Allied war memorial unveiled, featuring Bradfield RAF pilot who crashed in Northern France in 1940

A French memorial featuring the name of a Bradfield pilot killed in the Second World War has been inaugurated.

On Saturday, April 26, the commune of Boussieres-sur-Sambre in Northern France inaugurated its memorial dedicated to 116 Allied servicemen killed on Sambrian and Avesnois soil.

And among the 71 British names listed is 27-year-old flight lieutenant Mark Medley Carter, who was flying with 3 Squadron RAF when he was shot down over France on May 15, 1940. He is buried in Maubeuge.

Mr Carter, son of Edward and Margaret Carter and husband to Eve Carter, came from Bradfield.

French researcher Feutry Bernard contacted newburytoday in November 2023 searching for his relatives.

A month later, Mr Carter’s granddaughter Emma Carter came forward. Most of her family are based in Bucklebury and Midgham.

Mr Bernard began researching Allied airmen killed in crashes over northern France ahead 12 years ago.

His project started after he successfully identified the crew of an unknown plane which crashed in his village of Vieux Mesnil.

After contacting the victims’ families, a small memorial service was held.

But Mr Bernard then wanted to learn the histories of all aviators buried in cemeteries in his region.

He found 29 families and went ahead with work on the memorial, which is now open for public viewing.