Cemetery: Heverlee War Cemetery

Country: Belgium

Area: Leuven Vlaams-Brabant

Rank: Flying Officer (Pilot)

Force: Royal Air Force

Official Number: 40105

Unit: 12 Sqdn.

Country of Service: British

Details: V C 12th May 1940. Age 21. Son of Patrick Joseph Garland C.M.G. and of Winifred Irene Garland of East Finchley Middlesex. His brothers Flt. Lieut. Patrick James Garland Flt. Lieut. John Cuthbert Garland and Pilot Offr. Desmond William Garland also died on service. Coll. grave 6. F. 14-16. The citation in "The London Gazette " for 11th June 1940 gives the following details : Flying Officer Garland was the pilot and Sergeant Gray the observer of the leading machine of a formation of five aircraft that were ordered to destroy at all costs a bridge over the Albert Canal which had not been demolished by the land forces and was allowing the Germans to advance into Belgium. In spite of very heavy defence of the area surrounding the bridge the formation made a successful dive-bombing attack from the lowest practicable altitude after releasing their bombs they were attacked by a large number of enemy fighters. Only one aircraft of the five returned to its base. Much of the success of the operation must be attributed to the formation leader, Flying Officer Garland, and to the coolness and resource of Sergeant Gray, who navigated the leading aircraft under most difficult conditions in such a manner that the whole formation, although it subsequently suffered heavy losses, was able successfully to attack the target.

Photograph by Eddy Van Deun