Name | Frank Gerrard Devereaux | |
Suffix | WW II Veteran Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) | |
Born | 25 Mar 1922 | Seaforth, Huron County, Ontario, Canada ![]() |
Gender | Male | |
Buried | 1944 | Baisy Thy Communal Cemetery, Belgium ![]() |
Died | 28 May 1944 | near Baisy Thy, Belgium ![]() |
Person ID | I4334 | Default |
Last Modified | 20 Feb 2021 |
Father | John Louis Devereaux, b. 1877, d. 1958 (Age 81 years) | |
Mother | Mary Teresa Murphy, b. 1888, d. 1976 (Age 88 years) | |
Married | Abt 1920 | |
Family ID | F1235 | Group Sheet | Family Chart |
Photos | ![]() | 1939-1945 Star The Star was awarded for six months service on active operations for Army and Navy, and two months for active air-crew between 02 September 1939 and 08 May 1945 (Europe) or 02 September 1945 (Pacific). Battle of Britain: This bar was awarded to those members of the crews of fighter aircraft who took part in the Battle of Britain between 10 July and 31 October 1940. The ribbon consists of three equal stripes: dark blue, red, and light blue (representing the navy, army and air force). |
![]() | Air Crew Star awarded to military aircrew service overseas during WW II. The Star was awarded for two months of operational flying from the UK over Europe between 03 September 1939 and 05 June 1944. It was not awarded after D-Day. The Air Crew Europe Star may not be awarded until the 1939-1945 Star has been qualified for by 60 days service in an air operational unit. The total requirement to earn both stars is four months (120 days). | |
![]() | France and Germany Star awarded for military service overseas during WW II. The Star was awarded for one day or more of service in France, Belgium, Holland or Germany between June 06, 1944 (D-Day) and May 08, 1945. | |
![]() | Defence Medal WW II | |
![]() | Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Clasp awarded for military service overseas during WW II. The Canadian Volunteer Service Medal is granted to persons of any rank in the Naval, Military or Air Forces of Canada who voluntarily served on Active Service and have honourably completed eighteen months (540 days)(18 mths) total voluntary service from September 3, 1939 to March 1, 1947. | |
![]() | War Medal 1939-1945 with oak leaf. awarded for military service overseas during WW II. The Star was awarded for six months service on active operations for Army and Navy, and two months for active air-crew between 02 September 1939 and 08 May 1945 (Europe) or 02 September 1945 (Pacific). | |
![]() | This is a picture of "Gutsy Gerty" LV831 Handley Page Halifax Heavy Bomber WW II aircraft which Pilot Officer Frank Gerrard Devereaux flew on 27/28 May 1944 This is a different crew. | |
![]() | This is the same type of aircraft Halifax III LV857 which Pilot Officer Frank Devereaux flew. On May 27, 1944 left at 2331 hrs and 2347 hrs from Leeming airbase, the Halifax LV831 P/O Frank Gerrard Devereaux, Pilot, and the Halifax MZ295 P/O Carmen Vincent Ross, Pilot. Both aircraft had the same mission, namely an attack on a German military base in Leopoldsburg, Belgium. Following a mid-air collision between the two Halifax bombers, the two aircraft crashed down Baisy-Thy area. All crew members (seven in each aircraft for a total of 14) died and were originally buried in Baisy-Thy Cemetery. | |
![]() | Leading Aircraftsman (LAC) Frank G. Devereaux receives his "Wings" He graduated as an Aircraft Pilot in the Royal Canadian Air Force in Apr 1943. | |
![]() | Sergeant (Sgt) Frank G. Devereaux RCAF relaxing in North of England. 427 Squadron RCAF 6 Group was based in Leeming, North England. It is a good chance this picture was taken in Leeming. The Photo was taken by Mike Devereaux for whom I have no information. | |
![]() | This monument plaque pays respect to the 7 crew members of Halifax LV831 piloted by Pilot Officer Frank Devereaux RCAF and 7 crew members Halifax MZ295 piloted by Pilot Officer Carmen Ross RCAF. Both aircraft; Halifax III LV831 and Halifax III MZ295, had the same mission, namely an attack on a German military base in Leopoldsburg, Belgium. Following a mid-air collision between the two Halifax bombers, the two aircraft crashed down in Baisy-Thy, Belgium area. All crew members (seven in each aircraft for a total of 14) died at 0230 hrs (2:30 am) on 28 May 1944 and were buried in Baisy-Thy Communal Cemetery. At a Later date eleven airmen; Grave #71 J90922 Pilot Officer Paul Werett Coltman, RCAF Sqn age 19, Grave #72 J90239 Pilot Officer Elmer Lincoln Bailey, RCAF 429 Sqn age 28, Grave #73 J28696 Flying Officer Moses Rabovsky, RCAF 429 Sqn age 26, Grave #74 J87240 Pilot Officer Carmen Ross, RCAF 428 Sqn age 23, Grave #75 J27225 Pilot Officer Roy Douglas Ford, RCAF Sqn 427 age 23, Grave #76 1831954 Sergeant Basil Roach Royal Air Force Flight Engineer age 24 Grave #77 R193828 Pilot Officer Kenneth Patience, RCAF Sqn 427 age 21, Grave #78 1591255 Sergeant Norman Hornby Royal Air Force, age 19, Grave #79 J88861 Pilot Officer Bruce Dunlop, RCAF 429 Sqn age 24, Grave #80 R13849 Warrant Officer 2nd Class Norman David Lesley Stephenson RCAF 427 Sqn age ?, and Grave #81 139197 Warrant Officer 2nd Class John Francis Brown, RCAF 427 Sqn age 23 were reburied in Le Culot Military Cemetery 1 mile SW of La Bruyere and the grave numbers shown above. At a later date the above listed airmen were again transferred to Heverlee War Cemetery (which opened in 1946) and reburied again. Three remaining airmen; Grave 5 1853863 Sergeant Richard Edwards, Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve RAFVR age 21, Grave #7 J88776 Pilot Officer Lloyd Kirton RCAF 427 Sqn age 19 and Grave #8 J19592 Pilot Officer Frank Devereaux RCAF 427 Sqn age 22, remained in Communal Cemetery at Baisy-Thy. RCAF Royal Canadian Air Force (Canada) RAF Royal Air Force (UK) RAFVR Royal Air Force Voluntary Reserve P/O Pilot Officer F/O Flying Officer Sgt Sergeant Age (xx) | |
![]() | Seaforth War Memorial 1939-1945 among the listing WW II personnel KIA
J19592 P/O Frank Gerrard Devereaux |
Documents | ![]() | Canadian War Graves Commission In Memory of J19592 Pilot Officer (P/O) Frank Gerrard Devereaux 1922-1944 WW II veteran flying with 427 Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) died 28 May 1944 buried in Baisy-Thy Communal Cemetery in Belgium |
![]() | P/O (Pilot Officer) Frank Gerrard Devereaux, Pilot, Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) ... right column number 3 This Page 290 from the Book of Rememberance; Second World War is displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower, Parliament Building Centre Block, on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on June 21 each year. | |
![]() | Pilot Officer Frank Gerrard Devereaux RCAF WW II Veteran
RCAF 427 Squadron 6th Air Group LV831 Page 9 Unofficial translation from French to English of Pages 9 posted below in Notes. RCAF 429 Squadron 6th Air Group was the home of the other Halifax III aircraft MZ295 | |
![]() | Pilot Officer Frank Gerrad Devereaux RCAF WW II Veteran
RCAF 427 Squadron 6th Group Page 10 Unofficial translation from French to English of Page 10 is posted below in Notes. | |
![]() | Pilot Officer Frank Gerrard Devereaux RCAF WW II Veteran
RCAF 427 Squadron 6th Group Page 11 Unofficial translation from French to English of Page 11 is posted below in Notes. | |
![]() | Pilot Officer Frank Gerrard Devereaux RCAF WW II Veteran
RCAF 427 Squadron 6th Group Page 12 Unofficial translation from French to English of Page 12 is posted below in Notes. | |
![]() | Pilot Officer Frank Gerrard Devereaux RCAF WW II Veteran
RCAF 427 Squadron 6th Group Page 13 Unofficial translation from French to English of Page 13 is posted below in Notes. | |
![]() | Pilot Officer Frank Gerrard Devereaux RCAF WW II Veteran Page 14 last page. Unofficial translation from French to English of Page 14 is posted below in Notes. | |
![]() | Province of Ontario Death Certificate for Pilot Officer Frank Devereaux RCAF Pilot. Killed during Air Operations 28 May 1944 over Belgium. Two RCAF Halifax III Bomber aircraft collided killing all aircrew members; seven on each aircraft. All aircrew are buried in Belgium. Copy of Death Certificate received from Lawrence Brown 2015 |
Headstones | ![]() | Pilot Officer (PO) Francis Gerrard Devereaux 1922-1944
Remembered in St James RC Cemetery, Seaforth, Ontario, Canada WW II veteran flying with 427 Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) died 28 May 1944 buried in Baisy-Thy Communal Cemetery in Belgium. |
![]() | Entrance Gate to Commonwealth War Graves at Baisy-Thy, Walloon Brabant, Belgium There are three graves of Commonwealth aircrew buried here: L-R Sergeant (Sgt) Edwards, Pilot Officer (P/O) Kirkton and Pilot Officer (P/O) Devereaux (with flowers) all Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), All Canadians killed in action over Belgium. RIP. | |
![]() | Headstone J19592 Pilot Officer (P/O) Devereaux, Frank Gerrard, Pilot, Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), Pilot of Halifax III aircraft LV 831 427 Squadron died 28 May 1944 and buried in Baisy-Thy Cemetery in Belgium with two crew members; Sergeant Edwards RCAF and Pilot Officer Kirkton Royal Air Force (RAF) 427 Sqn. A very tight bond exists between aircrew members, they depend on and take care of their buddies, probably more so than close family members might do. It is fitting that there are flowers on his grave. Probably a Belgium person or family have adopted Frank's grave (which is a common practice in Europe for War graves) and take spotless care of their adopted grave of a Canadian Airman who helped liberate their family from the horrors of Nazi German rule under Adolph Hitler. Grave No 8. | |
![]() | Headstone of J88776 Pilot Officer (P/O) Kirton, Lloyd, Air Gunner, Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) died 28 May 1944. A crew member Halifax III MZ 295 buried beside Pilot Officer (P/O) Frank Gerrard Devereaux Pilot of Halifax III LV 831 buried in Baisy-Thy Cemetery. Grave No 7. | |
![]() | Headstone 1853863 Sgt Richard Edwards, Air Gunner, Royal Air Force (England)Voluntary Reserve (RAFVR) died 18 May 1944. crew member of P/O Frank Gerrard Devereaux, Pilot, buried in Baisy-Thy Cemetery, Belgium. Grave No 5. | |
![]() | Baisy-Thy Cemetery three headstones & graves remain:
L-R Sergeant Richard Edwards Royal Air Force age 19, Pilot Officer Lloyd Kirton Royal Canadian Air Force age 22 and Pilot Officer Frank Devereaux age 22 with flowers on his grave. Originally 14 airmen were buried at Bais-Thy Cemetery from both aircraft (7 from each). Later 11 airmen were moved to Heverlee Cemetery. No reason was given for the move of eleven airmen to a different cemetery. |
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