Canadian Virtual War Memorial
William Ernest Newton Pasterfield
In memory of:
Pilot Officer William Ernest Newton Pasterfield
April 25, 1942
Military Service
106232
19
Air Force
Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
226 Sqdn.
Additional Information
May 4, 1922
Craik, Saskatchewan
Third son of the Rev. Bertie James Pasterfield, Associate of King's College, (A.K.C.), and Lilian Bishop Pasterfield, of Armitage Rectory, Staffordshire, England. Though born in Canada, his family subsequently lived in Watrous, Kamsack and Outlook until 1931 when the 'Dirty Thirties' wiped out the clergy's financial support. The family then returned to England. When the Second World War broke out, Pilot Officer Pasterfield joined the RAF. His two brothers, Dunstan and Philip joined the armed forces, Dunstan serving in the Indian Army in India and Burma; Philip in the British Army. William became a bomber pilot and took part in various aerial actions over Europe until April of 1942 when his plane was shot down over the English Channel when returning from a raid over France. No trace of the plane nor his body was ever found and he was duly reported as missing believed killed and in due course, reported as deceased. The Government of Saskatchewan has named Pasterfield Lake in his honour.
Commemorated on Page 615 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.
Burial Information
RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
Surrey, United Kingdom
Panel 71.
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
Do you have photographs or personal memorabilia relating to William Ernest Newton Pasterfield that you want included in our digital collection?
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.
- Date modified: