Woman travels to opening of memorial featuring her grandfather’s name, an RAF pilot shot down over France in 1940
A woman has travelled to France for the official opening of a memorial featuring her grandfather’s name, a pilot killed in the Second World War.
The memorial, dedicated to Allied airmen who crashed in Northern France, lists the names of 71 British airmen – including one pilot from Bradfield.
Flight lieutenant Mark Medley Carter was shot down over France while serving in the RAF on May 15, 1940, aged 27.
And now his granddaughter Emma Carter, who grew up in Hermitage, has travelled to France with her husband to pay her respects to the relative she never met.
Mrs Carter, from Chichester, joined the opening ceremony with relatives of at least 16 other fallen airmen.
They sung each country’s National Anthem and were treated to an air show featuring a mix of Allied and German aircraft.
Reflecting on the occasion, she told newburytoday: “It was unbelievable. They read out every single airman's name. The local people were just amazing.
READ MORE: Family of Bradfield pilot killed in Second World War found
“We realised some of these [guests] were probably part of our crew, so we met them in the hotel and then went out for supper.”
She also visited the site where her grandfather was buried and the airport in Merville where his squadron was based.
“It was quite emotional,” she added. “We found out lots more about my grandfather, which was wonderful.
READ MORE: French historian searches for descendants of Bradfield pilot killed in Second World War
“We sat and had a beer overlooking the airfield. It was quite poignant thinking it was almost 85 years since he was working there.”
Mrs Carter first contacted newburytoday after reading an appeal for information published on behalf of French researcher Feutry Bernard, who was then researching Allied airmen killed in crashes in his region.
