Barbé, Maurice Jean
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Maurice Jean |
Surname | Barbé |
Gender | M |
Age | 31 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 27-01-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Maurice Joseph Henri Emile Barbé and Leonie Barbé (née L’Anglois), of Montreal, Canada. Husband of Mary Aletta Dorland Barbé (née Brown- marriage in Flin Flon, Manitoba, on 12 October 1935). |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
Serial Number | ED486 |
Markings | VN- |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Lincoln (Newport) Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Sec. G. Grave 339 North. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 5 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/110597 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 5 |
Squadron | 50 |
Trade | WOp/AG |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Barbe Lake, Manitoba; A long, narrow lake favoured by fishermen, just off Hwy 10. |
Country | Canada |
Memorial Type | Lake |
Memorial Text |
Location | Birchwood Way, Birchwood Estate, Lincoln, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Brick Memorial & Inscribed Marble Obolisk |
Memorial Text | To the memory of the Air Crews and Ground Staff who gave their lives whilst serving with No 50 Squadron and No 61 Squadron, 5 group, Bomber Command The Royal Air Force 2nd World War 1939 to 1945. No 50 Squadron "From defence to attack" Operated from Waddi |
Location | Memorial Gardens, Skellingthorpe, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Brick Memorial with Inscribed Marble Stone |
Memorial Text | Royal Air Force Skellingthorpe. My brief sweet life is over, My eyes no longer see, No Christmas Trees, No summer walks, No pretty girls for me, I've got the chop - I've had it, My nightly ops are done, Yet in another 100 years I'll still be twenty one. R |
Miscellaneous Information
Maurice was born in St. Nazaire, France on 2 January 1912. His father was deceased having been killed in action earlier during the war. His mother later re-married a Paul Levarec. Maurice attended St. Jacques School between 1920-1928 and then Montreal Tech 1928-1931. He did several odd jobs between 1931-1933 before he was called to compulsory service in the French Army for one year (1933-1934). Maurice worked for the Hudson Bay Mining and Smelting Co. as an underground Hoist Man, Sludgerman and Bulldozer, for seven years from 1934 until enlisting on 14 June 1941. |
After earlier training, Maurice embarked for the U.K. on 30-April-1942, arriving at 3PRC 12-May-1942. He then went on to 4SS 12-June-1942, 10 OTU 3-August-1942, 1662 CU 8-November-1942 and then 50 Squadron 23-December-1942. He lost his life a little over a month later. |
His hobbies were woodwork and the radio and the sports he participated in were tennis, skiing and swimming. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/487/26 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/487/25 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 27-01-1943 |
End Date | 28-01-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Skellingthorpe |
Day/Night Raid | Night (64% moon) |
Operation | Dusseldorf |
Reason for Loss | Crashed shortly after take-off, diving into the ground close to the airfield, the bombs exploding on impact |