Parker, Benjamin Frederick John
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | Benjamin Frederick John |
Surname | Parker |
Gender | M |
Age | 22 |
Date of Death | 21-02-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of William Frederick Charles Parker and Theresa Ellen Parker (née Hardy), of Fort Frances, Ontario, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax II |
Serial Number | DT633 |
Markings |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Boldre (St. John) Churchyard |
Grave Reference | Row 3. Grave 6. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 222 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/101927 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 405 (Vancouver) |
Squadron Motto | Duicmus (We lead) |
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
On loan to Coastal Command at the time |
Benjamin was born at Fort Frances, Ontario on 27 July 1920. His father was born at Strathmore, Ontario and worked as a Steam Fitter at Fort Frances Paper Mill, his mother was born in Durham, England. He had three sisters, Joyce, Beryl and Evelyn and a brother Allen. He attended Fort Frances school and then worked as a Pulp and Paper Rewinder’s helper until enlisting 29 May 1941. The sports he took part in occasionally were baseball, basket ball, skating and swimming. |
After enlisting Benjamin was posted to the U.K. and embarked from Canada on 1 June 1942 arriving at 3PRC on 12 June 1942. He then continued to 10 (0) AFU 24 July 1942, 23 OTU 29 August 1942, 428 Squadron 10 November 1942, 1659 CU 4 December 1942, and 405 Squadron on 16 January 1943. Sadly Benjamin lost his life a few weeks later on 21 February 1943. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Fellow Servicemen
Please note that this list gives all the losses aboard the quoted aircraft and occasionally these may have occurred on an earlier date when the aircraft was not itself lost. Please check the dates of death carefully.
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 21-02-1943 |
End Date | 21-02-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Beaulieu |
Day/Night Raid | Day |
Operation | Sea patrol |
Reason for Loss | Crashed one and a half miles north east of RAF Beaulieu |