Proudlock, Thomas Harold
Personal Information
Rank | P/O |
Forename(s) | Thomas Harold |
Surname | Proudlock |
Gender | M |
Age | 24 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 26-03-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of Dr.Duncan MacDougall Proudlock and Stella Proudlock (Waring) of Kerrobert, Saskatchewan, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster II |
Serial Number | DS789 |
Markings | OW-A |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Reichswald Forest War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 30. A. 10. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 229 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/19063 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 426 (Thunderbird) |
Trade | Air Bomber |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Proudlock Lake, Saskatchewan |
Country | Canada |
Memorial Type | Lake |
Memorial Text |
Location | Adjacent to Village Hall, Dishforth, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone with Inscribed Metal Plaque & Maple Tree |
Memorial Text | In memory of the Canadian aircrew of 425 and 426 Sqns RCAF who served at RAF Dishforth, 1942-1945 |
Location | Outside Village Hall, Linton on Ouse, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone with inscribed Slate Tablet |
Memorial Text | In memory of Canadian personnel who served at RAF Linton on Ouse during WW2, including 408 and 426 Sqns RCAF |
Miscellaneous Information
Thomas was born on 1 May 1918 at Kerrobert, Saskatchewan. His father was a chiropractor born in Ontario and his mother was born in England. He had a brother MacDougall Duncan and two sisters Agnes Amelia and Marion June. His brother was a gunner and navigator in Sutherland aircraft.The schools he went to were Kerrobert school, Saskatchewan, 1925-1934 (grade 8) and Coleville, 1934-1938 (grade 11 and part grade 12) His sport interests were hockey and baseball and his hobby woodwork and mechanics. Thomas worked as a mechanic for three years between 1939-1941 and then spent about three months as a bartender before enlisting on 7 November 1941. |
After initial training he was sent to the U.K. where he arrived at 3PRC on 5 November 1942. He then went to 23 OTU on 8 December 1942, 426 Sqn. 27 May 1943, 1679 CU 6 July 1943 and back to 426 Squadron on 24 October 1943. Thomas sadly lost his life from there on 26 March 1944. |
Proudlock Lake on the Saskatchewan/ Northwest Territories border, has been named in his honour (Grid Ref: 59.99861965203808, -108.40701490781636) |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1842/6 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1842/5 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 26-03-1944 |
End Date | 27-03-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Linton-on-Ouse |
Day/Night Raid | Night (9% moon) |
Operation | Essen. 705 aircraft. The German controller had not expected a sudden switch back to Ruhr targets and so the night-fighters were not well placed for interception. As a result the losses were low- 9 aircraft losses (1.3%). Essen was cloud-covered but Oboe could be used due to the proximity to the English coast and target marking was accurate as a result. 48 industrial buildings were seriously damaged and around 1750 houses destroyed. 550 people were killed on the ground. |
Reason for Loss | Hit by flak and exploded, scattering debris over Bottrop, Germany |