War stories: Distant relatives to pay tribute to Lancaster crew who crashed in Haldern-Rees, Germany

SEVENTY-TWO years after Charles Williams and his Lancaster crew mates died while on a dam busting raid in Germany, a plaque will be unveiled in their honour.

HELEN Brown and her husband Bill will make a sombre journey to Germany in May to honour her late uncle who died in World War II.

Charles Williams was part of a Lancaster crew on a dam busting raid in May 1943, when he perished.

The rest of the crew, made up of Canadians and English, also died when the low-flying bomber crashed outside of the township of Haldern-Rees.

To commemorate 100 years since the Anzac landing at Gallipoli, and recognise the sacrifices of those men and women who have served out country since WWI, Quest Community Newspapers will publish one story each day online in the lead-up to Anzac Day.

Not prepared to let their brave deeds disappear into history, German historian Volker Schumann found the site and organised for a plaque to be constructed in honour of the crew.

“He called for public donations to erect a plaque and it will be unveiled on May 17 — 72 years on,” Mrs Brown, who lives in Springwood, said.

She and her husband will attend the opening with“mixed emotions”.

“It was an easy decision (to go),” Mrs Brown said.

“It was a once-in-a-lifetime chance and they will have distant relatives of all the crew there.”

THIS story is part of Quest Community Newspaper’s 100 Years, 100 Days, 100 Stories project, which will profile Queensland WWI heroes and families as the nation builds up to the centenary of the Allied landing on Gallipoli on April 25, 1915.

If you have the details and war record of a family member who served during WWI, let us know on our Facebook page or email [e-mail]

Originally published as War stories: Distant relatives to pay tribute to Lancaster crew who crashed in Haldern-Rees, Germany