Gilbert Campbell McFadyen Aircraftman Second Class R/220720 Marine Section, Royal Canadian Air Force September 15, 1924 London, Middlesex County, Ontario April 30, 1943 No. 9 RCAF Recruiting Centre, London, Ontario Sarnia, Ontario 18 6 feet, 1½ inches Medium Brown Blue Single Student, Stockroom Clerk United Church George Henry McFayden (Father) July 24, 1943 18 Ottawa Memorial, Ontario Panel 2, Column 5

Name: Rank: Service No: Service: Date of Birth: Place of Birth: Date of Enlistment: Place of Enlistment: Address at Enlistment Age at Enlistment: Height: Complexion: Eye Colour: Hair Colour: Marital Status: Trade: Religion: Next of Kin: Date of Death: Age at Death: Cemetery: Grave Reference:

Canadian Virtual War Memorial The Story of RCAF vessel M427, the BC Star

Gilbert Campbell McFadyen was the son of George Henry McFayden (1892-1946) and Isabella ‘Bella’ May (Campbell) McFayden (b. 1894) of Sarnia, Ontario, and the brother of John Robert McFayden (b. 1926). Gilbert noted at enlistment that he enjoyed music, basketball, and baseball. Prior to enlisting he was working as a stockroom worker at the Zellers department store. His father also worked as a department store manager, which may have been Zellers as well. He was sent to No. 2 Manning Depot, Brandon, Manitoba on May 13, 1943, until the June 4th, when he was sent to No. 3 Repair Depot in Vancouver, British Columbia and was assigned to the Marine Section of the RCAF. Gilbert McFadyen was one of the 10 crew of the RCAF vessel M427 known as the BC Star which was lost on July 24, 1943, off the coast of Vancouver, British Columbia. The vessel and its crew were engaged in the coastal supply of the RCAF, their job being to supply all the Air Force stations along the British Columbian coast. There were two other 18-year-old casualties of the BC Star, Garnett Arthur Davies and Maurice Daniel Onuski.

M427 RCAF B.C. Star ( RCAF Photo)