Memorial HR 872, LQ-K
The Memorial stone on August 14, 2023. Floral tributes from the Commune of Saint-Hubert, the Amicale des Anciens des deux guerres of Saint-Hubert and the Indian Head Association. S. Hérin Photo
2023 COMMEMORATION CEREMONY
The cross on August 12, 2023. J Félix Photo
Awenne (Belgium), September 15, 2012 – Dedication of a Memorial stone in memory of the RCAF 405 Squadron Halifax HR 872 LQK crew that crashed in the woods of Awenne in the night of August 9 to 10, 1943
The HR 872 LQ-K belonged to 405 Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) which was assigned to the 8th group of the Pathfinder Force, a target marking unit composed of the British Royal Air Force (RAF) Bomber Command elite.
After taking off from Gransden Lodge airfield (70 kilometres from London, UK) at 10.52 p.m. on August 9, 1943, with a crew of seven (six Canadians and one Scot) the Halifax joins an airborne armada of 457 aircraft on a mission to bomb the German town of Mannheim. On August 10, just before 1.00 a.m., flying towards the target, the aircraft is spotted by a Messerschmitt Bf 110 of the German night fighter force based at Florennes (Belgium).
The pilot of the German aircraft gives chase and aims at the fuel tanks situated between the wings of the bomber plane with its cargo of flare bombs destined to light up the enemy target. Seriously damaged, the bomber loses a wing and ends its fatal flight here: the plane explodes and there are no survivors.
On September 15, 2012, the Commune of Saint-Hubert (Belgium) unveiled a Memorial stone in memory of the crew of the HR 872 LQK, in the presence of a delegation of 31 people comprised of the families of the allied airmen and Mr. Fred Davies, Canadian WW II veteran of the 405 Squadron to which the crew belonged, with his family, in the presence of the British Ambassador, the representative of the Canadian Ambassador, members of the Canadian armed forces, delegations of RCAF 405 Long Range Patrol Squadron of 14 Wing Greenwood from Nova Scotia (Canada), representatives of the Royal British Legion, the 2nd Tactical Wing of the Belgian Air Force of Florennes, the Belgian Veterans Associations and the Chasseurs Ardennais of Marche-en-Famenne (Belgium).
The crew of HR 872 LQ-K was comprised of 6 Canadians and 1 Scot:
Flight Lieutenant Kenneth MacGregor Gray, RCAF (pilot)
Flying Officer Allan John Middleton, RCAF (navigator)
Sergeant Henry King, RAF (radio operator/air gunner)
Sergeant Douglas Allen Black, RCAF (flight engineer)
Flight sergeant James Henry Evans, RCAF (bomb aimer)
Flight sergeant Charles William Pickering, RCAF (mid-upper gunner)
Flight sergeant James Hanna, RCAF (rear gunner)
The airmen are buried in the Florennes Communal Cemetery, 22 kilometres south-east of Charleroi (Belgium). On September 15, 2012, the families gathered at the graves with unspeakable emotion.
Awenne (Belgium), August 12, 2023 – Ceremony to commemorate the
80th anniversary of the death of the RCAF 405 Squadron crew
onboard the Halifax HR 872 LQ-K bomber that crashed in the woods of
Awenne in the night of August 9 to 10, 1943.
On August 12, 2023, eleven years after its inauguration on September
15, 2012, the site of the Halifax HR 872 LQ-K Memorial in Awenne was
the focus of remembrance ceremonies organized by the Commune
(Municipality) of Saint-Hubert (Belgium). As part of a World War II re-
enactment camp held at the Saint-Hubert airfield, the Commune of
Saint-Hubert invited its commemoration partner, Indian Head, to halt
at the Halifax HR 872 LQ-K Memorial in Awenne.
On August 12, 2023, the Commune of Saint-Hubert commemorated in
Awenne the 80th anniversary of the crash of the Halifax HR 872 LQ-K,
and paid tribute to the RCAF 405 Squadron crew who perished on
August 10, 1943. In his speech, Pierre Henneaux, Mayor of Saint-
Hubert, recalled the inauguration of the Memorial stone of
September 15, 2012:
"Ladies and Gentlemen,
We are gathered here today to commemorate that nightmarish night of
August 9 to 10, 1943, nearly 80 years ago, when the Halifax HR 872 LQK
was shot down by the German night fighter force in the woods between
Awenne and Saint-Hubert: the crew, seven young airmen, six Canadians
and one Scotsman, all perished.
Since then, a cross brought by the inhabitants of Awenne, including
Lucien Guillaume, who is here today, has stood guard over the site,
which has been restored by the staff of the Domaine Provincial
of Mirwart.
On the initiative of the Commune of Saint-Hubert and its work forces
who cleared and built the site, a Memorial stone was inaugurated on
September 15, 2012 before a delegation of 31 people made up of the
families of the allied airmen and a veteran of the 405 Squadron to
which the crew belonged.
On this day of commemoration, we all remember this atrocious war
that saw the deaths of thousands of soldiers, fighting for our freedom.
They were Belgians, French, British, Americans, Russians, Algerians,
Tunisians, Australians, Canadians... who sacrificed themselves for us, for
their children, for our children.
When May 8, 1945 came, it was the end of a nightmare, it was an
immense joy shared everywhere with our liberators, it was the dream of
a new world to be rebuilt, peaceful, free and prosperous.
This period is slipping inexorably away from us, and the direct witnesses
are disappearing.
This makes it all the more essential to keep alive the memory of this
war, its abominations, and those who were its victims.
Our fight against all forms of dictatorship, contempt, intolerance and
fundamentalism, our fight for a just and united society, are all ways of
being faithful to the memory of those we wish to honour today, in front
of this monument.
May they all rest in peace with the individual and collective expression
of our profound respect and recognition for what they did for us, for the
message they left us and the words they make resonate in us, such as
respect, peace and solidarity.
If we turn our gaze towards this monument today, it is to hope that
through the memory of yesterday's dead, the destiny of justice and
fraternity among men will be shaped into our tomorrow.
We are especially grateful to the municipal and provincial work forces
whose efforts ensured that this place of commemoration is worthy of
the bravery of the soldiers.ʺ
Pierre Henneaux, Mayor of Saint-Hubert, Awenne, August 12, 2023
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The Guestbook signed on this occasion:
This Saturday August 12, 2023, the 80th anniversary of the crash of the
Halifax HR 872 LQ-K in the Awenne woods on the night of August 9 to
10, 1943.
On this special day marking 80 years since the tragic crash of the
Halifax HR 872 LQ-K in Awenne (Saint-Hubert), we remember with
respect and emotion these brave men:
Sergeant Henry KING, Flight Lieutenant Kenneth GRAY, Flight Sergeant
James EVANS, Flying Officer Allan MIDDLETON, Flight Sergeant Charles
PICKERING, Flight Sergeant James HANNA and Sergeant Douglas BLACK
who sacrificed their lives in the service of freedom. May their courage
and dedication remain etched in our hearts and remind us that the
peace and security we enjoy today were preserved thanks to their
ultimate sacrifice. We pay tribute to their memory by honouring their
legacy, which continues to inspire us. May their memory always remind
us of the inestimable value of peace and freedom for future
generations.
We, who were present at this ceremony, signed this Guestbook with
respect and emotion.
Awenne, August 12, 2023
The Mayor of Saint-Hubert pays tribute to the seven HR 872 LQ-K airmen before a large audience.
J Félix Photo
Awenne, August 12, 2023. The flag-bearers of the Belgian Amicale des Anciens des deux guerres (Veterans Association of the two wars) of Saint-Hubert (Arville-Lorcy-Awenne-Vesqueville-Mirwart) and the Souvenir Français for the Province of Luxembourg surround the Memorial stone. Photo of Commune of Saint-Hubert, Alderman for ceremonies
The Halifax HR 872 LQ-K Memorial in Awenne on August 10, 2023. Overgrown with time, the site of the cross was restored in 2012. Now protected by a roof, this commemorative cross was brought by
handcart to the site in 1947 by Awenne inhabitants, including Lucien Guillaume, who was present at the 2023 commemoration at the age of 96. In the early 2000s, a municipal worker from Saint-Hubert became interested in the history of the cross in the forest, and researched the crew of the HR 872 LQ-K. In 2005, he undertook clearing work. In 2012, the Commune of Saint-Hubert and its workers built the access roads, with the assistance of the Domaine Provincial of Mirwart. On September 15, 2012, the families of the allied airmen planted a maple tree from Canada and heather from Scotland near the Memorial stone inaugurated in memory of the crew of HR 872 LQ-K. S. Hérin Photo
2012 DEDICATION CEREMONY