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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Richard Lawrence Gordon

In memory of:

Flight Sergeant Richard Lawrence Gordon

April 29, 1942

Military Service


Service Number:

R/83552

Age:

20

Force:

Air Force

Unit:

Royal Canadian Air Force

Division:

408 Sqdn.

Additional Information


Son of the Revd. Simeon Moore Gordon and Jessie Irene Gordon, of Hamilton, Ontario.

Brother of Leading Aircraftman Bruce Moore Gordon, who died while serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Commemorated on Page 77 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:

4A. G. 8.

Location:

Ohlsdorf is a village on the river Alster, about 9 km north east of the city of Hamburg on the eastern side of the city airport. Approaching from Hannover or Kiel leave the Autoroute A7 at the junction with the 432 following signposts for the Airport (Flughaven). After 2 km turn right onto Swebenweg which later merges with Krohnstieg and passes under the airport runway. After 4 km turn right onto 433 Chaussee. After 2 km turn left onto Erdkampsweg following signs for Barmbek. Continue along this road for 1.7 Km then turn right immediately before a prominent railway bridge, onto a road calledI M Grunen Grund. After a further 600 metres turn left into Alsterdorfer, the HAMBURG CEMETERY is located in this street at the junction with Fuhlsbuttlerstrasse. The Commission plot is signposted in the HAMBURG CEMETERY and is located 300 metres from the Chapel. Visitors should note that this cemetery is restricted to normal opening hours.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

Send us your images

  • Funeral Procession– Richard's original burial by German authorities at the Neumunster Cemetery near Hamburg. First photo of a series that were given to the family after the war.
  • Funeral Procession– Richard's original burial by German authorities at the Neumunster Cemetery near Hamburg. First photo of a series that were given to the family after the war. Photo # 2.
  • Funeral Procession– Richard's original burial by German authorities at the Neumunster Cemetery near Hamburg. First photo of a series that were given to the family after the war. Photo # 3.
  • Funeral– Richard's original burial by German authorities at the Neumunster Cemetery near Hamburg. First photo of a series that were given to the family after the war. Photo # 4.
  • Funeral– Richard's original burial by German authorities at the Neumunster Cemetery near Hamburg. First photo of a series that were given to the family after the war. Photo # 5.
  • Funeral– Richard's original burial by German authorities at the Neumunster Cemetery near Hamburg. First photo of a series that were given to the family after the war. Photo # 6.
  • Cemetery– Richard's original burial by German authorities at the Neumunster Cemetery near Hamburg. First photo of a series that were given to the family after the war. Photo # 7.
  • Memorial– Father J P Lardie's comments as inscribed on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Flight Sergeant Richard Lawrence Gordon is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Flight Sergeant Richard Lawrence Gordon is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Group Photo– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Memorial– Owen Sound Collegiate and Vocational Institute Second World War Memorial. Image courtesy of Owen Sound Collegiate (OSCVI) Digital Soldier Library.
  • Memorial– Remembering brothers lost … Brothers In Arms Memorial, Zonnebeke, BE … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens … May 2022
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Owen Sound Sun Times May 1942. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Grave marker– The graveside headstone of Flight Sergeant (Pilot-RCAF) Richard Lawrence GORDON in Hamburg Cemetery-Ohlsdorf, Germany.
  • Hamburg Cemetery– Hamburg Cemetery-Ohlsdorf, Germany.
  • War Memorial– War Memorial Monument in Hagersville, Ontario, Canada.
  • Memorial Plaque– WWII plaque on the War Memorial Monument in Hagersville, Ontario, Canada. Both Flight Sergeant (Pilot) Richard ('Dick') Lawrence GORDON and his 18-year-old brother, LAC Bruce Moore GORDON, are honoured here. 
From the book, "They Shall Grow Not Old--A Book Of Remembrance" 
Published by-- Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum Inc.
                           P.O. Box 1481
                           Brandon, Manitoba
                           R7A 6N3
By Les Allison & Harry Hayward
  'Dedicated to all those Canadian airmen and airwomen who served their country, during the Second World War, that we may be free.'
(Lives lost between 3 Sep 1939-12 Aug 1945)
Page 272--
GORDON, RICHARD LAWRENCE  FS(P)   R83552
From Hagersville, Ontario.   KIA   29Apr 1942  Age 20
#408 Goose Squadron (For Freedom)
Hampden aircraft #AE426 was carrying incendiaries when it was shot down 18 miles south of Kiel, at Newmunster, Germany, FS J.A. Romas (RCAF), and Sgt W.W. Perroux (RAAF)(Australian) were also killed.  Flight Sergeant Pilot Gordon was buried at Newmunster, exhumed, and reinterred in the Ohlsdorf Cemetery, Hamburg, Germany.--as was Flight Sergeant James Arthur Easterbrooks ROMAS and Sergeant William Walter PEROUX.
  • Newspaper Clipping– Newspaper clipping-Toronto 'Evening Telegram'.
  • Photo of Richard Lawrence Gordon– Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
  • Photo of Richard Lawrence Gordon– Photo courtesy of Owen Sound Collegiate (OSCVI) Digital Soldier Library.

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