Macaulay, John Walter
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | John Walter |
Surname | Macaulay |
Gender | M |
Age | 29 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 27-07-1942 |
Next of Kin | Son of Alexander Forrester Macaulay and Florence Elizabeth Macaulay (née Mackay), of Pugwash, Cumberland, Nova Scotia. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax II |
Serial Number | W1186 |
Markings | LQ-F |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Hamburg Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 5A. H. 10. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 202 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/73010 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 405 (Vancouver) |
Trade | WOp/AG |
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
John was born on 29 August 1912 in Pugwash, Cumberland, Nova Scotia. His father, deceased , was a farmer, born in Pugwash, and his mother was born in East Wallace. John attended the Public school, General course, 1917-1925, and the High School 1925-1929. Grade X1 and Junior Matric. The sports John was interested in were, swimming, skiing and skating. As John’s father had died in 1930, he worked on their farm until December 1939 helping his mother with the running of the farm as well as her own local store. |
He enlisted on 11 September 1940, embarking to the U.K. on 20 July 1941 after initial training. He arrived at 3PRC on 31 July 1941, 22 OTU 14 October 1941, 158 Sqn. 12 May 1942 and 405 Squadron on 5 June 1942. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1787/28 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1787/27 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 26-07-1942 |
End Date | 27-07-1942 |
Takeoff Station | Pocklington |
Day/Night Raid | Night (99% moon) |
Operation | Hamburg. 403 aircraft sustained 7.2% losses. Icing en route but target area clear, resulting in extensive damage mainly to residential areas. 823 houses demolished and over 5000 damaged |
Reason for Loss | From the Police report of SW-Revier 9 (held by Staats-Archiv-Hamburg), dated 31.07.1942, Hamburg: "The aircraft went down on the water surface of the Elbe between the Blohm&Voss free harbour and Schweinesand. Parts of the aircraft were found near the mouth of the river Este. At low tide, individual pieces of wreckage emerged from the water over an area of 2500 square metres. Two bodies were recovered, as well as parts of another body. Despite an intensive search, no further bodies of the crew were found. They were swallowed up by the river Elbe." |