Pulham, Donald Walter
Personal Information
Rank | P/O |
Forename(s) | Donald Walter |
Surname | Pulham |
Gender | M |
Age | 19 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 22-03-1944 |
Next of Kin | Son of George Walter Pulham and Lillian May Pulham (née Howell), of Brantford, Ontario, Canada. Husband of Fern Violet Pulham (née Pizzey), whom he married on 19 June 1943 in Brantford . |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | LW417 |
Markings | KW-G |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Cologne Southern Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Plot 4. Row AA. Grave 7. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 229 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/88342 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 425 (Alouette) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Outside Village Hall, Dishforth, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone and inscribed metal plaque |
Memorial Text | In memory of the Canadian aircrew of 425 and 426 Sqns RCAF who served at RAF Dishforth, 1942-1945 |
Location | Village Green, Tholthorpe, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone, inscribed metal plaque and Maple Tree |
Memorial Text | A memorial, in French, to those Canadians who served at RAF Tholthorpe during WW2, including 425 Sqn |
Location | Former Control Tower, Tholthorpe Airfield, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | A memorial to those Canadians who served at RAF Tholthorpe during WW2, including 425 Sqn |
Miscellaneous Information
Donald was born on 21 April 1924 at Brantford, Ontario. His father was born in Kent, England and he worked as an aircraft woodworker, and his mother was born in Brantford. His occupation is shown as Aircraft Riveter. He had seven brothers, Norman, Clifford, Roy, Bob, Ken, Jerry and Dennis and one sister, Beverley. He attended Grandview Public School , Brantford, 1929-1939, (General). Donald also took a Ground School correspondence course at Brant Norfolk Aero Club 1941-1941 (Aircraft studies). His sporting interests were football and baseball. He had several short term jobs: Laboratory work at Paterson’s Candy 1939; Brantford Apprentice Tinsmith at Turnbull & Sons 1939-1940; Woodworking at Halliday’s Construction 1940-1940; Dyeing textiles at Watson’s Textiles 1940-1941; Aircraft riveting at Cockshutt Plow 1941 onwards. |
Donald enlisted on 9 October 1942. After initial training, Donald embarked for the U.K. on 26 August 1943, arriving at 3PRC on 2 September 1943, 24 OTU on 14 September 1943 and 425 Squadron 6 March 1944. Sadly just a few weeks later on 22 March 1944, Donald lost his life. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 22-03-1944 |
End Date | 23-03-1944 |
Takeoff Station | Tholthorpe |
Day/Night Raid | Night (3% moon) |
Operation | Frankfurt. 816 aircraft, 33 losses (4.0%). An indirect route, in addition to a diversionary raid on Kiel kept fighters away for some time and in fact the German controller believed that Frankfurt was the target. Marking and bombing were accurate and Frankfurt was again badly damaged right across the city. 948 deaths and 346 seriously injured. Some 120000 people were bombed out of their homes. |
Reason for Loss |