PRE-ENLISTMENT IN THE ROYAL AIR FORCE
Flight Training at the Edmonton and Northern Alberta Aero Club H. Seymour-Biggs

13-Nov. 1934

Edmonton Journal, November 13, 1934 Page 9 – “Loops and Spins – With Alberta’s Airmen. Dave Jacox, Canada’s youngest amateur pilot is now on the solo list. Other soloists are: J. A. Shephard (Shepherd), Eddie Deschamps, Irvin Hertzberg M.M., and Charles Powell.”

10-Dec. 1934

Edmonton Journal, December 14, 1934 Page 14 - “Loops and Spins – With Alberta’s Airmen. Lyman Anderson, J. A. Shepherd, Donald Walker and Oliver Thompson are on the solo list. They started landing on wheels, now they’re on skis.”

[Note: Flying lessons with the Edmonton and Northern Alberta Aero Club; on the solo list for December 10, 1934. Pilot’s Certificate F.696 from Military Service file under “Where Educated, Language, and other special qualifications” section.]

[Note: records of the Edmonton and Northern Alberta Aero Club pilot's certificates from the 1930's have been lost as the Edmonton Flying Club burnt down in 1967. https://www.pressreader.com/canada/edmonton-journal/20130226/281543698337789]

27-Mar.-1935

Edmonton Bulletin, March 27, 1935 Page 1 - “EDMONTON LADS READY TO JOIN R.A.F. - Aero Headquarters Buzzing Over Prospect Imperial Enlistments.

Edmonton and Northern Alberta Aero Club headquarters at the airport buzzed over the weekend as a result of the announcement from London, England of Britain’s intention to increase the Royal Air Force personnel by 22,500, a number of whom will be recruited from the dominions.

Chester Moffett, president of the aero club, states there are at least 10 trained or partly trained pilots in this city who will make application to the Royal Air Force headquarters in London, for enlistment. The aero club here is cabling London for full information.

PILOT PREFERENCE

The pilots, who are to be taken on the force, will number about 2,500, according to the advice from London and these must be between the ages of 18 and 22.

Mr. Moffett points to the fact that men with pilot’s certificates will naturally be given the preference, as it is the intention of the R.A.F. to add 1,300 pilots to the force before the end of the present year.

“Green men spend on average a year in ground schools and doing fatigue work, but those who have certificates, providing they pass medical examinations, would

LOCAL LADS TO ENLIST ROYAL AIR FORCE – Continued from Page One. likely remain only two weeks in a ground school”, Mr. Moffett pointed out.

Among those who are prepared to enlist, now training at the Aero club here are: Ronald Hall, just completed a course for a commercial license; Jack McAthey, George Boles, Isaac Martin and Phil D’Auomst.

Others who may be eligible include:

Chris H. Moon, Marshall Smith, Alex Donald, Fred Crawford, William Coppinger, W.J. Sherwood, J.A. Jackson and Sherman Found.

Jack Sutherland, an Edmonton-trained pilot, is now serving with the R.A.F. in Scotland, having gone from this city last year. Jerry Toland is another Edmonton boy serving with the force in England. Both learned their flying under Pilot Instructor Capt. Maurice Burbridge, a former R.A.F. pilot.

The announcement that Britain would recruit some of her pilots from the dominions has brought a rush of students to enroll in the school here, Mr. Moffett said. There are now 200 men of all ages undergoing training and many more are expected to join the school within the next week.

The local club expects to have definite information on the subject within the next couple of days. Many students of the club are still attending high school and they desire to obtain full particulars before making a decision on the questions of enlistment.”

29-Mar.-1935

Edmonton Journal, March 29, 1935 Page 13 – “WOULD JOIN R.A.F. John Shepperd (Shepherd), Cadboro Bay, B.C., who qualified for a private air pilot’s license here last winter, has telegraphed Chester E. Moffet, president of Edmonton and Northern Alberta Aero club, asking that he be included in any contingent of Edmonton fliers going to England for enlistment with the Royal Air Force under the defence plan recently announced from London.”

Edmonton Bulletin, March 29, 1935 Page 9 – “Wants To Go Overseas. A telegram was receivedWednesday morning by Chester E. Moffat, president of the Edmonton and Northern Alberta Club, from John Shepperd (Shepherd), Cadboro Bay, B.C. It states that he wishes to go overseas with the contingent from Edmonton for enlistment in the Royal Air Force. Mr. Shepperd qualified for a private pilot’s license in Edmonton last winter.”

1937 to 1938 timeframe

Application for Enlistment with the Royal Air Force – Becoming a Biggs’ Boy:

John Shepherd had an interview with Captain H. Seymour-Biggs, resulting in H. Seymour-Biggs’ writing letter of commendation to the R.A.F. for Shepherd’s enlistment. Exact timing of the interview is unknown; however, it would have taken place in the 1937 to 1938 timeframe and prior to his departure to the U.K. in September 1938. No reference to the time of John Shepherd’s interview can be located in either The Daily Colonist nor the Times-Colonist newspapers in Victoria B.C. which carried regular articles on The Biggs’ Boys. In Ken Stofer’s book, “The Biggs’ Boys”, John Shepherd is listed as one of the Biggs’ Boys, however the author doesn’t say much more.

Times Colonist, November 10, 1985 Page 27 – “‘Skipper’ decided who would fly. Seymour-Biggs was synonymous with the RAF during the war.... The “skipper” as the boys called Biggs when he was not present, demanded respect. Nonsense was not tolerated. One was required to stand erect, speak clearly and always address him as Captain Biggs or sir. Tidy clothes and clean-shaven face was a must in the Captain’s eyes. He was preparing lads for the discipline they could expect in the RAF.

After passing the “skipper’s” interview and subsequent medical examination, it was just a matter of waiting for a passport from Ottawa (all arranged by Biggs) and finalizing transport to England. Biggs obtained a special rate for the “Biggs’ Boys” as they became known, through the cooperation of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul agency. However, many of the lads in those Depression years couldn’t raise the funds and made daily inquiries at local shipping agents hoping to sign on a ship and work their passage to England.”

07-Sep. 1938

The Daily Colonist, September 7, 1938 Page 6 - “Social Activities and Notes of Personal Interest. To Join R.A.F. – Mr. J. A. Shepherd, son of Mrs. C. F. Corbett, Carberry Gardens, will leave on Friday for England, having been accepted by the Royal Air Force. Mr. Shepherd, who completed his pilot’s training two years ago with Captain Burbidge at Edmonton, will sail off on the SS Empress of Australia next week from Montreal.”

24-Sep. 1938

Travelled to England departing from Quebec City, Quebec aboard the Canadian Pacific Liner: Empress of Australian landing at Southampton on September 24, 1938. John Shepherd is listed as a “student” and his destination contact is listed as c/o John Adamson, Beehive Hotel, Parkstone Dorset. (from the UK and Ireland Incoming Passenger List)

From the Edmonton Journal, June 10, 1940 Page 10 – “Air Fight Kills Former Resident. He left Victoria for England to join the R.A.F. in September, 1938, and friends recall that at the time he stopped over in Edmonton for a short visit before continuing on his way.”

ROYAL AIR FORCE FLIGHT TRAINING

Updates Pending:
1. Add information from R.A.F. Military Service File 2. Add No. 5 E&F.T.S. at Hansworth Information
3. Add No. 5 F.T.S. at R.A.F. Sealand information
4. Add No. 11 Group Pool information
5. Add No. 2 Ferry Pilots Pool information
6. Add AIR 81 Casualty File information

Enlistment with The Royal Air Force in England
Ab Initio Course at Elementary Flying Training School and Short-Service Commissioning

4-Oct. 1938

Enlistment in the Royal Air Force consisted of an interview with a panel of officers known as the Selection Committee and a medical examination by the Central Medical Board with a “Fit as pilot” result. Based upon his R.A.F. Service File, John Shepherd successfully passed both the R.A.F. Selection Committee interview and the medical review where on 4-Oct. 1938 the No. 2 C.M.B. Medical Board Review declared John Shepherd “fit as pilot”.

31-Oct. 1938 to 14-Jan. 1939

Begins “Ab Initio” course as a pupil pilot at No. 5 Civilian Flying School Hanworth which normally lasted for eight weeks, although in the winter it was as long as ten weeks to allow for inclement weather. During this time period the pupil pilots carried out a minimum of twenty-five hours dual and twenty-five hours solo flying using the R.A.F. Standard Syllabus for "Ab Initio" Flying Training Schools. During the entire course the pupil pilots, as candidates for a short service commission with the R.A.F., were considered civilian status, although they were paid by the Air Ministry. The pilots wore plain clothes and were given an allowance to live under their own arrangements.

*** Add comments / pictures on No. 5 E&RFTS Hanworth from ‘Katy Cox’s’ article ***

14-Jan. 1939 to 28-Jan. 1939

Following successful completion of Elementary Flying Training School, John Shepherd is posted to R.A.F. No. 1 Depot at Uxbridge for two weeks where he would have received both disciplinary and administrative training for R.A.F Officers. Candidates being awarded a short service commission would then be kitted out in uniform and ‘Gazetted’ as Acting Pilot Officers on probation with effect from the date of their 2-week posting at Uxbridge.

Oct. 1938

Enlisted with the RAF in October 1938.
Passed the medical review on 4-Oct. 1938 – No. 2 C.M.B. Medical Board Review – declared “Fit as pilot”. Proceeded with pilot flying training in the RAF -

No. 5 C.F.S. Hanworth 31.10.38 to 13.1.39 for E&RFTS
No. 1 Depot Uxbridge 14.1.39 to 28.1.39 for R.A.F. Officer Training
No. 5 F.T.S. 30.1.39 to 2.9.39 for Flight training
No. 11 Group Pool 9.9.39 for Flying duties
No. 141 Squadron 9.10.39 for Flying duties
No. 11 Group Pool 26.10.39 to 20.11.39 for Supplementary Operational Training No. 1 Squadron A.A.S.F. 24.11.39 for Flying duties

Oct 1938 through Sep 1939

Pilot Training within the R.A.F. based upon the Movements & Course of Instruction in P/O John Adamson Shepherd’s R.A.F. Service Record and “Pathway to Pilot – Interwar Years” from rafmuseum.org.uk website.
1. Ground instruction including math, navigation and principles of flying.

2. Basic training at Elementary & Reserve Flying Training Schools (E&RFTS) – for 1st solo flight. No. 5 E&RFTS at Civilian Flying School at Hanworth was operated by Blackburn Aircraft Ltd. using the Blackburn B2 trainer (side-by-side 2-seater) and Hawker Hart (single seater) aircraft, including simulation flying training on the Link trainer.

3. Intermediate and advanced training at Service Flying Training Schools (F.T.S.) – Hawker Audaxes (2- seater), Hawker Furies (2-seater) and Hawker Hart aircraft including simulation flying on Link trainer instruction. Airspeed Oxfords aircraft were also used at No. 3 F.T.S., No. 5. F.T.S. and No. 7 F.T.S. for multi-engine training.

4. Final tests and examinations complete Advanced training to obtain Pilot’s wings and granted service commission

5. Qualified pilot sent to Operational Training Units (OTU) to make them ready for Front-Line duties. Total flying training time including OTU: ~ 10 months.

28-Jan. 1939 to 9-Sep. 1939

No. 5 Flying Training School (F.T.S.) at R.A.F. Sealand – Chester, Flintshire England

1. Add AIR 29-556 ORB comments
2. Add newspaper clipping from The Chester Observer for SEALAND ATHLETIC NOTES on pupil boxing

including the write up “Boxing at No 5 FTS RAF Sealand”
3. Add photographs from the Library and Archives of Canada from the R.D. Grassick collection of

Canadians at R.A.F. Sealand with proper citations
4. Add pictures of aircraft that would have been used for training at R.A.F. Sealand.
5. Add information from file “Pilots from Course No. 39 at RAF Sealand”
6. Add Flying Training comments from RAF Service Record for final rating and comments

25-Feb. 1939

Times Colonist, February 25, 1939 Page 4 – “CANADA’S PLACE IN THE AIR. To the Editor: – Canadians seem particularly suited for aviation, and I believe Canada has a ready-to-hand air force without compare. A friend talked this over with me the other day and was of the same opinion. In the same way that Australians for some reason give the impression of natural cavalry, speaking in terms of Empire defence, so it appears that in the air Canada would be supreme. We noted the fact that Canadian men are temperamentally suited for air pilots-they have a superb aggressiveness against bad circumstances that is

more in evidence than it is with other nations. Not that Englishmen are lacking in this, far from it, but it takes a different form. I feel sure any possible invaders of Canada’s intrepid aviators and their hard training in combating adverse flying conditions all over the north and around this dangerous coast. Seeing the number of young Canadians leaving for the British air force makes one think that the supply of courage is always equal to the demand in times of need, and if ever this Empire needs her men, it is now, when we are reorganizing the whole defence scheme. One well known Victorian who wrote last week that he had been accepted for the Royal Air Force is John Shepherd of Oak Bay, who thus achieves his long- standing ambition and learned to fly in Edmonton for this reason.” OLWEN RODSTROM.

4-Mar. 1939

Cheshire Observer, March 4, 1939 Page 15 – “SEALAND ATHLETIC NOTES – BOXING”

“The competition for the Inter-Squad Trophy for the junior term pupils at Sealand took place on Friday last week. Although the boxing was more keen than skillful, the standard was higher than has been usual in recent competitions, and many of the competitors should, with training, develop into competent boxers. No. 10 Squad won the trophy, gaining 21 points to 11 Squad’s 18. It looked as though it would be a runaway victory for No. 10, as they won five out of the first six bouts, but No. 11 won five out the last seven. There were no knock-outs; all the fights were won on points. The officials were: - Referees, S/Leader Loughnan and Ft/Lt. Adamson. Judges: S/Leader Loughnan, Ft/Lt. Adamson, and F/O. Hudson. Timekeeper: Ft/Lt. F. B. Young. Medical Officer: W/Commdr. Townsend, M.B., B.Sc. Master of Ceremonies: Warrant Officer S. Stubbs, M.B.E. Ring Manager: Warrant Officer Coleman. i/c Competitors: F/Sgt. Goodman. Recorder: F/Sgt. Jordan. Seconds: Corpls. Brizell and Fairclough, and A.C.s Bloor and Thompson.

RESULTS

APO. Laird (10 Squad) beat APO. Boxer (11 Squad).
APO. Crawford (10 Squad) beat APO. Johnston (11 Squad). APO. Bloxam (10 Squad) beat APO. Pollard (11 Squad).
APO. Ogle-Skan (10 Squad) lost to APO. Wilding (11 Squad). LAC. Stephens (10 Squad) beat LAC. Harris (11 Squad).
APO. Cunnynghame (10 Squad) beat APO. Egerton (11 Squad). LAC. Ashford (10 Squad) lost to APO. Burns (11 Squad).
APO. Hill (10 Squad) lost to APO. Turner (11 Squad).
APO. Manlove (10 Squad) beat APO. McClymont (11 Squad). APO. Pittman (10 Squad) lost to APO. Johnson (11 Squad).

APO. Shepherd (10 Squad) beat APO. Forsythe (11 Squad). This was the best contest of the competition, the fighters being experienced, and the fight was even with the result in doubt until the verdict was given.

APO. Stewart (10 Squad) lost to APO. Crittall (11 Squad).

Sgt. Benson (10 Squad) beat LAC. Winn (11 Squad).

Group Captain A. N. Gallenhawk, A.F.C., Commanding Officer at Sealand, presented the Inter-Squad Cup to No. 10 Squad, and the prizes to the winners of the bouts and the best loser.”

Canadian pilots brought fame to this country by their efforts in the Great War. Now Canadians are carrying on that tradition in the Royal Air Force. In this group are (left to right): P. S. Turner, H. A. G. Smith, N. D. Edmond, H. F. Burns, A. G. Egerton, J. A. Shepherd, M. E. Pollard, K. M. Laird and A. L. Edy. The scene is an English training school after a return from instruction flights.”

[Note: Perceval Stanley Turner is on the far left in the photo. John Shepherd is the sixth individual from the left wearing a regular uniform. The aircraft in the photograph is an Airspeed Oxford for multi-engine training. Correction to above listing of pilots (left to right): P. S. Turner, H. A. G. Smith, N. D. Edmond, H. F. Burns, A. G. Egerton, J. A. Shepherd, G. M Stewart (standing in aircraft door), K. M. Laird, and M. E. Pollard and A. L. Edy based upon other photographs and newspaper clippings where these “4” pilots are in uniform, (Shepherd, Stewart, Laird and Pollard), and standing together and also from facial and height recognition.]

Group of Canadians undertaking training on Hawker 'Hart' aircraft of the R.A.F., Sealand, England, 1939. (Foreground, Left to Right): K.C. Forsythe, H.A.G. Smith, R.D. Grassick, H. Burns, M.E. Pollard, J. Shepherd, A.G. Egerton, K.M. Laird. G.M. Stewart (standing near the nose of the plane). A. Edy (looking into the rear cockpit). Pilot sitting in the plane unidentified. Credit: Robert D. Grassick / Library and Archives Canada / PA-123605. Copyright: Expired

Group of Canadians undertaking R.A.F. training, Sealand, England, 1939. In second row, P.S. Turner is third from left and R.D. Grassick is second from right. Library and Archives of Canada. Credit: Robert D. Grassick / Library and Archives Canada / PA-123603. Copyright: Expired
There are 36 Officers and 9 NCOs in the picture above.

• John Shepherd is standing sixth from the left in the second row;
• Michael Pollard is standing seventh from the left in the second row;
• Gordon Stewart is standing seventh from the right in the second row;
• Arthur Egerton is seated sixth from the left in the front row.

3-Sep. 1939

The London Gazette. The undermentioned Acting Pilot Officers on probation are graded as Pilot Officers on probation. 3rd Sept. 1939: — John Adamson SHEPHERD (41621).

No. 5 F.T.S., R.A.F. SEALAND. An Air Ministry Signal addressed to all R.A.F. Units at home at 11.50 hrs stating “War has broken out with Germany only”.

Assignment to Operation Training Unit No. 11 Group Pool, St. Athan Operational Assignment to No. 141 (F) Squadron
Assignment back to Operation Training Unit No. 11 Group Pool, St. Athan

Place. Date. Time. Summary of Events.

Pilots from 5 F.T.S. Sealand, 7 F.T.S. Peterborough, 9 F.T.S. Hullavington: Posting to / from No. 11 Group Pool

Name
APO A.R. GREVSTAD (2) (*)

APO C.M. SYMONS (1) (*) APO G.M. STEWART (1) (*) APO J.A. SHEPHERD (1) (*) APO P.S. TURNER (4) (*) APO H.L. NORTH (1)

APO G.C. SAUNDERS (1) APO J.S. MITCHELL (1) SGT R.M. MAINLAND (1) SGT R.D. BAKER (1)

Posted to No. 11 9-Sept [7 F.T.S.] 9-Sept [7 F.T.S.] 9-Sept [5 F.T.S.] 9-Sept [5 F.T.S.] 9-Sept [5.F.T.S.] 9-Sept [9 F.T.S.] 9-Sept [7 F.T.S.] 9-Sept [9 F.T.S.] 9-Sept [7 F.T.S.] 9-Sept [7 F.T.S.] 9-Sept [7 F.T.S.]

No. 11 to Posting 6-Oct: No. 229 SQ 6-Oct: No. 229 SQ 6-Oct: No. 273 SQ 6-Oct: No. 141 SQ 6-Oct: No. 219 SQ 6-Oct: No. 219 SQ 6-Oct: No. 229 SQ 6-Oct: No. 273 SQ 6-Oct: No. 141 SQ 6-Oct: No. 229 SQ 6-Oct: No. 219 SQ

Posted to No. 11 26-Oct 26-Oct 24-Oct 27-Oct 27-Oct 27-Oct 26-Oct 24-Oct 24-Oct-27-Oct --- 24-Oct-27-Oct

From No. 11 To Posting 17-Nov: No 2 Ferry Pilots Pool 17-Nov: No. 3 SQ
17-Nov: No 2 Ferry Pilots Pool 17-Nov: No 2 Ferry Pilots Pool 17-Nov: No. 242 SQ
17-Nov: No. 43 SQ
13-Nov: No. 87 SQ
17-Nov: No 2 Ferry Pilots Pool 17-Nov: No. 605 SQ
07-Oct: No 145 / 56 SQ 17-Nov: No. 605 SQ

SGT A.O. LEWIS (3) (4)
Notes: (1) Killed in Action; (2) Invalided Home; (3)

Prisoner of War; (4) Survived the War; (*) Canadians in the R.A.F.

19-Sep. 1939

The Victoria Daily Colonist, September 19, 1939 Page 18 - “Full-Fledged Service Pilot in Air Force”. “Writing from Sealand, Chester. to relatives in Victoria, Jack Shepherd, one of Captain H. Seymour- Biggs' boys, goes extensively into his experiences since leaving home for England to try for a short service commission with the Royal Air Force. He secured his wings last May, and states he is now a "full- fledged" service pilot. At the time of writing, he had 150 hours of flying experience, and was on duty with a “medium bomber squadron”. Young Shepherd is the second from the left in the picture, which was taken when he was on a visit to London with several other pilot officers.”

Other Pilots in the picture: G.M. Stewart is second from the right; K.M. Laird on the right; A.G. Egertonor M.E. Pollard on the left. (based upon R.D. Grassick photo collection from the LAC)

30-Sep. 1939

The Victoria Daily Colonist, September 30, 1939 Page 3 - “Canadian Pilots With the Royal Air Force”. “There were far more smart young flyers from Canada in the Royal Air Force when war was declared, than was generally known in this country. Just how many might not be politic to state just now. Since late 1935, young men from all parts of Canada have been traveling across the Atlantic seeking to qualify for commissions in Britain's Air Arm. Some of these lads were assisted by Captain H. Seymour-Biggs. Jack Shepherd, fourth from left in the front row of the above picture, is one of them. Writing home early in August, Shepherd said he had over 150 hours' flying experience to his credit then.”

9-Oct. 1939

Arrives on posting to RAF No. 141 (F) Squadron TURNHOUSE. This squadron was being equipped with the twin-engine Bristol BLENHEIM medium bomber which the R.A.F. was employing as a “fighter”. Extra flying training for pilots took place on the Avro TUTOR and DeHavilland TIGER MOTH aircraft while waiting for flying time on the BLENHEIM. Lectures were attended on Station Armory and LINK Trainer.

28-Oct. 1939

Arrives back at No. 11 Group Pool, St. Athan for training.

Place. Date. Time. Summary of Events.

17-Nov. 1939

Posted to No. 2 Ferry Pilots Pool at Filton along with Pilot Officer’s Mitchell (New Zealand), Grevstad (Canadian), Stewart (Canadian), Lewis (Canadian), Hugo (South African). (Note: the posting to No. 2 Ferry Pilots Pool was not included under the “Movements” section of Pilot Officer John Shepherd’s R.A.F.

Service Record)

Place. Date. Time. Summary of Events.

21-Nov. 1939

The Daily Colonist, November 21, 1939 Page 6 - “FIRST TASTE OF WARFARE - Victoria Fighter Pilot Under Fire Without Chance of Shooting Back. In a letter to his parents, Pilot Officer John Shepherd, who at the time of writing was attached to a night flying squadron, givens an interesting account of the affair over the Firth of Forth on October 16 last, when a flight of Spitfires, Royal Air Force auxiliaries flown by Aero Club pilots, distinguished itself.

“The sixteenth will be a day I shall never forget”, Shepherd states, “because I got mixed up in the raid quite by accident. It was this way. We had been waiting for our Blenheims to arrive; but as they were delayed somewhere, the squadron leader let us take out our excess energy on some Tiger Moths with no armament whatever and a top speed of 110 miles an hour.

AMUSING THEMSELVES

“Another chap, a New Zealander, by the name of Orchard, whom we call ‘Cherry’, and I were up amusing ourselves doing aerobatics, when the raid started. ‘Cherry’ had control of the machine at the time and we were up about 4,000 feet when I look over my shoulder and saw an aircraft coming dead for us.

“I shouted through the speaking tube to ‘Cherry’ that it looked mighty like an enemy aircraft. ‘Go on, came the reply from the rear cockpit, it’s impossible. We haven’t had any warning through and they wouldn’t let us take off if they had.’

The machine came closer and made a large sweeping arc around us, and sure enough there were the black crosses on its wings. It was a Hun and no mistake. Holy smoke. They started to fire at us. A shotgun would have been better than no armament at all under the circumstances.

“All we could do was to keep out of the line of the guns. What ‘Cherry’ made our machine do in the next few minutes was marvelous. We looped, rolled off of the top, flick-rolled, spun, stall-turned and heaven knows what else.

GRANDSTAND SEAT

Hawker Hurricane Mark I, N2358 'Z', of No. 1 Squadron RAF is refuelled while undergoing an engine check at Vassincourt. © IWM C 1234

Dawn at Vassincourt from Paul Richey’s book “Fighter Pilot” – reprint of First Edition January 1942

28-Nov. 1939

No. 1 (F) Squadron VASSINCOURT FRANCE.
1. P/O Shepherd L. 1673 for formation flying with P/O Lewis and F/O Clisby. Local flying only. Time up:

11:10 hrs., Time down: 12:00 hrs.
2. P/O Shepherd L. 1673 on Patrol with F/O Clisby, P/O Mould, and P/O Lewis. Local flying only. Time

up: 15:00 hrs. P/O Shepherd force landed away from air drome. Return time is not available.

4-Dec. 1939

No. 1 (F) Squadron VASSINCOURT FRANCE. P/O Shepherd L. 1590 for Local Patrol with P/O Lewis. Time up: 14:45 hrs., Time down: 15:25 hrs. Two new pilots patrolled the aerodrome from 14:45 hrs. to 15:25 hrs. - from Squadron Operations Record Book.

6-Dec. 1939

No. 1 (F) Squadron VASSINCOURT FRANCE. P/O Shepherd L. 1693 for Local flying only. Time up: 14:20 hrs., Time down: 15:50 hrs. Weather not suitable for patrolling. New pilots were given local flying and formation flying practices - from the Squadron Operations Record Book.

15-Dec. 1939

No. 1 (F) Squadron VASSINCOURT FRANCE. P/O Shepherd L. 1960 for flying Circuits along with P/O Mould. Time up: 14:05 hrs., Time down: 14:35 hrs. One new pilot given 30 minutes of flying training - from the Squadron Operations Record Book.

2-Jan. 1940

No. 1 (F) Squadron VASSINCOURT FRANCE. P/O Shepherd L. 1590 for Patrol with F/O Hanks and F/Sgt. Berry. Time up: 14:15 hrs., Time down: 15:30 hrs. Patrols of three aircraft maintained, METZ-NANCY and VERDUN to SORCY-SUR-MEUSE – from the Squadron Operations Record Book.

11-Jan. 1940

No. 1 (F) Squadron VASSINCOURT FRANCE. P/O Shepherd N. 2381 for Patrol with F/O Drake and P/O Lewis. Time up: 10:35 hrs., Time down: 11:30 hrs. landing 15 minutes earlier than F/O Drake and P/O Lewis. Patrols of three aircraft maintained, METZ-NANCY – from Squadron Operations Record Book.

12-Jan. 1940

No. 1 (F) Squadron VASSINCOURT FRANCE. Patrols of three aircraft were maintained METZ-NANCY throughout the morning. When on patrol with a section, METZ-NANCY, P/O Shepherd lost the patrol and when returning to aerodrome he lost himself, finally landing at aerodrome of French squadron at SEZZANE. – from Squadron Operations Record Book.

13-Jan. 1940

No. 1 (F) Squadron VASSINCOURT FRANCE. P/O Shepherd L. 1689 for Patrol with F/O Drake and F/Sgt. Albonico. Time up: 8:40 hrs. This Record of Events (From 541) refers to the notation in the Squadron Operations Record Book for January 12, 1940. In Peter Caygill’s book, “In All Things First”, page 24 states that P/O John Adamson Shepherd is separated from the patrol and loses his way back to base on January 12, 1940.

18-Jan. 1940

The Victoria Times-Colonist, January 18, 1940 Page 11 - “Air Force Men Wait for Spring. An interesting description of life in the Royal Air Force “somewhere in France” is contained in a letter received in Victoria by Mrs. Charles F. Corbett from her son John Shepherd.

What would be appreciated by the Air Force men more than any other clothing, young Shepherd says, are sweaters knitted by the Indians of Vancouver Island. It was turning very cold in France when he wrote last month, and he said an Indian sweater would be just the thing to keep him comfortable.

Mrs. Corbett is now making arrangements to interest a group of Victoria women in supplying such sweaters for Canadians with the Royal Air Force.

“I can’t tell you exactly where we are or what we are doing, as it just isn’t done—all I can say is that we are somewhere in France”, he said in his letter to his mother.

“We are all billeted out in a little French village. There hasn’t been any action since I arrived and there is not likely to be for a long time, owing to the weather. Of course, this war hasn’t really started yet and won’t until the spring.

“It might become rather boring sitting around doing nothing if we weren’t royally entertained. Seymour Hicks and company paid us a visit the other day and they were most welcome. We have a cinema with a new showing twice a week. We are also invited to French officers’ messes, so on the whole one can’t complain.

“I’m keeping fairly well, although I could do with a couple of nights’ sound sleep—most of all a bath. I think perhaps I might have two and a half days’ Paris leave in a week’s time so will be able to have a good scrub then.””

21-Jan. 1940

The Daily Colonist, January 21, 1940 Page 19 - “FLYERS WOULD LIKE SWEATERS - Mother of Officer Serving in France Anxious to Send Comforts. Mrs. Charles Foster Corbett, Linkleas Avenue, received a letter from her son, Pilot Officer John A. Shepherd, R.A.F. at present with his squadron in France.

In his letter, Pilot Officer Shepherd states: “Three officers, myself included, are housed in a peasant’s cottage, which was blown to pieces in the last war and never rebuilt. The ends are out of it, the beds damp and for lights there are only candles.”

The letter does not complain, but indicates that the flyers would be thankful for the warmth of Indian sweaters from Vancouver Island with toques, gloves and socks. Mrs. Corbett has already dispatched one set, and hopes to be assisted in getting other sets away shortly.

Mrs. Corbett recalls that Lawrence of Arabia found his Indian sweater the most comforting article of apparel he had while in the R.A.F. and it was the envy of all his fellow aircraftsmen.”

21-Feb. 1940

No. 1 (F) Squadron VASSINCOURT FRANCE. P/O Shepherd L. 1856 with P/O Mould, and P/O Mitchell, left for ROUVRES for operational duties (with No. 73 (F) Squadron) due to unserviceability of the aerodrome at VASSINCOURT. P/O Mould leading the section made one patrol during afternoon.

No. 73. (F) Squadron ROUVRES FRANCE. P/O’s Mould, Mitchell & Shepherd flew here from No. 1 Squadron, VASSINCOURT; their aerodrome is temporarily out of service, and they are attached to us for a day or two for operational flying.

Note: P/O ‘Boy’ Mould, P/O John Adamson Shepherd and P/O John Stewart Mitchell were briefly detached to RAF No. 73 Squadron in late February 1940 and then returned to RAF No. 1 Squadron in the same month. See: AIR 27-1-11 Form 540 and AIR 27-1-12 Form 541 for No. 1 (F) Squadron and also AIR 27-629-9 Form 540 and AIR 27-629-10 Form 541 for No. 73 (F) Squadron; in the Appendices for No. 73 (F) Squadron, AIR 27-636 Daily Routine Orders page 167 for a copy of the combat report – note that this reproduction is in better “legible” condition vs the AIR 50-31-23 from the National Archives U.K.

22-Feb. 1940

No. 1 (F) Squadron VASSINCOURT FRANCE (Form 540). P/O Mould, P/O Shepherd and P/O Mitchell took off to patrol GRANDRAE to TRIACOURT at 09:50 hours. P/O Shepherd and P/O Mitchell lost their leader and returned to the aerodrome. P/O Mould continued patrol and combat with He 111 E/A. (Note: there is a detailed write up of P/O Mould’s air combat in No.1 (F) Squadron’s Form 540.); while attached to No. 73 (F) Squadron.

No. 73 (F) Squadron ROUVRES FRANCE (Form 540 & 541).

1. P/O Shepherd, P/O Mould and P/O Mitchell on patrol at 20,000 feet. Time up: 09:50 hrs., Timedown: 30 minutes later as they lost their leader and returned. See: combat report for both P/O Shepherd (AIR 50-31-23) and P/O Mitchell (AIR 50-31-10). P/O Mould continued on and had combat with an E/A. Report of P/O Mould’s encounter with a Heinkel 111 attached. (see: AIR 50-31-12 and in the Appendix for No. 73 (F) Squadron for combat report details)
2. P/O Shepherd on Patrol with Red Section of No. 73 (F) Squadron. Time up: 11:05 hrs., Time down: 12:15 hrs.

23-Feb. 1940

No. 1 (F) Squadron VASSINCOURT FRANCE (Form 540). P/O Mould and section carried out patrols during morning and afternoon; while attached with No. 73 (F) Squadron. No mention of P/O Shepherd in No. 73 (F) Squadron’s Form 541 for patrols.

24-Feb. 1940

No. 1 (F) Squadron VASSINCOURT FRANCE (Form 540). P/O Mould and section carried out patrols during morning and afternoon; while attached with No. 73 (F) Squadron. No mention of P/O Shepherd in No. 73 (F) Squadron’s Form 541 for patrols.

25-Feb. 1940

No. 73 (F) Squadron ROUVRES FRANCE. The section of three from No. 1 Squadron returned today.
No. 1 (F) Squadron VASSINCOURT FRANCE. P/O Mould and section returned to VASSINCOURT at 09:15 hours. P/O Mould and P/O Shephard N. 2381 on Local Patrol. Time up: 09:30 hrs., Time down: 09:50 hrs.

17-Mar. 1940

No. 1 (F) Squadron VASSINCOURT FRANCE. P/O John Adamson Shepherd was admitted to No. 2 M.R.S. (Medical Receiving Station) suffering from yellow jaundice.

No. 2 M.R.S. was formed in September 1939 under the control of A.A.S.F. at Halton, moving to Mareuil- sur-Ay (France) in November, then to Villemoiron in May 1940 and disbanded after June 1940 – (RAFweb.org Hospital and Medical Related Units).

P/O. John Shepherd reported back to RAF No. 1 Squadron in early May 1940. (from the book “Canadians in the Royal Air Force” by Les Allison. From corroboration with other references -

The R.A.F. Military Service File and Tony Henniker’s book – P/O John Shepherd was classified “fit for flying duties and ground duties” on 16-May 1940 and able to R.T.U. Henniker’s book notes P/O John Shepherd’s return to No. 1 Squadron on 28-May-1940.

Apr. 1940 through May 1940

There are no entries in the Squadron Operations Record Book (Form 540) on P/O Shepherd’s return to No. 1 (F) Squadron post his recovery from yellow jaundice. Squadron Record of Events (Form 541) are unavailable for May and June 1940. From P/O John Shepherd’s official military service record (GOV.UK) we learn of an extended recovery time from illness prior to his return to No. 1 (F) Squadron at the end of May 1940.

Medical Boards

Date and Place Classification of Board

6.4.40 AtBt In the Field

2.5.40 AtBt No. 3 CMB

From RAFWeb.org – Kings Regulations details – Medical Categories: CMB: Central Medical Board

AtBt: temporarily unfit for flying and ground duty (implies sick leave at least or possibly hospital) A1B: fit for full flying duties (A1) and ground duties (B). - pre-requisite for entry to the General Duties Branch and qualifying for aircrew and return to unit.

Date of Next Board 3.4.40

Remarks

Await instruction re: proceeding on S.L. [Sick Leave] (28 days). Fit 28 days
Proceed 14 days SL [Sick Leave]
Fit 14 days

R.T.U. [Return to Unit] Granted ext. sick leave 7/5-15/5/40 PoR38 16.5.40 A.A.S.F.

16.5.40 A1B No. 3 CMB

16.5.40 -

10-May 1940

Times Colonist, May 10, 1940 Page 5 – “IN FRANCE–Pilot Officer John Adamson Shepherd, No. 1 (F) Squadron, R.A.F., B.E.F., son of Mrs. Charles Foster Corbett, 831 Linkleas Avenue, Victoria, who has been in France since November, 1939”

28-May 1940

No. 1 (F) Squadron ANGLURE FRANCE: P/O John Shepherd returns to No. 1 (F) Squadron. It had taken Shepherd twelve days to find the Squadron’s whereabouts since being released by the C.M.B. to return to duty on May 16, 1940. Shepherd had been absent from the squadron since being admitted to No. 2 M.R.S. back on March 17, 1940, a time duration of just over two months. Much had taken place during that timeframe including multiple movements of the squadron during “The Blitzkrieg” along with a complete changeover of the squadron’s roster of pilots.

[P/O. John Shepherd reported back to RAF No. 1 Squadron in early May 1940. (from the book “Canadians in the Royal Air Force” by Les Allison. From corroboration with other references -
The R.A.F. Military Service File and Tony Henniker’s book – P/O John Shepherd was classified “fit for flying duties and ground duties” on 16-May 1940 and able to R.T.U. Henniker’s book notes P/O John Shepherd’s return to No. 1 Squadron on 28-May-1940.]

On page 201 of Tony Henniker’s book, “ROLLS-ROYCE ON THE FRONT LINE. The Life and times of a Service Engineer – HISTORICAL SERIES No 29”, he notes the following: 28th May (continuation of his diary entry in italics) “A lot of machine gun shooting around this evening – could be parachutists. Shepherd arrives back in the evening; forgot I hadn’t noticed him around; back from leave or being shot down – the former, I hope. He was one of our first replacements and is a kind of link with the old boys of the Squadron – a quiet and charming young Canadian.”

In ten days, since the start of Blitzkrieg on 10-May-1940, No. 1 Squadron had moved three times: VassincourtBerry-Au-BacVrauxAnglure. No. 1, 73 and 501 Squadrons shared the field at Anglure and mounted daily patrols over the airfield as an early warning for the presence of the Luftwaffe.

“We had quite a job locating Anglure, which turned out to be an undefined collection of fields, some cultivated and sprouting vegetables of various kinds and some recently harrowed, dotted with clumps of pine trees. It even boasted a big thicket slap in the middle, and but for 501 Squadron’s Hurricanes parked on it we’d never have picked it out”. ... “We were up again at two AM, staggering about groping for our tunics in the dark. Our bodies must have been crawling by now, I thought, for we hadn’t taken off more than our sweaty tunics for ten days, and we’d slept in all sorts of unlikely places. We piled silently into the transport and drove off to the airfield. We knew it was cold because it always was, but we couldn’t feel it; only the trembling in the stomach that made one weak and slightly nauseated.” Paul Richey’s “Fighter Pilot” Chapter 14 – The Last Battle.

On page 201 of Tony Henniker’s book, “ROLLS-ROYCE ON THE FRONT LINE. The Life and times of a Service Engineer – HISTORICAL SERIES No 29”, he notes the following: 27th May (continuation of his diary entry in italics) “Donald goes to Paris to try and find Billy Drake who is somewhere in hospital. Colin Birch arrived back from leave having taken 14 days in trying to find the Squadron. Spent the morning with 501

pilots; afternoon No. 1. Another reccy comes over. Surely, they know where we all are by now.”

When P/O John Shepherd re-joined No. 1 (F) Squadron at ANGLURE, FRANCE, the “mainstay” of the Squadron had already departed for England and ~ thirteen replacement pilots had joined the Squadron in his absence. Only nine of the original Squadron’s pilot roster remained from the March 1940 timeframe when he was admitted to No. 2 M.R.S. with jaundice.

24/5/1940 FRANCE for No. 1 Squadron Operations Record Book Form 540
(Note: the timing of Squadron diarist’s log is inconsistent with the S/L Pemberton’s AIR COMBAT report and logs.)
“The mainstay of the Squadron today left for England. F/Lt. WALKER, HANKS, F/O. KILMARTIN, STRATTON & PALMER, P/O. MOULD & LEWIS, Sgt. SOPER and also our C.O. S/Ldr. HALAHAN, all whom will probably help train new Fighter Squadrons. Between them, since the outbreak of War they have accounted for something like 100 enemy aircraft. S/Ldr. HALAHAN’s place has now been taken by S/Ldr. D. A. PEMBERTON (33036) who has the Herculean task of whipping into shape 12 brand new pilots. In addition, we have received we have received as replacements F/Lt. WARCUP (already mentioned) and 2 P/O’s from a Spitfire Squadron.”

“It must be recorded that out of the original members of No. 1 Squadron who went to France in September 1939 only one pilot had been lost (Leslie Clisby), one made a prisoner of war (Sgt. Albonico) and two replacement pilots had been lost (Lorimer and Mitchell). The twelve replacements duly arrived the same day we heard the news and, on the whole, they seemed a good keen bunch. They had been picked from the Home Squadrons, but only two of them had seen any action.” Tony Henniker’s ROLLS-ROYCE ON THE FRONT LINE – The life and times of a Service Engineer

Departing pilots from No. 1 Squadron to the U.K. destined for Training Squadrons: S/L Patrick John Handy ‘Bull’ Halahan [17- Apr-1939]
F/Lt Peter Russell ‘Johnny’ Walker – “A” Flight Commander [31-Aug-1936]
F/Lt Peter Prosser Hanks – “B” Flight Commander [11-May-1936]

F/O John Ignatius ‘Killy’ Kilmartin [11-May-1936] F/O Bill Hector ‘Stratters’ Stratton [xx-xxx-1938?] F/O Cyril Dampier ‘Pussy’ Palmer [18-Dec-1937]
P/O Peter William Olber ‘Boy’ Mould [18-Dec-1937] P/O Raymond Grant Lewis (Canadian) [26-Nov-1939] F/Sgt Frank Joseph Soper [xx-xxx-1938]

F/O Billy Drake [22-May-1937] – Wounded in Action and Hospitalized
P/O Paul Henry Mills Richey [6-Mar-1939] – Wounded in Action and Hospitalized 18-May-1940 F/O Charles Gordon Huthwaite ‘Leak’ Crusoe [24-Apr-1937]

Remaining pilots in No. 1 Squadron posted earlier to FRANCE:
S/L David Alwyne Pemberton [xx-Sep-1939] – Promoted upon the departure of S/L Halahan
F/O Mark Henry Brown (Canadian) [21-Feb-1937] – Promoted to F/Lt and “A” Flight Commander upon the departure of F/Lt Peter Russell ‘Johnny’ Walker
P/O John Adamson Shepherd (Canadian) [26-Nov-1939] - returned to squadron on 29-May-1940 after being invalided in hospital since early April-1940.
P/O Peter Victor Boot [30-Mar-1940]
P/O Peter Gerald Hugh Matthews [20-Aug-1939]
P/O Colin Norman Birch [xx-Jun-1939]
P/O Robert Henry Shaw [14-Mar-1940]

F/O Harold Nigel Egerton Salmon [17-Mar-1940] F/Sgt Arthur Victor ‘Darkie’ Clowes [xx-xxx-1938] F/Sgt Frederick George Berry [xx-xxx-1938]

Replacement Pilots for No. 1 (F) Squadron

P/O Roland Harold Dibnah (Canadian) [5-May-1940] – No. 6 O.T.U. Sutton Bridge [new]
P/O George Ernest Goodman [5-May-1940] – from No. 6 O.T.U. Sutton Bridge [new]
P/O Charles Michael Stavart [5-May-1940] – from No. 6 O.T.U. Sutton Bridge [new]
F/Lt Phillip Edmund ‘Fritz’ Warcup [20-May-1940] – from No. 54 Squadron Promoted to “B” Flight Commander upon departure of F/Lt. Peter Prosser Hanks

P/O Harold Bryan Lillie Hillcoat [10-May-1940] - from No. 263 / 605 Squadron (Hurricane)
P/O Harold John Mann [10-May-1940] – from 222 / 253 Squadron (Blenheim/Hurricanes)
P/O Norman Patrick Watkins Hancock [12-May-1940] – from 266 Squadron (Fairey Battles bombers) Sgt Henry James Merchant [14-May-1940] – from 12 Group Pool Aston Down [new]
P/O Alan Gordon Howard Lindsell [xx-May-1940] – from No. 5 O.T.U. Aston Down [new]
P/O John Antony Dixon [20-May-1940] – from 263 Squadron / No. 1 Air Armament School (*)
Sgt John Arbuthnot [20-May-1940] – from 43 Squadron with prior combat experience
F/O Donald Sutherland Thom (Canadian) [20-May-1940] – from No. 74 Squadron via No. 43 Squadron P/O Dennis Owen Matthew Browne [21-May-1940] – from No. 74 and No. 1 AACU (*)
(*) represents pilots who had aircraft crash incidents or were rated as unacceptable

Pilots from No. 1 Squadron MIA during their Posting in FRANCE:

F/O Leslie Redford Clisby [19-Dec-1937] – KIA 12-May-1940 – original pre-war member F/O Robert Laurie Lorimer [01-Mar-1940] – KIA 12-May-1940 – replacement pilot
P/O John Stewart Mitchell [26-Nov-1939] – KIA 02-Mar-1940 – replacement pilot
F/Sgt Renee Attilio Albonico [xx-xxx-1939] – POW 18-May-1940 – original pre-war member

[See: Michael Shaw’s “Twice Vertical – The History of No. 1 Squadron Royal Air Force” pages 143 to 145 – Ten Days in May.]

1-Jun. 1940

No. 1 (F) Squadron ANGLURE FRANCE. “On 1 June twelve Hurricanes took off from ANGLURE at 0625 hrs bound for ROUEN-BOOS and were at readiness by 0745 hrs. Half an hour later ‘B’ Flight was patrolling the line from ST-VALERY-EN-CAUX to the Somme estuary under a solid cloud base at 9,000 ft. The intention was to protect British troop movements from attack by dive- bombers but none were seen. Later in the morning ‘A’ Flight was airborne on a similar cover patrol. Red section comprised F/Lt. Hilly Brown, P/O Sammy Salmon and P/O John Shepherd with F/Sgt. Darky Clowes, P/O Peter Boot and F/O Peter Matthews forming Yellow section. At 1109 hrs nine Me 109Es were seen above and behind and although Brown tried to ‘circle’ and take his section up, the Germans held the initiative throughout the brief engagement. Brown was himself attacked by three different 109s while P/O John Shepherd was shot down by a Me 109 and managed to bailed out near Dieppe. Another patrol was carried out in the afternoon before the squadron returned to ANGLURE at 1700 hrs. On arrival there was news that P/O John Shepherd was none the worse for his adventure and in the evening, he was collected from ROUEN by air.” – from “In All Things First No. 1 Squadron at War 1939-1945” by Peter Caygill.

[Note: P/O John Adamson Shepherd shot down by a Me 109, managed to bail out over Dieppe on June 1, 1940. Returned safely to the squadron from Rouen. See: various book references – “All Things First No. 1 Squadron at War 1939-1945” by Peter Caygill, “The One History Forgot” by Andrew Kimbell, “Number One in War and Peace”, by Norman Franks and Mike O’Connor.]

[Note: Official Combat Record can be found in the Wing 67 A.A.S.F. Consolidate Combat Report - AIR 35/252 in the DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY for 1st June 1940. “... P/O Shepherd was shot down, jumped by parachute, near DIEPPE and was later reported O.K. ... The Squadron returned, less P/O Shepherd at 17:00 hours to base. P/O

Shepherd was later reported as having returned to ROUEN and he was being collected from there by air today.”]

[Note: On page 204 of Tony Henniker’s book, “ROLLS-ROYCE ON THE FRONT LINE. The Life and times of a Service Engineer – HISTORICAL SERIES No 29” he writes from his diary in italics, “1st June Boys had a ‘blood bath’ today. They flew to Rouen early this morning and operated all day from there. Hilly thinks he got a Me109 when his flight met nine of them. Shepherd had a squirt at one but got shot down himself. Aircraft caught fire but he bailed out OK. Sgt Clowes fetched him back in the Maggie this evening. Snow Shoe (Peter Boot) got a bullet in his head-rest, passing his ear. Sally got his sights on a Me109 only to find guns wouldn’t fire for lack of compressed air. Went over to 73 in the afternoon with Dopey (Shaw). A spot of bombing going on around.”]

[Note: This Air Combat mission was not captured by the diarist in the Squadron Operations Record Book – AIR 27-1-17. (May/June 1940)]

Add correspondence with Claude Archambault and investigation to identify the young Canadian pilot who bailed out over Dieppe.

4-Jun. 1940

No. 1 (F) Squadron THELMA (CHATEAUDUN) FRANCE: ADDITIONAL OPERATIONAL SUMMARY for 4th June, 1940. The 11 aircraft (5 “A” Flight and 6 “B” Flight) which left Base at 05.00 hours on 4 /6 /40 for Thelma, carried out a patrol down Northern Somme between St. VALRIE and AISAINES from 07.25 to 08.25 hours at a height of 23,000 feet, and then returned to Thelma. No enemy aircraft were seen.

The 11 aircraft patrolled from 16.16 to 16.55 hrs between 10,000 to 20,000 feet from DIEPPE to LE TREPORT, the intention being to contact Enemy Bombers, but none were seen. All aircraft returned to Thelma. (from AIR 35/252 Consolidated Combat Report)

5-Jun. 1940

No. 1 (F) Squadron THELMA (CHATEAUDUN) FRANCE. According to No. 1 Squadron Operations Record Book the next major action took place on June 4, 1940, although documents with 67 Wing indicate that it took place on the June 5, 1940. The squadron with eleven serviceable aircraft took off from THELMA (CHATEAUDUN) at 0550 to patrol west of ROUEN-BOOS. During the patrol a large number of Do 17s and He 111s were seen, escorted by Me 110s, the number totaling around 120 (from Operations Record Book entry for June 4, 1940). F/Lt. Hilly Brown led A Flight towards the Me 110 escorts, while F/Lt. Fritz Warcup and B Flight went for the bombers. A Flight engaged the Me 110’s, or to be accurate, 20 Me 110s engaged them. Most of No. 1 Squadron’s Hurricanes were fired upon, either by the Me 110s or the concentrated crossfire from the bombers. Pilot Officer Shepherd did not get back, seen to go down in flames with his Hurricane crashing at ROUEN FRANCE. [Need citation here.]

[Note: P/O John Adamson Shepherd died from being shot down by a Me 110, with his Hurricane crashing at Rouen, France, on June 5, 1940. See: various book references – “All Things First No. 1 Squadron at War 1939-1945” by Peter Caygill, “The One History Forgot” by Andrew Kimbell, “Number One in War and Peace”, by Norman Franks and Mike O’Connor.]

[Note: On pages 209 & 210 of Tony Henniker’s book, “ROLLS-ROYCE ON THE FRONT LINE. The Life and times of a Service Engineer – HISTORICAL SERIES No 29” he writes “The following day the boys were off again at dawn, led by Pembers, in order to operate from Rouen. At 6:30 am they met up with one hundred enemy bombers on their way, it was assumed, to bomb Paris and escorted by a large number of Me110s. In the usual way, the eleven Hurricanes attacked and bagged five bombers, Hilly getting a Do17 and Peter (‘Show Shoe’) Boot got two others. The Squadron were not without losses, however, and poor little Shepherd failed to return. This was a great blow to the Squadron as by now he was an old timer – a link with the original members. Shepherd

and Lewis joined the Squadron together, shared the same billet and tent, and were both Canadians. They both did great work before they were killed.”]

[Note: F/O Raymond Grant Lewis would be KIA over the English Channel on February 5th, 1941 with Circus No. 2 – Lewis bailed out over the sea after being shot up by a 109 but he failed to be rescued, from Norman Franks, “Fighter Commands Air War 1941. RAF Circus Operations and Fighter Sweeps Against the Luftwaffe”.]

[Note: P/O J A Shepherd being KIA and Hurricane crash was not captured by the diarist in the Squadron Operations Record Book – AIR 27-1-17. (May/June 1940). Rather Shepherd’s demise is mentioned in the Official Combat Record found in the Wing 67 A.A.S.F. Consolidate Combat Report - AIR 35/252 in the DAILY OPERATIONAL SUMMARY for 5th June 1940.]

[Note: P.4. (Cas.) file is documented with the National Archives (PRO Kew) File AIR 81/780 - Pilot Officer J A Shepherd: report of death; Hurricane crashed at ROUEN, FRANCE, 5 June 1940. It contains 26 pages including M.R.E.S. verification of grave site remains.]

Add comments related to the search for P/O. John Shepherd’s Hurricane crash site investigation

06-Jun. 1940

Telegram from PANTHER to AIR MINISTRY

TO   AIR MINISTRY
FROM PANTHER
P/146 6/6

FB (A) HURRICANE (B) NO 1 SQUADRON (C) NOT KNOWN
5/6/40 1400 HOURS (D) P/OFF JA SHEPHERD (41620) KILLED
(E) N/A (F) N/A (G) COMBAT (H) CAT. 3 (J) N/A

[Note: from the book, RAF WWII OPERATION AND FLYING ACCIDENT CASUALTY FILES IN THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES – EXPLORING THEIR CONTENTS by Mary Hudson. Chapter 4 - CASUALTY FILES FOR FLYING CASUALTIES. Letters used in the Telegram messages to the Air Ministry and P.4. Cas. section:

FB. Flying Battle - Operational flying casualties or accidents due directly to enemy action or not
A. The type and number or identification of the aircraft - HURRICANE
B. The unit to which the aircraft belonged – NO 1 SQUADRON
C. The location of aircraft, date and time of crash, conditions of light (to be given where known), and a brief mention of target and operation – NOT KNOWN

D. The particulars of the crew including commissioned ranks; name and condition of the casualties – P/OFF JA SHEPHERD (41620) KILLED
E. The present location of the crew – N/A
F. Details of ordnance carried and any special equipment on board – N/A

G. Cause of loss, accident or otherwise - COMBAT
H. Category of Damage sustained by the aircraft - CAT 3 (aircraft is damaged beyond repair) J. Salvage – N/A]

Telegram Message Form: TO Mrs. C. F. Corbett 1021 Carberry Gardens Victoria B.C. Canada
A.M. | Originator’s Number P4 Cas 824 | 6 / 6 / 40. Deeply regret to inform you that your son Pilot Officer JOHN ADAMSON SHEPHERD is reported having lost his life as the result of air operations on 5th June 1940. Letter follows. The Air Counsel express their profound sympathy. His Aunt has been informed. Under-Secretary of State, Air Ministry.

Telegram Message Form: TO Miss Theo Adamson 22 Westbourne Str. W.2.

A.M. | Originator’s Number P4 Cas 825 | 6 / 6 / 40. Deeply regret to inform you that you nephew Pilot Officer JOHN ADAMSON SHEPHERD is reported having lost his life as the result of air operations on 5th June 1940. The Air Counsel express their profound sympathy. His Mother has been informed. Under-Secretary of State, Air Ministry.

[Note: the Telegram from Panther (A.A.S.F.) to the Air Ministry and the two Telegrams to next of kin are found in AIR 81/780 P.4. Cas. file for P/O. John Adamson Shepherd.]

07-Jun. 1940

Letter from P.4. Casualties 7 June, 1940.

Madam,I am commanded by the Air Council to inform you that they have with great regret to confirm a telegram in which you were notified that your son Pilot Officer John Adamson Shepherd, Royal Air Force, lost his life as a result of air operations on the 5th of June, 1940.

The Council desire that, in conveying this information, I should express their profound sympathy with you in your bereavement.

                           I am, Madam,
                                 Your obedient Servant,
                                 Sgd. Charles Evans

Mrs. C. F. Corbett
     1021 Carberry Gardens,
     Victoria,
     British Columbia,
     Canada.

08-Jun. 1940

The Daily Colonist, June 8, 1940 Page 3 - “YOUNG FLIER LOSES LIFE. Pilot Officer from Victoria is Reported Killed in Recent Air Action. Conveying the sad news that her son, Pilot Officer John Adamson Shepherd, had been killed in action while engaging the enemy over France. Mrs. C. E. Corbett, of 831 Linkleas Avenue, yesterday received the following communication signed by the Under-Secretary of State for Air:

“The Air Ministry regrets to inform you that your son, J. A. Shepherd, is reported to have lost his life as the result of air operations, June 1. The Air Council also expresses its profound sympathy.”

Young Shepherd, one of Captain H. Seymour-Biggs’ boys left Victoria for England in September, 1938. Following enrollment in the Royal Air Force, he proved a brilliant student officer and made rapid progress, winning his wings early in 1939.”

The Times-Colonist, June 8, 1940 Page 13 – “VICTORIA YOUTH KILLED IN ACTION. Pilot Officer John Adamson Shepherd, R.A.F., has been killed in action, according to word received here yesterday by his mother, Mrs. Charles Foster Corbett, 831 Linkleas Avenue, from the British Under-Secretary of State for Air.

The message follows: “The Air Ministry regrets to inform you that your son, J. A. Shepherd, is reported to have lost his life as a result of air operations June 1. The Air Council also expresses its profound sympathy.”

Young Shepherd was born in England and came to Canada at an early age. He went to school in Edmonton and later attended Victoria High School. In September, 1938, he left Victoria for England to join the Royal Air Force and proved an exceptionally fine student. He made unusually rapid progress and win his wings early this year.

He had been stationed in France some months and a short time ago he wrote his mother an interesting letter describing conditions there before Hitler started his march into the low countries and France. Since that time, he had been on daily flights over enemy territory.

Besides his mother he leaves a twin brother, Fraser, a student at University of British Columbia, who at present is at his home.”

Edmonton Journal, June 10, 1940 Page 10 – “Air Fight Kills Former Resident. Pilot Officer John Adamson Shepherd, of Victoria, reported as killed in action over France June 1 with the R.A.F., was a former Edmonton youth.

He attended Westward Ho! and Oliver public school here and left in 1932 with his mother, Mrs. C. F. Corbett, to live in Victoria. He left Victoria for England to join the R.A.F. in September, 1938, and friends recall that at the time he stopped over in Edmonton for a short visit before continuing on his way.”

Canadian National Newspapers that reported on P/O John Shepherd as Killed in Action:

The Daily Colonist (1940-06-08) The Times-Colonist (1940-06-08) The Vancouver Sun – (1940-06-08) The Province – (1940-06-08)

The Windsor Star – (1940-06-08)
The Calgary Herald – (1940-06-08)
The Leader Post – (1940-06-08)
The Ottawa Journal – (1940-06-10)
The Edmonton Journal – (1940-06-08) & (1940-06-10)

[Note: all newspapers report the date of death as being June 1, 1940.]

13-Jun. 1940

The Daily Colonist, June 13, 1940 Page 6 – “City and District. Memorial Service – A memorial service for the late Pilot Officer John Adamson Shepherd, son of Mrs. Charles Foster Corbett, will be held in connection with the Service of Intercession at Christ Church Cathedral tomorrow at noon. Pilot Officer Shepherd was killed in air operations in France on June 5.”

22-Jun. 1940

Birmingham Post, June 22, 1940 Page 8 – “259 NAMES IN R.A.F. CASUALTY LIST – “MISSING” MEN NOW REPORTED SAFE.”

The names of 259 R.A.F. officers and airmen appear in a casualty list issues today. One officer previously reported killed in action is now stated to be a prisoner; nineteen officers and men previously reported missing are also prisoners, and two men stated before to be missing are known to be safe.

Killed in Action

Flying Officer A. B. Angus, D.F.C., Sgt. J. Byatt, Pilot Officer A. J. Claydon, Squadron Leader P. Gifford, D.F.C., L/Ac H. G. Griffin, Sgt. L. E. T. Harris, Ac/2 T. Kennedy, Sgt. F. A. G. Lowe, Pilot Officer D. W. W. Morris, Sgt. P. O’Flaherty, Ac/2 A. Robinson, Pilot Officer E. W. S. Scott, Pilot Officer J. A. Shepherd, Sgt. F. Williams.

*** comment on Pilot Officers A. J. Claydon and J. A. Shepherd – only identified R.A.F. pilots shot down on June 5, 1940; work underway to identify the remains of Hurricane (include engine plate) as to whether it belonged to Claydon or Shepherd. ***

10-Jul. 1940

The Daily Colonist, July 10, 1940 Page 12 - “CARD OF THANKS. Mrs. Charles Foster Corbett and family wish to thank friends, known and unknown, for letters and wires of sympathy and flowers sent in the death of her son, Pilot Officer John Adamson Shepherd, No. 1 Squadron, R.A.F., B.E.F. killed in action on June 5.”

24-Jul. 1940

The Daily Colonist, July 24, 1940 Page 6 – “NEED $23,500 TO REACH TOP. Victoria’s Air Supremacy Drive to be Closed by End of This Week”.

“With only four days still to go before the campaign is closed, Victoria’s Air Supremacy Drive Fund needs some $23,500 to attain its objective, members of the campaign organization announced yesterday. With the exception of one social even next month that could not be arranged earlier, the drive is to be

closed definitely at the end of this week and the committee is bending every effort towards carrying the $50,000 campaign over the top.”

“Mrs. Corbett’s gift of $100 was made in memory of her son, Pilot-Officer John Adamson Shepherd, R.A.F., who was killed in action recently.”

30-Aug. 1940

The Victoria Times-Colonist, August 30, 1940 Page 15 - Letter from E.M. Watson, secretary to Winston Churchill written to Mrs. C. Foster-Corbett. “Mrs. C. Foster-Corbett, 831 Linkleas Avenue is in receipt of a letter from E. M. Watson, secretary to Prime Minister Winston Churchill, expressing the Prime Minister’s sincere sympathy in the loss of her son, John Adamson Shepherd, Pilot Officer in the R.A.F., who was killed in action recently. The letter stated Pilot Officer John Adamson Shepherd was reported killed on June 5 in an enemy engagement with enemy machines, but no details were available. He was a pilot of a Hurricane machine and was buried on June 6 in the British Cemetery at Rouen.”

21-Sep. 1940

The Victoria Daily Times, September 21, 1940 Page 4 – “JOHN SHEPHERD. THE LETTER from Winston Churchill, received by Mrs. Charles Corbett, telling her that her son, John Shepherd, was buried in Rouen after his death in action, recalls the reason John, like so many other fine Canadian boys, went to war. His convictions sent him and he was only one of many, so that publishing his reasons is but also acknowledging the courage and devotion of those others who went into battel for us back here.

Since John Shepherd was eight years old, I remember him. He was a serious little boy with definite ideas. At 16 John made up his mind that the Royal Air Force was his vocation. He was trained as a pilot in Edmonton. In this he was an example of so many other young Canadians. The week before he left, we heard his views on Hitler and his world designs, and John’s deep conviction that our own democratic way was the only way for man to live. I feel sure, was shared by numbers of other fellows in this Dominion and all over the Empire who about that time, before war broke out, trekked quietly from their homelands to the Old Country. These young men were observing events and tendencies and drawing their own conclusions. John Shepherd wrote that hundreds of others from all parts of the British territory had felt the same, and joined the British Royal Air Force in preparation for what they could see coming.

It is notable that these fine youths went to war not for any territory, not for any “bit of the earth’s surface” as John put it, but because the thing they saw coming upon the world, and upon all humanity, was so hateful to them that they felt impelled to bar its way into their own lands and homes. He added that “democracy could do with a few improvements, but that we tell our governments what to do, instead of being told in the main.” O. RODSTROM.

[The article was written from an interview of Mrs. Charles Corbett by the journalist Olwen Rodstrom, about her son John Adamson Shepherd and why he chose to sign up and fight for the Commonwealth. Mrs. Charles Corbett reflects upon her son as a young boy and how at the age of 16 when he made up his mind that the Royal Air Force would be his vocation.]

06-Nov. 1941

Times-Colonist, November 6, 1941 Page 18 - “Recalls Exploits of Victoria Pilots” “The exploits of John Sheppard (Shepherd), pilot officer in the Royal Air Force who was killed over France on June 5, 1940, are described by Noel Monks in “Squadrons Up”, a book now on sale at Victoria bookshops. John’s mother, Mrs. C. F. Corbett, lives at 831 Linkleas Street.

John was born in England and brought to Canada in 1921. He was educated by private tutor in Edmonton and in Victoria at Monterey School and Oak Bay High School. On completing high school, he trained as a pilot at Edmonton.

P.O. Sheppard (Shepherd) went overseas in 1938. When war broke out, he was attached to the famous No. 1 Squadron of the R.A.F. He piloted a Hurricane.

Early in June of last year, the R.A.F. was put to the test by the superior numbers of German planes. Often a squadron was forced to take on 60 Jerries at a time. P.O. Sheppard (Shepherd) was shot down in flames.

In August, 1940, Mrs. Corbett received a letter from Winston Churchill telling her her son had been killed and buried at Rouen, France, in the British cemetery.

07-Nov. 1941

The Daily Colonist, November 7, 1941 Page 9 - “Original Members of Flying Squadron”. “There were far more fine young flyers from Canada in the Royal Air Force when war started than was generally known in this country. Several thousand Canadian lads were already overseas, having traveled to Britain at their own expense since 1936 seeking service with the Royal Air Force. A number of them quickly qualified for commissions, among them being John Sheppard (Shepherd), of Victoria. He was recommended to the Air Ministry by Captain H. Seymour-Biggs. Pilot Officer Sheppard is show fourth from the left in the above picture, which was taken in August 1939. The men belong to the All-Canadian Squadron of the R.A.F., then commanded by Squadron-Leader Gobeil, Toronto, and subsequently by Squadron-Leader Bader, now a prisoner of war in Germany.

Pilot Officer John Sheppard lost his life in an air engagement over France. In a booklet now on sale here, “Squadrons Up.” the action in which he is shot down is described. He is buried in Rouen, France. His mother, Mrs. C. F. Corbett, lives at 831 Linkleas Avenue, and possesses the badge of No. 1 Squadron, which she cherishes.”

Commentary on the above newspaper article – “Original Members of Flying Squadron”.
1. There were several hundred, not several thousand Canadians who had enlisted and were serving in the Royal Air Force prior to the outbreak of hostilities. Although the number is lower it still represented a substantial commitment of Canadians to the service of Great Britain’s defense.
2. The picture shown in the Daily Colonist is of a group of Canadian pilots who were at No. 5 Flying Training School at R.A.F. Sealand near Chester (Cheshire) England. This picture appeared in a number of major Canadian newspapers in 1939, most as early as March 1939. The Daily Colonist article appeared in their September 30, 1939 publication. A more likely explanation is that the picture was part of a letter written home by John Shepherd and made its way to the Daily Colonist for publication during the August timeframe.

Newspaper
The Toronto Star

The Montreal Star The Ottawa Citizen

The Leader-Post
The Calgary Albertan The Edmonton Bulletin The Toronto Star Weekly The Daily Colonist

Date 21-Mar-1939

21-Mar-1939 23-Mar-1939

29-Mar-1939 31-Mar-1939 01-Apr-1939 16-Sep-1939 30-Sep-1939

Article Title
Canadian Fliers in Britain [referenced in The Montreal Star]
Canadian Fliers in Britain
Young Canadians in Training With the Royal Air Force at Sealand England
Canadian Fliers in Britain
Canadian Youths Fly for Great Britain
Canadian Fliers in Britain
Canadian R.C.A.F. Men Training in England
Canadian Pilots With the Royal Air Force

3. Only a small number of the pilots who were at R.A.F. Sealand in the photograph were actually posted to the “All-Canadian” No. 242 Squadron after completion of their flying training and conversion to Hawker Hurricanes at No. 11 Group Pool St. Athan. Others were posted there after first serving in other squadrons which fought in the Battle of France. Canadians such as P.S. Turner, R.D. Grassick, G.M. Stewart, and N.D. Edmond were at R.A.F. Sealand at the timeframe of when the photograph was taken and were eventually posted to No. 242 Squadron. Both G.M. Stewart and R.D. Grassick appear in the R.A.F. Sealand picture. However, the pilots training at R.A.F. Sealand were not considered members of the “All-Canadian” squadron, which is what No. 242 Squadron was referred to at the outbreak of the Second World War. Most of the readers of that time would have been aware of the “All-Canadian” No. 242 Squadron from the many stories that were published by the newspapers of the day. They would have been less likely to be concerned with the number of the pilots at R.A.F. Sealand who were eventually posted to No. 242 Squadron or by the inaccuracy of representing R.A.F. Sealand as comprised of all Canadian pilots.

4. In Noel Monks book, “Squadrons Up!”, chapter thirty describes the air engagement or aerial combat in which Pilot Officer Shepherd was killed in action. Considering that the Air Ministry air combat reports were not available for public viewing during that time, Monk’s description of the event is very close to the actual AIR 35 (Wing 67) and AIR 50 combat reports that reside in the National Archives in the U.K. which was released well after WWII. Noel Monk’s book was first published in the U.K. by Victor Gollancz, London in 1940. “Squadrons Up!” was then published in North America by McGraw-Hill with a few major newspapers such as the Windsor Star and The Vancouver Sun printing the chapters of the book over a period of month. Below, is the representation of “Squadrons Up!” from The Windsor Star newspaper in April 1941.

The Windsor Star, April 1, 1941 · Page 5 – “A Story About the Famed R.A.F.”

“More amazing that fiction. It gives thrilling eye witness accounts of battles where sometimes the odds were 60 to 1. It names the men, gives credit to the individuals who fought so valiantly in the battle of France. It is said to be the first authentic account of the inside activities of the R.A.F.

The story is from the pen of Noel Monks, War Correspondent of the London Daily Mail, and is from his book “Squadrons Up,” the publishing rights of which have been secured by the Windsor Star.

The first installment of this gripping story will appear in this Saturday’s newspaper. Don’t miss a single line!”

The Windsor Star, April 26, 1941 Page 34 – “SQUADRONS UP! – by Noel Monks” CONTINUED FROM FRIDAY

CHAPTER THIRTY

Here is an account of one day’s work performed by the new men of No. 1 Squadron the day after the original flying personnel went home:

“The 11 Hurricanes that remained at Thelma took off at 5:59 a.m. to patrol on a line west of Rouen at 15,000 feet. At 6 a.m., before reaching patrol height large formations of enemy bombers were seen at 12,000 feet. There were approximately 60 bombers escorted by an equal number of Messerschmitts (120 to 11!)

“B Flight made an echelon attack on two formations of Heinkels III’s One of these turned on its back and dropped. A Hurricane (Flying Officer Hillcoat) forced landed with a bullet through radiator. His machine had caught fire, but pilot stuck to it. Sergeant Arbuthnot forced landed with radiator shot away, after gallantly tackling 25 enemy aircraft. Pilot Officer Lindsell forced landed near Thelma. The other three Hurricanes of B flight after shooting down three M.E. 110’s, returned to Thelma to refuel and reload.

“A Flight separated from B when attack commenced. When about to attack the bombers, they were themselves attacked by 30 M.E. 110’s. A series of dogfights ensued which ended in Messerschmitts, for no apparent reason, breaking off the engagement. Our pilots then looked around for straggling bombers. Flight Lieutenant Brown attacked a D.O. 17 over Amiens and followed it from 20,000 feet down to 5,000 feet. He then broke off the attack after the Dornier’s rear gunner had ceased firing and each engine had been fired at until white smoke and oil came from them.

“Pilot Officer Shepherd reported to have crashed in flames. Pilot Officer Browne fired at two Heinkels. Result not known but tracer bullets seen to have hit both aircraft. Flying Officer Matthews climbed into the sun and attacked a single straggling Heinkel at 19,000 feet. Enemy aircraft dived and Matthews followed down tot 14,000 feet when both engines of the enemy bomber had stopped and rear gunner had ceased firing. The Heinkel being obviously crippled and forced to land, Matthews broke away and then attacked another straggler at 8,000 feet which only had one engine working, fired two short bursts with deflection shots and saw bullets enter target. The rear gunner did not fire at all. Matthews then broke away.

“Pilot Officer Boot looked around for stragglers and found a Heinkel and carried out a No. 2 attack on it, disabling rear gunner and putting one engine out of action. The enemy aircraft started to glide down. Boot then broke away attacking a D.O. 17, disabling its engine. He then made an attack on a second

Dornier but through lack of ammunition was unable to complete the attack. He then dived and overtook a Heinkel which was making a forced landing in a field near Rouen. Two occupants only were seen to leave the aircraft.”

02-Jul. 1946

Times Colonist, July 2, 1946 Page 8 – “Oak Bay To Make New Honor Scroll Of World War Dead. Oak Bay municipality is drawing up a new scroll bearing the names of Oak Bay residents who gave their lives during the war, and is launching an appeal to those interested to add to the list of names of any who have been omitted.

Any information should be written or telephoned to A. S. G. Musgrave, municipal engineer, Oak Bay.

Names of Oak Bay persons on the present scroll are: I. Acland, T. Akam, W. B. E. Bailey, T. Baker, N. Beard, M. Beedham, Pamela G. Bennett, T. P. Bourque, R. Bradbury, G. Bradshaw, J. H. Brooks, I. M. Sutherland-Brown, L. K. Brown, W. Brown, R. E. Bruce, J. Burd, R. B. Bush, F. S. Button, G. Byatt, B. W. Carmichael, R. T. Christy, Patricia Cooney, G. H. Corbett, J. A. Cornwall, G. S. F. Coulson, H. R. Coventry, R. Coventry.

E. Curtis, J. V. Davey, P. F. M. De Freitas, J. H. Doe, D. E. Eley, H. G. Ellis, Violet Field, E. W. R. Fortt, R. H. Frame, G. Fraser. V. P. Gilson, J. Grogan, F. C. Harman, A. Harness, J. R. Harper, D. Kind, R. Horsfield, R. H. Hunter, Norah Johnson, V. C. L. Knox, J. Latta, J. W. Lawrie, W. H. Leese, D. M. Lindsay, J. R. A. MacConachie, P. G. C. Mac-Neill, I. McDermott, F. McMullen, L. Manning, R. S. May, H. L. G. Mayer, A. Mayhew, E. W. T. Mel-lander, R. Meredith.

T. W. Moore, P. Palin, W. Palmer, G. Parker, R. Pattinson, C. W. Peasland, T. C. L. Pidcock, D. M. Reid, E. G. Robbins, J. T. Robson, A. M. Rycroft, K. Scharf f, E. ' W. Scroggs, R. R. Shearing, R. A. Shepherd, J. Shepherd, J. L. Sills, J. Stevens, D. B. Stewart, G. B. Stoney, J. Syme, C. M. B. Symons, S. F. Taylor, J. Trace, G. L. Trudel, L. H. Tull, R. Walls, J. D. Ward, E. M. Williams, D Wilson, R. A. Wilson, S. E. Wood, M. Wood, F. H. Whiting and G. Verley.”

05-Jul. 1946

The Daily Colonist, July 5, 1946 Page - “War Casualties Compiled by Oak Bay. A listing compiled of Oak Bay residents who gave their lives in the World War ... will be placed on a scroll in the Municipal Hall ... The list is intended to include all who Oak Bay schools, were born in the municipality or lived there for about five years. Names gathered so far are: ... J. Latta ... R. A. Shepherd, J. Shepherd ...C. M. B. Symons ...”

25-Apr. 1948

The Daily Colonist, April 25, 1948 Page 17 – “Ebb Tide Scores Upset; Downs Rep Fifteen, 6-5”

“The match, which marked the close of the local Rugby season, netted only a small amount for the injured players’ fund due to inclement weather. A banquet last night following the game, when presentations were made, officially closed the season.

Jim Mill, member of the champion Oak Bay Wanderers intermediate fifteen, was presented with the John Shepherd Memorial Trophy as the most valuable player to this team. Mayor Percy E. George made the presentation.”

11-Nov. 1948

On Armistice Day, November 11th, 1948, the Cenotaph was unveiled by the Lieutenant Governor, the Honourable Charles H. Banks, C.M.G., and dedicated by the Venerable Archdeacon A deL. Nunns and the Reverend Dr. W.W. McPherson. A wall of concrete with granite finish frames a nine-foot-tall statue of a woman, her eyes downcast upon the 97 names of Oak Bay's war dead. The inscription reads: "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." [Oak Bay Cenotaph – CDLI website]

October 1939 through to June 1940

AIR-27-696-1

Missing for October 1939 through to May 1940. Starts in June 1940.

Summary of Events begins in 4- October-1939 through to 30-June- 1940.

February 1940

AIR-27-629-9

AIR 27-629-10

Appendices AIR 27-636 –

• Daily Routine Orders for 22-2-1940 mentions P/O’s Mould,Mitchell and Shepherd.
• Air Combat Reports for P/O’s

Shepherd, Mitchell and Mould.

Times Colonist – 1940-01-18 - Page 11 – “Air Force Men Wait for Spring”. P/O John Shepherd.

“We are all billeted out in a little French village.” Upon arrival at Vassincourt, No. 1 Squadron was billeted out in the village of Neuville-sur-Marne, or Neuville for short.

Neuville was a small village of only a few hundred inhabitants. A night out was spent at the Hotel de Metz et Commerce in the village of Bar-le-Duc. Otherwise, meals were eaten at the Squadron’s mess in a farmhouse in a dirty part of the town where the pilots had to walk a great distance from their billets to get there.

For a detailed description of the billets and mess arrangements, see: CHAPTER ELEVEN. The village of Neuville in Tony Henniker’s book “ROLLS-ROYCE ON THE FRONT LINE. The life and times of a Service Engineer.”

Page 137. “Most of the other billets were dirty and damp; the living rooms, kitchens, etc. either being occupied or locked up. The owners were paid by the RAF at rates varying with the accommodation supplied: whether furnished or bare rooms and whether the owner kept the room clean and generally “did” for you.”