Breen, William John
Personal Information
Rank | Sgt |
Forename(s) | William John |
Surname | Breen |
Gender | M |
Age | 23 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 31-08-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Wesley Breen and Annie Breen (née Faloon) of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Handley Page Halifax V |
Serial Number | LK629 |
Markings | ZL- |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Belgium |
Burial/Memorial Place | Schoonselhof Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Spec. Mem. C. IVa. B. 24. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 135 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/58998 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 427 (Lion) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Breen Island, Manitoba; Within Burntwood Lake |
Country | Canada |
Memorial Type | Island |
Memorial Text |
Location | Roman Rd, Leeming, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Brass plaque set into a stone plinth into which is carved with the Canadian maple leaf and the Yorkshire rose. |
Memorial Text | This memorial is dedicated to those men and women who served at RAF Leeming during World War II, including those from the Royal Canadian Air Force Squadrons, whose members came from all parts of the Commonwealth from 1942 to 1945; 405 Vancouver, 408 Goose |
Location | Opposite old Main Guardroom, RAF Leeming, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stone Memorial & Metal Plaques |
Memorial Text | In commemoration of those men and women of many nations who served at RAF Leeming during the second world war. |
Miscellaneous Information
William was born at Armagh, Northern Ireland on 24 October 1919. Both parents were born in Northern Ireland. His father in Armagh, who worked as a Boilermaker’s helper, and his mother who was deceased by the time of William's enlistment. He attended Luxton Public and Machray schools between 1927 -1935, then Kelvin in 1935-1936 and St. John’s High 1936-1937 (Winnipeg ). The sports he enjoyed playing were baseball and golf. William worked for Canadian National Railways as a Boilermakers apprentice, 1939 onwards. |
He enlisted on 24 May 1940 and after training was posted to the U.K. He embarked from Canada on 7 April 1943 and then proceeded to 3PRC, where he arrived on 18 April 1943. He was posted to 22 OTU on 11 May 1943, 1664 CU on 10 July 1943 and 427 Squadron on 4 August 1943. It was from there that William sadly lost his life the same month on 31 August 1943. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1845/20 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1845/19 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 30-08-1943 |
End Date | 31-08-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Leeming |
Day/Night Raid | Night (0% moon) |
Operation | Mönchengladbach/ Rheydt. 660 aircraft, 25 losses (3.8%). PFF marked Mönchengladbach first and then after a two minute pause, the neighbouring town of Rheydt. Good visibility and Oboe assistance made for extremely accurate marking and as a result the bombing was concentrated with little creepback. Approximately half of both towns was destroyed with 1059 and 1280 buildings destroyed in the two towns (respectively). |
Reason for Loss | Crashed near Antwerp, Belgium |