• Operation Chastise (Dambusters Raid)

Date of birth:

April 14th, 1918 (Tramping Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada)

Date of death:

December 20th, 1943 (Belgium)

Buried on:

Commonwealth War Graves Gosselies
Row: 2. Grave: 13.

Service number:

R/93201

Nationality:

Canadian

Chester Bruce Gowrie, known as Bruce, was born on 14 April 1918 in Tramping Lake, Saskatchewan. He attended the local school before working as a post office clerk for four years, also gaining farming experience.

Having considered joining the RCAF before the war, he enlisted in February 1941 and trained as a wireless operator, a natural fit given his hobby of building radio sets.
After qualifying, Gowrie spent Christmas 1941 on leave before sailing to England in January 1942. In July, he joined 19 Operational Training Unit at RAF Kinloss. He moved to RAF Swinderby’s 1660 Conversion Unit in October to train on heavy bombers.

On 9 December 1942, Gowrie was posted to 57 Squadron at RAF Scampton. After completing nine operations, he transferred to a newly formed squadron at the same base for special mission training.

Gowrie flew on several successful missions between the Dams Raid and December 1943, earning a promotion to Warrant Officer First Class. His luck ended on 20 December when his plane shot down at 14,000 feet over Merbes-Le-Château, Belgium. The aircraft exploded before the crew could bale out. He was thrown clear, landing in a wood, while the remaining six crew members perished in the wreckage.

Bruce Gowrie and his five colleagues were laid to rest in Gosselies Communal Cemetery, near Hainaut, Belgium.

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• Photo 1: RCAF
• - Dambusters
  - CWGC

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