Davis, Harry Walter
Personal Information
Rank | P/O |
Forename(s) | Harry Walter |
Surname | Davis |
Gender | M |
Age | 20 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 28-04-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Walter Thomas Davis and Margaret Lena Davis (née Moore) of Stratford, Ontario, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | MZ588 |
Markings | QO-W |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Belgium |
Burial/Memorial Place | Heverlee War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 5. F. 17. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 153 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/90062 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 432 (Leaside) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Village Centre, Sutton on the Forest, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone & Metal Sun Dial |
Memorial Text | A memorial to all those who served at RAF East Moor and in particular 415 Sqn RCAF |
Miscellaneous Information
Harry was born on 11 January 1924 at Stratford, Ontario. Both parents were born at Stratford and his father was a Motive Power Foreman. The schools he attended were Shakespeare Public in Stratford 1929-1936, followed by Stratford Collegiate Institute, 1936-1940. He enjoyed swimming. He then worked as a machinist apprentice for Mr. J.W. Bailey at Motive Power Shop in Stratford 1940-1942. He had three brothers - Ernest, Jack and Donald, as well as three sisters, two of whom were married and one, Jean, was in the RCAF at Summerside, Prince Edward Island. |
Harry enlisted on 20 October 1942 and after training was posted to the U.K. He embarked from New York on 8 October 1943 arriving at 3 PRC on the 17th October. He was then at 22 OTU on 16 November 1943, 61 Base on 24 February 1944, and 432-Squadron on 11 April 1944. Sadly Harry was to lose his life later that month on 28 April 1944 at the age of twenty years. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1860/24 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1860/23 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 27-04-1944 |
End Date | 28-04-1944 |
Takeoff Station | East Moor |
Day/Night Raid | Night (29% moon) |
Operation | Montzen- to attack railway installations. 144 aircraft, 15 losses (10.4%). Not a particularly successful raid, compounded by very high loss rate. Only one part of the railway yards were hit. |
Reason for Loss | Crashed at Verviers, Belgium |