Lesley, Arthur Bennet
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | Arthur Bennet |
Surname | Lesley |
Gender | M |
Age | 21 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 15-08-1941 |
Next of Kin | Son of Bennett King Lesley and Norah Irene Marie Lesley (née McWinnie), of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Vickers Wellington II |
Serial Number | W5496 |
Markings | LQ-M |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Runnymede Memorial |
Grave Reference | Panel 61. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 198 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/58302 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 405 (Vancouver) |
Trade | Observer |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
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
Arthur was born on 30 June 1920 at Vancouver, British Columbia. His father was born in Lewis, Kansas, USA and was employed as a Refrigeration Engineer, and his mother born at Ladner, British Columbia. He had one brother James William and a sister Doris Kathleen. The schools he attended were: Charles Dickens 1926-1934 and Vancouver Technical High School 1934-1938. He enjoyed skiing and playing basketball. Arthur took on a variety of odd jobs - he occasionally worked in a Bull gang at Canada Rice Mills. He then spent a short time in 1939 Stooking peat for the Western Peat Company and occasionally was an Ice Puller at the Diamond Ice Company from 1938 onwards during the summer months. |
He enlisted on 13 July 1940 and after training was posted to the U.K. He arrived at 3PRC on 19 May 1941, 27 OTU 24 May 1941 and 405 squadron 7 July 1941. Sadly Arthur lost his life on 15 August 1941. |
Casualty Pack Number Find Out More
AIR 81/8332 (P361391/41) |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1787/6 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1787/5 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 14-08-1941 |
End Date | 15-08-1941 |
Takeoff Station | Pocklington |
Day/Night Raid | Night (51% moon) |
Operation | Hanover |
Reason for Loss | Lost without trace |