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Lefroy, Henry Keith

Date of birth:
July 7th, 1919 (London, England)
Date of death:
November 23rd, 1943 (Ter Apel/Groningen, The Netherlands)
Buried on:
Commonwealth War Graves General Cemetery Ter Apel
Plot: A. Row: 20. Grave: 381.
Service number:
J/7598
Nationality:
Canadian (1931-present, Constitutional Monarchy)

Biography

Henry was born on June 7 1919 in London England, the son of Henry Chichele Lefroy and Jessie Thomson Lefroy nee Penchen of Oakville Ontario. They were married on January 1 1918 in London England.
He was married on October 9 1943 in Wolverton England with Catherine Lucy Lefroy of Wolverton England. Catherine remarried later as Mrs. Scott. His bother was John T. Lefroy (also with the RCAF) and his sister was Nancy B. Lefroy.
He was a lumber salesman and member of the Church of England. He spoke English and fair French. His sports were skiing, golf, baseball and hockey.

He served as a Private from October 9 1940 with The Irish Regiment of Canada of The Non-Permanent Active Militia of Canada. He enlisted on December 6 1941 then the RCAF in Toronto and the date is unknown when he went thereafter overseas to the UK.

Henry was killed in action on Tuesday November 23 1943 age 24 due to a crash at the Westerstraat 25 in Ter Apel before or after an attack on Berlin in Germany.

The other fallen RCAF crew members were F/O William J. Lawrence, age 25 in graf A-20-384, W/O Joseph G.S. Kavanaugh age 25 in grave A-20- 385, P/O James G. Odell age 28 in grave A-20-383 and F/Lt Raymond A. Gardiner age 23 in grave A-20-386.
The other fallen RAF Volunteer Reserve crew member was P/O Peter J.M. Scott age 27 in grave A-20-382.
The other RAF crew member F/Lt C.W. Cole (DFC) survived the crash and he became then a prisoner of war.

On his headstone: AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN AND IN THE MORNING WE WILL REMEMBER THEM

He served with the 405 Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Flight Lieutenant
Unit:
No. 405 (Vancouver) Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
Awarded on:
November 22nd, 1943
Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Flight Lieutenant
Unit:
No. 405 (Vancouver) Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
Awarded on:
October 3rd, 1946
RCAF Operational Wings

Sources