Victor Arthur Rendell

1912 - 1940

Victor Arthur RENDELL was born in 1912, originating in the Shoeburyness city in the area of Essex into Large - Brittany.

He is a Pilote officer, in the 83 Squadron, unit of the ROYAL Air Force like volunteer of reserve.

September the 18, and 19 1940, it flies away on board a HAMPDEN I to take part in a raid on the ports of the Sleeve in companies of three aviators. On 174 apparatuses, 8 planes do not re-enter.

One two relates to the HAMPDEN I of the pilot RENDELL, who is killed in the estuary of the Seine by the enemy with a few kilometers of the port of LE HAVRE.

The plane is damaged at sea. The body of the officer of the R.A.F is fished out by a fisherman of Honfleur, Mr DUPONT on board " the Marseillaise " , who brings back it to the small pier. Two other members of the crew are found, it acts Messrs LINSDELL and PITCAIRN HILL, which will be buried respectively in the communes of Villerville and   Luc on Mer. Pilot RENDELL is buried with the cemetery   Saint Léonard de Honfleur, September 20, 1940. Its tomb was covered at once with flowers among which one honfleurais slips an English flag.

This gesture displeased with German and prohibited then the deposit of flowers under penalty of arrest. The name of sergeant Mc CARTHY is engraved on the wall of RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL meadows of the Windsor city into Large - Brittany.

August 23, 1998, the town of Honfleur inaugurates a stele with Memory of the Alliés soldiers fallen for our Freedom on which figure the name of the pilot officer of the R.A.F.

Victor Arthur Rendell.