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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Lewis Johnstone Burpee

In memory of:

Pilot Officer Lewis Johnstone Burpee

May 17, 1943

Military Service


Service Number:

J/17115

Age:

25

Force:

Air Force

Unit:

Royal Canadian Air Force

Division:

617 (R.A.F.) Sqdn

Honours and Awards:

Distinguished Flying Medal

Additional Information


Son of Lewis Arthur and Lilian Agnes Burpee, of Ottawa, Ontario. Husband of Lillian Emily Burpee, of Ottawa, Ontario.

Commemorated on Page 142 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information


Cemetery:
Grave Reference:

23. B. 3.

Location:

BERGEN-OP-ZOOM WAR CEMETERY is located 39 Km north west of Antwerp and 19 Km after passing the Border into the Netherlands. The N11 connects Antwerp to Bergen op Zoom via Kapellen, Pulte, Hoogerheide and finally on to Bergen op Zoom. On reaching Bergen op Zoom railway station, turn right onto the Bredastraat. Follow this road for 500 M where it becomes Wouwsestraatweg and carry straight on for 2.5 km. The street name has now changed to the Ruytershoveweg and the war cemetery can be found on the left 200 M further than the Canadian cemetery.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

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  • Memorial– Pilot Officer Lewis Johnstone Burpee is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Pilot Officer Lewis Johnstone Burpee 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
  • Newspaper Clipping– Remembered on the pages of the Ottawa Journal. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper Clipping– Remembered on the pages of the Ottawa Journal. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Memorial– Banner commemorating Lew Burpee at Lisgar Collegiate Institute where he went to high school. Banner will go up prior to each Remembrance Day and come down a week later.  Designed by Dave O'Malley.
  • Photo of Lewis Burpee– Lewis Burpee D.F.M., B.A. graduate 1940 Queens University.
  • Group Photo– Lewis Burpee far right at No. 9 SFTS at RCAF Station Summerside 1940
  • Group photo– P/O Lewis Burpee far left when with Squadron 106 and before promotion.
  • Photo of Lewis Burpee– Lewis Burpee at Rideau cottage after receiving wings 1940.
  • Group Photo– P/O Leonard George Weller (Wireless Operator) No 106 Squadron 1943 with Lewis Burpee (right).
  • Photo of Lewis Burpee
  • Group Photo– Lewis Burpee third-right. RAF Sqd 106 1942
  • Photo of LEWIS JOHNSTONE BURPEE– F/Sgt Lewis Burpee (3rd from right) and crew.
Photo taken at RAF Syerston on 18th January 1943 after an op to Berlin in 106 Squadron Lancaster W4842.
  • Group Photo– Lewis Burpee third-right. RAF Sqd 106 1942
  • Newspaper Clipping– The Ottawa Evening Jounal. Vol LVIII - No. 134. Ottawa, Monday, May 17 1943 - 20 pages. 
"Great Ruhr Dams Samshed" and "Lewis Burpee Wins D.F.M. After 32 trips"
  • Letter– Page 1 of a personal censored letter written by Lillian Burpee (wife of P/O Lewis Burpee). The letter was dated a few weeks before the formation of the top-secret Dambuster squadron "X" formation. Lewis Burpee was one of three pilots initially selected and personally hand-picked by Wing Commander Guy Penrose Gibson VC DSO (bar) DFC (bar), RAF.
  • Letter– Page 2 of a personal censored letter written by Lillian Burpee (wife of P/O Lewis Burpee). The letter was dated a few weeks before the formation of the top-secret Dambuster squadron "X" formation. Lewis Burpee was one of three pilots initailly selected and personally hand-picked by Wing Commander Guy Penrose Gibson VC DSO (bar) DFC (bar), RAF.
  • Squadron Badge
  • Post Card– Postcard of approved logo sent to Mrs. Lillian Burpee
  • Reverse side of Photo– Lewis Burpee description of crew. RAF Sqd 106 1942. Hand written by Lewis Burpee on back of original.
  • Letter– Wing Commander Guy Penrose Gibson VC DSO (bar) DFC (bar) - his letter written to Mrs. Lewis Burpee (Lillian) three days after the Dambuster Raid explaining that her husband P/O L.J. Burpee had crashed.
  • Letter– Chaplain S/L H.F. Davidson letter to Lewis Burpee's parents. In this letter he described their son being lost and their daughter-in-law (Lillian) as being in a certain condition. For clarity this condition was preganancy (with her to-be-born son whom she later named Lewis Burpee.
  • Letter– Ministry of Estate release letter of P/O Burpee's personal effects.
  • Newspaper Clipping– From the Ottawa Citizen. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
  • Memorial– Pilot Officer LEWIS JOHNSTONE BURPEE is one of eight men, all serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force, who were killed in the Second World War and who are commemorated on this plaque in Knox Presbyterian Church in Ottawa, Ontario.

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