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Wickson, Gordon Conrad

Date of birth:
February 2nd, 1921 (Winnipeg/Manitoba, Canada)
Date of death:
June 22nd, 1943
Buried on:
Commonwealth War Cemetery Jonkerbos
Plot: 7. Row: I. Grave: 6.
Service number:
R/97867
Nationality:
Canadian (1931-present, Constitutional Monarchy)

Biography

Gordon was born on February 2 1921 in Winnipeg, the son of Gordon Albert Wickson and Mabel Wickson nee Ironside of Vancouver. He had two sisters.

He was an employee at the Boeing Aircraft factory and member of the Church of England. His sports were rowing, skiing, badminton, swimming and boxing.

He served as a Gunner from July 26 1940 with the 15th Vancouver Coast Brigade RCA of the Non-Permanent Active Militia of Canada. He enlisted on April 4 1941 then the RCAF in Vancouver and he went on November 4 1942 thereafter overseas to the UK.

Gordon was killed on action on Tuesday June 22 1943 age 22 due to a crash at the villages of Oeffelt - Haps, province of Noord-Brabant before or after an attack on Krefeld in Germany. He was temporarily buried then at the Military Cemetery in Venlo before being reburied on October 31 1947 at the Jonkerbos War Cemetery. The other fallen RAF Volunteer Reserve crew members and also temporarily buried in Venlo were F/Sgt Dennis W.C. Fletcher age 21 in grave 7-I-7, Sgt Eric Lidster age 21 in grave 7-I-3, P/O Leonard A.C. Angell age 23 in grave 7-I-4, Sgt Leonard V. Tanner age 19 in grave 7-I-8 and Sgt Ralph Metcalfe age 19 in grave 7-I-2. The other fallen RAF crew member and also temporarily buried in Venlo was Sgt Albert E. McWilliam age 28 in grave 7-I-5.

He is mentioned with the other fallen crew members at a Memorial in Boxmeer, province of Noord-Brabant.

He served with the 83 (R.A.F.) Sqdn Royal Canadian Air Force.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
August 28th, 1942
Air Gunner Badge
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
delivered on April 27 1944 to the chaplain.
Memorial Cross

Sources