Canadian Virtual War Memorial
George Edwin Coldrey
In memory of:
Squadron Leader George Edwin Coldrey
June 3, 1944
Boissière Ecole, France
Military Service
J/4820
26
Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
405 Squadron
Additional Information
May 23, 1918
Son of Henry E. and Mary C. (née White) Coldrey, of Carlington, Ontario. Brother of Eleanor, Margaret and Clifford. Squadron Leader Coldrey made 23 missions in his career. On the 62nd anniversary, June 3, 1944 - June 3, 2006, of the crash of the Lancaster LQ-C ND-507 which took the lives of Squadron Leader George E. Coldrey, Pilot Officer David A. Kelley, Pilot Officer Norman Johnston, Pilot Officer J.G. Maurice Renaud and Pilot Officer Leslie A. McCrea were honoured at the unveiling of a monument at la Bossière-Ecole, France.
Guests included former German Pilot Frithjof Fensch, who downed the plane; family members Edith Bannerman, sister of David A. Kelley; Pierre Monfette, nephew of J.G. Maurice Renaud;, Lucinda Brouwer, niece of Leslie A. McCrea.
Tori Olson, daughter of American Lieutenant Leroy Q. Olson, Christopher O'Neill, son of British Flight Lieutenant John H. O'Neill, and George Court, son of Canadian Flight Lieutenant George L. Court, children of the three survivors of the crash attended in honour of their fathers whom all died since 1995.
Representing La Boisseère-Ecole were Francois Heiliger, Mayor, Fabien Drouin, First Deputy Mayor and Fréderic Vincent, Historical Adviser whose research led to the unveiling and commemoration of the deceased.
Commemorated on Page 276 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.
Burial Information
LA BOISSIERE-ECOLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Yvelines, France
N/A
La Boissiere-Ecole is a village and commune 38 kilometres south-west of Versailles, and 14 kilometres west-north-west of Rambouillet. The cemetery, which lies on the western side of the village on the road to Faverolles, contains the graves of 2 Canadian airmen situated near the large family vault in the centre of the cemetery.
Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Digital Collection
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Newspaper Clipping – Remembered on the pages of the Ottawa Journal. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
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Memorial – Squadron Leader George Edwin Coldrey is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens -
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Memorial – Squadron Leader George Edwin Coldrey is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens -
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Memorial – Father J P Lardie's comments as inscribed on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens -
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Photo of GEORGE EDWIN COLDREY – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
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Other – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
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Other – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
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Other – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
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Other – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
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Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Star April 1941. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
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Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Telegram 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
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Wreckage of Lancaster LQ-C. – On June 3, 1944, five men were killed and two survived this plane crash. The five men that lost their lives were Pilot Officer Norman Johnston, Squadron Leader George Edwin Coldrey, Pilot Officer Leslie Asa Mccrea, Pilot Officer Joseph Gerard Maurice Renaud and Pilot Officer David Austin Kelley. Two men survived the crash. -
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Photo of George Edwin Coldrey -
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Photo of George Edwin Coldrey and crew – Left to Right, Flt Sgt. J. Renaud, mid upper air gunner, P/O N. Johnston, wireless operator, Sqd/Ldr. Ted Coldrey, pilot, with John O'Neill, DFC 405 Pathfinder Squadron 1944 -
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Photo of George Edwin Coldrey – From Civilian to War Time Pilot Top photo, Ted Coldrey as paymaster Consolidated Mines Ltd. Sudbury, Leading Aircraftsman St. Catherines 1940, Graduated Pilot Officer April 1941 RCAF -
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Grave marker – Lancaster LQ-C Pathfinder, shot down June 2, 1944 Sqd.Ldr. Ted Coldrey's grave site at the French Village of La Boissiere Ecole, PO David Kelley is also buried there. Flt. Lts. GL Court and JH O'Neil survived the crash. Johnston Renaud and McCrea were buried in St. Cheron. -
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Photo of George Edwin Coldrey – Operation "Berlin" Lancaster "J" damaged by Ju 88 & Fw.190 night of 2 Jan 1944 flown by Sqdn. Ldr. Edwin George Coldrey, crew fought off the attacking aircraft while pilot evaded the attack. The damaged aircraft made it back to Gravesend airdrome. -
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Photo of George Edwin Coldrey – Photograph of Squadron Leader Coldrey in uniform, thought to be taken overseas. -
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Press Clipping – News article from Eco républiacin about the unveiling and dedication to the crew of the Lancaster LQ-C, ND 507. -
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Group Photo – Unveiling ceremony of the memorial to the crew of Lancaster ND507 LQ-C from 405 RCAF Pathfinder Squadron on June 3rd, 2006 at La Boissiere-Ecole, France (62nd anniversary of the crash) -
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Newspaper Clipping -
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Newspaper clipping – From the Ottawa Citizen. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
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