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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Charles Trask Beech

In memory of:

Pilot Officer Charles Trask Beech

June 17, 1944

Military Service


Service Number:

J/86998

Force:

Air Force

Unit:

Royal Canadian Air Force

Division:

434 Sqdn.

Additional Information


Commemorated on Page 246 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:

XIV. H. 14.

Location:

Groesbeek is located 10 km south east of the town of Nijmegen and close to the German frontier. The Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery is 3 km north of the village and 1500 metres east of the main road to Nijmegen. On leaving the A73 motorway at the junction Overasselt Mook Groesbeek follow directions to Mook. Follow direction signs towards Mook War cemetery. After passing Mook War cemetery continue to the village of Groesbeek to a set of traffic lights. Turn left at the lights onto Dorpstraat passing through Groesbeek. The road name then changes to Molenweg. A Commonwealth War Graves Commission direction sign indicates the right hand turning from Molenweg onto the Zeven Heuvelenweg. The Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery is located on the right hand side, about 1 km after entering this road. On the Memorial in the Canadian War Cemetery at Groesbeek are inscribed the following words:
Pro amicis mortui amicis vivimus, We live in the hearts of friends for whom we died.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

Send us your images

  • Memorial– Father J P Lardie's comments as inscribed on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Pilot Officer Charles Trask Beech is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Pilot Officer Charles Trask Beech is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Id Card– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of CHARLES TRASK BEECH– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Grave marker– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Service Book– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Attestation paper– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Letter– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Letter– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Star August 1943. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Star February 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Star July 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Telegram 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Group Photo– McQueen Crew 52
L to R (facing interrogators)
F/O Lee Shaw (2nd Dickey?), F/Sgt W. McQueen, W. G. Pearcy? RAF, F/Sgt C.T. Beech, Sgt Michael Habiluk, F/O D.F. McAllistar, A. Warrington? RAF, and F/Sgt Alan Kingston.
Some crews took longer to get home for debriefing than others. Crew #52 ditched their Halifax in the North Sea while returning home from a raid on Leipzig. Rescued by the navy, they were given dry rubber boots, old flannel slacks and sweaters. After three days they made it back to Tholthorpe, rumpled and weary, but not looking much like the "pirates, thugs, and brigands" that Lord Haw Haw described as belonging to the squadron.
On 16/17 June 1944 this crew (minus F/O L. Shaw) flying a Halifax III, serial # LK-792, coded WL-N, on a bombing raid to Sterkrade would "Fail to Return" all were killed. 
(F/Sgt Alan Kingston's Nephew - Darrin Kingston is currently researching this crew) Courtesy CFJIC PL - 22526
  • Photo of CHARLES TRASK BEECH– In memory of the students of R H King Academy (formally Scarborough  Collegiate Institute) who went to war and did not come home. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me.
  • R H King Academy– In memory of the students of R H King Academy (formally Scarborough  Collegiate Institute) who went to war and did not come home. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me.
  • R H King Academy– In memory of the students of R H King Academy (formally Scarborough  Collegiate Institute) who went to war and did not come home. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me.
  • R H King Academy– In memory of the students of R H King Academy (formally Scarborough  Collegiate Institute) who went to war and did not come home. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me.

Learn more about the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

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