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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Robert Howard Shiells

In memory of:

Flying Officer Robert Howard Shiells

December 2, 1944

Military Service


Service Number:

J/38422

Force:

Air Force

Unit:

Royal Canadian Air Force

Division:

433 Sqdn.

Additional Information


Commemorated on Page 442 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information


Cemetery:

CHOLOY WAR CEMETERY
Meurthe-et-Moselle, France

Grave Reference:

2A. B. 3.

Location:

Choloy is a village and commune in the Department of the Meurthe-et-Moselle, 28 kilometres west of Nancy and some 5 kilometres west of Toul, a town on the N4 road from Paris to Nancy. The village is south of the River Moselle on the minor road (D11B) from Toul to the neighbouring village of Foug. The CHOLOY WAR CEMETERY is 3 kilometres west of Toul on the north side of the D11B road. The Choloy War Cemetery is the last resting place of casualties from the First and Second World Wars and is managed by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. It is also the final resting place for many Royal Canadian Air Force members and their families who died while serving in Europe as part of 1 Air Division between 1953 and 1967 and other Service Members serving with NATO in Germany following Canada's departure from France.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

Send us your images

  • Photo of Robert Howard Shiells– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Document– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of ROBERT HOWARD SHIELLS– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of ROBERT HOWARD SHIELLS– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Identification– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Letter of recommendation– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Grave marker– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Montreal Star. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of Robert Howard Shiells– F/O Robert Howard Shiells of 433 Sqn was the bomb aimer on Halifax BM-C, MZ807. Robert died along with most of his crew 2/3 Dec 1944 on their way home  from a raid on a battery factory at Hagen Germany. Only the mid-upper gunner, F/Sgt L Mallory survived with injuries and evaded capture. The crew was F/Lt W Cook, RCAF Pilot; Sgt R Ainsworth RAF, Flight Engineer; F/O J Grant RCAF, Navigator; F/O J Pittman RCAF, Wireless Op; L Mallory RCAF, Mid-upper Gunner, and P/O J Ash RCAF, Rear Gunner. Robert didn't have to fly that night as he had a cold but he chose to not let his crew down.
  • Memorial– Flying Officer Robert Howard Shiells 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 Robert Howard Shiells is commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Gravemarker

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