Toft, William Eric
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | William Eric |
Surname | Toft |
Gender | M |
Age | 18 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 02-03-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of William Henry Toft and Nellie Elizabeth Toft (née Remington), of Hollingway Park Avenue, Brighton, Sussex. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster I |
Serial Number | W4829 |
Markings | KM-V |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Coll. grave 14. C. 1-9. |
Epitaph | A GREAT AND HOLY PRIDE IN MEN WHO SHOWED US HOW TO LIVE, AND, AS THEIR MASTER, DIED |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 107 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 1268610 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 5 |
Squadron | 44 (Rhodesia) |
Trade | WOp/AG |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
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
Born March 1925, Steyning. |
Must have enlisted when underaged |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/450/6 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/450/5 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 01-03-1943 |
End Date | 02-03-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Waddington |
Day/Night Raid | Night (26% moon) |
Operation | Berlin |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by Flak of 1. Flak Division over the target and exploded over Berlin-Kopenick. Crashed at 22.30hrs on the corner of Pritstabelstrasse-Kopenzeile in Kopenick. Crew except for Brown initially buried in a collective grave on 15 March 1942 at Doberitz Standardt-Friedhof and re-interred on 30 October1946. Brown was initially buried in the Geminde-Friedhof at Doberitz and reburied on 12 November 1946. |