GAIN Andrew Macfarlane Harrison

Andrew Gain enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force on 1^st August 1941.  He was born on 12^th May 1923 at Toronto, Ontario, Canada, the son of Joseph Harrison Gain, Retailer, and Winifred Gain, nee Macfarlan (deceased).  Joseph was born in Hamilton, Ontario, as Winifred was deceased her birthplace was simply given as Canada.  At the time of his attestation Andrew was a student and he lived with his father at Apartment 92, 1348 Yonge Street, Toronto.  His service records list the particulars of his education, and a number of sports that he enjoyed participating in.  He was 6 feet tall.

Andrew was posted overseas in 1942, leaving Canada on 7^th August 1942 and arriving in the UK on 18^th August 1942.  He joined No 23 Operational Training Unit on 3^rd November 1942.

Andrew Gain enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force on 1st August 1941 at the R.C.A.F. Recruiting Centre, Vancouver. He was born on 12th May 1923 at Toronto, Ontario, Canada, the son of Joseph Harrison Gain, Retailer, and Winifred Gain, nee Macfarlan (deceased). Joseph was born in Hamilton, Ontario, as Winifred was deceased her birthplace was simply given as Canada. At the time of his attestation Andrew was a student and he lived with his father at Apartment 92, 1348 Yonge Street, Toronto. His service records list the particulars of his education, and a number of sports that he enjoyed participating in. He was 6 feet tall.

Andrew was posted overseas in 1942, leaving Canada on 7th August 1942 and arriving in the UK on 18th August 1942. He joined No 23 Operational Training Unit on 3rd November 1942.

Section 10. Report from Air Bomber R123450 Sgt. V.M. White.
On the night of 15th instant, our crew were detailed to carry out a Bullseye exercise at 11, 000 feet with War Load, in aircraft BK. 512. We (word missing due to hole in paper) set course at Worthington at 18.48. hours; I was sitting beside the Captain. Shortly after setting course the starboard engine started to spit and cough. I looked at the starboard engine and everything appeared to be normal. I did not notice the revs. Or oil pressure. After a period of about one minute, the starboard engine caught fire; the flames appeared to me to be coming from one of the cylinders at the top of the engine. The flames were spreading to the centre of the engine and sweeping back over the mainplane. The pilot ordered the crew to stand by to abandon aircraft and then ordered me to press the Graviner Switch; this I did. It noticeably checked the fire for about ½ minute. All this time height was being lost fairly rapidly. I do not know whether the pilot turned off Petrol Cock E(S). The flames eventually started to come back again and they continued to get much worse. I did not notice whether the starboard engine was still ticking over or not, or if the pilot took single engine procedure, as I was watching the effects of the fire. The pilot called €œDarky€ several times, but got no reply. During all this time we were still losing height very rapidly in a slight left-hand turn. At 4,500 feet the crew were ordered to abandon aircraft. I left the aircraft first through forward escape hatch. I watched the aircraft as I was sinking to earth; it appeared that very shortly after I had seen it, it went into a steep dive and hit the ground. The forward escape hatch would not stay open of its own accord and had to be held open whilst I jumped. As a crew we have all practised Abandoning Aircraft Drill on several occasions.

At the time of his death Andrew’s father was resident at 91 Roehampton Avenue, Toronto.

Pilot Officer Andrew Harrison Macfarlane Gain, age 19, serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force was buried in consecrated ground in Pershore Cemetery on 20th January 1943. The ceremony was performed by the Reverend R.W. Frazier (S/L), R.C.A.F. No 4 Dist H.Q. Birmingham.

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