R/96932
Flight Sergeant H C Beebe RCAF.
Killed in Action 17/18 January 1943 whilst flying as rear gunner in a Lancaster of 97 Squadron. Aged 40, Henry Craig Beebe is believed to be one of the oldest members of the RCAF to have died on active service. Believed shot down by night fighter(s) just off the Dutch Coast. All the crew perished, only the body of Sgt. Brittain, Wireless Operator, was washed up on the Dutch Coast and was interred at Ulrum. The remainder of the crew are remembered on the Runnymede Memorial. I am in contact with relatives of two of the crew from whom I have obtained photographs, those of Sgt. Brittain and Sgt. Axup.
Sgt. Beebe was the son of George Milne Beebe and Adelaide Beebe of New Carlisle, Quebec Province, Canada.
The purpose of this post is to ascertain whether anyone can give me any clues as to how I might trace any remaining relatives. Would anyone with access to Canadian telephone or postal directories be able to tell me whether there are any Beebe’s remaining in New Carlisle who may be related? Any ideas of who to contact to find a local Historical or Archival centre who may have a newspaper containing an obituary?
Any assistance or advice whatsoever would be most gratefully received.
Regards,
kev35
By: kev35 - 29th October 2007 at 11:49
Martin.
I can confirm that you were on the right track and due to the link you sent me I will be receiving a photograph of Henry Craighton Beebe, known to the family as ‘Harry.’ I will be receiving a photograph of his brother Tom who also served in the RCAF. For that, I cannot thank you enough.
Edited to add: I have just received an email from the nephew of this airman so thanks again.
I am now desperately searching for the families of the remaining four crew members:
Sergeant Geoffrey Harold Rowson, of Kensington.
Sergeant John Edgar West, of Llanelly, Carmarthenshire.
Sergeant Peter Lane, of Buntin(g)ford, Hertfordshire.
Sergeant John Bell, of Pickering, Yorkshire.
Thanks again for all your help.
regards,
kev35
By: kev35 - 25th October 2007 at 11:16
Martin.
Thank you so much for that. I’ve followed up by emailing Darlene Campbell and we’ll see whether she can provide any more information.
Regards,
kev35
By: wieesso - 24th October 2007 at 22:56
It’s me again
Try this one
http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=REG&db=dar&id=I5201
scroll down to 4. Elizabeth Sarah BILLINGSLEY
you will find George Milne BEEBE, try a left click
that leads you to Henry Craighton “Harry” BEEBE b: 9 APR 1912
By: kev35 - 24th October 2007 at 22:17
Martin.
Thanks for that, it gives me another avenue of approach.
Much appreciated.
Regards,
kev35
By: wieesso - 24th October 2007 at 20:52
Hi kev35,
just to start with,
you can find at least 5 entries of BEEBE /New Carlisle in the Canadian White Pages
http://www.whitepages.ca/search/FindPerson?extra_listing=mixed&form_mode=opt_b&post_back=1&firstname_begins_with=1&firstname=&name=Beebe&street=&city_zip=New+Carlisle&state_id=&localtime=survey
Martin
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October 24, 2007 at 8:39 pm