DUBROY William Edmond

William Dubroy enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force on 21st August 1940. He was born on 15th October 1917 at Ottawa, Ontario, the son, and one of 13 children, of Louis Dubroy (died 28th December 1923 aged 44) and Mary B. Dubroy nee Kerrighan (died 18th September 1937 aged 53). On his attestation form he gave his next of kin as his sister Miss Lilian Dubroy with whom he lived at 140. Lebreton Street, Ottawa, Canada. At the time of his enlistment William was unemployed. After leaving technical school in 1937 he worked for a year as a mechanic apprentice for a motor company before it went bankrupt at which time he took employment as a plumber’s help. He was 5 feet 9½ inches tall with hazel eyes, brown hair and a medium complexion.

William’s service records reveal that whilst undergoing training in 1941 and 1942, on 5 separate occasions he was absent without leave, sometimes for several days, for which he was severely reprimanded. After various postings he was attached to Pershore in July 1943, joining 425 Squadron on 6th January 1944. He was commissioned as Pilot Officer on 9th February 1944, just 2 days before his death.

A letter dated 29th February 1944 sent by William’s Commanding Officer of 425 RCAF Squadron to William’s sister in Ottawa states: “Your brother was buried at three o’clock in the afternoon of 16th February, 1944, in the Cemetery of Pershore, War Ploy No. R115, with the other members of his crew. Members of the Squadron were in attendance and Full Military Honours were accorded. The coffin was covered with the Union Jack and carried by fellow airmen. The “Last Post” was sounded at the end of the Service.”

The following information on the crash was taken from a website that is no longer online:
11/02/1944 Halifax LW395 KW-O of 425 Squadron suffered an engine failure, the pilot lost control and the aircraft broke up on pulling out of the dive. Crashed at Hanbury. Pilot F/Sgt J G D Aubin RCAF, navigator F/Sgt H B Mitton, WO/AG Sgt W E Dubroy RCAF, bomb aimer F/Sgt J H Y Albert RCAF, A/G Sgt J F Mayville RCAF, WO/AG Sgt J O R Fluery and F/Eng Sgt J J Shanahan all died. Also lost was passenger J L Dubroy, brother of Sgt W E Dubroy.

Pilot Officer William Edmund Dubroy age 26, serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force was buried in unconsecrated ground in Pershore Cemetery on 16th February 1944. The ceremony was performed by the Reverend J.M. Laplente.

Register of Burials in War Graves in Pershore Cemetery courtesy of Pershore Town Council.