Notes

The year is wrong on this wooden cross - Frank died Dec. 7, 1941.  The wood crosses have been replaced with markers.  Try flickr.com and do a search on "North Africa - Libya - Tobruk" to see some photos of markers and the cemetery.  Frank is also listed at Find A Grave (www.findagrave.com) but there is no photo of his marker as of 7/22/2013.

Below:  Transcription of letter to Mrs. Pattie W. Sutton, mother of Frank Sutton, from the Air Staff in Ottawa, Canada

 This transcription has been added here as it is most probable that the photo here is the one referred to in the letter.

A copy of the original letter  resides in Frank’s military service record with the Canadian Archives.

 Date of letter:  May 30, 1947

 Dear Mrs. Sutton,

            Please find enclosed a photograph which has been received from Overseas, of the grave of your son, Pilot Officer Frank M. Sutton.

            Cemeteries are being handed over progressively to the Imperial War Graves Commission, of which Canada is a member, who are entrusted with the perpetual maintenance of the resting places of all our Fallen, and who will beautify the graves and surroundings.

            The Commission will also erect a permanent headstone at this grave, and before doing so will write to you, when an inscription of your choice (not more than sixty letters), may be submitted to be engraved on the headstone.  It is not necessary for you to contact the Commission.

            Any discrepancy as to rank, etc., which may appear on the temporary cross shown in the enclosed photograph, will appear correctly on the permanent headstone.

Yours sincerely,  W. A. Dicks, Wing Commander, for Chief of the Air Staff.

Transcribed by Patricia Poland, Union County Public Library, Monroe, NC (July 2013)