Date: 3rd April 1943
Time: 21.45 hrs.
Unit: No.408 Squadron (Goose) R.C.A.F.
Type: Halifax II
Serial: HR713
Coded: EQ-F
Location: Lake Ijssel, north east of Amstedam.
Pilot: F/O(Acting Fl/Lt) Robert Hodgson Perry Gamble J/9337 R.C.A.F. Age 23 Missing
Flight Eng: Sgt. Robert Walton Barker 9889712 R.A.F.V.R. Age: ? Missing
W/Op/Air gunner: P/O Charles Noola Black 405437 R.A.A.F. Age 23 Missing
Nav/Bomber: Sgt. Albert James (Jimmie) Hawkins 919537 R.A.F.V.R. Age 25 Missing
Nav/Bomber: W/O 11 Donald Leslie Jarrett T/90781 R.C.A.F. Age 23 Missing
W/Op/Air gunner: P/O Kenneth Septimus McColl 401712 R.A.A.F. Age 30 Missing
Air gunner: F/O Edmond Rothwell Ray J/11851 R.C.A.F. Age 26 Missing
These extensive details have been supplied by Peter Bilbrough from Worthing, Sussex, England. Peter's late mother was Sgt. Hawkins fiancee when he went missing, however she kept in touch with his family despite remarrying. Peter has also supplied us with the complete remembrance loss list for 408 Squadron and the records of all decorations made to 408 squadron aircrews. We hope to publish this soon.
Exactly 70 years after their formation, former members along with current members of 408 "Goose" Squadron will gather to celebrate their long and decorated history. The celebration will take part in Edmonton, Canada from June 24 to 26, 2011. Further information is available here, please mention our Society if you contact them.
REASON FOR LOSS:
Shot down by a German night fighter. (Research still being undertaken)
Update: Part of a huge raid on Essen. 325 Lancaster's, 113 Halifax's - led by 10 OBOE Mosquito's. HR713 was shot down by Oblt. Eberhard Garddiewski (3 victories) from 12./NJG1 at a height of 4000 metres. The aircraft reported to crash into the North Sea 60 km's North West of Vlieland at 00.47hrs.
Some very interesting letters have since turned up and you can see these by clicking onto the small sample here: McColl letters.
Sgt. Albert (Jimmie) Hawkins (Photo kindly supplied by Peter Bilbrough)
408 Squadron being awarded their Crest. The pilot F/O(Acting Fl/Lt) Robert Hodgson Perry Gamble seen on extreme right. (Photo kindly supplied by Peter Bilbrough)
Burial details:
None - still classed as missing. All remembered at the Runnymede Memorial
F/O(Acting Fl/Lt) Robert Hodgson Perry Gamble: Panel 172
The only son of Robert Clifford Gamble and Edith Belle nee Hodgson of 37 Old Forest Hill Road, Toronto, Canada. Born 13th May 1920 at Gowanda, Ontario and enlisted at Toronto on 25th April 1941 while studying mining engineering at Queen’s University. He joined the squadron on 8th September 1942 and had flown 16 sorties and 91.38 operational hours. Also recorded in the Canadian WWII Book of Remembrance – p162
Sgt. Robert Walton Barker: Panel 141
Son of Robert and Lily Barker, of Tanfield Lea, nr Stanley, Co. Durham. He had flown 13 sorties and 75.48 operational hours.
P/O Charles Noola Black: Panel 190
The son of William Browning Black (1876-1949) and Mary Black (1888-1934) of ‘Mia-Mia’, Brigalow, Queensland, Australia. Born 27th June 1920 at Chinchilla, Queensland and enlisted at Brisbane on 29th March 1941 having previously worked as a woolclasser. He had flown 22 sorties and 137.33 operational hours. Recorded on the Australian War Memorial, Canberra – Panel 133 and on his parent’s headstone in Toowomba Cemetery, Queensland – CE8 7 19/20.
Sgt. Albert James (Jimmie) Hawkins: Panel 152
Eldest son of Albert John Hawkins (c1879-1932) late Sergeant in the Royal Engineers and Florence Jane nee Snell (c1894-1974) of 11 Castle Road, Newport, Isle of Wight and fiancé of my late mother Elsie Bilbrough nee Worsley who remembered him during the rest of her life. Educated in the local secondary school, he worked in the rating department of Newport Corporation and later as a rating and valuation officer for Epsom Council prior to joining the RAF in March 1940. He trained at the Initial Training Wing in Rhodesia in 1942, and had flown 12 sorties and 69.08 operational hours. His commander wrote “The loss of your son and the other members of the crew is greatly felt by everyone in the squadron. He was very popular with the boys, especially in the sergeant’s mess where he was looked upon as a good fellow and his loss is regretted by all. Your son… was fast becoming an ace air bomber.” (Isle of Wight County Press: 14 April 1943). His brother William George Hawkins (1919-?) served in the Royal Artillery. Panel 152 [Also recorded on the Newport (IOW) War Memorial and on his parents grave in Carisbrooke (Mount Joy) Cemetery, Isle of Wight – Y 203/215]
W/O 11 Donald Leslie Jarrett: Panel 180
The son of Albert Francis Jarrett (1875-1946) and Helen Matilda nee Groome (1886-Jun 1943) of Galt (now Cambridge) and Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Born 4 May 1920 at Weyburn, Sask., Canada and was engaged at the time of his death. His parents had at least one other son – Wilbert C. He had flown 14 sorties and 80.54 operational hours. Also recorded in the Canadian WWII Book of Remembrance – p174 and on his parents headstone in Cambridge (Mount View) Cemetery, Ontario – 22E 47 1.
P/O Kenneth Septimus McColl: Panel 191
The fifth son of the six sons and four daughters of Bernard Francis Whitegreave McColl (1872-Oct 1943) and Elsie Mabel nee Howard (1880-1936), of 35 James Street, Northcote, Victoria, Australia. Born 5th September 1913 in Westgarth, Victoria and enlisted at Melbourne on 28 March 1941. He had flown 13 sorties and 71.42 operational hours. At the time of his death he was a Flight Sergeant and was posthumously promoted in June 1943 backdated to 8 January 1943. Also recorded on the Australian War Memorial, Canberra Panel 133
F/O Edmond Rothwell Ray: Panel 174
The fourth son of the four sons and three daughters of William Butler Ray and Lula Victory nee Mobley of 601 West 44 Street, Savannah, Georgia, USA and husband of Helen Barbra nee Jezmis of 6690 Frankstown Ave, Pittsburgh, USA whom he married on 16th April 1942 at Pittsburgh. Born 28th November 1917 at Hinesville, Georgia and enlisted at Montreal on 16th September 1941 having previously worked in various hotels in the USA. He had flown 14 sorties and 81.50 operational hours. Also recorded in the Canadian WWII Book of Remembrance - p206.
