Eighty years ago, a 61 Royal Air Force Squadron Lancaster crashed into a meadow in the village of Givry, Hainaut, Belgium. Of the eight men on board (7 British and 1 Australian), none survived the disaster. The Airmen are buried in the cemetery of Chièvres.
On Monday, April 17, 2023, the anniversary of this disaster, the people of Givry gathered to inaugurate the memorial dedicated to young airmen who died 80 years earlier, while they were in the prime of their life.
The monument was designed and built by two young Givry citizens, Frédéric and Julien Gaillard. They wanted to preserve these young Heroes from oblivion and pay tribute to them through their work. In order to give their approach a certain importance, they would the dedication of the monument to be equal to the sacrifice made by the young airmen of the Lancaster W4317. So they contacted the association “The Belgians Remember Them” and it was agreed that we would organize the solemn commemoration.
After several meetings to organize the ceremony, it was decided that the students of the Givry school would actively participate in the celebration. An appointment was made with the school management and two weeks before the event, Wilfred Burie went to the class where he explained to the pupils the story of the plane crash, the sacrifice of the airmen and their involvement in the process of manifestation.
The day of the unveiling of the Memorial has arrived and Belgian and foreign diplomatic, military and civilian personalities have arrived. Many patriotic from province Hainaut and national associations responded by sending delegations and their standard-bearers to Givry. The children of the village school are there, impressed by the number of personalities in uniform and the many banners floating in the wind.
The gest arrive one by one
from l to r: Stephen Hanson, Chairman of RAFA, Warant Officer (RAAF) Ken Robertson, Warant Officerof Joined operations Command in Australia, Wilfred Burie et le Wing Commander Jesse Laroche, Attaché of défence to the Australian Embassy in Brussels
M. Rémy Delcourt et the pupils of Givry school
Standard-Bearers of Royal British Legion and RAFA
Arrival of Colonel Guy Dobbelaer, Military Commander of du Hainaut
Arrival of Group Captain John Dickson, British Military Attaché represanting the United Kingdom
Celle de Madame Catherine Milar, Ambassadeur d'Australie
Standard Bearers are ready
Speaker, Wilfred Burie welcomes the guests
The pupils are attentive
Adults also
Mrs Catherine Poncin, Alderwoman de Quévy wishes welcom on behalf of communal administration of Quévy
Mrs Catherine Milar, Ambassador of Australia pronounces her speech - Download here the text of her speech
M. Daniel Penant tells the story of the crash of Lancaster W4317 - Download here the text of his story
After the authorities unveiled the monument, the names of the Heroes are cited in Remembrance. Each name is followed by the bell sounded by a student
Mrs Milar and Australian Defence Attaché Jesse Laroche lay their wreath
Group Captain, on behalf of the United Kingdom
M. Stephen Hanson represents Royal Air Forces Association
Colonel Dobbelaer lays flowers on behalf of Military Command of the Province of Hainaut
Ms Catherine Poncin pays tribute on behalf of commune of Quévy
Mrs Nadine Clarisse, Vice-president of CEAC with members of her association
Mrs Marie-Christine Chevalier-Vanroost lays flowers on behalf of FRME and Armée Secrète
The President of theassociation "les Six Clochers" lays his wreath
Two pupils come with the wreath of "The Belgians Remember Them" which is laid by President Wilfred Burie
After bells of Last-Post and Reveille, the citation of the Exhortation" and Kohima" in French by two pupils and the minute of silence, the national anthems are played
Respect
