Warren Arthur Morrill (1923 - 1944) Pilot Officer (Air Gnr.), 405 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force

Question

Warren Arthur Morrill was born July 29, 1923 the son of Edwin Morrill, Jr. and Alice E. Borry/Borrie. He served in WWII as a pilot officer air gunner in the 405 squadron of the Royal Canadian Air Force. He died June 16, 1944 in France. See CANADIAN VIRTUAL WAR MEMORIAL. We need help adding sources and trying to decipher the abbreviations and definitions on his military gravestone. Was he a Prisoner of War and where was he a prisoner? How did he die? What part of France did he die? Is there an obituary? It appears he was not married and had no children 

See Find-A-Grave

Note: a true war hero 

He is my 2nd cousin twice removed 

Thank you

Comments

Hi Andrew

My uncle was born close to the same day and died close to the same day as your relative, also in France.  Yes I agree they were all true heroes and I want to thank you for honoring yours.

Name:	Wilfred Harold David
Rank:	Private
Birth Date:	22 Jun 1923
Death Date:	6 Jun 1944
Cemetery:	BENY-SUR-MER CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY ; Calvados, France
Grave Reference:	II. D 12.
Force:	Army
Unit:	Canadian Scottish Regiment, R.C.I.C.
Division:	1st Bn.

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I see he was only 20 years of age also! I found him on the memorial page also see Here

Oh wow Juno Beach a true hero see Here

Canadian Scottish Regiment, R.C.I.C.

Let us never forget their sacrifice 

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Thank you Andrew for posting all that info about my uncle Wilfred David.  I knew some of that but not all.  I have a profile for him on WT to which I will add those links. Sad about your cousin and sad that so many other young lives were lost.  Lest we forget.

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Your welcome 

Answer 1

Haven't found an obit yet, but here he is in some Schreiber high school photos from 1940: http://images.ourontario.ca/Schreiber/2311391/data

http://images.ourontario.ca/Schreiber/2299753/data

http://images.ourontario.ca/Schreiber/2315111/data

Comments

Oh wow!!! Thank you !!

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You're welcome, Andrew. Here's a brief account of when and how he was killed. It would appear that he wasn't a POW: ROBERTS, CYRIL EDMUND P/O(FE) 091052//R123750. From Winnipeg, Manitoba. Killed in Action Jun 16/44. #405 City of Vancouver Squadron (Ducimus), Pathfinder Force. Lancaster aircraft #ND 343 missing during a night raid against Lens, France. F/O A.G. Gamsby, P/Os P.S. Greene, J.K. Vivian, W.D. Huff, and WA. Morrill were also killed. Two Canadians, WO Stewart and F/O Bowker were taken Prisoners of War. Pilot Officer Flight Engineer Roberts is buried in the Calais Canadian War Cemetery, Leubringen, Pas De Calais, France.

MORRILL, WARREN ARTHUR P/O(AG) J89461//R191123. From Schreiber, Ontario. Killed in Action Jun 16/44 age 20. #405 City of Vancouver Squadron (Ducimus), Pathfinder Force. Target – Lens, France. Please see Roberts C.E. for casualty list and flight detail. Pilot Officer Air Gunner Morrill is buried in the Calais Canadian War Cemetery, Leubringen, Pas De Calais, France.

https://www.rcafassociation.ca/heritage/history/fallen-aviators/rcaf-casualties-second-world-war/riedy-to-russ/

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Oh this is wonderful and gives a better description of his service at the end of life

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Thanks for the best answer! And thank you for working on this brave young Canadian's profile.

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I see he was in track and field in the photo from 1940 a true treasure !

Answer 2

Did you see his pictures and service book at the bottom of his war memorial?

most Canadian soldiers do not have that much info at their war memorial.

Comments

Yes it’s wonderful they have this memorial. It appears from death record his body was not recovered?

Thank you for helping update his profile 

Answer 3

There is a letter about Warren Morrill from Emerson Lavender published in The Morningside Years by Peter Gzowski (1997, McLelland & Stewart) page 315. Your local library probably has this book.

Comments

Thank you Stephen I’ll look into this source 

Answer 4

Also worth while looking for the PoW repatriation reports for Bowker and Stewart as they may contain details of him. I'm just downloading as many escape and evasion reports from the National Archives in the UK and some of those have details of what happened to aircrew KIA.

The reports are free to download at the moment up to a limit of 100 a month.

Regards,

Ann

Regards,

Ann