Cecil Jacques Bond - Belgium

[gricer4321]

I'm trying to find the relatives of Cecil Jacques Bond who was an RAF Air Gunner, killed aged 19 in 1942 when his Stirling bomber crashed in Devon when returning from a mission.  The local villagers near the crash site have recently put up a permanent memorial to the crew and I think it's important that if Cecil has any relatives then they need to be told.  My uncle was one of Cecil's crew mates.

The only information I've got is that he is buried in Bournemouth (I have a photo of the gravestone) and he was the son of Frederick Roberts Bond, and of Nelly Bertha Bond (nee Overtus), of Bournemouth.

I have recently found out from his RAF service record that he was born in Ecaussinnes-D'Enghien, Belgium on 19/01/1923.

How would I go about finding out if he had any relations still in Belgium?

TIA

Dave

[jorose]

freebmd.rootsweb.com
 shows Nelly B. Bond died in Bournemouth in 1958 aged 64 - perhaps a death certificate/obituary might lead you to relatives in the UK?
I would guess that it is likely that Frederick met her during WWI.

You could contact the town hall (mairie):
http://www.ecaussinnes.be/
(Écaussinnes-d'Enghien was merged with two other villages)

They may be able to help you with a record of his birth if you explain the situation (not sure what the rule would be for a birth within the 100 year rule but where the person died such a long time ago).

Infobel for telephone numbers:
http://www.infobel.com/en/belgium/people.aspx
There are a few hits for Overtus, none in Écaussinnes but some in nearby places.

http://www.netradyle.be/actes/acte_naiss.php?xid=418641&xct=6970
 - this could be Nelly's birth? Again, Bracquenies is nearby to Écaussinnes
There are some siblings listed at that site.

[gricer4321]

Hi Jorose

Thank you so much for the information.  Just what I was looking for.  I think I've also found his fathers death in 1966.  Frederick probably did serve in WW1.  I've found part of his service record.  He joined up in 1909, aged 17, for 4 years and reenlisted in 1913 for a further year. I can't find anything later than that but so many of the WW1 record were destroyed in the blitz in WW2. The regiment he was in did see service in belgium so I think you're right, he met Nellie in Belguim.

Many thanks once again

Dave