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World War Two Roll of Honour

Flight Lieutenant James Stewart Lees, D.F.C.
September 15, 1946
Royal Canadian Air Force
Service Number J/20727
Chilliwack (Canadian Legion) Cemetery, Little Mountain, British Columbia. Age 32
Son of Thomas and Susan Lees, Abbotsford, B.C.
Husband of Evelyn Gladys Lees, Abbotsford, B.C.

Although James Lees did not move to Chilliwack with his parents, several reports about Lees' exploits during the war were presented in the Chilliwack Progress. Lees remained in Alberta and prior to his enlistment in the R.C.A F. worked at Turner Valley, Alberta.  He was a frequent visitor to Chilliwack until posted overseas in August 1942. As the pilot of a Lancaster bomber, Lees was reported missing on a raid over Milan until it was reported he had crash landed in North Africa. Lees returned to England aboard a transport plane and next encountered difficulties over Berlin. On this mission the starboard engine burst into flames and the plane started to lose height. Lees decided to press onwards towards the target until the port outer engine began to overheat causing the aircraft to lose further altitude. Although forced to jettison the bomb load the crew, being so close to Berlin, decided to observe the city in flames. On the return trip, the crew reported they could see the fires for some 200 miles. On operations over Leipzig, Lees' Lancaster aircraft was raked by machine‑gun and cannon‑fire from stem to stern by a German night fighter. Despite the attack, Lees and his crew continued the flight and dropped the bomb-load against the city. Lees managed to land the Lancaster at base without the use of flaps and with two burst tires. Lees' abilities as a bomber pilot with 50 Squadron were recognized with the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1943. Lees joined the peacetime R.C.A F. after his discharge from active service. His wife, Evelyn Gladys Lees arrived from England to Abbotsford, where James Lees' parents had moved. On September 15, 1946, three weeks after being reunited with his wife and family, James Lees was killed when the Dakota aircraft in which he was a passenger crashed near Estavan, Saskatchewan. Twenty‑one R.C.A.F. service personnel were killed. James Lees is also commemorated on the Abbotsford War Memorial.

Citation for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.

“This officer was pilot of an aircraft detailed to attack Leipzig one night in December 1943. Whilst many miles from the target the aircraft was hit by bullets from an enemy fighter. The rear turret was rendered unserviceable and the main hydraulic gear was damaged. The windscreen near the pilot was shattered causing intense cold in the cabin. In spite of this, the resolute pilot flew on to the target, executed his attack, afterwards flying the aircraft to base where he effected a masterly landing. His skill, courage and tenacity set an example of the highest order. Pilot Officer [sic] Lees has successfully completed very many sorties, including five attacks on Berlin.”

 

 

Flight Lieutenant Frank James Ling
March 14, 1945
50 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
Service Number J/27079
Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, England. Age 29
Son of Frank and Josephine Ling, Sardis, B.C.

Frank was born in Ashcroft, and moved with his family to Chilliwack in 1923. Frank attended school in Sardis and Chilliwack and was awarded the Governor General's Medal for Proficiency and the Lady Willingdon Medal at the age of 14. He participated in both basketball and soccer in school and for the community. Following graduation, in 1939, he worked in the logging industry. Frank enlisted in the R.C.A.F. in the fall of 1942 and earned his pilot's wings at Brandon. He went overseas in October 1943 and served on bombers with 50 Squadron. Close to the completion of his tour, Frank Ling was reported missing on March 14, 1945, when his Lancaster failed to return from a mission against Lutzendorf, Germany. Frank Ling may have taken part in an estimated 36 operations. His brother Stanley Ling was killed October 30, 1944.

 

Leading Aircraftman Stanley Harold Ling
October 30 1944
5 Bombing and Gunnery School, Royal Canadian Air Force
Service Number R/268037
Sardis (Carman) Cemetery, Sardis, British Columbia. Age 21
Son of Frank and Josephine Ling, of Sardis, B.C.

"Stan" Ling was born at Ashcroft and moved to Chilliwack with his family as an infant. He worked in the logging industry and later joined Boeing in Vancouver until he enlisted in the R.C.A.F. in August 1943. Stan hoped he could join his brother’s squadron and possibly become part of the same crew. While undergoing training as a bombaimer at 5 Bombing and Gunnery School, Dafoe, Saskatchewan, Stanley Ling was killed when the Anson aircraft in which he was flying crashed. The aircraft, on return from a night exercise, October 30, 1944, crashed trying to land at base in ground fog. Stan's brother Frank was killed March 14, 1945.

 

Sergeant John Lawson Lockwood
October 20, 1941
106 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
Service Number R/58542
Kiel War Cemetery, Germany. Age 23
Son of Edwin John and Marie Lockwood, Chilliwack, B.C.

A graduate of Chilliwack High School, John Lockwood enlisted in the R.C.A.F. in August 1940 and consistently scored high marks in all his service examinations. He became a pilot and flew with 106 Squadron of the Royal Air Force. On October 20, 1940 during a night raid against Bremen, Lockwood and his crew flying in a Hampden bomber were lost. Initially Lockwood and his crew were reported missing. For some time this provided hope for his family that he was a prisoner of war. Subsequent reports indicate that the aircraft crashed in Germany. Other crew members killed on the raid were Sergeant G.F. Williams, R.N.Z.A.F., and Sergeants W. Alton and T.G. Jones of the R.A.F.

 

Private Eric Gunnar Ludwig
March 31, 1944
Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
Service Number K/48052. Original Unit of service – Westminster Regiment (M.G.)
Bari War Cemetery Italy. Age 20
Mr. and Mrs. E. Ludwig

Eric Ludwig was seriously wounded in action in Italy and died of his injuries, March 31, 1944.

 

 

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