Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Memorial – Father J P Lardie's comments as inscribed on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

Memorial – Flying Officer Howard James Gould is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

Memorial – Flying Officer Howard James Gould is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

Newspaper clipping – From the Regina Leader Post July 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

Photo of Howard Gould – Howard James Gould (Howie) on December 4, 1942, at his Wings Parade, where he was awarded his pilot's wings and his commission as a Pilot Officer in the Royal Canadian Air Force. Immediately after his Wings Parade, Howie was posted overseas. When he arrived in England in January, 1943, Howie met for the first time his Grannie Gould, aunts, and cousins. This was the first meeting between the Canadian and English branches of the family since Howie's father had left England to farm in the Canadian West at age eighteen, in 1905.

Photo of Howard James Gould – Howard James Gould with his sister, Mary Young, while on embarkation leave in Maryfield, Saskatchewan. This was a time of great pride for the Gould family, since Howie was the first young man from the village to achieve officer rank. He was the subject of great admiration, and looked most handsome in his smart new uniform, with the Pilot Officer braid, and the pilot's wings.

Family photo – Howie (far left), Geordie, Ollie, Edie and Mary Gould helping with the vegetable garden in the back yard of their parents' home on Robertson Street in Maryfield, Saskatchewan.

Family photo – Howard James Gould (center) with his father, Howard Gould Sr., and brothers Geordie (left) and Gordon (in front of Howie.) Howie was an active, happy, friendly boy, and grew to be a handsome young man, sturdy and strong like his father. He could have been a good student but preferred sports, especially hockey. When Howie first applied to join the RCAF, just after the outbreak of WWII in 1939, he was not immediately accepted as air crew because he had not quite completed his Grade 12. He served in the ground trades, and in a little over a year moved up three ranks to that of Corporal. His record in the ground trades overcame the lack of a complete Grade 12, and on March 14, 1942, Howie was allowed to remuster into aircrew. He could have been a good student but preferred sports, especially hockey. When Howie first applied to join the RCAF, just after the outbreak of WWII in 1939, he was not immediately accepted as air crew because he had not quite completed his Grade 12. He served in the ground trades, and in a little over a year moved up three ranks to that of Corporal. His record in the ground trades overcame the lack of a complete Grade 12, and on March 14, 1942, Howie was allowed to remuster into aircrew.

Letter – Letter, page 1 of 2

Letter – Letter, page 2 of 2