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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Rayburn William Thomas Ulens

In memory of:

Flight Sergeant Rayburn William Thomas Ulens

June 19, 1944

Military Service

Service Number:

R/191540

Age:

21

Force:

Air Force

Unit:

Royal Canadian Air Force

Division:

226 Sqdn.

Additional Information

Born:

April 30, 1923
Parkhill, Middlesex County, Ontario

Enlistment:

September 7, 1942
London, Ontario

Son of Gordon and Flovica Ulens of London, Ontario.

Commemorated on Page 466 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information

Cemetery:

RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
Surrey, United Kingdom

Grave Reference:

Panel 255.

Location:

During the Second World War more than 116,000 men and women of the Air Forces of the British Commonwealth gave their lives in service. More than 17,000 of these were members of the Royal Canadian Air Force, or Canadians serving with the Royal Air Force. Approximately one-third of all who died have no known grave. Of these, 20,450 are commemorated by name on the Runnymede Memorial, which is situated at Englefield Green, near Egham, 32 kilometers by road west of London.

The design of the Runnymede Memorial is original and striking. On the crest of Cooper's Hill, overlooking the Thames, a square tower dominates a cloister, in the centre of which rests the Stone of Remembrance. The cloistered walks terminate in two lookouts, one facing towards Windsor, and the other towards London Airport at Heathrow. The names of the dead are inscribed on the stone reveals of the narrow windows in the cloisters and the lookouts. They include those of 3,050 Canadian airmen. Above the three-arched entrance to the cloister is a great stone eagle with the Royal Air Force motto, Per Ardua ad Astra". On each side is the inscription:

IN THIS CLOISTER ARE RECORDED THE NAMES OF TWENTY THOUSAND AIRMEN WHO HAVE NO KNOWN GRAVE. THEY DIED FOR FREEDOM IN RAID AND SORTIE OVER THE BRITISH ISLES AND THE LANDS AND SEAS OF NORTHERN AND WESTERN EUROPE

In the tower a vaulted shrine, which provides a quiet place for contemplation, contains illuminated verses by Paul H. Scott."

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

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  • Allied Airmen Memorial– The 153 airmen listed on the memorial came from the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Czechoslovakia and the United Kingdom. Some were shot down while carrying out missions over the German occupied Channel Islands, while others were returning from missions elsewhere in Europe. Allied Airmen Memorial is located at Guernsey Airport, La Villiaze, Forest, Guernsey. Photo courtesy of John S. Brehaut.

    Details

    Allied Airmen Memorial
    Allied Airmen Memorial – The 153 airmen listed on the memorial came from the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Czechoslovakia and the United Kingdom. Some were shot down while carrying out missions over the German occupied Channel Islands, while others were returning from missions elsewhere in Europe. Allied Airmen Memorial is located at Guernsey Airport, La Villiaze, Forest, Guernsey. Photo courtesy of John S. Brehaut.
  • Allied Airmen Memorial– The 153 airmen listed on the memorial came from the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Czechoslovakia and the United Kingdom. Some were shot down while carrying out missions over the German occupied Channel Islands, while others were returning from missions elsewhere in Europe. Allied Airmen Memorial is located at Guernsey Airport, La Villiaze, Forest, Guernsey. Photo courtesy of John S. Brehaut.

    Details

    Allied Airmen Memorial
    Allied Airmen Memorial – The 153 airmen listed on the memorial came from the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Czechoslovakia and the United Kingdom. Some were shot down while carrying out missions over the German occupied Channel Islands, while others were returning from missions elsewhere in Europe. Allied Airmen Memorial is located at Guernsey Airport, La Villiaze, Forest, Guernsey. Photo courtesy of John S. Brehaut.
  • Allied Airmen Memorial– The 153 airmen listed on the memorial came from the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Czechoslovakia and the United Kingdom. Some were shot down while carrying out missions over the German occupied Channel Islands, while others were returning from missions elsewhere in Europe. Allied Airmen Memorial is located at Guernsey Airport, La Villiaze, Forest, Guernsey. Photo courtesy of John S. Brehaut.

    Details

    Allied Airmen Memorial
    Allied Airmen Memorial – The 153 airmen listed on the memorial came from the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Czechoslovakia and the United Kingdom. Some were shot down while carrying out missions over the German occupied Channel Islands, while others were returning from missions elsewhere in Europe. Allied Airmen Memorial is located at Guernsey Airport, La Villiaze, Forest, Guernsey. Photo courtesy of John S. Brehaut.
  • Inscription– The 153 airmen listed on the memorial came from the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Czechoslovakia and the United Kingdom. Some were shot down while carrying out missions over the German occupied Channel Islands, while others were returning from missions elsewhere in Europe. Allied Airmen Memorial is located at Guernsey Airport, La Villiaze, Forest, Guernsey. Photo courtesy of John S. Brehaut.

    Details

    Inscription
    Inscription – The 153 airmen listed on the memorial came from the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Czechoslovakia and the United Kingdom. Some were shot down while carrying out missions over the German occupied Channel Islands, while others were returning from missions elsewhere in Europe. Allied Airmen Memorial is located at Guernsey Airport, La Villiaze, Forest, Guernsey. Photo courtesy of John S. Brehaut.
  • Memorial– Inscription - Runnymede Memorial - April 2017 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

    Details

    Memorial
    Memorial – Inscription - Runnymede Memorial - April 2017 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

Learn more about the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

To learn more please visit our help page. If you have questions or comments regarding the information contained in this registry, email or call us. For inquiries regarding the names and information found in the RCMP Honour Roll, please email the RCMP.

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