Scourfield, Leslie Rowland Died
Personal Information
| Rank | F/O |
| Forename(s) | Leslie Rowland |
| Surname | Scourfield |
| Gender | M |
| Age | 27 |
| Date of Death | 15-10-1942 |
| Next of Kin | Son of James Scourfield and Nellie J. Scourfield (née Shepherd), of London, Ontario, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
| Aircraft | Vickers Wellington II |
| Serial Number | BK270 |
| Markings | VR- |
Memorial Information
| Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
| Burial/Memorial Place | Runnymede Memorial |
| Grave Reference | Panel 99. |
IBCC Memorial Information
| Phase | 2 |
| Panel Number | 239 |
Enlistment Information
| Service Number | J/9782 |
| Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
| Group | 4 |
| Squadron | 419 (Moose) |
| Squadron Motto | Moosa aswayita |
| Trade | Navigator |
| Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
| Location | Race Control Building, Croft Auto Circuit, North Yorkshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque |
| Memorial Text | In memory of those who served at RAF Croft, 1941-1945 including 419 Sqn RCAF |
| Location | Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington, North Yorkshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Memorial Gardens, Propeller, Inscribed Marble Tablets |
| Memorial Text | In everlasting homage to the courage of those who have found their winged victory through the skies of Yorkshire |
| Location | Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington, North Yorkshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Propeller Unit & Inscribed Marble Tablets |
| Memorial Text | They made the supreme sacrifice so that you & I may go in peace with freedom. 4 Group 1939 - 1945. |
| Location | Heslington Hall, York, North Yorkshire |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque |
| Memorial Text | Heslington Hall 1941 - 1945, 4 Gp Headquarters Bomber Command. In remembrance of those Air & Ground personnel who made the supreme sacrifice that we all may walk in peace with freedom |
Miscellaneous Information
| Leslie was born on 25 November 1914 at London, Ontario. His father, who was deceased by the time of Leslie's enlistment, was born in Wales and his mother in Sussex, England. He attended Ingersoll School, Ontario between 1919 and 1928 (general) and Ingersoll Collegiate Institute 1928-1935 (general). He then went to Queen’s University 1935-1937 (engineering) and 1938-1939 (Faculty of Science). For sport, he liked to swim, ski and hunt and his hobby was target shooting, photography and amateur radio operating. Leslie worked as a test engineer at the International Nickel Co. Ltd. at Copper Cliff 1937-1938 and then went back to school. He then returned and worked as a sampler in a smelting works until enlisting on 8 January 1941. |
| After training in Canada, Leslie was posted to the U.K. and arrived at 3PRC on 20 February 1942. He was then at 17 SFTS on 6 April 1942, 22 OTU 9 June 1942 and 419 Squadron 28 August 1942. Sadly Leslie lost his life from 419 Squadron on 15 October 1942. |
The National Archives
| Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1822/20 |
| Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1822/20 |
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.
| Name | Outcome |
|---|---|
| Anderton P J (Sgt) | Died |
| Grover H A (F/S) | Died |
| Jolley J P (F/S) | Died |
| Noonan V O (Sgt) | Died |
Last Operation Information
| Start Date | 15-10-1942 |
| End Date | 16-10-1942 |
| Takeoff Station | Croft |
| Day/Night Raid | Night (39% moon) |
| Operation | Cologne. 289 aircraft, 18 losses (6.2%). PFF had difficulty in identifying the target and as a result were unable to draw the main force from a decoy fire. |
| Reason for Aircraft Loss | Crashed at Monchengladbach and burst into flames |