Map key:	Cemetery:	Town:
1	Pihen-les-Guines Communal Cemetery	Pas de Calais
2	Calais Canadian War Cemetery	Pas de Calais
3	Boulogne Eastern Cemetery	Boulogne
4	Etaples Military Cemetery	Etaples
5	La Targette	Pas de Calais
6	St. Valery-en-Caux Franco-British Cemetery	Seine-Maritime
7	Bayeux War Cemetery	Calvados
8	St. Brieuc Western Communal Cemetery	St. Brieuc
9	Creil Communal Cemetery	Oise
10	Mazargues War Cemetry	Marseilles

1 – Pihen-les-Guines Communal Cemetery, Pas de Calais

There are now over 30, 1939-45 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, a small number are unidentified.

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FEJFAR Stanislav, 29, F/Lt, 313 Sqn., Pilot

* 25/11/12, Štikov, Jičín

† 17/05/42, Boulogne, France

Shot down, in Spitfire Vb, RY-S BL973, between Guines and Audembert, France, by fighters while escorting bombers on raid to Boulogne.

Grave ref: Row C. Grave 8.

A symbolic urn, No 45, is also interred at the Airman’s Memorial, Prostějov, Czech Republic

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Location Information:

Pihen-les-Guines is a village 10 kilometres south-south-west of Calais and about 3 kilometres east of the main road from Calais to Boulogne. Pihen-les-Guines Communal Cemetery is on the south side of the village.

Address:	Pihen-les-Guines Communal Cemetery, 94 Rue du Cimetière, 62340 Pihen-lès-Guînes, France.
GPS Location:	N 50 52 15, E 01 47 19
Map Location:	View

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2 – Calais Canadian War Cemetery, Leubringhen, Pas de Calais

Calais was liberated by the Canadian First Army early in September 1944 as they advanced up the French coast into Belgium in pursuit of retreating German forces. Most of the burials in the cemetery relate to this period of fighting. Calais Canadian War Cemetery contains 704 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, 30 of them unidentified. There are also six Czech and 19 Polish war graves.

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KULHÁNEK Jaroslav, 34, F/Lt, 124 Sqn., Pilot

* 03/11/07, Prague

† 13/03/42, North France

Shot down in Spitfire Vb ON-L BL758, near Offrethun, 10km SouthEast of Boulogne, France.

Grave ref: 3. E. 3.

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Location Information:

Leubringhen is a village halfway between Calais and Boulogne. The Calais Canadian War Cemetery is on the east side of the Calais-Boulogne road (A16/E402), 14 kilometres from Calais. From Calais, leave the motorway at Junction 9 and head towards St Inglevert. From St Inglevert take the D244 road for Leubringhen. After approximately 1 kilometre, take the first left turn, which will take you over the motorway, and follow the road for approximately 250 metres. The cemetery parking area will be found on the left.

Address:	Calais Canadian War Cemetery, Rue de Hauteville, 62250 Leubringhen, France.
GPS Location:	N 50 51 41, E 01 44 20
Map Location:	View

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3 – Boulogne Eastern Cemetery

Boulogne, was one of the three base ports most extensively used by the Commonwealth armies on the Western Front throughout the First World War. It was closed and cleared on the 27 August 1914 when the Allies were forced to fall back ahead of the German advance, but was opened again in October and from that month to the end of the war, Boulogne and Wimereux formed one of the chief hospital areas. Until June 1918, the dead from the hospitals at Boulogne itself were buried in the Cimetiere de L’Est, one of the town cemeteries, the Commonwealth graves forming a long, narrow strip along the right-hand edge of the cemetery. In the spring of 1918, it was found that space was running short in the Eastern Cemetery in spite of repeated extensions to the south, and the site of the new cemetery at Terlincthun was chosen. During the Second World War, hospitals were again posted to Boulogne for a short time in May 1940. The town was taken by the Germans at the end of that month and remained in their hands until recaptured by the Canadians on 22 September 1944. Boulogne Eastern Cemetery contains 5,577 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and 224 from the Second World War. The Commonwealth plots were designed by Charles Holden.

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KAUER Jaroslav, 25, F/Sgt, 310 Sqn., Pilot

* 08/03/19, Dlouhomilov, Šumperk

† 23/12/44, Bologne, France

Shot down 5km north of Bologne, France, his Spitfire IXc F, NN-F, MH878 crashed into the English Channel. He survived the crash but badly injured and was taken to the hospital at St Omer where he died from his injuries.

Grave ref: Plot 10. Row B. Grave 14A

A symbolic urn, No 31, is also interred at the Airman’s Memorial, Prostějov, Czech Republic

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PAVLOVIČ Matěj, 26, F/Lt, 303 Sqn., Pilot

* 07/03/15, Vlkovice, Horažďovice

† 20/04/41, English Channel

Shot down at 27,000 ft. near Le Tourquet, France in Spitfire IIA RF-V, P7859.

Grave ref: 26 Plot XIII Row A Grave 19

A symbolic urn, No 15, is also interred at the Airman’s Memorial, Prostějov, Czech Republic

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ZAUF Miloslav, 25, Sgt, 313 Sqn., Pilot

* 01/01/15, Brodek u Přerova, Přerov

† 18/03/42, North France

Shot down, in a Spitfire VB, AA869, near Boulogne, France.

Grave ref: Plot 12. Row E. Grave 8.

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Visiting information here

Location Information:

Boulogne-sur-Mer is a large Channel port. Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, one of the town cemeteries, lies in the district of St Martin Boulogne, just beyond the eastern (Chateau) corner of the Citadel (Haute-Ville). The cemetery is a large civil cemetery, split in two by the Rue de Dringhen, just south of the main road (RN42) to St Omer. The Commonwealth War Graves plot is located down the western edge of the southern section of the cemetery, with an entrance in the Rue de Dringhen. Unusually, the headstones are laid flat in this cemetery. This is due to the sandy soil. Car parking is available along the Rue de Dringhen.

Address:	Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, 16 Rue Léo Lagrange, 62200 Boulogne-sur-Mer, France.
GPS Location:	N 50 43 26, E 01 37 19
Map Location:	View

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4 – Etaples Military Cemetery, Etaples – Pas de Calais

During the First World War, the area around Etaples was the scene of immense concentrations of Commonwealth reinforcement camps and hospitals. It was remote from attack, except from aircraft, and accessible by railway from both the northern or the southern battlefields. In 1917, 100,000 troops were camped among the sand dunes and the hospitals, which included eleven general, one stationary, four Red Cross hospitals and a convalescent depot, could deal with 22,000 wounded or sick. In September 1919, ten months after the Armistice, three hospitals and the Q.M.A.A.C. convalescent depot remained. The cemetery contains 10,771 Commonwealth burials of the First World War, the earliest dating from May 1915. 35 of these burials are unidentified. Hospitals were again stationed at Etaples during the Second World War and the cemetery was used for burials from January 1940 until the evacuation at the end of May 1940. After the war, a number of graves were brought into the cemetery from other French burial grounds. Of the 119 Second World War burials, 38 are unidentified. Etaples Military Cemetery also contains 662 Non-Commonwealth burials, mainly German, including 6 unidentified. There are also now 5 Non World War service burials here. The cemetery, the largest Commission cemetery in France, was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

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POSLUŽNÝ Ondřej, 32, F/Lt, 32 Sqn., Pilot

* 05/08/14, Brno

† 25/06/42, Stella Beach, Calais, France

His Hurricane IIc, Z3088 GZ- Failed to return from an operational flight over France, body washed up on Stella Beach, near Touquet, France.

Grave ref: 46. D. 6.

A symbolic urn, No 48, is also interred at the Airman’s Memorial, Prostějov, Czech Republic

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Location Information:

Etaples is a town about 27 kilometres south of Boulogne. The Military Cemetery is to the north of the town, on the west side of the road to Boulogne.

Address:	Etaples Military Cemetery, Route Départementale 940, 62630 Étaples, France‎.
GPS Location:	N 50 32 06, E 01 37 2
Map Location:	View

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5 – La Targette, Neuville-Saint-Vaast, Pas de Calais

It is estimated that about 40% of the airmen serving in the Czechoslovak Air Force at the time Hitler occupied Czechoslovakia in 1939, managed to escape to the West. Either, until the 1 September, by crossing the border to Poland, or by crossing into the now ‘independent’ Slovakia and following the ‘Balkan’ route – through Slovakia and Romania – to Yugoslavia where they boarded ships which took them to France and until WW2 commenced where required to enlist in the French Foreign Legion, for a period of five years, with an agreement that they would be released for l’Armée d’Air service should war be declared.

In France twenty-eight of them lost their lives – ten in training accidents before the Battle of France, the remainder during the Battle itself. Due to the rapid advance of the German’s, these Czechoslovak airmen were usually buried in a cemetery near to where they had fallen. Because of the ‘fog of war’ there was considerable confusion regarding the location of many of the fallen soldiers and airmen from the Battle of France which was little helped by the German occupation of France.

In addition to these airmen’s graves there are also numerous graves of Czechoslovak Legionnaires who had died in France whilst fighting for the Allies during WW1, and also fallen Czechoslovak soldiers from the Battle of France and following the D-Day invasion in 1944.

Amongst the post WW2 interment’s was capitaine František NOVÁK, the well known pre-war aerobatic pilot of the Czechoslovak Air Force. After escaping from his homeland he went to France in 1939 and joined l’Armée d’Air and served as an instructor at truing airbase at CIC Chartres. Following a gastric operation, he discharged himself early from hospital so that he could continue training pilots. He returned from training flight with all the stitches broken and died in a Paris hospital 3 days later on 27/04/40. In October 2002 he was re-interred to the family tomb in the municipal cemetery at Sokoleč near Nymburk, Czech Republic.

Why La Targette?

In May 1915 the ‘Rota Nazdar’ Company of the Czechoslovak Legionnaires first went into action against from Germans in WW1. Their task was to to reach Hill 140 on the Vimy Ridge from their position just west of the village of La Targette, near Neuville-St.Vaast, in the Pas de Calais. La Targette was at the southern end Ouvrages Blancs, an area intensely protected by fortified German trenches. Of the 250 men of this unit, 50 were killed and 150 wounded, 20 of whom later died from their injuries. During WW1 more Czechoslovak Legionnaires fell in fighting the Germans, and were buried in various graves across France.

In 1925, l’Association des volontaires tchécoslovaques en France – the Society of Czechoslovak Volunteers in France (AVTF) – initiated an movement to consolidate these numerous Czechoslovak graves around France to one location. The location chosen was La Targette because of its symbolic association to the Czechoslovak Legionnaires and the painstaking process of identifying graves of fallen Czechoslovaks and transferring their remains to La Targette began.

At the entrance to the cemetery stands a memorial to commemorate Karel Bezdíček the Czechoslovak standard-bearer who was killed in the first day of the battle. His body was found in the German trenches wrapped in the standard, and is remembered as the first free Czechoslovak to carry the standard of the Czechoslovak lion. The Memorial was created by the artist Jaroslav Hruška, financed partly by the authorities in the new State of Czechoslovakia and partly by postcard sales and funds raised from Czechoslovaks around the world, and unveiled on 31 May 1925.

In 1938, twenty-four lime trees were brought from Czechoslovakia and planted at the site. By the start of WW2, the work of consolidating all the graves was not yet completed and the Battle of France in May and June of 1940 was to result in more fallen Czechoslovak soldiers and airmen on French soil.

After WW2, following identification of those fallen, the French authorities continued their work in exhuming these ‘local’ graves and re-interned the remains to Military Cemeteries. In the case of the Czechoslovak WW2 airmen these were at Military Cemeteries at Cambronneles-Ribécourt, at Oise, and Condé-Folie, in the Somme. However following the Communist ‘putsch’ in Czechoslovakia, in February 1948, the new Communist Czechoslovak authorities had little interest in the Czechoslovak airmen and soldiers who had fallen in the West. Instead it was left to the French authorities and veteran organisations to undertake this task.

In 1968, AVTF erected a cloisters Memorial, at the rear of the cemetery, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the State of Czechoslovakia and it was dedicated to all the victims of WWI and WWII. The Memorial was designed by the architect Bernard Heger and the artist Marta Sumova and was privately funded by Czechoslovaks living outside their now Communist homeland. The interments were finally completed in 1970, having exhumed 206 fallen Czechoslovaks from 73 municipal and military cemeteries around France.

At the cemetery is also the Bohemia Cross Memorial, a copy of the original at Crécy. It commemorates the death of the Jan Lucemburský the Czech King of Bohemia who had been killed on 26 August 1346, fighting alongside the French knights against the English, during the Battle of Crécy. Mounted under the Cross is a commemorative plaque dedicated to the ‘Rota Nazdar’ Company.

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BARTOŇ František, 25, lieutenant, CIC Chartres, Pilot.

* 14/08/14, Mošnov, Novy Jicin.

† 06/10/39, Chartres.

Killed on training flight in Curtis Hawk H75, lost speed and crashed near Chartres.

Grave ref: grave 143.

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BENDL Josef, 26, sergent, GC I/6, Pilot.

* 27/03/14, Miškovice, Prague.

† 07/06/40, Amiens.

Killed when his MS-406C, no. 898, fighter aircraft was shot down near Moliens whilst attacking German tanks between Formerie and Forges les Eaux.

Grave ref: grave 144

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BÍEBERLE František, 28, lieutenant, GC I/6, Pilot.

* 23/02/12, Zjoř.

† 25/05/40, Arras.

Shot down during combat flight.

Grave ref: grave 145

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ČERNÝ Jan, 25, sergent, CIB Châteauroux, Pilot.

* 25/01/15, Heřmanice, Moravsky Krumlov.

† 11/05/40, Châeauroux.

Severely wounded in air raid attack on Ste Anne airfield, died in local hospital from his injuries.

Grave ref: grave 146

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DEKASTELLO Josef, 29, lieutenant, GC I/8, Pilot.

* 24/06/10, Prague.

† 03/06/40, Thieux.

Shot down by allied anti aircraft fire.

Grave ref: grave 148

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DÝMA František, 23, lieutenant, GC III/7, Pilot.

* 28/12/16, Olomouc.

† 21/05/40, Senlis.

Shot down, suffered head injuries and died in hospital.

Grave ref: grave 147

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EICHELMAN Zdeněk, 21, sergent, CIB Toulouse, Pilot.

* 10/04/19, Rynholec, Slany.

† 29/04/40, Toulouse.

Killed in a training accident.

Grave ref: grave 149

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FLANEK Leopold, 27, sergent, GC III/2, Pilot.

* 13/12/02, Bieżanów, Poland.

† 15/05/40, Ardennes.

Killed when his MS 406 crash landed in the Ardenes.

Grave ref: grave 150

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GLEICH Jaroslav, 27, lieutenant, GC II/3, Pilot.

* 04/03/13, Kunčice, Ostrava.

† 13/06/40, Avord-Beaugi.

Killed when aircraft crashed.

Grave ref: grave 151

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HAMŠÍK Timoteus, 32, capitaine, GC I/5, Pilot.

* 31/12/07, Zádveřice, Zlin.

† 14/05/40, Sedan.

Killed after parachuting from his aircraft.

Grave ref: grave 172

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HRANIČKÁ Josef, 27, sergent, GC I/6, Pilot.

* 11/03/03, Vlašim, Benešov.

† 05/06/40, Compiègne.

Separated from the rest of his Squadron during combat, was flying alone between Creil and Mondidiere, shot down in MS 406 C.1, no 1035 at 11:40 by a Me 109 and crashed at Compiègne.

Grave ref: grave 173

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KOREC Otakar, 21, lieutenant, GC I/3, Pilot.

* 26/11/08, Nejdek.

† 05/06/40, Agrouves, Somme.

Shot down in his D520 during aerial combat.

Grave ref: grave 174

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KOŠNAR Josef, 23, caporal-chef, GC III/7, Pilot.

* 03/09/16, Pečky.

† 05/06/40, Amiens.

Shot down during combat patrol, in MS406 no 144, near Camronne.

Grave ref: grave 175

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KRÁKORA Jan, 25, caporal-chef, GC I/1, Pilot.

* 12/04/14, Lysolaje, Prague.

† 23/04/40, Senlis.

Killed during a training flight in a D520.

Grave ref: grave 178

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KRÁL Jiří, 30, lieutenant, GC I/1, Pilot.

* 15/03/10, Polanka nad Odrou, Jičín.

† 08/06/40, Montdidier.

Killed in combat. His Bloch MB 152, no 299, was shot  down about 40 km NW of Paris, bailed-out from his burning aircraft but parachute failed to open.

Grave ref: grave 176

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KRÁLÍK Antonín, 23, caporal-chef, GC I/8, Pilot.

* 16/06/16, Vranice, Kutná Hora.

† 27/05/40, Amiens.

Killed on operational patrol near Conde-Folie.

Grave ref: grave 177

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KŘÍŽEK Jaroslav, 25, sergent, CIB Toulouse, Pilot.

* 10/06/14, Dolní Sytová.

† 16/11/39, Toulouse.

Killed on training flight when his MB.200 bomber aircraft crashed near Toulouse.

Grave ref: grave 179

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KUČERA Vladimír, 29, lieutenant, EPP Etampes, Pilot.

* 07/05/11, Malá Černá, Ckum u Třeboně.

† 14/05/40, d’Etampes.

Killed during a training flight.

Grave ref: grave 180

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MIKOLÁŠEK Antonín, 23, lieutenant, GC II/3, Pilot.

* 06/09/06, Prague.

† 25/05/40, Remigny.

Shot down during operational patrol.

Grave ref: grave 182

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MORÁVEK Emil, 26, sergent-chef, GC I/5, Pilot.

* 08/06/14, Slepotice.

† 15/06/40, Heuille

Pilot with GC I/5, from 01/06/40 with GC I/8. Shot down and crashed behind German lines, suspected of being shot later.

Interred at grave 167

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NOVÁK Jaroslav, 24, sergent-chef, EP Istres-Miramas, Pilot.

* 08/07/15, Prague.

† 15/12/39, Villefort.

Killed in a crash during bomber pilot training.

Grave ref: grave 185

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NOVÁK Josef, 28, sergent, GC III/3, Pilot.

* 06/03/12, Zboněk Boskovice.

† 02/06/40, Portet, Toulouse.

Killed in training accident.

Grave ref: grave 184

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POPELKA Stanislav, 23, sergent, GC I/6, Pilot.

* 12/12/17, Františky, Vysoké Mýto.

† 03/06/40, Ozoir-la-Ferrière.

Killed in aerial combat in MS406, no. 693 which crashed at Ozoir-la-Ferrière.

Grave ref: grave 186

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RAJTR Miroslav, 36, sergent, CIC Chartres, Pilot.

* 26/08/03, Žerčice, Mlada Boleslav.

† 11/01/40, Chartres.

Killed in training flight in a MB151.

Grave ref: grave 168

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STOKLASA Jaroslav, 22, sergent, CIB Pau, Pilot.

* 24/03/17, Lhota, Opava.

† 04/03/40, Pau.

Killed in training flight in Potez XXV, no 841 which crashed at Pau.

Grave ref: grave 169

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VAŠEK Vladimír, 22, caporal-chef, GC I/5, Pilot.

* 08/08/14, Sedlec, Kutna Hora.

† 02/01/40, Meuse, Malancourt.

Killed in collision during combat patrol in a Curtis H75, no 13, aircraft crashed at Verdun.

Grave ref: grave 171

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More information of Czechoslovak airmen’s graves in France here.

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Location Information:

Neuville-Saint-Vaast is a village just off the E15 motorway, 101 kilometres south-south-east of Calais, and about 10 km north of Arras.

Address:	La Targette, D937 Route de Bethune, 62580 Neuville-Saint-Vaast, France.
GPS Location:	50°21’57.28″N, 02°44’39.91″E
Map Location:	View

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6 – St. Valery-en-Caux Franco-British Cemetery, Seine-Maritime

During the Second World War, the town of St. Valery was three-quarters destroyed and was under German occupation from the end of May 1940 until liberated in 1944. In 1940 it was at the centre of important battles when Commonwealth troops, notably the 51st (Highland) Division, made their last stand fighting alongside the 2nd French Cavalry Division. The 51st (Highland) Division was practically wiped out, most of its members being taken, prisoner. After the war, the French Government bestowed the Croix de Guerre on the town, and the order conferring the honour contained the words, “St. Valery . . . made illustrious by the heroic resistance of the 51st Scottish Division”. Facing each other on the cliffs that flank the town are, to the east the 51st (Highland) Division Memorial, and to the west the memorial to the French Cavalry, which were unveiled simultaneously. In the cemetery is a memorial to the 51st (Highland) Division erected by the local civil authorities, and a granite St. Andrew’s shield given, by the Marchioness of Huntley, is set into the base of the Cross of Sacrifice. The cemetery gates were the gift of the people of north and north-east Scotland. The cemetery contains 234 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, 63 of them unidentified. There are also 218 French war graves.

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BOUDA František, 28, F/O, 21 Sqn., Navigator

* 06/04/16, Vienna, Austria

† 21/06/44, France

Mosquito VI. FB NT182 YH- did not return from a night offensive sortie to attack German ground targets around Mezidon, in the Normandy region of France. Exact reason for the aircraft loss is not known.

Grave ref: Joint grave B, 31-32.

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STRÁNSKÝ Josef, 29, S/Ldr, 21 Sqn., Pilot

* 10/12/14, Borová, Havlíčkův Brod

† 21/06/44, France

Mosquito VI. FB NT182 YH- did not return from a night offensive sortie to attack German ground targets around Mezidon, in the Normandy region of France. Exact reason for the aircraft loss is not known.

Grave ref: Joint grave B, 31-32.

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Visiting information here

Location Information:

St. Valery-en-Caux is a small seaside town and holiday resort 32 kilometres west of Dieppe and 60 kilometres north-west of Rouen. The Franco-British Cemetery lies on the southeastern outskirts of the town about 200 metres from the church and adjoins the civil cemetery. Follow St. Valery town centre and the first CWGC sign is on the right of the main road.

Address:	St. Valery-en-Caux Franco-British Cemetery, 36-40 Avenue d’Écosse, 76460 Saint-Valery-en-Caux, France.
GPS Location:	N 49 51 36, E 00 43 28
Map Location:	View

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7 – Bayeux War Cemetery,  Calvados, Normandy

The Allied offensive in north-western Europe began with the Normandy landings of 6 June 1944. There was little actual fighting in Bayeux although it was the first French town of importance to be liberated. Bayeux War Cemetery is the largest Commonwealth cemetery of the Second World War in France and contains burials brought in from the surrounding districts and from hospitals that were located nearby. BAYEUX WAR CEMETERY contains 4,144 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, 338 of them unidentified. There are also over 500 war graves of other nationalities, the majority German. The BAYEUX MEMORIAL stands opposite the cemetery and bears the names of more than 1,800 men of the Commonwealth land forces who died in the early stages of the campaign and have no known grave. They died during the landings in Normandy, during the intense fighting in Normandy itself, and during the advance to the River Seine in August.

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BAUER Jiří, 20, Sgt, 310 Sqn., Pilot

* 03/11/23, Trutnov

† 28/06/44, Caen, France

Did not return from operational sortie. His Spitfire IXe LF, NH570, probably shot down by flak near Caen, France.

Grave ref: XV. M. 24.

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FAJT Linhart, 32, Sgt, 311 Sqn., Flight Engineer

* 26/11/10, Jablonné nad Orlicí

† 18/11/43, Bay of Biscay

Liberator BZ872 went missing while on patrol over the Bay of Biscay, body washed ashore. Probably shot down by fighter.

Grave ref: VIII. C. 19.

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Location Information:

The town of Bayeux, in Normandy, lies 24 kilometres north-west of Caen. Bayeux War Cemetery is situated in the south-western outskirts of the town on the by-pass (D5), which is named Boulevard Fabian Ware. On the opposite side of the road stands the Bayeux Memorial.

Parking directly outside the cemetery is limited. When approaching the cemetery with the nearby D-Day Museum on your right, take the last exit at the roundabout just before the cemetery into ‘Chemin des Marettes’, where space is usually available to park.

Address:	Bayeux War Cemetery, Bayeux War Cemetery, 14400 Bayeux, France.
GPS Location:	N 49 16 23, W 00 42 56
Map Location:	View

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8 – St. Brieuc Western Communal Cemetery Cotes-d’Armor

The great majority of the sailors buried at St. Brieuc Western Communal Cemetery lost their lives when H.M.S. Charybdis was sunk off the Bord de la Rance in October 1943. There are now over 90, 1939-45 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, over a third are unidentified.

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JEŘÁBEK Jan, 22, Sgt, 313 Sqn., Pilot

* 08/11/19, Milevsko, Písek

† 15/07/42, English Channel

Spitfire Vb, AD372, shot down by fighter over English Channel about 60km South of Bolt Head, Devon.

Grave ref: Plot H. Row A. Grave 13

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STEFAN Benignus, 24, F/Lt, 313 Sqn., Pilot

* 09/05/18, Hradec Králové

† 08/03/43, Rennes, France

Spitfire Vc, AR547, shot down by fighter near Paimpol, France.

Grave ref: Plot H. Row A. Grave 10

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Visiting information here

Location Information:

St. Brieuc is the chief town and the seat of the Prefecture of the Department of the Cotes-d’Armor. The town lies 64 kilometres west of Dinard (Ille et Vilaine). The cemetery is 2 kilometres from the railway station, between the road to Brest and the road to the local aerodrome. From the Prefecture, follow the Rue de la Corderie onto the Rue J Nicolas and then into Rue Pinot where the cemetery entrance will be found on the right-hand side.

Address:	St. Brieuc Western Communal Cemetery, Rue de Cornouaille, 22000 Saint-Brieuc, France.
GPS Location:	N 48 30 58, W 02 47 07
Map Location:	View

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9 – Creil Communal Cemetery Oise

Creil Communal Cemetery contains the graves of 53 Commonwealth airmen of the Second World War. There are also six First World War burials in the cemetery, six Czech and two Polish war graves.

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HRADIL Bohuslav, 26, Sgt, 311 Sqn., Pilot

* 24/09/15, Bolelouc, Olomouc

† 03/03/42, Paris, France

Wellington Ic, KX-Y Z1070, shot down near Creil whilst on bombing raid to Paris.

Grave ref: Plot 2. Coll. grave 341-345

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KORMANOVIČ Imrich, 40, Sgt, 311 Sqn., Air Gunner

* 23/10/01, Krmeš, Galanta

† 03/03/42, Paris, France

Wellington Ic, KX-Y Z1070, shot down near Creil whilst on bombing raid to Paris.

Grave ref: Plot 2. Coll. grave 341-345

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KOTRCH Jan, 24, Sgt, 311 Sqn., Pilot

* 09/06/17, Sušice, Klatovy

† 03/03/42, Paris, France

Wellington Ic, KX-Y Z1070, shot down near Creil whilst on bombing raid to Paris.

Grave ref: Plot 2. Coll. grave 341-345

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STRACHOŇ Přibyslav, 22, Sgt, 311 Sqn., Air Gunner

* 12/12/19, Velké Pavlovice, Břeclav

† 03/03/42, Paris, France

Wellington Ic, KX-Y Z1070, shot down near Creil whilst on bombing raid to Paris.

Grave ref: Plot 2. Coll. grave 341-345

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SVOBODA Josef, 30, Sgt, 311 Sqn., Wireless Operator/Air Gunner

* 20/01/12, Vienna, Austria

† 03/03/42, Paris, France

Wellington Ic, KX-Y Z1070, shot down near Creil whilst on bombing raid to Paris.

Grave ref: Plot 2. Coll. grave 341-345

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TOLAR Alois, 27, P/O, 311 Sqn., Navigator

* 09/01/15, Brno

† 03/03/42, Paris, France

Wellington Ic, KX-Y Z1070, shot down near Creil whilst on bombing raid to Paris.

Grave ref: Plot 2. Coll. grave 341-345

A symbolic urn, No 43, is also interred at the Airman’s Memorial, Prostějov, Czech Republic

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Visiting information here

Location Information:

Creil is a town 32 kilometres south-east of Beauvais and 44 kilometres north of Paris. The Cemetery, known locally as the Cimetiere de Verdun, is situated south of the centre, between the Rue Leon Blum (N16) and the Rue de Verdun. The main entrance is in the Rue de Verdun.

Address:	Creil Communal Cemetery, 9 Rue de Verdun, 60100 Creil, France.
GPS Location:	N 49 15 20, E 02 28 36
Map Location:	View

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10 – Mazargues War Cemetry Marseilles, Bouches-du-Rhone

Marseilles was the Base of the Indian troops in France during the 1914-18 war; and throughout the War the Royal Navy, the Merchant Navy, British troops and Labour units worked in the port or passed through it. Four of the town cemeteries were used, in the main, for the burial of officers and men of the Commonwealth forces who died at Marseilles. At ST. PIERRE CEMETERY, on the East side of the town, the bodies of Hindu soldiers and labourers were cremated in 1914-16. LE CANET OLD CEMETERY and LE CANET NEW CEMETERY, on the Northside, were in 1917-19 the places of burial of Indian soldiers and Indian, Egyptian and Chinese labourers. MAZARGUES CEMETERY, on the South-East side, was used less in the War; but before the Armistice, an Extension was made, to which were removed, a little later, the bodies or ashes from the four Town cemeteries and from PORT ST. LOUIS-DU-RHONE COMMUNAL CEMETERY. There are now 1,487, 1914-18 and 267, 1939-45 war casualties commemorated in this site. The cemetery covers an of 9,021 square metres.

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BONK [BAK] František [Franciszek], 21, W/O, 304 Sqn., Wireless Operator/Air Gunner

* 13/10/23, Víťazovce

† 27/07/45, Chonas L´Amballan, France.

On a return flight to North Weald, his Warwick aircraft caught in a lightening storm and crashed near the village of Chon l’Amballan, killing all onboard.

Grave ref: Plot X Row A Grave 6

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Visiting information here

Location Information:

Marseilles is the chief town in the Department of the Bouches-du-Rhone. Mazargues is a southern suburb (the 9th Arrondissement), some 6 kilometres from the centre of Marseilles. The cemetery is located 200 metres south of the ‘Rond-Point de Mazargues’ on the main road (the D559) to Toulon via Cassis. The address of the cemetery is No.24 Avenue General de Lattre de Tassigny.

Address:	Mazargues War Cemetry, 24 Avenue du Maréchal de Lattre de Tassigny, 13009 Marseille, France.
GPS Location:	+43°14’56.76″, +5°24’19.12″
Map Location:	View

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The assistance of Ministerstvo obrany České republiky [Ministry of Defence, Czech Republic], the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, The War Graves Photographic Project and other valued contributors, with this article, is very much appreciated.

Article last updated 14 October 2019.