Commonwealth War Graves Saint-Pierre-en-Port

There are two Commonwealth war graves in the old cemetery of Saint-Pierre-en-Port.

The first is that of Wing Commander Reginald Gilbert Squarey Morgan-Weld-Smith. He flew with Coastal Command in 59 Squadron. On 1 August 1940, he washed up on the stony beach of Saint-Pierre-en-Port and was buried there. That afternoon at 3 p.m., he had taken off from Thorney Island Air Base in Sussex for a bombing raid on Cherbourg Airport. The exact cause of the crash of the Blenheim IV L8792 is unknown, but there was a lot of anti-aircraft fire, which may have been the cause of the crash. Also on board were Observer Pilot Officer David Henry Davis and Wireless Operator/Air Gunner Sergeant Peter Pryde. Davis was of Jewish descent. He was 27 years old. Pryde was only 19 years old. Davis washed ashore at St. Valery-en-Caux and Pryde at Veules-les-Roses, and both are buried in those places.

The second grave is that of an Australian who died on 14 March 1944. His name was Kenneth Barry Kemmis. He died at the age of 20 as a Flight Sergeant and flew with 186 Squadron. On 13 March 1944, he left Lympne for a night exercise during a non-operational flight. There was still radio contact with the pilot, but everything seemed fine at the time. Unfortunately, he never returned. Kenneth Barry Kemmis washed up on the beach at Saint-Pierre-en-Port.

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Source

• Text: Chris Dijkshoorn
• Photos: Chris Dijkshoorn