Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

from the book: They Shall Grow not Old, page 667

Leiut. Harry Sager

PHOTO ADDED BY THE International Wargraves Photography Project. Original photo is on the Sgt Frank Edwin Spinks' Find A Grave Memorial, but it belongs with all seven memorials for the seven crewmen of the WWII British bomber Halifax MZ631 EY-Y of Squadron 78 who are buried in Longueil Churchyard. There are only five headstones since the last three gravestones mark final resting places of five of the seven crewmen who were, of necessity,buried together in the same grave.

The bomber was brought down over Varengeville-sur-Mer (near Dieppe), Seine-Maritime, Haute-Normandie, France, and the damaged aircraft crashed "in open country between Varengeville-sur-Mer (near Dieppe) and Longueil", a village 15 km to the west of Dieppe, the city larger in size and of greater logistical significance. At that time, Longueil, Seine-Maritime, Haute-Normandie, France, was simply designated Longueil, Oise, France.

From the wreckage the residents of Longueil retrieved the crewmen's remains and solemnly buried them in the "Longueil Communal Cemetery" (probably the "Longueil Churchyard"), marking the graves with five white crosses inscribed "R.A.F. Aviateur Britannique 13 Juin, 1944" (R.A.F. British Aviator, 13 June 1944), and planting flowers on each grave. A black-and-white photo of the graves dated 21 Nov 1947 shows them thus. (And thanks be to those who buried our war dead.)

At the end of the war, an investigation by the British Air Ministry ascertained that all seven crewmen lay buried there and, in 1948, their graves in the Longueil Churchyard were marked with gravestones erected by the Imperial War Graves Commission which allowed family members the input to declare their preferences and contribute a personal inscription if they desired. This enabled the placing of the Star of David on Lieut. Harry Sager's gravestone. (Source: personal records of, and Air Ministry correspondence to, Mrs. Mary Anderson Tomlinson, wife of crew member 1301516 Sgt. Freddie Tomlinson R.A.F.V.R., Air Bomber, including the letter informing her that Freddie was missing, and then, over a year later, confirming his death.)

Lieut. Harry Sager 14508311, Flying Officer (Navigator), J/29415, Royal Canadian Air Force, Age 23, British plot, Coll. grave 3-5.

Inscription: "Flying Officer H. Sager, Navigator, Royal Canadian Air Force 13TH June 1944, Age 23."

Star of David with Hebrew (read right to left)
ה ב צ נ ח
inside its center.

[beneath Star of David] Inscription: "Our Beloved Son and Brother, So Far Away, Our Hearts Will Forever Be With You]"

F/O. Harry Sager was the son of Moe and Mary Sager, of 3885 Laval Street, Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada. Born on the 26th January 1921 in Montreal, Canada. Enlisted May 1943. Joined the squadron at the same time as Fl/Sgt. Rae.

Order of Graves: LEFT to RIGHT: first, GRAVE 1, Sgt Frank Edwin Spinks (Air Gunner); second, GRAVE 2, Sgt Stanley Allan Rae (Pilot); then the following GRAVES 3-5 COLLECTIVELY (the other five crewmen): third or middle gravestone, two names together Sgt Harry George Colwell (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) (name on top) and Sgt Thomas Gilmartin (name on bottom); fourth or second to last Lieut. Harry Sager (navigator); fifth or last, two names together, Sgt Ronald Edward Miles (Flight Engineer) (name on top) and Sgt Frederick George Tomlinson (Air Bomber), (name on bottom) the last one in the row, far right. On the gravestones, inscriptions in English are all in capitals and only surnames are shown in full; given names are initials only.

The crew of Halifax MZ631 EY-Y lie buried in the south-east corner of Longueil Churchyard, Longueil, Oise, Seine-Maritime, Haute-Normandie, France.