Memorial

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Maj John H. Bonsall graduated from Haverford School in 1937 and entered Princetown University, where he was in the ROTC program. He was commissioned 2nd lieutenant in 1941, although he planned to follow hist father’s example and practice law. He was called to active duty in August 1941, arrived in England in December 1943 and was promoted to major in April 1943.

Together with Capt Jean Delwiche (French Army) and T/Sgt Roger E. Cote, he formed Jedburgh Team Augustus. On the night of 15 August 1944, the team flew from England with twenty-four containers weighing three tons and with no other passengers. Landing near the hamlet of Colonfay, the moved to Le Nouvion-en-Thierache, the local resistance headquarters. On 21 August they moved south about 100 kilometers and sent London several reports on specific targets for Allied air attacks. On the 25th, however, they reported that there were so many German troops in the area that it would be unwise to form any Maquis and that hiding places were becoming harder to find. On 28 August, they learned that American tanks were in the vicinity and two days later the team was ordered by radio to attempt to preserve a number of important bridges over de Somme river from enemy demolition. Team Augustus presumably received this message. That same day the team passed through the American lines north of Laon.

A subsequent OSS investigation revealed that all three members were shot and killed on the night of 30 August at the village of Barenton-sur-Serre. Apparently, German troops stopped a horse-drawn cart and found the three occupants in civilian clothes, carrying false French identity cards, and equipped with weapons, a radio, and other equipment. Since the German troops were the remnants of an armored unit interested mainly in escaping to the German border, they undertook no further searches but merely shot the team and soon departed in the rain. The horse, still towing its cart, returned on its own to its stable which was occupied by armed FFI volunteers. The return of the horse and emty cart created considerable consternation. FFI resistance fighters found the bodies of the Jedburgh team the following morning and buried the three men at the local cemetery.

At the spot where they were killed a memorial was erected.

For this action Maj Bonsall was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross Medal posthumously.