Crash Site Fairey Battle Bomber P 2204 PH-F Veldwezelt

Memorial commemorating the airmen of the Fairey Battle Bomber P 2204 PH-F of 12 (B) Squadron RAF who were killed attacking the Albert Canal Bridges on 12 may 1940.
Flying Officer Donald Edward Garland (pilot) age 21
Sergeant Thomas Gray (observer) age 26
L.A.C. Lawrence Royston Reynolds (wireless operator/air gunner) age 20.

On 10 May 1940, the bridge over the Albert Canal at Veldwezelt fell into the Germans’ hands without damage, so that the Wehrmacht invade Belgium fast. In order to hold up the enemy’s advance, British ‘Fairey Battle’ planes of the N° 12 (B) Squadron tried to destroy this bridge on 12 May 1940.
Three planes, under the leadership of Flying Officer D.E. Graland, made the Veldwezelt bridge to their object. Two of them were brought down by German fighters and anti-aircraft fire.
F/O D.E. Garland, Sergeant T. Gray and Leading Aircraftman L.R. Reynolds laid down their lives near the bridge. The were buried in Lanaken. In 1949 their bodies were reinterred at the Heverlee British Military Cemetery.
F/O Garland and Sgt. Gray were awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest military honours of Britain, posthumously. On 12 May 1990, this monument was unveiled by the "Wickenby Register", the association of veterans of the N° 12 (B) RAF Squadron. The ceremony was attended by relatives of the fallen crew.

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Source

• Text: Luc Van Waeyenberge
• Photos: Luc Van Waeyenberge
• Informatiebord