WW2 Tank Heroes Finally Laid to Rest After Nearly 80 Years
Two young British tank crewmen missing since Normandy 1944 have finally been given a proper burial. Guardsman William Bayliss and Guardsman David Blyth were laid to rest in an emotional ceremony, ending decades of heartache for their families.
Found in a Field After Almost Eight Decades
The pair, serving with the 1st (Armoured) Battalion Coldstream Guards, vanished when their Sherman tank was destroyed in Normandy. Their remains were uncovered by a farmer ploughing a field in La Marvindière, near St Charles-de-Percy—an untouched battlefield since August 4, 1944. Alongside the remains, a Coldstream Guards cap badge was discovered, cementing their identity.
DNA Identifies the Brave Soldiers
Relatives played a crucial role in identification. Guardsman Bayliss’s nephew provided DNA samples, confirming the remains. Subsequent testing matched the remains to the son of Guardsman Blyth, solving a mystery nearly 80 years old.
Families and Soldiers Pay Tribute
The burial at St Charles-de-Percy War Cemetery saw both families united alongside serving Coldstream Guards troops. Dean Taylor, Bayliss’s grandson, said, “I’m incredibly proud of my grandfather’s sacrifice and grateful to reconnect with distant relatives.”
Rosie Barron, JCCC case lead, said: “Gdsm Bayliss was a young man with a bright future, recently married and expecting a child. Gdsm Blyth left behind a wife and son who searched nearly 50 years for answers.”
Peter Blyth, son of Guardsman Blyth, expressed deep thanks to the MoD’s “war detectives” for finally bringing his father home.
Reverend Martin Robbins, Chaplain to 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards, reminded all of the lasting legacy of these brave men who left loved ones to defend freedom across Europe.
Honouring Their Eternal Memory
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission will maintain their headstones forever, preserving their sacrifice for generations. Iain Lower, Director of Global Strategy & Commonwealth Relations, stressed the honour in caring for their final resting places and vowed their memory will live on eternally.
