So, today I will start work on writing up the story behind the Funeral for the 2 airmen… Well, I say 2; there is even some dispute in that.

Roger Chavanet, in his book Histoire vécue des maquis de l’Azergues states that:

“Les recherches continuent et nous découvrons enfin l’appareil disloque et les corps des 3 aviateurs anglais.”

The searches continued and we finally discovered the wreckage and the bodies of 3 English airmen.

Marcel Chadebech , in Ce que j’ai connue de la Resistance, quotes;

“…mais ce n’est que pour retirer les corps des trois occupants de l’apareil britannique.”

… but it is only to remove the bodies of the three occupants of the British Aircraft.

One eye witness describes;

“Deux des avaiteurs furent enterrés au cimetiére de Letra et le troisiéme chez lui en Angleterre.”

 Two of the airmen were buried in the cemetery of Letra and the third at his home in England.

There is no doubt that the Maquis and the community of Letra , at considerable personal risk, organised a funeral for Christie and Flaherty with full military honours.

There are however, lots of questions to be answered and in the spring of 2017 it is true to say that the number of surviving eyewitnesses are getting fewer and fewer. So I will be hoping to create a full account of exactly what happened

Who, for example, managed the ceremony, Pére Renard, Pére Barral or/and l’abbé Joseph Verdier.

Lots of questions indeed. If you can help, please contact me.