Gardiner, Raymond Arthur

Date of birth:: December 14th, 1919 (Ingersoll/Ontario, Canada)
Date of death:: November 23rd, 1943
Buried on:: Commonwealth War Graves General Cemetery Ter Apel
Plot: A. Row: 20. Grave: 386.
Service number:: Can/J. 15548
Nationality:: Canadian

Biography

Raymond was born on 14 December 1919 in Ingersoll Ontario, the son of Francis Gardiner and Mabel Harriette Gardiner nee Harlow (both English). They were married on January 4 1919 in Strathray Ontario. He was married on April 14 1941 in Hanover Ontario with Meta Caroline Anna Gardiner nee Prues of Elmwood Ontario. Meta remarried later as Mrs. Emke. His brothers were Alfred Gardiner (with the navy) and Charles Gardiner. His sisters were Mrs. Violet Wilken, Mrs. Nora Pascuzzo, Frances and Elsie Gardiner.

He was stock-keeper and member of the United Church. His hobby was music and he played for five years the trumpet in a brass band. His sports were track and field, softball, swimming, hockey and football.

He enlisted on August 21 1940 in Hamilton Ontario and he went thereafter on June 6 1941 from Canada overseas to the UK.

Joseph was killed in action on Tuesday November 23 1943 age 23 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 Fl/Lt Henry K. Lefroy (DFC) age 24 in grave A-20-381, F/O William J. Lawrence age 25 in grave A-20-384, P/O James G. Odell age 28 in grave A-20-383 and W/O Joseph G.S. Kavanaugh age 25 in grave A-20- 385. 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.

He served with the 40 Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force.

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