Richards, Edward Gordon Coke
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | Edward Gordon Coke |
Surname | Richards |
Gender | M |
Age | 28 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 15-03-1945 |
Next of Kin | Son of Eric Edensor Coke Richards and Clarissa Grace Richards (née Hayward) , of Strathmore, Alberta, Canada. Husband of Florence Margaret Richards (née Vine-Sullivan), whom he married on 14 February 1936 at Mayo, Yukon. Father of Sharon Patricia Richards, born 22 August 1939. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster I |
Serial Number | RF153 |
Markings | EA-K |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Coll. grave 6. Z. 18-27. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 89 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/252612 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 5 |
Squadron | 49 |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Fiskerton Airfield (Disused) Reepham Rd, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stones with inscribed Metal Plaques |
Memorial Text | RAF Fiskerton. This stone and tree are sited on the airfield in memory of those who served here during World War II |
Location | The National Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffordshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Memorial |
Memorial Text | In memory of those who served on 49 Squadron 1916-1965 |
Miscellaneous Information
Edward was born on 10 October 1916 at Strathmore, Alberta. Both parents were born in England and his father worked as a clerk. He had a brother Raymond and three sisters, Dora, Wilda and Joyce. He attended Whitehorse Public School 1924-1931 and again 1931-1933 (general). The sport Edward participated in was hockey where he was the goalkeeper. Edward worked for between 4 and 6 months at White Pass and Yukon Co. during the years 1933-1936/7 and then at Treadwell, Yukon Corporation as a Fire Assayer, 1937-1940. He then worked for the Department of Transport as a Timekeeper 1940-1942, and then Whitepress and Yukon Co., as a Truck driver, 1942-1943. |
He enlisted on 25 March 1943 at Vancouver and after training was posted to the U.K., departing from Halifax on 2 June 1944. He was then at 3 RCAF (PRC) 11 June 1944, 5LFS 2 November 1944, and 49 Squadron 23 November 1944. Sadly Edward lost his life on 15 March 1945. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/483A/6 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/483A/5 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 14-03-1945 |
End Date | 15-03-1945 |
Takeoff Station | Fulbeck |
Day/Night Raid | Night (1% moon) |
Operation | Lutzkendorf- Wintershall synthetic oil plant |
Reason for Loss | One of the eight 5 Group Lancasters shot down by Hptm Martin Becker's Ju88 |