Canada. A Memorial Cross To Warrant Officer Taylor, Rcaf, Attack On Berlin, 1943

Canada; George VI. (F.S. AIR GUNNER C.W. Taylor R160156) Naming is officially engraved, marked "STERLING", maker marked "BIRKS" on the reverse, on a full-length silver neck chain, extremely fine.

Footnote:

Charles William Taylor was born in March, 1921 to Charles Adelbert and Fanny Pearl Taylor in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. Prior to enlisting on April 1, 1942 in Toronto, Taylor was an order clerk, employed by the National Drug and Chemical Company of Canada between 1940 and 1942. After completing his training in Canada, he left for England on January 13, 1943 and was assigned to the 81 Operational Training unit in March. Taylor was assigned to the 100 squadron at RAF Grimsby on September 10, 1943, and was later transferred to the 550 squadron on November 25, 1943.

Due to the introduction of heavy bombers such as the Avro Lancaster, the RCAF created heavy conversion units in 1941. Crews were trained on medium bombers before the assignment in order to gain experience with the aircraft and route. On the nights of January 1 and 2, 1943, Taylor was an airgunner aboard the Lancaster I DV345, which was detailed to attack targets in Berlin. The attack was successful and began to fly back on January 2 from Grimsby, Berlin at 0005, however the aircraft caught fire at 0708 and crashed at Whaplode Drove. He, along with his servicemen Sgt M.G Capel, F/O G.M.G DeMenten De Horne, F/O R.H Mawle, Sgt P.P O’Meare, Sgt J.R Rounding and Sgt E. Skelton, were all killed.

Taylor is buried in the Cambridge City Cemetery, United Kingdom, grave reference: 14350, and is commemorated on page 458 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance.