the 14th July 2012.

The graves of the crew showing how well the locals look after them both then and now!

Burial details:

F/O. William Alfred Martin Hallett. Cour-I'Évêque Churchyard, France. Son of William Hallett, and of Marie Anna Hallett, of Fort Vermilion, Alberta, Canada.

Sgt. Allan Fleming Grieve. Cour-I'Évêque Churchyard, France. Son of William and Margaret Grieve, of Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland.

F/O. John Frederick Armstrong. Cour-I'Évêque Churchyard, France. Son of Guy and Frances Ruth Armstrong, of Victoria, British Columbia. Canada.

Fl/Sgt. Donald George Wentworth Brown. Cour-I'Évêque Churchyard, France. Son of George Wentworth Brown and Elcey Brown, of Lane Cove, New South Wales, Australia.

Sgt. Frank Everett Shaw. Cour-I'Évêque Churchyard, France. Son of Frederick and Sarah E. Shaw, of 48 Margaret Paston Avenue, Mile Cross, Norwich, Norfolk, England.

Fl/Sgt. Allen Douglas Tagget. Cour-I'Évêque Churchyard, France. Son of Mark and Eva Tagget, husband of Ethel Mildred Tagget, of Felstead, Essex, England.

Fl/Sgt. Malcolm Henry Payne. Cour-I'Évêque Churchyard, France. Son of Frederick and Mabel Lillian Payne, of Karoonda, South Australia. Date of birth - 16 Apr 1922 : Place of birth Mintaro, Australia, Place of enlistment - Adelaide

Researched for Sandra Fincham and Pat Shaw - relatives of the Wireless Operator/Gunner Sgt. Frank E. Shaw. With thanks to several members of the family for submitting photographs.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
All site material (except as noted elsewhere) is owned or managed by Aircrew Remembered and should not be used without prior permission.
© Aircrew Remembered 2012 - 2024 Last Modified: 26 March 2021, 16:24