R.C.A.F. Headstones - Limavady
 

In my home town, Drumachose Parish Church has a number of WW2 headstones, five of them being Canadian.

This one is for Kenneth Allan Norris, although I think he may have been an American:remember

The second from Limavady
 

:remember Frederick Dick Butland from Hamilton, Ontario :remember

The third from Limavady.
 

:remember William Benjamin Fry, another American I think from San Antonio, Texas. :remember

Number four from Limavady
 

:remember Stanley David Gaudin from Toronto, Ontario :remember

The fifth and final headstone in Limavady
 

:remember Ronald Hepburn Matthews from Preston, Ontario: remember

Re: Kenneth Allan Norris
 

see: -

Commonwealth War Graves Commission, located here

Veterans Affairs Canada - The Canadian Virtual War Memorial, located here

Commemorated on Page 199 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance, located here

Re:- Headstones in Limavady
 

Mark,

Many thanks for that. I have contacted the Department to see if I can send them the photographs. I will wait to see what their reply will be.

I have also discovered that there are CWGC headstones in the Londonderry area that are connected with the Canadian Navy.

Paul.:remember

Re: Frederick Dick Butland
 

Hi Paul;

see: -

Commonwealth War Graves Commission, located here

Veterans Affairs Canada - The Canadian Virtual War Memorial, located here

Commemorated on Page 142 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance, located here

Re:- Headstones in Limavady, Ballykelly, etc.
 

Mark,

I received a reply from the CVWM administrator which has resulted in my uploading all of the photographs I had of the headstones to the site.

The example one I sent with my initial message has been put on to the page for Kenneth Allan Norris. :remember

Paul.

Re: Re:- Headstones in Limavady, Ballykelly, etc.
 

Hi Paul;

which can be found here

Limavady...
 

7 OTU (operational training unit) of bomber command was based in Limavady. Training for Bomber Command was a dangerous business. The aircraft available were often "clapped" out and elderly aircraft no longer considered suitable for operations. Crew were initially trained on Wellingtons (2 engine aircraft, bristol hercules powered). Following a successful training on these aircraft, the aircrew progressed to a Heavy Conversion Unit or HCU. These aircraft were early variants 4 engined Halifaxes 2's and 5's that had been phased out and replaced by the later Halifax 3's 6's and 7's. The 2's and 5's were hideously underpowered. Also the rudders, when exposed to violent evasive manoeuvres, had a tendency to lock up and resulting in inverted spins from which they pilot would have considerable difficulty recovering.

JDC