Pipher, William Melville

Date of birth:: June 9th, 1917 (Newmarket/Ontario, Canada)
Date of death:: March 26th, 1942
Buried on:: Commonwealth War Graves Westduin
Row: 1. Grave: 19.
Service number:: R/78467
Nationality:: Canadian

Biography

William was born on June 9 1917 in Newmarket Ontario, the son of Carl Melville Pipher and Mary Ester Pipher nee Winterstein of Newmarket. He had two sisters.

He was a hotel night clerk and member of the United Church. His hobbies were photography, playing piano and archery artistic and his sports were tennis, riding, baseball, badminton and swimming.

He enlisted on October 24 1940 in Toronto and he went thereafter on July 21 1941 from Canada overseas to the UK.

William was killed in action on Thursday March 26 1942 age 24 due to a crash northeast of Vlaardingen before or after an attack on Essen in Germany. The other fallen RCAF crew member was F/Sgt Andrew Lennox age 23 in grave 1-18. The other fallen RAF Volunteer Reserve crew members were Sgt David J. White age 20 in grave 1-20, Sgt Alfred Jelly age 29 in grave 1-21 and Sgt Ronald H.J. Barrie age 21 in grave 1-22. The other fallen and missed RAF Volunteer Reserve crew member and therefore mentioned at the Runnymede Memorial in England was Sgt Eric C. Groves at panel 84.

On his headstone: GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS, THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR OTHERS

His name is mentioned together with the other fallen crew members at a monument in Vlaardingen.

He served with the 142 (R.A.F.) Sqdn Royal Canadian Air Force.

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