Handley Page Halifax MZ538

Alne, Hambleton

Good Record

The Memorial

Type

Painting / Print

Inscription

Lh Column: Lest We Forget on 18th December 1944 a Halifax Bomber MZ538-425 Squadron RCAF Crashed After Taking Off from Tholthorpe with a Full Load of Bombs Hitting Trees Close to the Village of Alne. The Explosion Caused the Loss of All Eight Crew Members. It Was by the Skill of the Pilot F O Joseph R.j.m. Desmaris DFC That Massive Casualties Were Saved. The Altar Window Was Damaged and Was Restored with New Stained Glass in 1958. The Canadian Crew Are Buried Side by Side in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Plot at Stonefall Cemetery, Harrogate. (sqaudron Badges) Je Te Plumerai - "I Shall Pluck You" Rh Column: the Full Crew Consisted Of: [crew names listed on memorial] They Gave Their Lives for Us Rest in Peace, Perfect Peace

Location

Alne, Hambleton, North Yorkshire

Community Connection

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Aircraft & Operation Details

Aircraft Type

Halifax

Serial Number

MZ538

Squadron

425 Squadron

Date of Loss

1944-12-18

Crew (1 member)

Rank	Name	Role	Age	Nationality	Fate	Burial / Status
F/O	JOSEPH R.J.M. DESMARIS	—	—	—	Unknown	—

Nearby Memorials

Handley Page Halifax (LW598) / OW-J 'Johnnie'

3.5 miles away

North Yorkshire

Handley Page Halifax LW598

3.6 miles away

North Yorkshire

Handley Page Halifax MZ454

3.7 miles away

North Yorkshire

Handley Page Halifax NA612

Sources

IWM War Memorials Register (official_database)

Credits & Acknowledgements

Record compiled by

IWM War Memorials Register

Last updated 2026-04-12

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