Operation: Ostend, Belgium

Date: 9th/10th November 1941 (Sunday/Monday)

Unit No: 408 (Goose) Squadron, 5 Group, Bomber Command

Type: Hampden I

Serial: AE438

Code: EQ:N

Base: RAF Syerston, Nottinghamshire

Location: Crashed near Westkerke, West Vlaanderen. 9 km SE of Ostend.

Pilot: Plt Off. John Cayley Wilson J5224 RCAF Age 27. KiA

Obs: Sgt. Evan Bertram Te Makahi Robertson 404556 RNZAF Age 29. KiA

WOp/Air Gnr: Sgt. Douglas Frederick William Norton 1280431 RAFVR Age 19. KiA

Air Gnr: Sgt. Douglas Victor Markall 1167721 RAFVR Age 21. KiA

REASON FOR LOSS:

Wreckage of Hampden AE438 (courtesy Michel Beckers)

Above: AE196, a sister Hampden, which was transferred to 44 squadron was lost with all the crew on the 13th December 1941 on a minelaying trip. Research underway and further details are to follow on this crew and aircraft.

Took off at 17:55 hrs from RAF Syerston with a further eight aircraft to attack Ostend. Once over the target they were immediately caught in the radar operated searchlights and the German Flak battery engaged the Hampden.

The operators at Fliegzeug Abwehr Kanone hit one of the wings and a part of the tailplane. Pieces of the aircraft fell in the field belonging to a local farmer Mr. Vandamme south of Aernoudstraat at Rokse. During the fatal minutes that followed local witnesses reported that the aircraft had lost complete control and dived with enormous noise and crashed at 22:00 hrs.

The following morning German guards were placed at the scene and nobody was permitted near the crash site. They had already recovered the bodies of the crew and they were provided a funeral with full military honours.

Many years later in 1992 the cemetery was cleared to make way for roads and dwellings, but the graves of these four crew-members were preserved in the area and a weeping willow tree overhung the four graves. Not only a truly superb last resting place for this crew but recognised as the smallest CWGC Cemetery of WW2.

Crew graves and insert - Showing the redevelopment around the graves.

Above left: Sgt. Evan Bertram Te Makahi Robertson (courtesy Karen Norton, Vivienne Saunders, Sally Throp via John Depauw Mayor of N.S.B. Westkerke).

Right: The jacket belonging to Sgt. Markall (courtesy Dirk Jonckheere-Veterans Organisation Department of Westkerke)

In 2007 a jacket was discovered after the death of a former member of the resistance who's attic was emptied and cleaned. Amongst the items found was a jacket, marked with the name of 'Dougie' which turned out to belong to Sgt. Douglas Victor Markall.

Left: Sgt. Douglas Norton and grave marker Right: Sgt. Douglas Markall (see credits)

A letter from Doug Norton sent on the day they were lost:

"My beloved Dad and Mom,I am sorry that it took so long before I had the opportunity to write to you but we have been extremely busy lately. Last night I flew a raid, also the night before and Wednesday night. You see we have been busy. I woke up an hour ago and I just finished my lunch.

Last night I flew to Ostend in Belgium and we have dropped our bombs straight into the docks. So I bed that it is mass there now. Everything goes well with me. However, I should admit that I feel very tired last time. I do not believe that I will be ordered to fly tonight and so I will be able to rest somewhat.

Last night the other boys bombed Cologne and they have to fly again tonight. Thus I do not believe that it is so tough for me. Yet that is the reason we joined the war and we may not complain. Well, that is it for today again and I hope you are all well and healthy.

Cheerio’ take care,

God bless you all with love and happiness.

Doug”

Burial details:

Crew graves (courtesy Dirk Jonckheere-Veterans, Organisation Department of Westkerke)

Plt Off. John Cayley Wilson. Westkerke Churchyard, Grave No 4. Grave Inscription: “TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN MEMORY OF OUR BELOVED SON CAYLEY "THY WILL BE DONE"”. Born on the 4th January 1914 in Montreal, Quebec. Son of John William and Florence (née Seymour) Wilson of Aylmer West, Ontario. Husband to Valerie Francis (née Arnette) Wilson of Summerside, Price Edward Island, Canada.

His brother, 25 year old Lt. Bruce Wilson of the 28th Armoured Regiment (British Columbia Regiment RCAC) was KiA on 13th August 1944. Buried at Bretteville-Sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery Grave: XXV1.D.1.

Sgt. Evan Bertram Te Makahi Robertson. Westkerke Churchyard, Grave No 2. Born on the 19th January 1912 in Fairlie, Canterbury. Son of William Alexander and Sarah Jane (née Sherburd) Robertson of Fairlie, Canterbury, New Zealand.

His brother, 34 year old 2nd Lt. Alan Charles Tuarea Robertson DCM, MiD. was KiA on the 8th February 1944, serving with 26th Battalion New Zealand Infantry. Remembered on the Alamein Memorial Column 101.

Sgt. Douglas Frederick William Norton. Westkerke Churchyard, Grave No 3. Grave Inscription: “HEARTS THAT LOVED YOU THINK OF YOU YET, WE LOVED YOU TOO DEARLY TO EVER FORGET”. Born in the 2nd Qtr of 1922 in Ipswich, Essex. Son of Frederick C. and Lily Emily (née Baldwin) Norton of Ipswich, Suffolk, England.

Sgt. Douglas Victor Markall. Westkerke Churchyard. Grave No 1. Grave Inscription: “FOR EVER, BELOVED”. Born on the 25th March 1920 in Kings Norton, Warwickshire. Son of George Frederick and Amy (née Dowers) Markall of Birmingham. Husband of Elfreda Hannah (née Smallwood) Markall of Birmingham, England.

Researched with further information supplied by the Veterans Organisation Department of Westkerke, we would like to thank the Mayor of the Westkerke Mr Depauw, Mayor of Oudenburg, Mr. Ignace Dereeper and finally and not least to Dirk Jonckheere who is organising this memorial and coordinating the visit of relatives and dignitaries. Also thanks to Michel Beckers, Harold Buckley, Ken Spink, Mark Peters. Reviewed and updated by Aircrew Remembered with new information (Jul 2025).

Other sources listed below.

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