Watson, Rayden Frederick
Personal Information
Rank | F/O |
Forename(s) | Rayden Frederick |
Surname | Watson |
Gender | M |
Age | 24 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 11-12-1942 |
Next of Kin | Son of Fred Watson and Vera Gertrude Watson (née Mutters) of Chatham, Ontario, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax II |
Serial Number | DT579 |
Markings | NP-V |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | France |
Burial/Memorial Place | Villeneuve-en-Montagne Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Coll. grave. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 261 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/16430 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 4 |
Squadron | 158 |
Trade | Air Bomber |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | St. James of Compostola Church, Lissett, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Memorial Stone & Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | Memorial to 158 Sqn, RAF Lissett 28th February 1943 - 17th August 1946 |
Location | St. James of Compostola Church, Lissett, East Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stained Glass Window & Inscribed Metal Plaques |
Memorial Text | A stained glass window in memory of 158 Sqn RAF |
Miscellaneous Information
Rayden was born on 31 August 1918 at West Worthing, Sussex , England. His father was born at Campbellton, New Brunswick and worked at the Surveyors Union Gas Company of Ontario. His mother was born at West Worthing, England. He had two sisters Joan and Mary and brothers Maxwell (aged 16) and P/O Waldron Worthing Watson at RAF Delbert, Nova Scotia, who sadly lost his life from 425 Sqn on 19 July 1944 (http://losses.intenationalbcc.co.uk/loss/229628). He attended Grammar School, 1925-1933 and then Chatham Collegiate, Ontario 1933- 1935. The sports he enjoyed were hockey, swimming, rowing and football and he liked to make sail boats. Rayden worked at the Mortgage Company Canada Trust Co, as a clerk and ledger keeper for over five years. He enlisted on 11 November 1940. |
After training he was posted to the U.K. and embarked from Canada on 13 December 1941, arriving at 3PRC on 20 December. He then continued to 2 S S on 20 January 1942, 10 OTU 24 March 1942, and 158 Squadron on 9 July 1942. Very sadly Rayden was to lose his life from 158 Squadron on 11 December 1942. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1048/22 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1048/21 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 11-12-1942 |
End Date | 12-12-1942 |
Takeoff Station | Rufforth |
Day/Night Raid | Night (21% moon) |
Operation | Turin. 82 aircraft, 4 losses (4.8%). Many crews turned back before crossing the Alps due to extreme icing. 28 crews bombed the city but the local authorities only report 3 high explosive bombs fell, 2 of which did not explode. |
Reason for Loss | Crashed at Villeneuve en Montagne, France |