Washbrook, William Leigh

William Washbrook Jr. was born on May 12, 1922 in Lethbridge, Alberta to parents William and Gladys Washbrook. He was raised and educated in the city with brothers, Edwin and Herbert and sister, Beverley. William enjoyed swimming, hockey and football. At time of enlistment, he was single and employed as a mechanic for Trans-Canada Airlines. On June 22, 1942, William Washbrook enlisted for service in the Royal Canadian Air Force. He spent the next fifteen months training at bases in Canada and in August 1943, he qualified as an air gunner. Pilot Officer Washbrook arrived in the United Kingdom on September 9, 1943. After six months of further training in the United Kingdom, he was posted to 215 Squadron Royal Air Force in India for service in the Burma Theatre. On January 3, 1945, Pilot Officer Washbrook was part of a Liberator crew deployed to attack an enemy position in Burma. As they approached their target, the aircraft was hit by enemy fire and plummeted to the ground. The incident was witnessed by other members of his squadron, and they noted that none of the crew bailed out of the craft and all of the men were presumed to be dead. As his remains were never recovered or identified, Pilot Officer Washbrook is remembered on the Singapore Memorial. For his wartime service, he was awarded the 1939-45 Star, Burma Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Clasp. His mother, Gladys received a Memorial Cross in honour of her son