Biographies

Warrant Officer Class I Robert Benjamin Moulton
Royal Canadian Air Force
428 Ghost Squadron

Warrant Officer Moulton was born in Brockville, Ontario, on 21 November 1912 to Sophrona Moulton, (née McNamara) and Benjamin Moulton. He had one sibling, a younger brother named Thomas Adrian Moulton, who served four months in Holland with the Cameron Highlanders. WO Moulton was a member of St. Peter's Anglican Church in Brockville where he served as an Altar Boy and sang in the Church Choir. He attended the Douglas Haig and Victoria Public School, for grades one to eight, the Brockville Collegiate Institute for grades 9 to 13, and then attended the Brockville Business College. WO Moulton formerly held the rank of Rifleman with Company C of the Brockville Rifles.

WOI Moulton was killed on May 5, 1943 when his Vickers Wellington Bomber was shot down by a German fighter over The Netherlands. He was 30 years old, and is buried in the Wilnis General Cemetery.

WO Moulton received the following citations: 1939-45 Star, Air Crew Europe Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, Pilot's Flying Badge awarded 27 July 1942, and Operational Wings posthumously awarded 18 July 1946.

Flight Sergeant Joseph White
Royal Canadian Air Force
428 Ghost Squadron

Flight Sergeant Joseph White, son of Antonio and Mary White, was born 28 September 1921 in Thorold, Ontario. Brother of Samuel, Roger and Lucy Ann, F/S White attended Holy Rosary School from 1928 to 1934, and Thorold High School from 1934 to 1940 where he held honour matriculation standings. He enlisted on 30 June 1941 in Hamilton, Ontario, stating that he was single and identifying his civilian occupation as a mill worker. He enjoyed swimming, rugby, tennis, gymnastics, hockey and basketball.

F/S White was killed on May 5, 1943 when his Vickers Wellington Bomber was shot down by a German fighter over The Netherlands. He was 21 years old, and is commemorated on the Air Forces Memorial at Runnymede.

F/S White received the following citations: 1939-45 Star, Air Crew Europe Star, War Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and clasp, Air Observer Badge awarded 21 September 1942, and Operational Wings awarded posthumously on 21 May 1947.

Flight Sergeant Joseph Evariste Adrien Thibaudeau
Royal Canadian Air Force
428 Ghost Squadron

Flight Sergeant Joseph Evariste Adrien Thibaudeau, son of Dr. Adrien and Mrs. Gabrielle (née Foisy) Thibaudeau, was born 28 July 1921 in St. Eustache, Quebec. Brother of Jean Claude and Claudine Thibaudeau, Adrien, as he was known, enjoyed playing the piano and organ, learning languages, horseback riding, skiing, photography, music and literature. He was also the editor of the University of Montréal newspaper. He spoke French, English and Spanish, wrote Italian, and German, and read Greek and Latin. He held two degrees, a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science. F/S Thibaudeau enlisted on 28 April 1941 in Montréal, Quebec stating he was single and was a first year law student.

F/S Thibaudeau was killed on May 5, 1943 when his Vickers Wellington Bomber was shot down by a German fighter over The Netherlands. He was 21 years old, and is commemorated on the Air Forces Memorial at Runnymede.

F/S Thibaudeau received the following citations: 1939-45 Star, Air Crew Europe Star, War Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and clasp, Air Gunner Badge awarded 21 July 1942.

Runnymede Memorial

Surrey, United Kingdom

During the Second World War more than 116,000 men and women of the Air Forces of the British Commonwealth gave their lives in service. More than 17,000 of these were members of the Royal Canadian Air Force, or Canadians serving with the Royal Air Force. Approximately one-third of all who died have no known grave. Of these, 20,450 are commemorated by name on the Runnymede Memorial, which is situated at Englefield Green, near Egham, 32 kilometres by road west of London.

The design of the Runnymede Memorial is original and striking. On the crest of Cooper's Hill, overlooking the Thames, a square tower dominates a cloister, in the centre of which rests the Stone of Remembrance. The cloistered walks terminate in two lookouts, one facing towards Windsor, and the other towards London Airport at Heathrow. The names of the dead are inscribed on the stone reveals of the narrow windows in the cloisters and the lookouts. They include those of 3,050 Canadian airmen.

Above the three-arched entrance to the cloister is a great stone eagle with the Royal Air Force motto, "Per Ardua ad Astra". On each side is the inscription:

IN THIS CLOISTER ARE RECORDED THE NAMES OF TWENTY THOUSAND AIRMEN WHO HAVE NO KNOWN GRAVE. THEY DIED FOR FREEDOM IN RAID AND SORTIE OVER THE BRITISH ISLES AND THE LANDS AND SEAS OF NORTHERN AND WESTERN EUROPE

In the tower a vaulted shrine, which provides a quiet place for contemplation, contains illuminated verses by Paul H. Scott, from whom the following extract has been taken:

"Here, at the heart of England, half-way between Royal Windsor and lordly London: looking down, Here, where the trees troop down to Runnymede, Meadow of Magna Carta, field of freedom, Never saw you so fitting a memorial, Proof that the principles established here Are still dear to the hearts of men."