Church Court Denies Widow’s Request to Rebury War Hero Husband

A church court has informed Evelyne Le Chêne that she cannot proceed with her wish to rebury her husband, Lieutenant Pierre Louis Le Chêne, in France. The couple’s story is one of both love and sacrifice, as Lieutenant Le Chêne was a highly decorated war hero who served valiantly during the Second World War. His remains currently rest in Gravesend and Milton Cemetery, but Mrs. Le Chêne desires to relocate them to Jaillans in the Drôme region, approximately 510 miles away.

In her petition, Mrs. Le Chêne expressed a heartfelt wish to fulfill a promise made to her husband before his passing: to be together for eternity. She indicated that moving his remains to the reserved plot in Jaillans would reunite him with family members laid to rest in the area. Her husband’s legacy includes surviving the notorious Mauthausen concentration camp and receiving the prestigious Légion d’honneur, awarded by General Charles de Gaulle.

The couple lived in Gravesend, where Lieutenant Le Chêne was interred after his death in 1979. Mrs. Le Chêne stated that French organizations are prepared to honor her husband upon his arrival in France, planning a significant ceremony for his reinterment.

Despite her intentions, the church court, specifically the Consistory Court of the diocese of Rochester, has denied her petitions on two occasions—first in April and again in July. The Diocesan Chancellor, David Willink, a barrister with expertise in canon law, explained that allowing the exhumation would undermine the principle of permanence associated with burial. He remarked, “It would be quintessentially to treat Captain Le Chêne’s remains as portable.”

The court noted that the exceptional status of Lieutenant Le Chêne as a non-French officer of high military rank did not constitute sufficient grounds for exhumation. While the court’s decision stands, it does not prevent Mrs. Le Chêne from being interred alongside her husband in Gravesend if she chooses.

Lieutenant Le Chêne served as a wireless operator with the Special Operations Executive until his capture by Nazi forces in late 1942. He endured severe interrogation and torture at the hands of Klaus Barbie, the Gestapo chief in Lyon, before ultimately being sent to Mauthausen. Remarkably, he survived to see the camp liberated by American forces in May 1945.

Throughout his life, Lieutenant Le Chêne was recognized for his bravery and dedication, earning numerous accolades. His contributions to the war effort remain a testament to his character and sacrifice. As Mrs. Le Chêne continues to seek a way to honor her husband’s memory, her story highlights the complex intersection of love, loss, and the legalities surrounding burial practices.