Ward, John Langmead
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | John Langmead |
Surname | Ward |
Gender | M |
Age | 20 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 28-02-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of George Lewis Ward and Lillie May Ward (née Distin), of Battleford, Saskatchewan, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Vickers Wellington III |
Serial Number | BK343 |
Markings | ZL-V |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | France |
Burial/Memorial Place | Pornic War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | 1. G. 3. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 259 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/115679 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 6 |
Squadron | 427 (Lion) |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Ward Bay, Saskatchewan |
Country | Canada |
Memorial Type | Bay |
Memorial Text |
Location | Race Control Building, Croft Auto Circuit, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Metal Plaque |
Memorial Text | In memory of those who served at RAF Croft, 1941-1945 including 419 Sqn RCAF |
Location | Roadside Location, A167, Dalton on Tees, North Yorkshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Memorial topped with metal statue |
Memorial Text | In memory of those who served at RAF Croft, 1941-1945 including 419 Sqn RCAF |
Miscellaneous Information
John was born on 29 July 1922 at Battleford, Saskatchewan. His father was born at Hastings, Ontario and worked as a Caretaker of Battleford Womens' Jail and his mother was born in Montreal, Quebec. The school he attended were Battleford Public, 1929-1938, followed by Battleford Collegiate 1938-1941 (Matric Course). Other training had been with “B” Company, B.L.I., Battleford. He was a Lance Corporal 1939-1941. The sports he was interested in were skating, curling, baseball and hockey. |
John enlisted on 23 July 1941 and after training was posted to the U.K. He embarked from Canada on 30 April 1942, arriving at 3 PRC on 13 May. He then proceeded to 3 AGS 29 June 1942, 14 OTU 11 August 1942, 102 C.F.25 November 1942, and 427 Squadron 26 November 1942. Sadly John lost his life on 28 February 1943. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1845/8 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1845/7 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 28-02-1943 |
End Date | 01-03-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Croft |
Day/Night Raid | Night (36% moon) |
Operation | St. Nazaire. With the Lorient U-boat facility destroyed, attention turned to the second base, St. Nazaire. 437 aircraft, 5 losses (1.1%). Widespread destruction of the target with local reports saying that 60% of the city was destroyed. Few killed or injured, indicating that many must have fled the town before the raid. |
Reason for Loss | Believed to have crashed into the sea off Belle Ile, France |