Daniels, Ronald Denver
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | Ronald Denver |
Surname | Daniels |
Gender | M |
Age | 20 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 09-05-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Benjamin Denver Daniels and Annie May Daniels (née Jones); Stepson of Violet Daniels. Husband of Ethel Daniels, of Cefn, Denbighshire, whom he married in December 1943. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster III |
Serial Number | ND587 |
Markings | LQ-D |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Belgium |
Burial/Memorial Place | Chièvres Communal Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Grave 32. |
Epitaph | AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN AND IN THE MORNING WE WILL REMEMBER THEM |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 152 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | 2216175 |
Service | Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve |
Group | 8 |
Squadron | 405 (Vancouver) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | United Kingdom |
Other Memorials
Location | Rue de Brigaude, Gallaix, Hainaut Province |
Country | Belgium |
Memorial Type | Inscribed marble memorial stone |
Memorial Text | Le 9 mai 1944, le Lancaster LQ-D ND587 du RCAF 405 Pathfinder s’est ecrase dans ce champ. Matt Buckley Flt/Sgt RAF, Bill Chase Flt/Lt RAAF, Ron Daniels Flt/Sgt RAF, J.T. Gill Flt/Sgt RAF, Winston Knupp Flt/Lt RCAF, William Sinclair Flt/Lt RAF, Claude Sylv |
Location | Adjacent to Village Windmill, Mill Rd, Great Gransden, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone with inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | Remembering 405 (Vancouver) Sqn. PFF at Gransden Lodge 1942 - 1945 |
Location | St. Bartholomew's Church, Great Gransden, Cambridgeshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window, RoH and inscribed metal plaque |
Memorial Text | Commemorating the 801 airmen of 405 Sqn. RCAF who gave their lives 1941 - 1945 |
Location | Pocklington Gliding Club, Pocklington Airfield, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Marble Pillar and inscribed metal plaque |
Memorial Text | In memory of 102 (Ceylon) and 405 (Vancouver) Sqns. Pocklington Airfield |
Miscellaneous Information
Born 2 July 1923 and raised in Acrefair, a small village about 10 miles outside of Wrexham in North Wales. He lived in the house that his mother had lived in her whole life. His dad fought with the Green Howards in WWI. Following the war he became a miner. Ron was the second child of five. Denver was the eldest born in June 1920, then Ron in 1923, followed by the only girl Doreen born in July 1925, after that came George in January 1932 and then the youngest Colin in 1933. Primary school was literally just up the road behind his house, he passed his 11 plus and then went to Ruabon Grammar School. In school he was very sporty and played rugby for the school team. In March 1938 his mother passed away. His best friend was his cousin Gwyneth who were described by family as being 'as thick as thieves, always into mischief, but devoted to each other'. Ron left school during the depression when jobs were scarce. At first, he became a plumber's mate, then moved on to work at Roberts and McGuiness brickworks in Trevor, not far from home. He had a stepmother (Violet) by this time, but they did not get along. When war broke out, he was in a protected industry (making fire bricks) and the workers did not need to join the war effort. Ron couldn't wait to do his bit, he had no doubt that he should enlist as soon as he was able. Colin's last real recollection of Ron was when he was on leave, he took him to a fete at his old school. Colin was tired after a busy day and Ron carried him home on his shoulders. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 08-05-1944 |
End Date | 09-05-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Gransden Lodge |
Day/Night Raid | Night (99% moon) |
Operation | Haine St Pierre- to attack railway installations. 123 aircraft, 9 losses (7.3%). severe damage to half of the railway yards and engine sheds |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night-fighter on return leg and crashed at Maulde, near Gallaix, east of Tournai, Belgium |