In my review of Castle Archdale Country Park I indicated that during World War II the park, then Castle Archdale Manor House and Estate were commandeered by the Royal Air Force and was a significant base for PBY Catalinas and Short Sunderlands flying boats which flew from Castle Archdale to protect Atlantic shipping from German U-boats.
Another RAF base was located at Killadeas, about half way between Castle Archdale and Enniskillen.
Servicemen from all over the Commonwealth came to be stationed at these bases and flew into and out of them at regular intervals.
Alas, not everyone survived these flights and there were numerous deaths and losses of aircraft. When found, the remains of British personnel were generally returned, at the request of their families, to their homes for burial while those of other Commonwealth service personnel, following a non repatriation policy started in World War I, were buried in Commonwealth War Graves cemeteries. Sadly those found represent only a fraction of the total number lost from the bases, several crews simply “failed to return” whilst others fell prey to the alert gun crews of the U-boats they attacked.
In addition to those returned home for burial, 84 WWII Commonwealth servicemen were buried in two Commonwealth War Graves cemeteries in Irvinestown, about six mile from each of the bases.
74 were buried in war graves in Derryvullan North Church of Ireland graveyard (pictures 1-4 attached – picture 4 being Derryvullan Church). In addition to the 74 WWII interments the war graves section of the graveyard includes one burial from WWI. As is typical in war graves cemeteries containing more than 40 graves a Cross of Sacrifice can be seen here in Irvinestown (picture 2).
The remaining 10 WWII war graves are located in the war graves section of the cemetery at the Roman Catholic Church of the Sacred Heart, a couple of hundred metres down the road (picture 5 – with thanks to the Commonwealth Graves Commission). This cemetery also contains one WWI war grave.
The majority of those buried in both cemeteries are Canadian with a small number of Australians though two graves in the Church of Ireland cemetery contain the remains of unidentified RAF airmen.
The first WWII personnel to be buried here (Church of Ireland) was the crew of a Catalina which crashed in March 1941, the first operational flight by a Catalina in RAF livery. The last burial in 1946 was that of an unknown airman which a local fisherman found close to Gay Island in Lough Erne.
As with Commonwealth War Graves almost everywhere the cemeteries, with their Irish limestone headstones, are well tended and fitting memorials to those who gave their lives in WWI and WWII.
In researching this review I came across the following tribute by a Helene Turner (about whom I have not been able to find any information) to the Canadian airmen who served in County Fermanagh (Lough Erne). The poem is inscribed on a memorial on the Cliffs of Magho overlooking Lough Erne on its western side. While perhaps not the best poetry I have read, I found it rather touching so thought I would share it:
In Memory of the Air Crews
Canadians from a far off land
Extended to us a helping hand
Catalina’s set forth in the dead of night
Valiant men off to the fight.
For freedom and the defence of you and I
True heroes of land sea and sky
Sunderland’s too – along the Donegal Corridor fly
Mighty thunder of the engines, through clouds high.
Called to arms to go and serve
With great courage and great nerve
What must have been a wonderful sight?
In the early mist of morning light.
Ooh what stories you could tell
As you flew into the jaws of hell
For some there will be no return
And those with regret we will mourn.
These men so generous – gave their all
In answer to this nations call
Who are now fleeting spirits passing through
Blessed by deeds they did do.
Crew and comrades in eternal sleep
At rest in Atlantic waters deep
Who now await the trumpets roar
And will reply to the flag once more.
This memorial in your name
Enshrined in our hearts you will remain
So soft rain keeps green the fern
Another day dawns over the Lough of Erne.
Address: Church Street (B534)
Directions: Both Churches on the left hand side of the road leaving Irvinestown.
Website: http://www.cwgc.org/
This blog entry is one of a group (loop) of entries based on many trips to Enniskillen. I suggest you continue with my next entry – Garden of Celtic Saints – or to start the loop at the beginning go to my introductory entry – “Fare thee well Enniskillen, ………..”
The Rambling Wombat 