Best, Alexander Gordon
Personal Information
Rank | P/O |
Forename(s) | Alexander Gordon |
Surname | Best |
Gender | M |
Age | 19 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 01-11-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Raymond Percy Best and Hazel Etta Best (née Chowen) of Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | NR114 |
Markings | WL-U |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Reichswald Forest War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Coll. grave 31. A. 11-13. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 130 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/95559 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 434 (Bluenose) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Race Control Building, Croft Auto Circuit, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | In memory of those who served at RAF Croft, 1941-1945 including 419 Sqn RCAF |
Location | Roadside Location, A167, Dalton on Tees, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Memorial topped with metal statue |
Memorial Text | In memory of those who served at RAF Croft, 1941-1945 including 419 Sqn RCAF |
Location | Village Green, Tholthorpe, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone with inscribed Metal Plaque and Maple Tree |
Memorial Text | A memorial to those Canadians who served at RCAF Tholthorpe during WW2, including 434 Sqn RCAF |
Location | Former Control Tower, old Tholthorpe airfield site, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | A memorial to those Canadians who served at RCAF Tholthorpe during WW2, including 434 Sqn RCAF |
Miscellaneous Information
Alexander was born at Peterborough, Ontario on 10 February 1925. His father was a Hardware Merchant, born in Manitoba and his mother was born at Peterborough. He attended Peterborough Collegiate 1938-1941 where he studied an Academic course. He didn’t have a lot of interest in sports but did play hockey occasionally. Between 1941-1943 he was employed in clerical work at the C.P.R. Freight Office in Charlotte Street. |
Alexander enlisted on 30 June 1943 and after training was posted to the U.K. He departed from Halifax on 25 March 1944 and arrived at 3 PRC on 3 April 1944. He then went on to 24 OTU on 18 April 1944, 61 Base 6 July 1944 and 434 Squadron on 12 August 1944. Sadly this young man was only 19 years old when he lost his life on 1 November 1944. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 01-11-1944 |
End Date | 02-11-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Croft |
Day/Night Raid | Night (97% moon) |
Operation | Oberhausen. 288 aircraft, 4 losses (1.4%). The target was cloud-covered and bombing was scattered. Little damage to the target |
Reason for Loss |