Evans, Graham Herbert Died
Personal Information
| Rank | Sgt |
| Forename(s) | Graham Herbert |
| Surname | Evans |
| Gender | M |
| Age | 21 |
| Date of Death | 26-03-1944 |
| Next of Kin | Son of William Jenkins Stanley and Elizabeth Evans, of Ystrad Mynach. |
Aircraft Information
| Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
| Serial Number | LW693 |
| Markings | KW-V V-Victor |
Memorial Information
| Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
| Burial/Memorial Place | Ystrad Mynach (Holy Trinity) Churchyard |
| Grave Reference | Plot F. Grave 290. |
| Epitaph | GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS, THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS |
IBCC Memorial Information
| Phase | 2 |
| Panel Number | 161 |
Enlistment Information
| Service Number | 1025594 |
| Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
| Group | 6 |
| Squadron | 425 (Alouette) |
| Squadron Motto | Je te plumerai (I shall pluck you) |
| Trade | Air Gunner |
| Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
| Location | Outside Village Hall, Dishforth, North Yorkshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Memorial Stone and inscribed metal plaque |
| Memorial Text | In memory of the Canadian aircrew of 425 and 426 Sqns RCAF who served at RAF Dishforth, 1942-1945 |
| Location | Village Green, Tholthorpe, North Yorkshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Memorial Stone, inscribed metal plaque and Maple Tree |
| Memorial Text | A memorial, in French, to those Canadians who served at RAF Tholthorpe during WW2, including 425 Sqn |
| Location | Allerton Park Castle, Allerton, North Yorkshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque |
| Memorial Text | Memorial Garden dedicated to the 4272 personnel of 6 (RCAF) Gp based at Allerton Castle who gave the ultimate sacrifice during WWII to preserve our freedom |
Miscellaneous Information
| Cpl Craig Reid survived the crash. He was actually a ground radar technician but had stood in for a colleague who was on a 'hot date'! Sgt Bill Cameron (A/2403) also survived the crash only to be killed over Germany a few weeks later. |
| There is a plaque at Westbury House, Bradford on Avon (BA15 1DE) in memory of those lost. The deaths of the crew members that died were registered at Trowbridge - Wiltshire. |
Fellow Servicemen
Please note that this list gives all the losses aboard the quoted aircraft and occasionally these may have occurred on an earlier date when the aircraft was not itself lost. Please check the dates of death carefully.
| Name | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Grover D H S (P/O) | Died |
| Hall J G B (P/O) | Died |
| Newton H (Sgt) | Died |
| Porter R S (P/O) | Died |
| Simpson F N (Sgt) | Died |
Last Operation Information
| Start Date | 26-03-1944 |
| End Date | 26-03-1944 |
| Takeoff Station | Tholthorpe |
| Day/Night Raid | Day |
| Operation | Training- cross-country flying exercise |
| Reason for Aircraft Loss | Last seen over Bradford on Avon with one engine on fire, circling in pursuit of a suitable place to crash-land. The order to bale out was issued and three obliged, but the aircraft was too low for their parachutes to be effective and they were killed. The pilot eventually lost his fight to control the aircraft and he and the rear gunner remained in the aircraft as it crashed and exploded. Townsfolk dragged out the rear gunner but he died of his injuries moments later. |