While I was visiting Verneuil-sur-Avre cemetery, I came upon the grave of a Canadian paratrooper, killed on August 17th, 1944. 1st Canadian Parachute Brigade. Surely, he was dropped on DDay. But how is he now buried so far from the Normandy coast ? A little thread

Born on the 14th of September, 1921, in Sturgeon Falls, Ontario, Hector Philippe Sylvestre enlisted in the army in September 1942. He would become part of A company, 1st Canadian Parachute Bataillon.

Jumping over Normandy on DDay, lost in the marshes between Sallenelles and Cabourg, he was picked up and saved by Adrien and Yvonne Vermughen, whose Ferme de la Bergerie was in the middle of the mashland.

After some days, most of the hidden paratroopers decided to try to join the friendly lines, just a few miles from the farm. Many will become casualties: Terry Jepp, David Duce, Douglas Baines were captured, Douglas Penstone was killed, John Weathers wounded...

But Hector Sylvestre decided to stay and on July 4th, he was exfiltrated by the French resistance. Wearing civilians clothes and speaking fluently French, that wasn't too complicated. In mid-July, he is in Breteuil-sur-Iton, 60 miles inland from the Normandy coast.

He worked with the French resistance, gathering intelligence. He and his group of resistants will have to move a few time to avoid being denounce and captured. From August 10th to 16th, they are staying in a farm, next to Verneuil, la Grande Maison.

On August 16th, they are moving to a basement of a local stonemason (maybe the place below). But the next day, August 17th, Hector and 5 of his companions are arrested by the Germans.

Hector Sylvestre, André Chasles, Jacques et Bernard Girard, Jean Pothin et Marius Bazile are shot by the Germans and buried in a mass grave. 5 days later, Verneuil is liberated.

Adding to the horror, a day after Sylvestre left Adrien et Yvonne Vermughen, the couple will be arrested and Adrien executed by the Germans who are going to destroy la Ferme de la Bergerie as reprisal.

Most of the infos are coming from this great French article online with much more like the visit of relatives of Sylvestre : http://adbstar-france.blogspot.com/2010/10/article-venir.html and most pictures of British para found on the incredible @Barber1944 and @6thairborne Twitter feed.