Essar, William
Personal Information
Rank | P/O |
Forename(s) | William |
Surname | Essar |
Gender | M |
Age | 22 |
Date of Death | 11-04-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of John Essar and Lena Essar (née Kitziul), of Winnipegosis, Manitoba, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster I |
Serial Number | LL836 |
Markings | BQ-E |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | France |
Burial/Memorial Place | Achiet-Le-Petit Communal Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Grave 6. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 33 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/90741 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 1 |
Squadron | 550 |
Squadron Motto | Per ignem vincimus (Through fire we conquer) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Essar Lake, Manitoba; Between Derby and Hassett Lakes |
Country | Canada |
Memorial Type | Lake |
Memorial Text |
Location | Lancaster Approach, North Killingholme, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Memorial Stone & Info Board |
Memorial Text | A memorial to 550 Sqn RAF which flew from RAF North Killingholme; Jan 1944 - Oct 1945 |
Location | Church of St. Deny's, North Killingholme, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window, RoH and inscribed Metal & Wooden Plaques |
Memorial Text | Several memorials to the men and women who served with 550 Sqn at RAF Killingholme during WW2 |
Miscellaneous Information
William was born on 4 March 1922 at Theodore, Saskatchewan. His parents were both born in Bukowina, Austria and his father worked as a labourer. He had two brothers and five sisters living: Lois, Kae, Irene, Elsie and Irma and a further four siblings who had died in infancy. The schools he attended were Caldervale in Saskatchewan 1928-1936 (Public). Lysenko School in Theodore, Saskatchewan 1936-1937 (grade IX) and Caldervale High, 1937-1938 (grade X). The only sport he played was softball and his hobby was gas engines. Between 1938 - 1940 William worked at home farming in Winnipegosis and then undertook various odd jobs during 1940. He then worked as a labourer for the Steel Company of Canada, Hamilton,1940-1942 when he enlisted. |
After he enlisted on 15 September 1942 and initial training, William was sent to the U.K. and arrived at 3 PRC on 2 July 1943. He went on to 28 OTU 9 July 1943, 1656 CU 12 August 1943, 100 Sqn, 9 October 1943 and 550 Squadron 17 February 1944. William was to lose his life on 11 April 1944. |
There is a lake south of Takipy Lake named in his honour in 1982 (Grid reference: 55.259, -100.846) |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/2037/12 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/2037/11 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 10-04-1944 |
End Date | 11-04-1944 |
Takeoff Station | North Killingholme |
Day/Night Raid | Night (95% moon) |
Operation | Aulnoye |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by night fighter, crashing near Bapaume |