Ranville Churchyard
- Country France
- Total identified casualties 46 Find these casualties
- Region Calvados
- Identified casualties from Second World War
- GPS Coordinates Latitude: 49.23199, Longitude: -0.25785
PLEASE NOTE
In March 2022 following storm Eunice, trees had to be removed from the cemetery resulting in major horticultural works.
As a result, some parts of the lawn are under construction and access to some headstones will be restricted until the summer 2022.
The main entrance to the site remains accessible. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Location information
Ranville is best reached by taking the D513 northeastwards out of Caen and after about 9 kilometres turning left at Herouvillette. Go north for one kilometre and then turn left into Ranville village. The Churchyard is on Rue des Airbornes.
Visiting information
Ranville Churchyard is locked from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. each day.
History information
The Allied offensive in northern Europe began with the Normandy landings of 6 June 1944. Ranville was the first village to be liberated in France when the bridge over the Caen Canal was captured intact in the early hours of 6 June by troops of the 6th Airborne Division, who were landed nearby by parachute and glider. Many of the division's casualties are buried in Ranville War Cemetery and the adjoining churchyard The CEMETERY contains 2,235 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War, 97 of them unidentified. There are also 321 German graves and a few burials of other nationalities. The CHURCHYARD contains 47 Commonwealth burials, one of which is unidentified, and one unidentified German grave.