Remembering World War II

Robert Earle Williams Sergeant/Wireless Air Gunner R/76043 418 RCAF Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force October 9, 1921 Florence, Cape Breton, NS October 10, 1940 Halifax, NS Florence, NS 18 5 feet, 8¾ inches Fair Hazel Auburn Student United Church Single Robert Williams (Father) Florence, NS May 3, 1942 20 Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey, England 37. I. 9. Commemorated on Page 124 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on March 15 Robert Earle Williams was the son of Robert Llewelyn Williams (1880-1963), a miner, and Martha Janet (Stubbert) Williams (1883-1965) of Florence, Nova Scotia, and the brother of Goldye Patricia Williams (1914-2017), Mary Carell Williams (1916-1978), and Ninette Lorraine Williams (1925-2016). Robert also had five siblings from his father’s first marriage to Josephine ‘Josie’ (Jesseau) Williams (1885-1912). They were Hazel Margaret Williams Gillis (1907-1976), Chester Robert Williams (1909- 1997), Olive Charles Gillis (1909-1974), and Dorthy ‘Dot’ Williams (1911-1997). His half-brother Private Chester R Williams served in the United States Army during WWII. Robert completed high school in Cape Breton, and enjoyed baseball, hockey, softball, and swimming prior to enlistment. Once in England, and prior to being assigned to 477 Squadron, Robert served with 277 Squadron (duty with the Air Sea Rescue Shoreham Flight) from January 29, 1942, to April 19, 1942. 277 Squadron flew Westland Lysander aircraft from the Shoreham Airport in West Sussex (now known as the Brighton City Airport). Robert was killed in air operations serving with 477 Squadron flying from RAF West Malling in Kent. His Boston III aircraft W8340 (TH-G) crashed on takeoff from West Malling when the starboard wheel fell off and the bomb load exploded after the aircraft crashed. Robert was interred at the Brookwood Military Cemetery in Woking in Surrey, England. 2 other crew and one airman on the ground was killed: Pilot Officer Harold Herbert Whitfield (Service No. 112313), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, Pilot, age 22 Son of Herbert Peter and Doris Eveline Whitfield, of Abingdon, Berkshire, England. Interred at the Culham (St. Paul) Churchyard, England Flight Sergeant George Emerson Fallis, Service No. R/86387, Royal Canadian Air Force, Observer, age 28 Son of Son of William Russell Fallis and Charlotte Fallis, of Carberry, Manitoba, Canada Interred at the Brookwood Military Cemetery, England Flight Lieutenant Horace William Biggs, Service No. 45371, Mentioned in Despatches Royal Air Force, ground crewman, age 42 Son of Tom and Fanny Margaret Ann Biggs; husband of May Eleanor Biggs, of Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England. Interred at the Maidstone Cemetery, Kent, England Medical officer Flying Officer J. A. Elliot, also on the ground, was seriously injured by flying debris. Robert was interred at the Brookwood Military Cemetery in Woking in Surrey, England.

Robert Earle Williams

Source: Aircrew Remembrance Society Canadian Virtual War Memorial