Operation: Transport and training

Date: 30th January 1946 (Wednesday)

Unit No: 525 Sqn, 47 Group, Transport Command

Type: Dakota IV

Serial: KN500

Code: WF:?

Base: RAF Membury, Berkshire

Location: Teloché, about 15 km south of Le Mans in France

Crew One:

Captain: Flt Lt. Harry Raymond Shephard DFC, 106979 RAFVR Age 23. Killed (1)

Co-Pilot: Flt Lt. Stephen Maurice Tugwell 158016 RAFVR Age 25. Killed

Navigator: Fg Off. James Stephen 181480 RAFVR Age 25. Killed

WOp: WO. Joseph Edmund Edwards 1425499 RAFVR Age 23. Killed

Crew Two:

Captain: Flt Lt. Victor Frank Funnell 89804 RAFVR Age 31. Killed

Co-Pilot: Fg Off. Victor Albert Bain 196750 RAFVR Age 27. Killed (2)

Navigator: Flt Lt. Lancelot Benjamin Albert Elias DFC, 134167 RAFVR Age 24. Killed (3)

WOp: Flt Sgt. Eric Edward Bartlett 1851891 RAFVR Age. 20. Killed

Passengers:

Pilot: Flt Lt. Thomas Knowles 141092 RAFVR Age 24. Killed

Pilot: Flt Lt. Arthur William Atkinson Scott 154713 RAFVR Age 22. Killed

Navigator: Fg Off. Norman Leslie Brown 184107 RAFVR Age 25. Killed

If any other relative of the crew members would like to contact us and supply information to this loss we would greatly appreciate it.

In July, 2013 we were then contacted by the nephew, Mr Bill Green of the Navigator Fg Off. Stephen.

REASON FOR LOSS:

The aircraft departed Istres-Le Tubé Air Base near Istres in France to return to base on the last leg of a training and transport sortie routed from Karachi to base at RAF Membury in Berkshire via Rome and Istres.

Aboard the aircraft were two crews from 525 Sqn and three (3) passengers who were aircrew from 187 Sqn.

Above: Courtesy of the Belfast Telegraph, dated 2nd February 1946

While cruising at an altitude of 20,000 feet, the aircraft went through a low pressure area with clouds and turbulence. Shortly later, the aircraft went out of control and dived into the ground crashing in a field located at Teloché, about 15 km south of Le Mans killing all aboard.

(1) Flt Lt. Shephard was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) whilst with 55 Sqn on the 21st August 1945. 55 Sqn was a light bomber Sqn flying the Martin Baltimore and Boston supporting the Allied invasions of Sicily and Italy.

(2) 741596 Warrant Officer (WO) Bain was the pilot of 143 Sqn Beaufighter XI JL943 which was shot down by an Fw190 on the 1st May 1943. He and his Observer became PoWs at Stalag Luft 6.

WO. Bain was appointed to a commission and promoted to 196750 Plt Off .on the 24th March 1945 (London Gazette 22nd May 1945).

His appointment to Plt Off. was confirmed and he was promoted to Fg Off. on the 12th June 1945 (London Gazette 2nd November 1945).

Above: Courtesy of The Argus, dated 2nd February 1946

(3) Fg Off. Elias was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) whilst with 15 Sqn on the 13th October 1944. 15 Squadron were flying the Lancaster and were based at RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk during the period 1943 to 1945.

Above: the funeral service held for crews and passengers in 1946

On the 3rd May 2008 a memorial service was held in memory of this tragic loss. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Gerard Chartier for the photographs used regarding this.

Above: Some amazing photographs have recently been sent to Aircrew Remembered and we are extremely pleased to be able to co-operate with Colin Bain (son of Victor Bain) and also some superb French Researchers including a Mr. Gérard Chartier. These people donate hours and hours of their time (and indeed money) to assist in the memory of fallen aircrew.

Above: The splendid memorial placed for the crews and passengers

Above: Colin at his father's grave in 1994.

BURIAL DETAILS:

Le Grand Luce War Cemetery – Row C is the back row on the right of the photograph (Courtesy of the CWGC)

Crew One:

Flt Lt. Harry Raymond Shephard DFC. Le Grand-Luce War Cemetery, Row C. Grave 3. Grave Inscription: “AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN AND IN THE MORNING WE WILL REMEMBER THEM”. Birth registered in the 3rd Qtr of 1922 in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire. Son of Herbert (deceased in June 1945) and Gladys Ethel (née Churchill) Shephard of Tring, Hertfordshire, England.

Flt Lt. Stephen Maurice Tugwell. Le Grand-Luce War Cemetery, Row C. Grave 6. Grave Inscription: “AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN AND IN THE MORNING WE WILL REMEMBER HIM”. Born on the 29th December 1921 in Cardiff, Glamorganshire, Wales. Son of Stephen Ernest and Eva Eugenie (née Applelbee)Tugwell of Cardiff. Husband of Mary Elizabeth (née Clark) Tugwell of Alberton, Prince Edward Island, Canada.

Fg Off. James Stephen. Le Grand-Luce War Cemetery, Row C. Grave 8. Grave Inscription: “HE LEFT LOVELY MEMORIES”. Son of Thomas and Annie Lavery Stephen of Glasgow. Husband of Eliza Gillette Stephen of Glasgow.

WO. Joseph Edmund Edwards. Le Grand-Luce War Cemetery, Row C. Grave 7.Grave Inscription: “AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN AND IN THE MORNING WE WILL REMEMBER HIM”. Born on the 14th November 1922 in Loughborough. Son of Joseph John (deceased in 1942) and Gertrude Alice (née Donovan) Edwards of Loughborough, Leicestershire, England.

Above: Courtesy of the Leicester Mercury, dated 1st February 1946

Crew Two:

Flt Lt. Victor Frank Funnell. Le Grand-Luce War Cemetery, Row C. Grave 5. Grave Inscription: “NOT JUST TO-DAY BUT EVERY DAY WE LOVINGLY REMEMBER HIM. WIFE, MOTHER AND DAD”. Born on the 10th May 1914 in Mortlake, Surrey. Son of Thomas Henry and Kate Elizabeth (née Gibbs) Funnell of East Sheen, Surrey. Husband of Winifred Madge (née Marsden) Funnell of Twickenham, Middlesex, England.

Fg Off. Victor Albert Bain. Le Grand-Luce War Cemetery, Row C. Grave 11. Grave inscription: “GOD TAKES OUR LOVED ONES FROM OUR HOMES BUT NEVER FROM OUR HEARTS”. Born on the 1st November 1918 in West Ham, Greater London. Son of George William and Elenora Emily (née Appleton) Bain. Husband of Bessie (née Lawrence) Bain of Brighton, Sussex, England.

Flt Lt. Lancelot Benjamin Albert Elias DFC. Le Grand-Luce War Cemetery, Row C. Grave 4. Grave Inscription: “A DEVOTED SON. A PRECIOUS MEMORY”. Born on the 7th January 1921 in Hereford. Son of Trevor William and Eleanor Maud (née Tinton) Elias of Hereford, Herefordshire, England.

Flt Sgt. Eric Edward Bartlett. Le Grand-Luce War Cemetery, Row C. Grave 2. Grave Inscription: “TILL WE MEET AT THE GOLDEN GATES. R.I.P.”. Birith registered in the 2nd Qtr of 1925 in Poole, Dorset. Son of William John and Bertha Gwendoline (née Norris) Bartlett of Upper Parkstone, Dorsetshire. England

Passengers:

Flt Lt. Thomas Knowles. Le Grand-Luce War Cemetery, Row C. Grave 1. Grave Inscription: “NO SAINT OR KING HATH TOMB SO PROUD AS HE WHOSE UNIFORM BECOMES HIS SHROUD”. Son of Thomas Hugill and Constance May Knowles of Old Trafford, Manchester. Husband of Margaret Eve (née Nickson) Knowles of Salt Lake City, USA.

Above: Courtesy of the Manchester Evening News, dated 5th February 1946

Flt Lt. Arthur William Atkinson Scott. Le Grand-Luce War Cemetery, Row C. Grave 10. Grave Inscription: “TREASURED MEMORIES OF OUR DEARLY LOVED ONLY SON. MOTHER & DAD, FOLKESTONE, ENGLAND”. Born on the 29th January 1924 in Folkstone. Son of Arthur and Lilian Scott of Folkestone, Kent, England.

Fg Off. Norman Leslie Brown. Le Grand-Luce War Cemetery, Row C. Grave 9. Grave Inscription: “IN EVERLOVING MEMORY OF MY DEAR HUSBAND. TIME PASSES BUT MEMORIES LINGER.”. Born on the 15th December 1920. Son of Sidney James and Susannah Edith (née Devonshire) Brown of Walthamstow, Essex. Husband of Mary Jane (née Norton) Brown of Walthamstow, Essex, England.

We appreciate the great assistance of Colin Bain, son of Victor Bain, for supplying us with a great deal of information and photographs. Reviewed and updated by Aircrew Remembered with new information and corrections (Sep 2026).

Other sources listed below:

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning we will remember them. - Laurence Binyon
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