Byers, William Harold Stanley
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | William Harold Stanley |
Surname | Byers |
Gender | M |
Age | 28 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 12-10-1941 |
Next of Kin | Foster son of Rev.William Price Byers and Charlotte Maria Byers (née Forster), of Stratford, Ontario, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Vickers Wellington IC |
Serial Number | R1757 |
Markings | DX- |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Netherlands |
Burial/Memorial Place | Noord-Oost-Polder (Emmeloord) General Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Coll. grave 102-105. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 139 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/68121 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 57 |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre, East Kirkby, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Sculptures, Inscribed Memeorial Stone & Inscribed Metal Plaques |
Memorial Text | In memory of those who gave their lives with 57 and 630 Squadrons 1939 - 1945 |
Location | Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre, East Kirkby, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stenciled 57 Sqn RoH in site Chapel |
Memorial Text | In proud memory of the men of No. 57 Squadron who lost their lives operating from Royal Air Force East Kirkby 1943 to 1945 |
Miscellaneous Information
William was born on 9 June 1913 in Asnansol, Bengal, India. His father was born in Stratford, Ontario and was a retired Minister and his mother was born in Fredricton, New Brunswick. They were missionaries in India for many years. The schools he attended were Philander-Smith College 1920-1923, Stratford Collegiate 1927-1934, Stratford Normal School 1932-193 (a Commercial course) 1933-1934 and then Stratford Collegiate. His hobby was photography and the sports he was interested in were rugby, basketball, softball and hockey. William worked at G.L.Griffiths & Sons, Stratford, as a packer and inspector from 1935 onwards. |
He enlisted on 27 June 1940 and after training embarked from Canada for the U.K. arriving at 3PRC on 20 April 1941. He then went to 2 SS on 28 April 1941, 21 OTU. 13 July 1941 and 57 Squadron 30 September 1941. Just twelve days later on 12 October, William very sadly lost his life. |
Casualty Pack Number Find Out More
AIR 81/9598 (P362948/41) |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/537/40 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/537/39 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 12-10-1941 |
End Date | 13-10-1941 |
Takeoff Station | Feltwell |
Day/Night Raid | Night (55% moon) |
Operation | Nuremburg |
Reason for Loss | Crashed into a marsh on the NE edge of Noord-Oost-Polder, Holland |