Lancaster bomber crew
(Memorial Ceremony 7 June 2015)
On 6th June 1944 a Lancaster bomber of the Royal Australian Air Force was shot down in Cerisy-la-Salle. None of the seven crew survived. The pilot was Australian, the crew British. Each year, on the first Sunday in June, there is a ceremony at the memorial to the crew. The local band marches down from the church, followed by anciens combattants carrying their commune banners the names of the crew read out, , wreaths are laid, a minute's silence is observed in memory of the crew. This set of photos and video clips conveys something of the atmosphere. In 2015 the ceremony was attended by more than 100 people. This year David Elcombe (photo at right) nephew of Robert Elcombe (one of the seven crew killed, aged 18) was there for the first time and laid a small cross against his uncle's name.
For the 2014 ceremony click here |
On Parade
(17" and 24")
Prelude
Yves Simon, Mayor of Cerisy-la-Salle, greets guests and mayors of other communes (27")
Laying of wreaths
1: Yves Simon introduces the wreath layers
2: The wreath-layers wait
3: Wreath-layers: Michel Marguérie (Chairman of the local veterans) and Serge Torchio, then aged 11, who saw the Lancaster come down and, in July 1944, showed the war photographer Robert Capa round the battle scenes in Notre Dame de Cenilly.
National Anthems
God Save the Queen
La Marseillaise