Ranville war cemetery

Ranville War Cemetery is a Second World War cemetery of Commonwealth soldiers in France, located in Ranville, 10 km (6.2 mi) north east of Caen, Normandy. The cemetery contains predominantly British soldiers killed during the early stages of the Battle of Normandy. A large proportion of those interred were members of the British 6th Airborne Division. The cemetery is maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.^[1]

Ranville was the first village to be liberated by elements of the British 6th Airborne Division on the morning of 6 June 1944 (D-Day) when the nearby (Pegasus Bridge) over the Caen Canal was attacked and captured. The cemetery contains the grave of Lieutenant Den Brotheridge - considered to be the first Allied death on D-Day.^[2]

The churchyard was immediately used to accommodate battlefield dead. Following the end of the war, the war cemetery was created which gathered field burials from locations including Amfreville, Colleville-sur-Mer, Colombelles, Houlgate and Villers-sur-Mer. Additional casualties were re-interred from grave sites in the Orne department.

Contained within the cemetery is a Cross of Sacrifice, a piece of architecture typical of memorials designed by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. As is typical of war cemeteries in France, the grounds are beautifully landscaped and immaculately kept. The final interments were made in 1946.

Brothers. Eckhert Brothers Cyril Albert James Eckhert Age 22, 13th (2/4th Bn. The South Lancashire Regt.) Bn. The Parachute Regiment, A.A.C. Stanley George Thomas Eckhert Age 19, 9th Bn The Parachute Regiment, A.A.C. Stanley died on June 6th 1944 and Cyril died on August 23 1944. Sons of Albert James and Mary Eckert. Both are Buried in Plot 6A. Row B Cyril is in Grave 13 Stanley is in Grave 23

14410713 Private Emile Corteil was from Watford in Hertfordshire and served with A Company, 9th (Essex) Parachute Battalion. Corteil was the dog handler for the company, and his dog was called Glen. Both Emile and Glen parachuted safely into France with their company on D Day, both perished on June 6th 144. They are buried together at this site. Grave Reference Plot 1A. Row G. Grave 13.

Youngest Burial. 14434704 Private Robert Edwards Johns 13th (2/4th Bn. The South Lancashire Regt.) The Parachute Regiment, A.A.C. Age 16 years old. Died 23 July 1944 Son of William Henry and Daisy Nellie Johns, of 149 Jarvis Road, Stamshaw, Portsmouth. Robert ran away from home aged 14. He was the youngest person ever to complete the Para jumps course. Grave Reference Plot 4A. Row E. Grave 1. Additionally there are three 17 year olds buried here.

Oldest Burial and most senior person, Brigadier Denis Charles William Sanders. OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire), AFC (Air Force Cross), TD (Territorial Decoration). Aged 49. Serving as a Staff Officer with Combined Operations RM (Royal Marines) on June 20 1944 when he died. Previously had served Royal Artillery, 153 (The Leicestershire Yeomanry) Field Regt. He also served with the RA in WW1. Son of William Gordon Woodrow Sanders and of Georgina Frances Sanders (nee Darnell); husband of Agnes Mary Sanders (nee Berry), of Market Harborough, Leicestershire. J.P. Grave Reference Plot 2A. Row L. Grave 11.

Oldest Non Commissioned Officer. Warrant Officer Class One, James Keegans. Age 47. Royal Armoured Corps, 148th (9th Bn. The Loyal Regt. [North Lancashire]) Regt. Died August 08 1944. Husband of Florence Maud Keegans, of The Lizard, Cornwall. Grave Reference Plot 4. Row B. Grave 15.

Ranville is 10 km north-east of Caen.

• List of military cemeteries in Normandy

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