Simonin, Bernard Gerard
Personal Information
Rank | P/O |
Forename(s) | Bernard Gerard |
Surname | Simonin |
Gender | M |
Age | 19 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 05-01-1945 |
Next of Kin | Son of Henry Louis Simonin and Rose Simonin (née Brule), of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax III |
Serial Number | NR178 |
Markings | KW-J |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Germany |
Burial/Memorial Place | Hanover War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 16. G. 16. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 241 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/93466 |
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
Bernard was born at Calgary, Alberta on 3 June 1925. His father worked as a machinist for S&G Clothing in Montreal and was born in France, whereas his mother was born at Nicolet, Quebec. The schools he attended were St. Laurent, Montreal 1932-1938 and also Montreal College 1938-1942. The sports he enjoyed were skiing, swimming and cycling. Bernard, like his father, also worked for S&G Clothing, where he was a machine operator during 1942. |
He enlisted on 8 February 1943 and after training was posted to the U.K. Embarking from Halifax on 5 March 1944, he arrived at 3 (RCAF) PRC on 15 March. He was then at 22 OTU on 4 April 1944, 61 Base 30 August 1944 and 425 Squadron on 18 September 1944. Sadly Bernard was to lose his life on 5 January 1945, aged only nineteen years. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 05-01-1945 |
End Date | 06-01-1945 |
Takeoff Station | Tholthorpe |
Day/Night Raid | Night (55% moon) |
Operation | Hannover. 664 aircraft, 31 losses (4.7%). Bombs fell throughout the city. 493 buildings were destroyed and 250 people killed. |
Reason for Loss | Thought to have been shot down by a night-fighter and crashed east of Schneeren, Germany |