Edward Handley Robinson, RCAF

[barryd]

My 3rd Cousin 2 times removed, Helen Elizabeth Routledge married Edward Handley Robinson, 15 December 1941, Victoria, British Columbia.

Edward was killed/died 19 September 1943 whilst serving in the RCAF as a Warrant Officer/Navigator. He is buried in the Oran, Algeria vicinity. There are references to him on multiple sites but none give the reason for his death? I am interested in how he died.

[cosmac]

http://search-collections.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/Genealogy/DisplayGenealogyImage?k=7517a650-93fb-490f-886f-df6aebf6116a
Death registration

[valeriec]

You should be able to get a copy of his service file at

www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/index-e.html

Under Second World War files and then just follow the instructions on how to order the file.

I went to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to see what info was available at that site and he was with 296 (R.A.F.) Squadron. I then tried to find what info I could about that particular squadron. The aircraft was Armstrong Whitworth Albemarle.
Bases and Airfields
3 June 1943 - 15 Oct 1943 RAF Stoney Cross, Hampshire, Ground echelon
3 June 1943 - 24 June 1943 Froha, Algeria, Air echelon
24 June 1943 - 15 Oct 1943 Goubrine 11, Tunisia, Air echelon, Dets. at Cassibile, Sicily and Torrente Comunelle, Airfield, Sicily.

You may be able to find more information by searching the 296 Squadron.

[valeriec]

http://www.raf38group.org/296squadron

Royal Air Force
WW11 38 Group Squadrons Reunited

[barryd]

Many thanks for all of your instantaneous help. From the sites given Edward died of injuries he received in air operations one day earlier on 18 September 1943. The death was accidental (the death certificate gives the choice of "homicide" too but that is more of a civilian death). One wonders that if he was killed by enemy guns would that be homicide? An ominous thought is that the navigator sat in the nose forward of the cockpit on an Albermarle. He may have been involved in a crash.

[Jacquie in Canada]

The death was accidental (the death certificate gives the choice of "homicide" too but that is more of a civilian death).

I looked at a number of death registrations issued in British Columbia for those killed during WWII and all the ones I viewed that had a description saying the person was killed during air operations had it listed as an accident.

Jacquie

[lilybell]

How is it possible for British Columbia to issue a death certificate for a airman who died outside of Canada during the war.

I know Saskatchewan only issued a death certificate if the person died in province wether or not he was in the military.

My husband's uncle died in France serving in WW1 and he has no death certificate. We only have a copy of the telegram informing us of his death.


Anyone with a answer?

Lilybell

[valeriec]

As far as I know only 2 provinces had registrations for Overseas deaths, British Columbia and Ontario. Ontario, Overseas Deaths for 1939-1947

They were provided by R.C.A.F. Records Officers.

Someone else may have more knowledge on this but some of the records for Ontario are available through Family Search. For British Columbia through the Royal BC Museum Archives or Family Search.

[lilybell]

Hi Valeriec

Thank your clearing that up I will remember that in future.

Had never run across such a thing in all my genealogy research.

Lilybell