Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Photo of Harry Slater – Photo of Harry Slater, the Bomb Aimer whose Lancaster bomber was shot down in the early hours of August 17,1944 off the coast of the island Sejero, Denmark while returning from a raid to Stettin. Of seven men, only Sgt. Robert E. Toomey, Flt. Engr. survived after swimming to Sejero. He became a POW at Stalag Luft 7. Harry Slater's body was retrieved over 150 kms. from the crash site on September 2nd, 1944 near the coast of Varberg, Sweden, where he is buried. The body of pilot William Fairgrieve was retrieved from the sea on August 17, 1944 and is buried on Sejerø. On August 30, 1944 tail gunner F/O Joseph Ralph Gordon Srigley (J/22846) was found on Veddinge Strand beach on the Danish island of Sjælland, where he is buried in Faarevejle Cemetery. Mid upper gunner F/S William A. Lamb (J/95165), wireless op. Sgt. Robert R. Boyce (J90467) and navigator F/O Leonard G. Brown (J/35910) have no known graves. (Contributed by C. Lafleur, son-in-law of Robert Toomey)

Group Photo – Crew of Lancaster KB751 who perished August 17, 1944. Photo by Sgt Robert E. Toomey, Flight Engineer who was only survivor and taken prisoner on the Danish island Sejero. *** From left: Harry Slater (Bomb Aimer), Robert R. Boyce (Wireless Operator), William A. Lamb (Mid-upper Gunner), Leonard G. Brown (Navigator), William C. Fairgrieve (Pilot), Joseph Ralph Gordon Srigley (Tail Gunner). Crewmate Robert E. Toomey (Flight Engineer) was sole survivor and POW at Stalag Luft VII, Bankau. *** Submitted by Claude D. Lafleur, son-in-law of crewmate Robert Toomey.... Credit website: "Wartime Diary of Robert E. Toomey" website.

Photo of Harry Slater – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

Group Photo – The crew of Lancaster KB751 from left to Right: Harry Slater, Bomb Aimer (J/25693), KIA August 17, 1944, William A. Lamb, Mid-upper Gunner (J/95165), KIA August 17, 1944, Leonard G. Brown, Navigator (J/35910), KIA August 17, 1944, Joseph Ralph Gordon Srigley, Rear Gunner (J/22486), KIA August 17, 1944, Robert R. Boyce, Wireless Operator (J/90467), KIA August 17, 1944, Robert E. Toomey, Flight Engineer (R/82585) POW, Unnamed spare pilot. The pilot of the crew (not shown) was William Chard Fairgrieve (J/25437), KIA August 17, 1944 Robert E. Toomey was the only survivor when the aircraft was shot down. He became prisoner 683 of Stalag Luft VII. Photo courtesy of Air War Over Denmark www.flensted.eu.com

Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Star September 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Star September 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

Newspaper Clipping – Memorialized on the pages of the Globe and Mail. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

Correspondence – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

Letter of recommendation – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

Document – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

Service Book – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

Memorial – Flying Officer Harry Slater is commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

Memorial – Father J P Lardie's comments as inscribed on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

Memorial – Flying Officer Harry Slater is commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

Varberg Church New cemetery – Story of crash courtesy Air War Over Denmark www.flensted.eu.com Lancaster X KB751 of 428 Sqn was on the return flight of a bombing mission to Stettin, Germany when it crashed in the sea south west of the island of Sejrø 17/8 1944. F.Sgt. R. G. Toomey was the only member of the crew to survive. The outbound trip went according to schedule, and the bomb load was dropped at approximately 01:20 hours and Pilot F/O William C. Fairgrieve headed back to base. After about 50 minutes Bomb Aimer F/O Harry Slater, who was throwing out 'windows', called on the intercom: ¿Skipper, there is a vertical light off to port¿. Next there was a terrific crashing noise and the Lancaster started burning. Apparently they had been attacked by a German night fighter. P. O. Slater was the first to bail out while Flt. Engr. R. E.Toomey tried to reach W/op Robert R. Boyce on the intercom before bailing out himself At 02:16 the Lancaster crashed into the sea 2 miles at 190 degree from Sejrø lighthouse. Toomey blacked out when leaving the aircraft, and woke up in the water without harness or chute being held up by his Mae West. He swam in the direction of the lighthouse and entered the island of Sejrø at Lydebjerg. Later, he was later taken Prisoner of War. During the day of 17/8 the dead body of F/O Fairgrieve was retrieved from the sea south west of Sejrø lighthouse On 30/8 Tail gunner F/O Joseph R. G. Srigley was found washed ashore on Veddinge Strand beach on the island of Sjælland. On 2/9 1944 the body of F/O Harry Slater was found washed ashore on the island of Getterön on the Swedish west coast near Varberg. He was laid to rest in Varberg Church`s New Cemetery with full military honours. Mid upper gunner F/S William A. Lamb, W/Op Sgt Robert R. Boyce and Navigator F/O Leonard G. Brown have no known graves and are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.