The original grave of eight airmen of No. 460 Squadron RAAF killed on a raid on Chemnitz, Germany ...

The original grave of eight airmen of No. 460 Squadron RAAF killed on a raid on Chemnitz, Germany on 5 March 1945. The grave is marked by a large block of wood carved into an Iron Cross shape with the words 'Hier ruhen acht Englische Flieger +[sign of the cross] am 5 3 1945 Todlich Abgesturtz' [Here lie eight English Airmen killed in a crash on 5 3 1945]. The pilot of the Lancaster aircraft was Flight Lieutenant (Flt Lt) John Cecil Holmes, of Brisbane, Qld, a woolclasser in civilian life. He was promoted to Squadron Leader on 25 February 1945 and awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for 'numerous operations against the enemy, in the course of which he invariably displayed the utmost fortitude, courage and devotion to duty'. Other members of his crew killed were 412815 Flt Lt Thomas Ernest Victor Morgan DFM, RAAF, air gunner and Gunnery Leader of the Squadron; 409653 Flying Officer (FO) Ivan Sydney Baudinette RAAF, wireless operator, air gunner; 408440 FO Donald George Hudspeth RAAF, navigator; 430159 Flight Sergeant T. T. Clarke RAAF, second pilot flying with the crew on operational experience; 412167 Warrant Officer Alwyn (Elwyn?) Oswald Thomas Mayne RAAF, air gunner; Sgt J Young RAF, flight engineer; Sgt R. E. Hayward RAF, bomb aimer. (Donor P. Holmes)