The War Grave of Giverny
by Ariane ~ June 10, 2016
In the cemetery of Giverny, a grave indicated by British flags stands out. “These seven air men fell and were buried together”, it says. Seven plaques with a personal sentence remember their names. These young men were flying a Lancaster that was hit by the DCA and fell in the fields not far from the Seine river, the day after D-Day (7th June 1944). A photo taken probably shortly before they died shows them all.
The tomb is much visited. People leave stones, or flowers like the paper poppies. On June 7, two English ladies had decided to pay these soldiers a tribute by leaving a hand written message on the grave. “On this, the 72nd anniversary of the loss of you all, such brave and such young men, it is due to your sacrifice and others like you that we are free today. Thank you. We come here to remember you and to pay tribute. From Deux Anglaises.”
May 10th, 2020 at 3:27 pm
I found this grave by accident while visiting Monet’s garden. I was born in 1950 and have no connection with Army, Navy or Royal Air Force. My father fought in the Second World War along with his four brothers. They all came home unscathed. However, I was moved to tears by these men who gave their lives and are buried away from their homes.
May 23rd, 2020 at 6:34 pm
my cousin Jack Leslie Fyfe.was one of the crew.
June 9th, 2020 at 3:22 am
Thank you William. Where he is now, I’m sure he is happy you think of him.
September 24th, 2022 at 2:14 pm
Coming upon this unexpected gravesite after experiencing the joy of Monet’s garden brought great sadness to me. The happy, confident faces of the airmen together with their subsequent fate reminds one that so often our freedom is paid for by others. God bless them!