622 Squadron RAF in France 1943

[Svenja]

Hello

In summer 2006 I was in France on the traces of both World Wars.
In the Argonnen (near Verdun) I saw this Memorial Stone
(It was in front of the French Military Cemetery Lachalade):

622 Squadron Royal Air Force

P'O Morcombe William James
F'S Richards Harold 2nP
F'S Smith Donald Sinclair NAV
Sgt Thomas Stanley Alan WO P
F'S Conroy Reginald Matthew
Sgt Ough Alan Andrew RG
Sgt Sly Arthur Ernest FE
Sgt Harper Robert BA WO
évadé, capturé, déporté
à Buchenwald, décédé en 1977

1943

Perhaps someone is searching for this names. I don't have any
other Infos about this men and I don't know why there is written
décédé (died) en 1977. Buchenwald is situated near Weimar in
East Germany. If someone is interested in a photo of this Memorial
Stone I could send it by Email.

Best regards
Svenja

[Svenja]

Hello

I have just searched for this men in the following database:
http://www.cwgc.org/debt_of_honour.asp?searchFor=casualty

And I have found there seven of them, they all died on 18.11.1943 and are buried at Lachalade Churchyard:

Morcombe William James, Australian, 20 years old, Pilot Officer, Royal Australian Air Force
Richards Harold Leslie Raymond, New Zealand, 28 y.o., Flight Sergeant, Royal New Zealand Air Force
Smith Donald Sinclair, United Kingdom, 28 years old, Flight Sergeant, Royal Air Force
Thomas Stanley Alan, United Kingdom, 23 years old, Sergeant, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Conroy Reginald Matthew, Australian, 24 years old, Fligth Sergeant, Royal Australian Air Force
Ough Alan Andrew, United Kingdom, 19 years old, Sergeant, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Sly Arthur Ernest, United Kingdom, unknown age, Sergeant, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

I didn't find Harper Robert, so I think that "évadé, capturé, déporté à Buchenwald, décédé en 1977" is describing his fate.

I just found them also on the French Website Mémorial-GenWeb:

http://www.memorial-genweb.org/~memorial2/html/etrangers/resultcommune.php?idsource=1090&dpt=55&insee=55266

Best regards
Svenja

[Svenja]

Hello

Here is some Info about the 622 Squadron:
http://www.raf.mod.uk/bombercommand/h622.html

Here are some more Infos about their Stirling
and the fate of Robert Harper after the crash:
http://www.lostbombers.co.uk/bomber.php?id=167

Here is some Info about Sly Arthur Ernest:
http://www.warmemorial.firstworldwarrelics.co.uk/html/raf_wwii.html

Here are some details about the life oft the Pilot Officer W.J. Morcombe
http://www.rootsweb.com/~auschs/cw6.html

There are also some details about the life of his cousin Frank Keith Morcombe.
He was also in the Royal Australian Air Force and died in a flying accident in 1943
http://www.rootsweb.com/~auschs/cw5.html

Greetings
Svenja

[Svenja]

Hi

I have just noticed that some of the links I gave above didn't work anymore.
So I searched and found most of the content on another websites and I
also found some additional information on new websites.


Here is some information about the 622 Squadron
http://www.raf.mod.uk/history/bombercommandno622squadron.cfm

Headstones and Pictures of W. J. Morcombe and R. M. Conroy
http://www.inmemories.com/Cemeteries/lachalade.htm
 

Obituary with details about Pilot Officer W.J. Morcombe.                 
He belonged to the Royal Australian Air Force.
http://www.carnamah.com.au/cw10

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=dfl&GRid=55956228


Here are some details about his Cousin Frank Keith Morcombe.
He was also in the Royal Au Air Force and died in flight accident in 1943.

http://www.raafdb.com/view_casualty.asp?id=5015
 

Australian War Memorial - Roll of Honour
Pilot Officer W.J. Morcombe and his Cousin Frank Keith Morcombe

http://www.awm.gov.au/research/people/roll_of_honour/person.asp?p=558187

http://www.awm.gov.au/research/people/roll_of_honour/person.asp?p=558186


May it be helpful for someone.

Regards
Svenja