Memorial service held in honour of a downed Canadian pilot
MORE than 30 islanders attended a memorial service yesterday in honour of a Canadian Flight Lieutenant, who died in Havelet Bay the day before D-Day.
Flt Lt John Walton Saville was shot down on 5 June 1944 after a successful bombing raid on a local radar installation.
He was the leader of Typhoons from 439 Squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force and their target was the Freya radar at Fort George.
‘St Peter Port has strong links to Canada, for example Isaac Brock who was born in St Peter Port and fought against the Americans,’ said Dennis Le Moigne, the organiser of yesterday's service.
‘He was a hero in Canada and fought and died on the front line.
‘John Saville was born in the UK, but went to Canada as a small child.
'He came here to fight against our enemies and died in the process.’
The wreck of the plane was discovered in the 1970s by local diver Mick Peters, and he and Mr Le Moignan were members of a small group of divers who spent several years petitioning – successfully – for the location to be declared a war grave.
A plaque dedicated to Flt Lt Saville has been installed at the Castle Emplacement. Yesterday's service was led by the Rev. Penny Graysmith.
The 439 Squadron logs between 3 and 5 June were read by Syd Bowsher and a letter from a witness of the incident read by Nick Peters.
A poem was read by Heather Chan, the president of the local branch of the Royal Air Forces Association, and wreaths were laid.
