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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Rayden Frederick Watson

In memory of:

Flying Officer Rayden Frederick Watson

December 11, 1942

Military Service

Service Number:

J/16430

Age:

24

Force:

Air Force

Unit:

Royal Canadian Air Force

Division:

158 (R.A.F.) Sqdn

Additional Information

Born:

August 31, 1918
West Worthing, Sussex, United Kingdom

Enlistment:

November 11, 1940
Windsor, Ontario

Son of Frederick and Vera Watson of Chatham, Ontario.

Brother of Pilot Officer Waldron Worthing Watson, who died while serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Commemorated on Page 123 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information

Cemetery:

VILLENEUVE-EN-MONTAGNE COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Saone-et-Loire, France

Grave Reference:

Coll. grave.

Location:

Villeneuve-en-Montagne is a village and commune 54 kilometres north-west of Macon, and 8 kilometres east of Le Creusot. The cemetery is on the south-west side of the village on the west side of the road leading to Les Baudots. The collective grave of six British and one Canadian airmen is right of the entrance, in the far corner and right of the memorial.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

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  • Photo of Rayden Watson

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    Photo of Rayden Watson
    Photo of Rayden Watson
  • Memorial– Flying Officer Rayden Frederick Watson is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

    Details

    Memorial
    Memorial – Flying Officer Rayden Frederick Watson is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Flying Officer Rayden Frederick Watson is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

    Details

    Memorial
    Memorial – Flying Officer Rayden Frederick Watson 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
  • Funeral– Citizens of Villeneuve en Montagne and officials assemble at the cemetery in April 1945 for commemoration. (It should be noted the allied authorities were unaware of the crash location or whereabouts of the crew of Halifax Bomber DT539 for two and a quarter years before it was stumbled upon by two passing RAF Officers).

    Details

    Funeral
    Funeral – Citizens of Villeneuve en Montagne and officials assemble at the cemetery in April 1945 for commemoration. (It should be noted the allied authorities were unaware of the crash location or whereabouts of the crew of Halifax Bomber DT539 for two and a quarter years before it was stumbled upon by two passing RAF Officers).
  • Memorial– Crash site memorial Near Villeneuve en Montagne, Saone et Loire, France.

    Details

    Memorial
    Memorial – Crash site memorial Near Villeneuve en Montagne, Saone et Loire, France.
  • Funeral– Guard of Honour of local young men at 1945 commemoration.

    Details

    Funeral
    Funeral – Guard of Honour of local young men at 1945 commemoration.
  • Memorial– Mairie of Villeneuve en Montagne has a plaque commemorating visit of relatives in 1992 for fifty years anniversary.

    Details

    Memorial
    Memorial – Mairie of Villeneuve en Montagne has a plaque commemorating visit of relatives in 1992 for fifty years anniversary.
  • Group Photo– 27th June 1942 Abingdon, UK. Rayden 'Doc' Watson far right sat on bomb

    Details

    Group Photo
    Group Photo – 27th June 1942 Abingdon, UK. Rayden 'Doc' Watson far right sat on bomb
  • Group Photo– Pilot, Sgt Eric George Kendall's Whitley bomber BD196 H for Harry, 10 O.T.U. Abingdon 25th June 1942 before setting off on a 1000 bomber raid on Bremen.

    Details

    Group Photo
    Group Photo – Pilot, Sgt Eric George Kendall's Whitley bomber BD196 H for Harry, 10 O.T.U. Abingdon 25th June 1942 before setting off on a 1000 bomber raid on Bremen.
  • Memorial– Remembering brothers lost … Brothers In Arms Memorial, Zonnebeke, BE … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens … May 2022

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    Memorial
    Memorial – Remembering brothers lost … Brothers In Arms Memorial, Zonnebeke, BE … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens … May 2022
  • Photo of Rayden Frederick Watson

    Details

    Photo of Rayden Frederick Watson
    Photo of Rayden Frederick Watson

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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