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Chalmers, David Rainnie (Sergeant)

Killed in Action 1943-May-23

Birth Date: 1905 (age 38)

Samuel Chalmers & Rose E. Chalmers (nee Claydon)

Barbara V. Chalmers, of Osoyoos, British Columbia.

Home: Rosewood, Manitoba

Service
RCAF
Unit
3 PRC- Personnel Reception Centre (RAF)
Rank
Sergeant
Marshal
Air Chief MarshalA/C/M
Air MarshalA/M
Air Vice MarshalA/V/M
Air CommodoreA/C
Group CaptainG/C
Wing CommanderW/C
Squadron LeaderS/L
Flight LieutenantF/L
Flying OfficerF/O
Pilot OfficerP/O
Warrant Officer 1st ClassWO1
Warrant Officer 2nd ClassWO2
Flight SergeantFS
SergeantSGT
CorporalCPL
Senior AircraftmanSAC
Leading AircraftmanLAC
Aircraftman 1st ClassAC1
Aircraftman 2nd ClassAC2
Position
Service Numbers
R/71447

3 Personnel Reception Centre for Dominion aircrew and 11 Australian Personnel Dispatch and Receiving Centre at RAF Bournemouth, England.

Twenty-one airmen were killed in the Metropole Hotel, Lansdowne Square, during an enemy bombing attack against the town of Bournemouth, England, where hundreds of Canadian airmen were staying. Central Hotel, also bombed, was similarly full of Australians.

FS WG Abbott (RCAF), FS G Assaf (RCAF), FS JL Soos (RCAF), Leading Aircraftman EOM Gilbert (RCAF), Sergeant DR Chalmers (RCAF), Sergeant RR Courtney (RCAF), Sergeant AC Matheson (RCAF), Sergeant FJ Metier (RCAF), Sergeant RF Pelrine (RCAF), Sergeant RC Woods (RCAF), Cpl WG Wood (RCAF), FS CB Crabbe (RAAF), FS RF Fenton (RAAF), FS AJ Kerrigan (RAAF), FS JF McMahon (RAAF), FS VL Pope (RAAF), Sergeant NM Gray (RAAF), Leading Aircraftman R Crawshaw (RAF), Leading Aircraftman J Howlett (RAF), AC2 AJP Lohoar (RAF), and AC1 JJ Morrissey (RAF) were all killed. Although the actual number may never be known, at least 131 people, military and civilian, were killed and many more injured in this raid, seen as retaliation for the Ruhr Valley Dambuster Raids the previous week.

Canada Source Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Canada Primary Source Library and Archives Canada Service Files (may not exist)

Home
Google MapRosewood, Manitoba
Burial
Google MapBournemouth North Cemetery
Row D 4 Grave 99

Hotel MetropoleHotel

CASPIR Aircraft Groups:
Canadian Crewed (1)
last update: 2021-08-23 13:26:39

Hotel MetropoleHotel

Bombing of the Metropole Hotel

Metropole Hotel 1943
3 Personnel Reception Centre (3 PRC) was the Metropole Hotel in Bournemouth UK. 3 PRC was were airmen arriving in Britain would await placement in active Squadrons, or be assigned to additional training. On May 23, 1943 a German bombing cause the loss of life of 131 people in Bournemouth including 10 RCAF staying at the hotel.

General Dorset History

General Images of the Metropole Hotel



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