PAMELA TURNEY writes: I am writing (from Canada) to try to locate people that may or may not exist.

While researching my family history this past Fall, I learned that one of my great uncles (who was killed when his Halifax bomber was shot down over France on 9/10 June, 1944) is buried in a community cemetery in the French town of Laval, Mayenne, along with six other crew members and the seven-member crew of another Halifax that was lost in the same area that night.

With further research, I made contact with a senior member of Le Souvenir Francais (France Remembers) for the area of Laval. He shared with me that each year on VE Day, Le Souvenir Francais organises a ceremony to honour these 14 airmen by laying flowers, playing the Royal Air Force march past, and flying the RAF ensign.

I am trying to arrange to travel to France for the ceremony this year as it is the last year military honours may be provided for this ceremony as the regiment that provides the honours — 42e regiment de transmissions — is leaving Laval later this year. I have also started the task of trying to contact any surviving family members of the other 13 airmen resting alongside my great uncle.

I have had success with locating the family of Flying Officer, Willem Van Stockum, and it looks as though family members from England, America and Canada will be attempting the journey.

Of the 14 airmen, my great-uncle, Fred Beales, was Canadian (although his parents and many previous generations were from Bolton). There was one Australian, FO van Stockum was Dutch, and the remainder were from the UK.

This brings me to Sergeant Hugh Bradbury, aged 20. The only information I have for Sgt Bradbury is that he was the son of Hugh and Annie Edith (nee Manley?) Bradbury, and husband to Irene Elizabeth Bradbury, all of Bolton.

I realise no one I've mentioned is likely to be still living, but I would hope someone might recognise the information and might know if there are any surviving kin who may want to join the van Stockum family and myself at the ceremony this year.

Tel mob: 1-780-573-6725 stillgrinning@hotmail.com