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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Robert Edgar Hall Cameron

In memory of:

Warrant Officer Class I Robert Edgar Hall Cameron

April 25, 1944

Military Service


Service Number:

R/116874

Age:

20

Force:

Air Force

Unit:

Royal Canadian Air Force

Division:

626 (R.A.F.) Sqdn

Additional Information


Born:

August 6, 1923
Montreal, Quebec

Enlistment:

August 13, 1941
London, Ontario

Son of Edgar Wilson Hall, and of Margaret Amanda Hall. Stepson of Alexander Nelson Cameron, of London, Ontario.

Commemorated on Page 266 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information


Cemetery:

BROOKWOOD MILITARY CEMETERY
Surrey, United Kingdom

Grave Reference:

48. I. 7.

Location:

Brookwood is 30 miles from London (M3 to Bagshot and then A322). The main entrance to Brookwood Military Cemetery is on the A324 from the village of Pirbright. Brookwood Military Cemetery is owned by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and is the largest Commonwealth war cemetery in the United Kingdom, covering approximately 37 acres. In 1917, an area of land in Brookwood Cemetery (originally The London Necropolis) was set aside for the burial of men and women of the forces of the Commonwealth and Americans, who had died, many of battle wounds, in the London district. This site was further extended to accommodate the Commonwealth casualties of the Second World War, and American, Belgian, Czech, Dutch, French and Polish plots containing the graves of Allied casualties. There are also German and Italian plots where prisoners of war lie buried.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

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  • Memorial– The road named in his honour by Colchester Borough Council is ‘Robert Cameron Mews.
  • Memorial– The road named in his honour by Colchester Borough Council is ‘Robert Cameron Mews.
  • Memorial– The road named in his honour by Colchester Borough Council is Robert Cameron Mews.
  • Memorial– Warrant Officer Class I Robert Edgar Hall Cameron is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Warrant Officer Class I Robert Edgar Hall Cameron is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Father J P Lardie's comments as inscribed on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Photo of ROBERT EDGAR HALL CAMERON– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Other– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Other– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Funeral– The funeral of WO 1 Robert Cameron at Brookwood Military Cemetery, U.K.  Photo sent to WO 1 Cameron's mother by the RCAF Chaplain who conducted the funeral service.  This is a photo of the officers attending.  The female officer (2nd from right) is holding a bouquet of flowers. 
Photo and clipping probably from the London (Ontario) Free Press with details of the death of Robert Cameron.
  • Letter– Documents concerning the death of Robert Cameron.  Newspaper reports and letters to his mother.
  • Telegram– Report from local newspaper of death in action of Robert Cameron.

Telegram to mother of Robert Cameron advising of his death in action.
  • Letter– Letter from RCAF Chaplain in U.K. telling mother of the funeral of her son.
  • Grave marker– Photo provided by The Commonwealth Roll Of Honour Project. Volunteer Mike and Dale Symmonds
  • Grave Marker– Grave marker - Brookwood Military Cemetery - April 2017 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Photo of Robert Edgar Hall Cameron– Robert Edgar Hall Cameron came from Montreal, Quebec and was the only son of Edgar and Margaret Hall.

In the United Kingdom, he served with the Royal Air Force at 626 squadron at Wickenby in Lincolnshire. Robert completed over forty operations. On what was to be his last mission he volunteered to go.

On the night of 24th April 1944, he left Wickenby in Lancaster UM-K2 Serial No. DV 177 on a mission to Karlsruhe, Germany. The crew consisted of four British and three Canadians. Robert's position was mid upper gunner. The raid was completed successfully and the crew were returning back to England. They had not been long over land when they were attacked by a German intruder near Diss, Norfolk. This is recorded in German records as occurring at location 5-15 km South of Diss, at 0358 hours 25.04.44 51.00 N / 00.50 E and the German pilot is named as Unteroffizier Beier of 6/KG51.

In the attack, the British rear gunner was killed; the aircraft was damaged and set on fire on the port side. The Canadian pilot Murray McPherson made an attempt to carry out an emergency landing at Boxted airfield which is near Colchester north Essex. This was a large American base known as Boxted Station 150. It was situated near the village of Langham.

At 0410 hours 25.04.44, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in fields on the edge of the base. No one survived this. Had they remained airborne for another thirty seconds, they would have reached the main runway. 
Had he completed this mission, he probably would have retired from front line duties. He was already an instructor at this stage.
He rests alongside his fellow Canadian crewmen in Brookwood Military cemetery in Surrey, United Kingdom. Two of the British Officers are also buried at Brookwood.

A small memorial to the crew of Lancaster UM-K2  DV177 will be unveiled near the crash location on April 25, 2013.

Information about this can be seen on this forum: WW2talk.com
  • War Memorial– This memorial commemorates airman who were killed in aircraft crash on April 25, 1944. Three members of the crew served with the Royal Canadian Air Force. 

Pilot Officer Murray Langtry McPherson of Myrtle, Manitoba, Pilot Officer Francis Winburn Gunn of Carrot River, Saskatchewan and Mid Upper Gunner Robert Edgar Hall Cameron of London, Ontario. 
 
All three were killed near Colchester, Essex, United Kingdom.   

The memorial was unveiled on April 25, 2013.
  • War Memorial– This memorial commemorates airman who were killed in aircraft crash on April 25, 1944. Three members of the crew served with the Royal Canadian Air Force. 

Pilot Officer Murray Langtry McPherson of Myrtle, Manitoba, Pilot Officer Francis Winburn Gunn of Carrot River, Saskatchewan and Mid Upper Gunner Robert Edgar Hall Cameron of London, Ontario. 
 
All three were killed near Colchester, Essex, United Kingdom.   

The memorial was unveiled on April 25, 2013.
  • Inscription
  • Street
  • Close up of Lancaster Approach
  • Newspaper Clipping– The road names were awarded to the airmen by Colchester Borough Council and
the main road sign to the new development was unveiled on the Sunday nearest
the crash date this year 24th April 2016 by Peter Potter. He is a 626
Squadron veteran and lives locally.
  • Cross of Sacrifice– Cross of Sacrifice - Brookwood Military Cemetery - April 2017 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Stone of Remembrance– Stone of Remembrance - Brookwood Military Cemetery - April 2017 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

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To learn more please visit our help page. If you have questions or comments regarding the information contained in this registry, email or call us. For inquiries regarding the names and information found in the RCMP Honour Roll, please email the RCMP.

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