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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Robert Benjamin Moulton

In memory of:

Warrant Officer Robert Benjamin Moulton

May 5, 1943

Military Service

Service Number:

R/74234

Age:

30

Force:

Air Force

Unit:

Royal Canadian Air Force

Division:

428 Ghost Squadron

Citation(s):

WO Moulton received the following citations: 1939-45 Star, Air Crew Europe Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, Pilot's Flying Badge awarded 27 July 1942, and Operational Wings posthumously awarded 18 July 1946.

Additional Information

Born:

November 21, 1912
Brockville, Ontario

Enlistment:

October 11, 1940
Ottawa, Ontario

Son of Benjamin Moulton and Sophrona Moulton, (nee McNamara). He had one sibling, a younger brother named Thomas Adrian Moulton, who served four months in The Netherlands with the Cameron Highlanders. WO Moulton was a member of St. Peter's Anglican Church in Brockville where he served as an Altar Boy and sang in the Church Choir. He attended the Douglas Haig and Victoria Public School, for grades one to eight, the Brockville Collegiate Institute for grades 9 to 13, and then attended the Brockville Business College. WO Moulton formerly held the rank of Rifleman with Company C of the Brockville Rifles.

WOI Moulton was killed on May 5, 1943 when his Vickers Wellington Bomber was shot down by a German fighter over The Netherlands. He was 30 years old, and is buried in the Wilnis General Cemetery.

Commemorated on the Brockville Collegiate Institute and Vocational School Roll of Honour.

Commemorated on the Phillips Electrical Works Limited Second World War Roll of Honour.

Commemorated on Page 197 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information

Cemetery:

WILNIS GENERAL CEMETERY
Netherlands

Grave Reference:

Grave 4.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

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  • Memorial– Warrant Officer Robert Benjamin Moulton is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

    Details

    Memorial
    Memorial – Warrant Officer Robert Benjamin Moulton is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Warrant Officer Robert Benjamin Moulton is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

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    Memorial
    Memorial – Warrant Officer Robert Benjamin Moulton is also 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

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    Memorial
    Memorial – Father J P Lardie's comments as inscribed on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Group Photo– Robert Benjamin Moulton, in front, extreme left. Celebrating with other pupils of his course, earning his Pilot Wings in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada July 1941 photo obtained from Graham Sheppard.

    Details

    Group Photo
    Group Photo – Robert Benjamin Moulton, in front, extreme left. Celebrating with other pupils of his course, earning his Pilot Wings in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada July 1941 photo obtained from Graham Sheppard.
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Star August 1941. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Star August 1941. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Gravestone of Robert B. Moulton– The grave of WO Moulton in Wilnis, The Netherlands.

    Details

    Gravestone of Robert B. Moulton
    Gravestone of Robert B. Moulton – The grave of WO Moulton in Wilnis, The Netherlands.
  • Funeral Procession - photo 1– W.O. Robert Moulton flew the RCAF Vickers Wellington Bomber HE 727. Returning from a 600-plane bombing on Dortmund, Germany, his plane was shot down, May 5, 1943 at 0200 hours, by a Messerschmitt 110 Night Fighter. According to eyewitnesses, it is believed that Robert stayed on board to steer the burning plane away from Wilnis. Paul van Leeuwen aged 16, witnessed the crash into the bog. He gathered some body parts, and Robert's identification tags. A Funeral was held for Robert on May 6, 1943. Pictures were taken secretly, and only recently surfaced. The family has been told that one of the young German soldiers recited the Lord's Prayer at the gravesite. Yearly, on the 4th of May, Robert is honoured and included in Holland's National Remembrance Day celebrations in Wilnis.

    Details

    Funeral Procession - photo 1
    Funeral Procession - photo 1 – W.O. Robert Moulton flew the RCAF Vickers Wellington Bomber HE 727. Returning from a 600-plane bombing on Dortmund, Germany, his plane was shot down, May 5, 1943 at 0200 hours, by a Messerschmitt 110 Night Fighter. According to eyewitnesses, it is believed that Robert stayed on board to steer the burning plane away from Wilnis. Paul van Leeuwen aged 16, witnessed the crash into the bog. He gathered some body parts, and Robert's identification tags. A Funeral was held for Robert on May 6, 1943. Pictures were taken secretly, and only recently surfaced. The family has been told that one of the young German soldiers recited the Lord's Prayer at the gravesite. Yearly, on the 4th of May, Robert is honoured and included in Holland's National Remembrance Day celebrations in Wilnis.
  • Funeral Procession - photo 2– Born in Brockville, Ontario, November 21 1912. Robert was the son of, Sophrona (née McNamara) and Benjamin Moulton. He had a younger brother, Thomas Adrian. Robert was a member of St. Peter's Anglican Church, served as an Altar Boy & sang in the Church Choir. He attended Douglas Haig, & Victoria Public School's, Brockville Collegiate, and The Brockville Business School. After graduating, Robert worked at Brockville Phillip's Cable. In 1941,he began pilot's training in Toronto. He was stationed in Manitoba, Moncton, N.B., and Dalton, in Yorkshire, England. Despite a broken leg, and the opportunity to return home, he remained in England and was assigned teaching duties. While convalescing, he requested active duty. His hobbies included hunting, fishing, swimming, ice-skating, rowing, tennis, fencing, gymnastics, dancing and playing the violin.

    Details

    Funeral Procession - photo 2
    Funeral Procession - photo 2 – Born in Brockville, Ontario, November 21 1912. Robert was the son of, Sophrona (née McNamara) and Benjamin Moulton. He had a younger brother, Thomas Adrian. Robert was a member of St. Peter's Anglican Church, served as an Altar Boy & sang in the Church Choir. He attended Douglas Haig, & Victoria Public School's, Brockville Collegiate, and The Brockville Business School. After graduating, Robert worked at Brockville Phillip's Cable. In 1941,he began pilot's training in Toronto. He was stationed in Manitoba, Moncton, N.B., and Dalton, in Yorkshire, England. Despite a broken leg, and the opportunity to return home, he remained in England and was assigned teaching duties. While convalescing, he requested active duty. His hobbies included hunting, fishing, swimming, ice-skating, rowing, tennis, fencing, gymnastics, dancing and playing the violin.
  • Photo of Robert Moulton

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    Photo of Robert Moulton
    Photo of Robert Moulton
  • High Flight poem

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    High Flight poem
    High Flight poem
  • Wilnis Monument– This monument was unveiled in Wilnis on Saturday 29 March 2003. It commemorates the three Canadian airmen killed when their Vickers Wellington aircraft crashed in a field in the vicinity of the village, after it had been shot down by a German night fighter on 5 May 1943.

    Details

    Wilnis Monument
    Wilnis Monument – This monument was unveiled in Wilnis on Saturday 29 March 2003. It commemorates the three Canadian airmen killed when their Vickers Wellington aircraft crashed in a field in the vicinity of the village, after it had been shot down by a German night fighter on 5 May 1943.
  • Bagpiper– Malcolm Burrows plays the bagpipes next to the Wilnis church before the ceremony.

    Details

    Bagpiper
    Bagpiper – Malcolm Burrows plays the bagpipes next to the Wilnis church before the ceremony.
  • Monument before unveiling– Children and Canadian soldiers before unveiling

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    Monument before unveiling
    Monument before unveiling – Children and Canadian soldiers before unveiling
  • Children participating

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    Children participating
    Children participating
  • Children participating

    Details

    Children participating
    Children participating
  • Monument unveiled– The parachute found at the scene of the crash is removed from the monument.

    Details

    Monument unveiled
    Monument unveiled – The parachute found at the scene of the crash is removed from the monument.
  • Mayor and Canadian Ambassador– Marianne Burgman, Mayor of the municipality of De Ronde Venen, and Serge April, Canadian Ambassador to the Netherlands immediately following the unveiling.

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    Mayor and Canadian Ambassador
    Mayor and Canadian Ambassador – Marianne Burgman, Mayor of the municipality of De Ronde Venen, and Serge April, Canadian Ambassador to the Netherlands immediately following the unveiling.
  • Veterans with flags– Veterans from the European Zone of the Royal Canadian Legion participate in the unveiling of the monument.

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    Veterans with flags
    Veterans with flags – Veterans from the European Zone of the Royal Canadian Legion participate in the unveiling of the monument.
  • Newspaper Clipping– From the Ottawa Citizen. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me

    Details

    Newspaper Clipping
    Newspaper Clipping – From the Ottawa Citizen. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
  • Newspaper Clipping– From the Ottawa Citizen. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me

    Details

    Newspaper Clipping
    Newspaper Clipping – From the Ottawa Citizen. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me

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