jerome
Leading Aircraftman
Posts: 3
|
Post by jerome on Oct 4, 2008 4:06:04 GMT 12
|
|
|
Post by FlyNavy on Oct 4, 2008 7:23:12 GMT 12
babelfish.yahoo.com/translate_url?doit=done&tt=url&intl=1&fr=bf-home&trurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lest-eclair.fr%2Findex.php%2Fcms%2F13%2Farticle%2F186879%2FSur_les_pas_du_heros___Cobber___Kain%23&lp=fr_en&btnTrUrl=Translate"On the steps of the hero “Cobber” Kain An event to Échemines on June 7, 1940 connects France to New Zealand: antipodes! Sunday September 28, all the generations of Échemines came to the town hall to meet François Clauvelin, French historian accompanied by Gavin Wilson, New Zealand historian, assisted his girl Sarah, French professor in New Zealand for the translations. Mr. Clauvelin, specialist in the English history of the 73e squadron of Royal Air Force, recalled the life of this English detachment, brought by the Île ferry of Guernesey, in Le Havre on September 5, 1939. The 73e squadron settled then with Reopen-in-Woevre (55). Cobber Kain, and other aviators arrived there by the sky. It controlled Hurricane, equipped with the propeller with three blades, which carried the French letter K and Tricolour on the tail. To fly over France was its love of life with like route: Reopen, Verdun, Bar-le-Duc, Rheims and Échemines. The English had settled in Échemines in March 1940. They placed at the inhabitant: graded slept in the rooms, the soldiers in the attics and under the tents in the campings drawn up around the aerodrome. The aviators left in reconnaissance mission and hunting every evening. Edouard Edgar James Kain, champion of the stunt-flying, made acrobatics every morning with 11:00, with the great pleasure of the inhabitants of Échemines. On June 7, 1940 was alas fatal for him: the plane did not answer any more its orders and fell while igniting. Cobber Kain was to leave in permission the following day to marry. It had carried out 16 aerial combats and had cut down 8 German planes. Its destiny stopped in Échemines at the 22 years age, but his/her companions of war found death on June 17, 1940 on the Lancastria steamer, which ran off Saint-Nazaire, after having received a bomb in the chimney. Ground in remembering The visitors of New Zealand were happy to visit the old Dollat farm which they photographed before going on the approximate spot of the accident to carry a ground handle in remembering. The mayor had a pleasure of offering glass of the friendship to clink glasses with these visitors of the end of the world. The historian Gavin Wilson carried out his dream: to reconsider the steps of the aviator Edouard Edgar James Kain. He will tell his voyage to Mrs. Picard, S ur of the hero, 90 years old."
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 4, 2008 12:28:34 GMT 12
I think what it's really trying to say, in plain Engish, is:
"In the footsteps of the hero “Cobber” Kain
An event at Échemines on June 7, 1940 connected France to New Zealand: across the world!
On Sunday September 28th, all the generations of Échemines came to the town hall to meet François Clauvelin, a French historian accompanied by Gavin Wilson, New Zealand historian, assisted his girlfiend (?) Sarah, a French professor in New Zealand for the translations.
Mr. Clauvelin, a specialist in the history of No. 73 Squadron of the Royal Air Force, recalled the life of this English detachment, brought by the Île ferry of Guernesey, in Le Havre on September 5, 1939.
No. 73 Squadron settled then with Reopen-in-Woevre (55).
Cobber Kain, and other aviators arrived there by air. The squadron was equipped with Hawker Hurricanes, with the three bladed propeller , which carried the Tricolour on the tail.
To fly over France was his love of life with stations used such as Reopen, Verdun, Bar-le-Duc, Rheims and Échemines.
The English had settled in Échemines in March 1940. They were billeted with the villagers: officers slept in the rooms, the airmen in the attics and under canvas in the tented camps around the aerodrome. The aviators left on reconnaissance missions and hunted the enemy every evening.
Edgar James Kain, champion of the stunt-flying, flew aerobatics every morning at 11:00, to the great pleasure of the inhabitants of Échemines.
On June 7, 1940 this was alas fatal for him: the plane did not respond to his actions and fell to the ground, bursting into flames.
Cobber Kain was to go on leave the following day to marry.
He had carried out 16 aerial combats and had cut down 8 German planes. His destiny ended in Échemines at 22 years age, but his squadron companions met with death on June 17, 1940 on the Lancastria steamer, which sank off Saint-Nazaire, after having received a bomb in the chimney.
Ground in remembering The visitors from New Zealand were happy to visit the old Dollat farm which they photographed before going on the approximate spot of the accident to carry a ground handle in remembering. (wreath??)
The mayor had a pleasure of offering the glass of friendship to clink with these visitors from the other end of the world.
The historian Gavin Wilson carried out his dream: to reconsider the steps of the aviator Edgar James Kain. He will tell his voyage to Mrs. Picard, fiance (?) of the hero, 90 years old."
That was hard work, how did I do? I don't speak French but I know a little about No. 73 Squadsron at that time.
Cobber Kain had more air combat and more kills than quoted here. Some sources say he had up to 40 kills. Sadly the ground crew who were on the Lancastrian were substantially wiped out when it sank, and most of the squadron's records were lost either then or beforehand in the struggle to flee the Germans.
Some of the above I had trouble with working out what it means. I have not heard of Reopen-in-Woevre, is that the correct translation? It's not in Dereck Kain's logbook for his time with the squadron I don't think.
Interesting story though, thanks for adding it Jerome. Was it a wreath they laid? Or a more permanent memorial?
|
|
jerome
Leading Aircraftman
Posts: 3
|
Post by jerome on Oct 4, 2008 22:20:08 GMT 12
The first translation is quite good. Mr Wilson came to visit us last weekend with his daughter Sarah who is french teacher in Wellington. Mr Wilson was very happy to see the farm (the house belonging to Dollat family before) where Cobber Kain lived as he was in Echemines. The Squadron remained in the village during about 3 months from March till June 1940. We also visited the field in which Kain's plane crashed. Mr Wilson just took as soil sample but was unsure he could go through the custom with it ! Mrs Picard is Kain's sister and is still alive. She's 90 and went to France in 2003 in Rouvres en Woevre, where the mayor honoured the squadron.
There's nothing in Echemines honouring Kain but we could ask the mayor. I don't know the tules about soldiers died during the war. We have got a memorial where all the names of soldiers of the village are written. Maybe one day will be Kain's name added...
|
|
|
Post by Dave Homewood on Oct 5, 2008 12:46:54 GMT 12
Thanks Jerome, that's much appreciated. I meant to say welcome to the forum too.
It would be nice to see a memorial to Cobber Kain erected somewhere, I don't think there is one even in NZ apart from maybe a painting in the RNZAF Museum with a write-up. I'm not sure if that's even still there now that things have been altered there.
With all the fuss made to rightly get a statue to Sir Keith Park erected maybe we should also be looking at a memorial for Cobber? He was an inspiration to a great many in those dark days.
I should have realised that Mrs Pickard was of course Judy Pickard, Cobber's sister. She was interviewed for the 1995 series 'New Zealand At War'. It's good to hear that she's still alive.
|
|
|
Post by harvard1041 on Oct 6, 2008 1:11:02 GMT 12
|
|
|
Post by harvard1041 on Oct 6, 2008 1:16:26 GMT 12
I was actually there trying to find the grave of FO Bruce Hosie - my great uncle from Taranaki - who was a WOAG killed in Oct 44 bombing the Kembs Barrage...found it and his Pilot (Drew Wyness) next to each other. They were both 617 Sqn people and died in pretty tragic circumstances after being shot down during the raid. 'Night after Night' has a good write up of what happened. Rgds Hvd1041 s430.photobucket.com/albums/qq24/Hvd1041/?action=view¤t=BruceHoiseandJohn2.jpg
|
|