Part Passim
The back end of August and with the end of our holiday in sight we drove toward home and the port of Le Havre. Our route took us through deserted villages and it seemed that, like us, most of France must be elsewhere. However, despite the impression gained that nobody was at home we were confident that following our visit to the Loire Valley there would be a welcome awaiting us in St. Rigomer des Bois for we had been invited by Dominique Cosmao, the "Project Manager" of the memorial to Bill Black.
It was Dominique who first contacted the Squadron a couple of years back to advise that the village intended to construct a memorial to one of Shiney Two's fallen. His primary intention was to gain further information to be accurately recorded on the Stèle they had designed but it was from that first contact that a much stronger bond was forged; a saga that has been well-documented in this Website.
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Dominique Cosmao and the "Mustang Museum"
Dominique and his wife Martine met us at the exit from the Motorway and led us through tiny lanes to their house on the outskirts of the village. Once there it was to witness just how passionate the folks of St. Rigomer des Bois were about all things relating to the Black tragedy for Dominique took us to his garage where he has created a museum from the pieces of the NA Mustang recovered from the crash site. The major pieces of the aircaft had been removed by the German occupying troops at the time of the incident but given the force of the impact many parts had been buried and even today fragments are still being found, especially after rainfall.
The many remaining pieces collected over the years caused Dominique to wonder exactly what part and place they constituted in the make up of the Mustang mk1A (serial # FR902) and to this end he tracked down and obtained a parts catalogue from the US. Since receiving this precious source of information he has systematically identified nearly every piece that carried some form of identifying reference number and has carefully catalogued and displayed them in what is a de facto museum set up in his cavernous garage. (Take a careful look at the picture above and not only can you see the display cabinet but there is also a technical line drawing on the wall of a Mustang showing off the internal detail).
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Following our introductory tour of the museum we walked the short distance to the centre of the old village to meet with the Mayor who awaited our arrival. There we found the memorial to Bill Black which stood alongside the war memorial to all their fallen of both World Wars. It would be there the following day we would lay our own tribute to Bill Black on behalf of the Squadron and the Association.
Whether it was pure coincidence or divine intervention that caused us to pick this time to visit is a matter for debate (not!) but we soon discovered that this weekend was a big event in the village calendar for St. Rigomer des Bois were hosts for the annual Agricultural Fair for the area; an honour that rotates year-on-year between about 6 villages in the Canton. No sooner had we paid our respects then it was to be led by our hosts to the show ground where all manner of rural delights were on display. It would be there that we would return to the following day to continue the fun and to observe the things that were so precious to the villagers and why they were so passionately grateful about the sacrifices that the Bill Blacks of World War 2 had made for their continuing benefit. (Quite a few photos were taken over the two days and presented here in the hope that you don't think we enjoyed ourselves too much!)
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The Memorial in the Village Square (Dianne Brooks, Martine and Dominique Cosmao and the Mayor)
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As we wandered around the Faire it was to be introduced to many folks who displayed an interest in our presence. One of the those who came to shake our hands was Victor Poirier who as a 13 year-old had, with his younger brother Daniel, sneaked up to the crash site the day after Bill's demise. He had a tear in his eye as he related the events of that fateful day.
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Sunday dawned bright and clear and a trip was made into nearby Alencon to purchase a floral tribute. On return to St. Rigomer des Bois it was to meet with the Mayor and other villagers gathered at the memorial and there after laying the tribute at the base of the Stèle we stood in silent contemplation as individual memories and thoughts were observed.
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Clive Brooks laying a Sheath at the Stèle |
The Stèle
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As the previous episodes of this enduring tale has recorded Bill's remains were eventually interred in the Military Cemetary in Le Mans, some 40 kms to the south of St. Rigomer des Bois. It was there that Dominique took us on Monday morning prior to our return to the UK and there to once again to pay homage to Bill. Victor accompanied us to make his very first visit.
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The cemetary is a separate adjunct to the Le Mans West cemetary and as with all graveyards maintained by the Commonwealth Graves Commission to visit is a truly awe-inspiring and humbling experience. The Military cemetary is set out into separate areas according to the nationality of the combatants. So it was that there was an area for the fallen French troops, a plot for German soldiers and, the object of our visit, a site for British, Commonwealth and Allied soldiers and airmen. Again we had bought along a floral tribute but this time in the form of a flowering plant which it was hoped would provide a longer lasting token of rememberance.
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Planting a Kalanchoe at Bill's grave
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Clive Brooks, Victor Poirier and Dianne Brooks
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This was the final event of what seemed like ever-lasting tour of France, a truly beautiful country and one which we found to be a lot closer to the British heart than is readily admitted. As we left the Cosmaos, Victor and the others of St. Rigomer des Bois it was to reflect that we had the freedom to do as we wished primarily because of the ultimate sacrifices that had been made by Bill and so many others. May they rest in Peace.
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