Edwards, Robert George
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Robert George |
Surname | Edwards |
Gender | M |
Age | 23 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 31-07-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Francis George Edwards and Annie Edwards (née Foubert), of Chapleau, Ontario, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax II |
Serial Number | JD365 |
Markings | EQ-J |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Runnymede Memorial |
Grave Reference | Panel 186. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 160 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/125516 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 408 (Goose) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Roman Rd, Leeming, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Brass plaque set into a stone plinth into which is carved with the Canadian maple leaf and the Yorkshire rose. |
Memorial Text | This memorial is dedicated to those men and women who served at RAF Leeming during World War II, including those from the Royal Canadian Air Force Squadrons, whose members came from all parts of the Commonwealth from 1942 to 1945; 405 Vancouver, 408 Goose |
Location | Opposite old Main Guardroom, RAF Leeming, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stone Memorial & Metal Plaques |
Memorial Text | In commemoration of those men and women of many nations who served at RAF Leeming during the second world war. |
Location | Village Centre, Linton on Ouse, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stone Memorial and inscribed slate tablet |
Memorial Text | In memory of 408 (Goose) and 426 (Thunderbird) Squadrons of R.C.A.F |
Miscellaneous Information
Robert was born on 29 November 1919 at Chapleau, Ontario. His father was an engineer for Canadian Pacific Railways and was born in Pembroke, Ontario and his mother was born in Sudbury, Ontario. He had five sisters, Frances, Doris, Myra, Margaret and Joyce. Robert attended Chapleau Public School 1926- 1933 and then the High School 1933-1937. His sporting interests included football and hockey. He worked as a garage mechanic 1937-1939, then as a machinist’s helper in C.P.R. shops 1939-1940 and then, again with C.P.R., as a locomotive fireman between 1940-until enlistment in 1941. |
He enlisted on 23 August 1941 and after training embarked from New York on 4 May 1943. He reached 3 PRC on 12 May 1943, 24 OTU 25 May 1943, 1664 CU. 26 June 1943 and 408 Squadron 16 July 1943. Robert sadly lost his life on 31 July 1943, just five days later. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1797/14 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1797/13 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 30-07-1943 |
End Date | 31-07-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Leeming |
Day/Night Raid | Night (1% moon) |
Operation | Remscheid. 273 aircraft, 15 losses (5.5%). Previously not bombed. This raid marked the end of the battle of the Ruhr. Oboe ground marking was used and the main force bombed particularly accurately. A post war British survey estimated that 83% of the city was destroyed by just 871 tons of bombs. Most of the town's industry Lost 3 months of production and never regained its fully capacity. 3115 homes were destroyed and 1120 people killed |
Reason for Loss | Crashed at Düren, Germany |