Historical information

Baron von Richthofen (the Red Baron) was shot down on 21 April 1918 near the Somme River. He was buried with full military honours at Bertangles by members of the Australian Flying Corps. That night the flowers and cross were removed by local residents. The grave was reconstructed the next day by local soldiers. This postcard shows the grave on the day after the burial without the original cross.
The original cross was was fashioned from an RE8 propeller by 3SQN mechanics with an engraved aluminium plaque. The plaque was engraved by Harold Edwards, a watchmaker from Bendigo. https://www.3sqnraafasn.net/subpages/edwardsstory.htm

Richthofen's body was moved several times before he reached his final resting place in Germany. In 1925 his body was exhumed and buried in Berlin, Germany. Later, it was exhumed again and buried in the Richthofen family's private tomb.

Physical description

Postcard, WW1, black and white image of the grave of the German airman, Baron von Richthofen. The grave is mounded with earth with flowers on top. At the head of the grave is a propeller shaped in the form of a cross.