As part of their Remembrance activities earlier this month, 4 members of the RAF Cottesmore RAFA Committee undertook a visit to northern France to commemorate the Armistace.  CT Dave Craven (Chairman) led the party accompanied by Cpl Richie Crouch, SAC Lucy King and FS Neil Storer, an Association member.  Also on the visit were 2 photographers LA(Phot) Lewie Holden and SAC Danni Farrell.  Neil took with him a wreath to lay at the grave of LAC Leonard Charles Lansdowne, a member of 3206 SC, at Marissel Cemetry in Beauvais, on behalf of our Association.

The trip was centred around the town of Ferte-Sous-Jouarre, whose Mayor heads up the local administration that covers some 19 smaller communities; the team were involved in various commemoration ceremonies in the area on Remembrance Sunday, 11th November 2008.  In particular, they attended the commemorations at Basseville Cemetry, and from Neil’s description, it is clear that the local community still holds the final resting place of 4 members of a Lancaster crew who are buried there in high regard and with the utmost respect.  In Ferte-Sous-Jouarre, wreaths were laid at both the British and French memorials.  Children and young people were at the centre of each of these memorial services; at the French memorial, local children read extracts from letters sent back from the trenches to families in the local area.  After a Civic reception, the RAFA committee joined ATC Cadets at another Commonwealth Cemetery at Perreuse.