Wardrope, Calvin Hudson

Date of birth:: May 28th, 1924 (Winnipeg/Manitoba, Canada)
Date of death:: October 3rd, 1943 (Saint-Vith/Luxembourg, Belgium)
Buried on:: Commonwealth War Cemetery Hotton
Plot: 6. Row: C. Grave: 2.
Service number:: R191206
Nationality:: Canadian

Biography

Calvin was born on May 28 1924 in Winnipeg, the son of Calvin Cousin Wardrope and Ena Victoria Sallie Wardrope nee Barker (English) of Winnipeg. They were married on June 23 1923 in Winnipeg. His brother was Bruce Hamilton Wardrope.

He was a clerk and member of the United Church. He visited the Mulvery Public School from 1930-1936 and then the Gordon Bell High School in Winnipeg from 1937-1942. His hobbies were shooting and sailing (extensively).
He enlisted on September 12 1942 in Winnipeg and he went on June 24 1943 thereafter overseas to the UK. He received on May 28 1943 The Air Gunner’s Badge in Canada. He took part after the arrival in the UK to the different air operations of his squadron on NW Europe.

Calvin died on Sunday 3 October 1943 at the age of 19, in a crash with the Halifax LK925 SE-R. The aircraft had been hit by a night fighter after an attack on Kassel Germany . He was then temporarily buried in St Vith Belgium before being reburied in Hotton on 24 June 1947. The other RCAF crew members killed were P/O Lennox C. Main, age 23 in grave 6-C-1 and W/O Navigator (Bomber) Gordon J. Crebbin, age 22 in grave 6-C-3.

The remaining crew members W/O John Reynoldson (RCAF), W/O Lester L. Cudmore (RCAF), Grappa C. Storey (RAF) and F/Sgt Stan D. Peters (RAF) were made prisoners of war. F/Sgt Ray A. De Pape managed to escape. All of them survived the war.

On his headstone: "GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS"

His father was awarded in August 1945 The Memorial Bar.

He was awarded on September 25 1946 posthumously the Operational Wings and Certficate in recognition of the gallant service against the enemy.

At the site of the crash is a monument bearing the names of all eight crew members that was unveiled on 17 May 1998 in the presence of Stan Peters and Ray de Pape.

He served with The Royal Canadian Air Force 431 Sqdn.