Emile (known as Bill) was born in October 1907 in Wimbledon, Surrey to Cecil and Eva née Logan. Emile was named after his French born grandfather who was a music publisher and lecturer and a good friend of the composer Tchaikovsky. Emile’s father Cecil worked as a bank clerk in 1911 and then became an accountant. Emile’s mother Eva died in 1932. Emile married Dorothy Munford on 2 September 1934 in Dagenham, Essex and their son Paul was born in 1935.

Emile was the flight engineer on Lancaster LM237 which departed RAF Waddington on a night operation to Konigsberg. The aircraft was hit by flak and crashed 30 miles west of Konigsberg.

F/L Dennis Boden Tattersall, killed

Sgt Emile Hatzfeld, killed

F/O J Sutcliffe RCAF, POW

Sgt Patrick William O’Leary, RCAF, killed

Sgt Clifford Pearson, killed

Sgt Christopher Alexander, killed

Sgt Edward Clark Reid, killed