Rollings, William Arnold
Personal Information
Rank | F/O |
Forename(s) | William Arnold |
Surname | Rollings |
Gender | M |
Age | 28 |
Date of Death | 01-05-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of George William Rollings and Theodora Rollings (née Hunter), of Weston, York County, Ontario, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
Serial Number | ED783 |
Markings | KM-F |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Netherlands |
Burial/Memorial Place | Dalfsen General Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Plot 6. Row 1. Grave 12. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 92 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/21818 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 5 |
Squadron | 44 (Rhodesia) |
Squadron Motto | Fulmina regis iusta (The king's thunderbolts are righteous) |
Trade | Navigator |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | St. Chad's Church, Dunholme, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Marble Tablet |
Memorial Text | In memory of 44 (Rhodesia) Sqn. who served at R.A.F. Dunholme Lodge May 1943 - Sept. 1944 |
Location | All Saints Church, Great Steeping, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Marble Tablet |
Memorial Text | In memory of those who served R.A.F. Spilsby in 44 (Rhodesia) Sqd. Sept 1944 - July 1945 |
Location | Memorial Gardens, RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Marble Pillar |
Memorial Text | In memory of those who served with 44 (Rhodesia) Sqn. "We will remember them" |
Miscellaneous Information
William was born on 23 August 1914 at Weston, York County, Ontario. His father was born at Malton, Ontario and worked as an agent for CNR and his mother ( who was deceased by the time of William's enlistment) was born in Toronto. He had one sister, Doreen Ann. He went to Weston Memorial school 1920-1929, Allenford Continuation 1929-1932 followed by O’Sullivan Business courses, 1932-1933 for four months. William joined in most of the usual sports including baseball and swimming and his hobby was motorcycle racing. He had several occupations including a Mechanics helper for Canadian Pacific Steamships for one year, in the Service department of Canadian Westinghouse 1934-1935, as a Restaurant manager for four years , and as a Sales Manager in a Country Club from 1939 onwards. |
William enlisted on 11 March 1941 and after training was sent to the U.K. He arrived at 3PRC on 2 September 1942 the went on to 10 (0) AFU on 13 September 1942, 29 OTU 29 September 1942, 1661 CU 3 March 1943, 44 Squadron 10 March 1943. Sadly on 1 May 1943 William lost his life. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/450/8 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/450/7 |
Fellow Servicemen
Please note that this list gives all the losses aboard the quoted aircraft and occasionally these may have occurred on an earlier date when the aircraft was not itself lost. Please check the dates of death carefully.
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 30-04-1943 |
End Date | 01-05-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Waddington |
Day/Night Raid | Night (13% moon) |
Operation | Essen |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night-fighter (Hptm Wolfgang Thimmig, 111./NJG1), crashing 0320 1May43 at Rechteren (Overijssel), 13 km ESE of Zwolle, Holland. |