THE FRENCH AT STONEFALL CEMETERY

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During the Second World War, the airfield which existed in Elvington, situated to the south east of the city of York, was reconstructed and in October of 1942 became the base for 77 Squadron.  With the introduction of Handley Page Halifax four-engined heavy bombers to the squadron, the squadron played a major role in both the bombing of Berlin and the Battle of the Ruhr. The squadron suffered huge losses of aviators and aircraft.  In the early months of 1944, the French moved into Elvington and remained there until the end of the war and beyond. A contingency, of aviators and ground crew from the Free French Forces, 2/23 Guyenne and 1/25 Tunisie were shipped from North Africa to Liverpool in September 1943. In England they undertook intensive re-training with RAF Bomber Command before commencing operational missions with the Handley Page Halifax. 

Two French squadrons were officially formed at RAF Elvington. On the 16th May 1944, 346 'Guyenne' Squadron was formed, followed with 347 'Tunisie' officially being formed on the 20th June. On the night prior to the D-Day landings on the 6th June 1944 n France, 'Guyenne' took part in the attack on enemy gun positions in Normandy. The two French squadrons would eventually include around 2,300 personnel that included aviators, ground crew, mechanics and other personnel.  Elvington was the only base in the United Kingdom that was used by the Free French Forces. 

During training exercises and when returning from operational missions, the two squadrons suffered many losses.  Consequently, those French aviators and crew who died, were buried in Stonefall Cemetery alongside the Commonwealth service personnel.   

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On the 15th March, two planes from Elvington were lost.  On board Halifax MZ830 were seven crew members from 346 Guyenne Squadron.  They were... 

                  Pilot - Sgt. Gabriel A. Lacaze  Age 29

               Flight Engineer -  Jean Eugene Gribouva - Age 33

               Navigator - Lt. Jacques Deplus - Age 27

               Air Bomber - Francois Dufrenoy - Age 25

               Wireless Operator - Sgt. James Charpentier - Age - 22

               Mid/Upper Gunner - Sgt. Mazime Tatarin -  Age 21

               Rear Gunner - Sgt. Pierre Touzart - Age 22

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Having left Elvington at 17:00 on the 15th March and having completed a successful operational mission against Hagen, the Halifax came to grief when it flew into trees on high ground just north of the village of Duggleby. An alert was sounded by a local farmer who, together with other farm workers, went to the aid of the crew. Having been thrown clear, pilot Lacaze was located and carried to safety but sadly died the following morning. The rest of the crew died during the crash.  All seven of the crew were buried in Stonefall Cemetery in Block H, Row J, graves 5 to 11. 

Halifax NR287 also left Elvington on the evening of the 15th March with seven crew members from 347 Tunisie Squadron on board.  They were...  

                       Pilot - Cdt. Georges Ostre -  Age 38

                  Navigator - Cpt. Raymond Chevalier - Age 35

                  Air Bomber - Lt. Antoinin Chemin -  Age 31

                  Wireless Operator - Adj. Henri Charbres  - Age 27

                  Mid/Upper Gunner Sgt. Rene Raymond  - Age 27

                  Rear Gunner - Sgc.  Maurice Tillier - escaped injured

                  Flight Engineer - Sgc Henri Sciolette - escaped injured 

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Successfully completing their operational mission against Hagen, the returning Halifax crashed in poor visibility when it was flying lower than perceived and struck a stone wall somewhere between Helmsley and Thirsk in North Yorkshire. The plane began to break up, eventually crashing into a tree near Scawton. Five French aviators died in the crash but the Flight Engineer and the Rear Gunner managed to escape. The deceased​​​ crew were buried in Stonefall Cem. Block G Row H 1-5

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At the end of the war, 346 Guyenne and 347 Tunisie returned to liberated France with the Halifax heavy bombers in which they'd flown.  The Squadrons arrived in October 1945 at Bordeaux's Merignac Airport -  to find what was left of it! The two squadrons became the basis for the new French Air Force. During their time stationed in York and their 18 months of service for the Royal Air Force, the squadrons had lost 50% of their aircrews.  For the time being, some of those men remained in Stonefall Cemetery in Harrogate. The last New Zealand airman to be shot down in a Lancaster by the Luftwaffe, on the 15th March, on the same day as the two French crews died, was buried beside George Ostre, Pilot of Halifax NR287.

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