Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Chesley Borden Steeves
In memory of:
Flying Officer Chesley Borden Steeves
October 17, 1943
Military Service
J/16802
Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
422 Sqdn.
Additional Information
Son of Melbourne and Elizabeth Annie Steeves of Meadow, Albert County, New Brunswick
Commemorated on Page 216 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.
Burial Information
RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
Surrey, United Kingdom
Panel 174.
During the Second World War more than 116,000 men and women of the Air Forces of the British Commonwealth gave their lives in service. More than 17,000 of these were members of the Royal Canadian Air Force, or Canadians serving with the Royal Air Force. Approximately one-third of all who died have no known grave. Of these, 20,450 are commemorated by name on the Runnymede Memorial, which is situated at Englefield Green, near Egham, 32 kilometers by road west of London.
The design of the Runnymede Memorial is original and striking. On the crest of Cooper's Hill, overlooking the Thames, a square tower dominates a cloister, in the centre of which rests the Stone of Remembrance. The cloistered walks terminate in two lookouts, one facing towards Windsor, and the other towards London Airport at Heathrow. The names of the dead are inscribed on the stone reveals of the narrow windows in the cloisters and the lookouts. They include those of 3,050 Canadian airmen. Above the three-arched entrance to the cloister is a great stone eagle with the Royal Air Force motto, Per Ardua ad Astra". On each side is the inscription:
IN THIS CLOISTER ARE RECORDED THE NAMES OF TWENTY THOUSAND AIRMEN WHO HAVE NO KNOWN GRAVE. THEY DIED FOR FREEDOM IN RAID AND SORTIE OVER THE BRITISH ISLES AND THE LANDS AND SEAS OF NORTHERN AND WESTERN EUROPE
In the tower a vaulted shrine, which provides a quiet place for contemplation, contains illuminated verses by Paul H. Scott."
Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Digital Collection
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Photo of Chesley Borden Steeves – Chesley was the son of Melbourne & Elizabeth Annie Steeves of Meadow,Albert Co.,NB, a picturesque farming valley just over the mountain from Elgin, an area noted for its maple sugar making. The story of Chesley's fatal but successful engagement with the enemy is chronicled in 'Plane vs Sub' , contained in the book 'Canada at War'. Chesley was the nephew of Mrs. Greta Steeves - Canada¿s Silver Cross Mother in 1980. -
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Book of Remembrance -
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Runnymede Memorial – RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL Country: United Kingdom Locality: Surrey Visiting Information: The Memorial is open every day except Christmas Day and New Years Day, as follows: Winter (1 November - 31 January) Weekdays: 08.00 - 16.00 hours Weekends & Public Holidays: 10.00 - 16.00 hours Summer (1 February - 31 October) Weekdays: 08.00 - 18.00 hours Weekends & Public Holidays: 10.00 - 18.00 hours Location Information: This Memorial overlooks the River Thames on Cooper's Hill at Englefield Green between Windsor and Egham on the A308, 4 miles from Windsor. Historical Information: The Air Forces Memorial at Runnymede commemorates by name over 20,000 airmen who were lost in the Second World War during operations from bases in the United Kingdom and North and Western Europe, and who have no known graves. They served in Bomber, Fighter, Coastal, Transport, Flying Training and Maintenance Commands, and came from all parts of the Commonwealth. Some were from countries in continental Europe which had been overrun but whose airmen continued to fight in the ranks of the Royal Air Force. The memorial was designed by Sir Edward Maufe with sculpture by Vernon Hill. The engraved glass and painted ceilings were designed by John Hutton and the poem engraved on the gallery window was written by Paul H Scott. No. of Identified Casualties: 20337 -
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Memorial – Entrance - Runnymede Memorial - September 2010 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens -
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Memorial – Runnymede Memorial - September 2010 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens -
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Memorial – Stone of Remembrance - Runnymede Memorial - September 2010 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens -
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Memorial – Panels - Runnymede Memorial - September 2010 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens -
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Memorial – Inscription - Runnymede Memorial - September 2010 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens -
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Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Star January 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
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Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Star January 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
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