207 SQUADRON ROYAL AIR FORCE HISTORY
207 Squadron RAF Association - Corless crew ME683 EM-W
Adegem Canadian War Cemetery, 9th May 2005Commonwealth War Graves Commission Adegem pages
The Canadian family members entered first to have time to find their loved ones
The Corless crew graves lie in plot XI row J graves 1-7
L-R: Somers - Corless (with wreath) - Mireault - Barnes - De Casagrande - Bore - Magoffin
Kevin Mapley with our Canadian friends come to honour their kin
Jim Alkins talks of the significance of the visit to his family after
Kevin Mapley laid the wreath to the crew at Alvin Corless's grave
The Alkins brothers with Norah Alkins and
Kevin Mapley at Alvin Corless's grave
Sgt Ivan Magoffin RCAF: Yvonne Gray and Ferne Melvin with a Belgian friend at their brother's grave
F/O Bruce Somers RCAF: Norah Alkins at her brother's grave
F/O Bruce Somers' nephews
Nephew of F/O Bruce Somers, Jim Alkins, with his brother Bill accompanied their mother, Bruce's sister Norah, on the visit. Jim told us: "It is difficult to come together as a group and tour cemeteries and visit grave sites of lost family and friends and in some cases people we never had a chance to know. The trip has provided a great opportunity to travel with members of the Squadron and to hear their wartime stories.
We have gained an understanding of the wartime experiences which in many ways has brought “life” to those relatives lost during the war. It is comforting to visit the gravesites and know that our family and friends lost during the war are being well looked after. We greatly appreciate the opportunity to meet all the people on the tour and thank Kevin Mapley and Frank Haslam for all their efforts in organizing what has been a great trip."
F/O Bruce Somers
source: Bill Alkinsimages: Haslam, Bill Alkins
last update 3 Aug 05: 18 Nov 17