Sebelius, Cecil Lester
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | Cecil Lester |
Surname | Sebelius |
Gender | M |
Age | 25 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 22-06-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Arthur Vernon Sebelius and Helen Olive Sebelius (née Hoffos), of Vantage, Saskatchewan. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax II |
Serial Number | DT772 |
Markings | EQ-E |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Netherlands |
Burial/Memorial Place | Amersfoort (Oud Leusden) General Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Plot 13. Row 7. Grave 146. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 239 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/94570 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 408 (Goose) |
Trade | Navigator |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Sebelius Lake, Saskatchewan |
Country | Canada |
Memorial Type | Lake |
Memorial Text |
Location | Roman Rd, Leeming, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Brass plaque set into a stone plinth into which is carved with the Canadian maple leaf and the Yorkshire rose. |
Memorial Text | This memorial is dedicated to those men and women who served at RAF Leeming during World War II, including those from the Royal Canadian Air Force Squadrons, whose members came from all parts of the Commonwealth from 1942 to 1945; 405 Vancouver, 408 Goose |
Location | Opposite old Main Guardroom, RAF Leeming, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stone Memorial & Metal Plaques |
Memorial Text | In commemoration of those men and women of many nations who served at RAF Leeming during the second world war. |
Location | Village Centre, Linton on Ouse, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stone Memorial and inscribed slate tablet |
Memorial Text | In memory of 408 (Goose) and 426 (Thunderbird) Squadrons of R.C.A.F |
Miscellaneous Information
Cecil was born on 14 November 1917 in Vantage, Saskatchewan. His parents were both born in Battineau, North Dakota and his father was a farmer. He was from a large family of ten children. His siblings were Alice, Frances, Everett, Oren, Orvel, Dernon, Gorden, Evelyn and Verna. Cecil attended Dew Drops School 1923-1930 and again in 1930-1932 (Grade 1X High School Entrance). He also took a course for Post Officer clerk from the Public Services Institute of Winnipeg, Manitoba and a D.P.Y.T course in metal mining. His hobby was model building and he enjoyed boxing and hockey. Between 1932-1936 he worked as a labourer on his father’s farm and seasonal work in a coal mine between 1936-1937. Cecil enlisted on 26 February 1941 and embarked for the U.K. on 12 November 1941. He arrived at 3 PRC on 23 November 1941, 406 Sqn 5 December 1941, 1659 CU 12 March 1943 and 408 Squadron on 11 April 1943. Sadly Cecil lost his life on 22 June 1943. |
There is a lake in Northern Saskatchewan named in his honour at grid reference 55.770544N, 108.577890W |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1797/12 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1797/11 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 21-06-1943 |
End Date | 22-06-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Leeming |
Day/Night Raid | Night (80% moon) |
Operation | Krefeld. 705 aircraft, 44 losses (6.2%) with night-fighters counting for most of the losses (the night was moonlit). PFF marking was near-perfect (using Oboe). A large fire in the centre of Krefeld raged unchecked for many hours. Over 5500 houses destroyed, 1056 people killed and 72000 bombed out of their homes. |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by Hptm. Hans-Dieter Frank of 2/NJG1 and crashed at Koelaan/Kouwenhovenselaan Zeist, Utrecht, Netherlands. This was his 38th claim overall and his 5th of the night. |