Operation: Soest, Germany

Date: 5th/6th December 1944 (Tuesday/Wednesday)

Unit No: 434 (Bluenose) Squadron, RCAF, 6 Group, Bomber Group

Type: Halifax III

Serial: NR143

Code: WL:M

Base: RAF Croft, Yorkshire

Location: English Channel

Pilot: Fg Off. Theodore Kowalchuk J27726 RCAF Age 22. MiA

Flt Eng: Sgt. Walter Christopher Higginbotham 2205657 RAFVR Age 24. MiA

Nav: Fg Off. Kenneth Cregeen Christian J38780 RCAF Age 24. MiA

Bomb Aimer: Sgt. Victor Eugene Prouse R163240 RCAF Age 23. MiA

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. David Henry Lavalley R88129 RCAF Age 28. MiA

Air Gnr (Mid Upp): Sgt. Gerald Philip Coughlin R208660 RCAF Age 18. MiA

Air Gnr (Rear): Sgt. Joseph Maurice de Macedo R215235 RCAF Age 21. KiA

Above L-R: Fg Off. Kowalchuk, Fg Off. Christian, Plt Off. Prouse, Plt Off. Lavalley, Plt Off. Coughlin and Plt Off. de Macedo (from their Service Records)

REASON FOR LOSS:

Sixteen aircraft from the squadron took part on this operation. NR143 taking off at 17:48 hrs.

This was the only loss from the squadron but we have no further information apart from it seems they came down in the English Channel.

In March 1949 the body of a Canadian sergeant air gunner was found on the shore of Dunkirk. The discovery was published in the British Press which repeated an erroneous statement that the body was that of a 1940 casualty. A Search Officer was sent to investigate and collect the body for burial. His view was that the body was a beach burial that had become unearthed by the force of the waves. It was taken for final internment to Pihem–les Guines Cemetery, Pas de Calais.

The report of this body gave the height as approximately 5’6” to 5’7”; slight build, hair on legs brown and in large quantities, hand missing and the bones badly smashed and broken. A hand-knitted white or khaki pullover, with the label, marked seize 36 was found. On one finger was a silver signet ring with the Prince of Wales Crest and initials "P.W. H.S."; on the inside was the inscription "Sterling Birks".

On receipt of the report, RCAF HQ Ottawa contacted Henry Birks & Sons, manufacturing jewellers. They stated that they made a ring as described for the Prince of Wales High School, Vancouver BC. The ring was manufactured not for the school itself, but for the sale to graduates in Birks Retail Store at Vancouver.

No record of purchases was kept. This information established that the unknown air gunner was a graduate of Prince of Wales High School Vancouver.

An intensive and detailed investigation which involved interviewing personnel and teachers of the Prince of Wales High School who had been on the staff since 1935 revealed that approximately twelve graduates of the school had been reported missing in the RCAF. Names were secured and all but three were accounted for. The next of kin of these three were all interviewed. The father of the first stated that he had no knowledge that his son had possessed such a ring. The father of the second said that his son would wear a larger undershirt than size 36 and definitely established that his son did not possess a Prince of Wales ring.

The third candidate for consideration was Sgt. J.M. de Macedo an air gunner of Halifax NR143, 434 (Bluenose) Squadron, RCAF, reported missing on the night of 5th/6th December 1944. His father stated that his son’s height was 5ft 6in and his weight was 135lbs and he had large quantities of brown hair on his legs. He owned a khaki hand-knitted sweater and had taken it with him to the UK. As he was a man of slight build, it was reasonable to assume that he wore a size 36. The father also produced a photograph of his son taken while on operations and it showed a ring on one finger which could have been a Prince of Wales High School ring. All of the clues seemed to fit.

The Air Historical Branch of Air Ministry confirmed that Halifax NR143 had been routed to pass over Reading, England and cross the Channel near the south end of England. This routing would not be inconsistent with the place of discovery of the body.

In view of the circumstantial nature of the evidence, the father was interviewed in Canada once more. He was satisfied that this body was that of his son and asked for a grave to be registered in his name

(The Life and Times of Hubert Brooks MC CD. A Canadian Hero - Ralph Brooks)

Burial details:

Fg Off. Theodore Kowalchuk. Runnymede Memorial Panel 246. Born on the 7th July 1922 in Edson, Alberta. Son of Nickyta and Helen (née Herbert) Kowalchuk of Wainwright, Alberta, Canada.

Sgt. Walter Christopher Higginbotham. Runnymede Memorial Panel 231. Born on the 5th September 1920 in Leicester, Leicestershire, England. Son of Walter (deceased in 1940) and Elisa Higginbotham of Leicester, Leicestershire, England

Fg Off. Kenneth Cregeen Christian. Runnymede Memorial Panel 245. Born on the 9th June 1920 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Son of William Moore (deceased) and Mildred Mona (née Cregeen) Christian of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Plt Off. Victor Eugene Prouse. Runnymede Memorial Panel 252. Born on the 13th August 1921 in Claremont, Ontario. Son of Arthur John and Sarah Ann (née Routley) Prouse of Claremont, Ontario, Canada

Sgt. Prouse was posthumously appointed to a commission and promoted to J93111 Plt Off. with effect 29th November 1944

Also remembered on the family grave in Groveside Municipal Cemetery, Ontario.

Plt Off. David Henry Lavalley. Runnymede Memorial Panel 251. Born on the 2nd September 1920 in Ottawa, Ontario. Son of John Cecil and Hannah Jury (née Graham) Lavalley of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Sgt. Lavalley was posthumously appointed to a commission and promoted to J95177 Plt Off. with effect 3rd December 1944.

Prior to service worked for Ottawa Car and Aircraft Ltd

Plt Off. Gerald Philip Coughlin. Runnymede Memorial Panel 249. Born on the 10th January 1924 in Port Arthur, Ontario. Son of James Philip (deceased) and Emma Mildred (née Hanrahau) Coughlin Port Arthur, Ontario, Canada.

Sgt. Coughlin was posthumously appointed to a commission and promoted to J95336 Plt Off. with effect 4th December 1944.

He was 16 years old when he enlisted on the 9th December 1942. He gave his date of birth as the 10th January 1924, not the 10th January 1926.

Plt Off. Joseph Maurice de Macedo. Pihen les Guines War Cemetery. Plot 1, Row A, Grave 10. Grave Inscription: “HIS LOSS IS A STAB IN MANY LOVING HEARTS”. Born on the 5th January 1924 in Nanaimo, British Columbia. Son of Joseph Fidelis and Alice (deceased)(née Boisson) de Macedo of Ganges, British Columbia, Canada.

Sgt. de Macedo was posthumously appointed to a commission and promoted to J95219 Plt Off. with effect 4th December 1944

Researched by Kelvin Youngs (Webmaster) and dedicated to the relatives of this crew with thanks to John Jones, Ralph Brooks (Apr 2022). John Jones provided the date of birth for Sgt. Higginbotham (Oct 2024). Other updates by Aircrew Remembered (Oct 2024).

Other sources listed below:

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