Laurence, Joseph Fernand Rolland
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | Joseph Fernand Rolland |
Surname | Laurence |
Gender | M |
Age | 21 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 26-05-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Donat Laurence and Aline Laurence (nee Giguere), of Montreal, Province of Québec, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax II |
Serial Number | JB837 |
Markings | KN-D |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Rheinberg War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Coll. grave 4. D. 5-20. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 196 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/104713 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 77 |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Holy Trinity Church, Elvington, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window & Roll of Honour |
Memorial Text | Memorial windows and Roll of Honour for 77 Sqn. R.A.F. |
Location | Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Marble Column with Metal Sculpture and Plaques |
Memorial Text | Memorial to 77 Sqn. R.A.F. City of Lancaster's own |
Miscellaneous Information
Born 7 October 1921 Montreal, Canada. |
Service History: 4 Manning Depot, Québec City, QC (9 Jun 41 to 15 Jul 41), Newfoundland Airport, Newfoundland (16 Jul 41 to 8 Sep 41), RCAF Detachment, North Sydney, NS (9 Sep 41 to 16 Jul 42), 9 Bombing and Gunnery School, Mont Joli, QC (17 Jul 42 to 10 Oct 42), 3 Training Command, Montreal, QC (11 Oct 42 to 1 Nov 42), 1 "Y" Depot, Halifax, NS (22 Nov 42 to 22 Nov 42) RAF Trainee Pool (22 Nov 42 to Unknown). Arrived UK 31 Nov 42, 3 Personnel Reception Centre (31 Nov 42 to 2 Feb 43), 24 Operational Training Unit (2 Feb 43 to 12 Apr 43), RAF Driffield (14 Apr 43 to 15 Apr 43), 1163 Conversion Unit (15 Apr 43 to 23 Apr 43), RAF Driffield (23 Apr 43 to 16 May 43), arriving at 77 Sqn on 16 May 43. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/656/29 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/656/28 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 25-05-1943 |
End Date | 26-05-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Elvington |
Day/Night Raid | Night (57% moon) |
Operation | Dusseldorf. 759 aircraft, 27 losses (3.6%). This raid was a failure since PFF had great difficulty in marking the target due to two layers of cloud. Decoy fires and markers were also being operated. Bombing was scattered as a result. |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night-fighter and exploded with such force that two Stirlings (EF361 and BF534) were also downed. Crashed close to Jülich, Germany |