The Canadian family members entered first to have time to find their loved ones
207 Sqn RAF Association
- Corless crew ME683 EM-W
Adegem Canadian War
Cemetery, 9th May 2005
Commonwealth 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
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please click on these
headstone images for a larger image (and when that
comes up, put your cursor on it to activate the expansion
button for an even larger one) CORLESS CREW EM-W ME683 |
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SOMERS, BRUCE ALLAN
Canadian: Flying Officer (Air Bomber) RCAF 207 (R.A.F.) Sqdn Age: 22 died 22/06/1944 Service No: J/24022 Son of William John and Gretta Somers of Cache Bay, Ontario, Canada; Stepson of Mabel Somers, of Cache Bay. Grave/Memorial Reference: II.J.1. Lancaster ME683 EM-W |
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MIREAULT, JOSEPH FRANCIS
Canadian: Sergeant (Air Gnr.) RCAF 207 (R.A.F.) Sqdn died 22/06/1944 Service No: R/222600 Grave/Memorial Reference: XI.J.3. Lancaster ME683 EM-W |
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BARNES, KENNETH VICTOR
Sergeant (Flt. Engr.) RAFVR 207 Sqdn. Age: 19 died 22/06/1944 Service No: 1867595 Son of Thomas Victor and Sarah Anne Barnes, of Cheshunt, Hertfordshire. Grave/Memorial Reference: XI.J.4. Lancaster ME683 EM-W |
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DE CASAGRANDE, RAPHAEL EDWARD
Sergeant (Nav.) RAFVR 207 Sqdn. Age: 20 died: 22/06/1944 Service No: 1398843 Son of Raphael Edward and Mary Genevieve de Casagrande, of Palmers Green, London. Grave/Memorial Reference: XI.J.5. Lancaster ME683 EM-W |
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BORE, STANLEY ROBERT
Flight Sergeant (W. Op./Air Gnr.) RAFVR 207 Sqdn. Age: 23 died 22/06/1944 Service No: 1289453 Son of Ernest Robert and Louisa Bore of Greenwich, London. Grave/Memorial Reference: XI.J.6. Lancaster ME683 EM-W |
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MAGOFFIN, JAMES IVAN
Canadian: Sergeant (Air Gnr.) RCAF 207 (R.A.F.) Sqdn died 22/06/1944 Service No: R/191611 Grave/Memorial Reference: XI.J.7. Lancaster ME683 EM-W |
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 |
| 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 Alkins |
images: Haslam, Bill Alkins
last update 3 Aug 05