Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.
Sergeant Donald Enright Soles

Sergeant Donald Enright Soles

Male 1915 - 1941  (26 years)

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  • Name Donald Enright Soles 
    Prefix Sergeant 
    Born 10 Feb 1915  Verdun, Ile de Montreal, Quebec Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Gender Male 
    Military WW2 
    Military WW2 - Sergeant Unit: Royal Canadian Air Force 
    Residence Bef 1941  16 William St., Waterloo, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Eby ID Number Waterloo-130764P 
    Died 3 Sep 1941  Bar Lane, Stapleford, Cambridgeshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    Cause: killed in air operations, accident, aircraft crashed. 
    Buried Whittlesford Churchyard Cemetery, Whittlesford, , Cambridgeshire, England Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I130764  Generations
    Last Modified 25 Apr 2024 

    Family Helen,   b. Abt 1915, of, Waterloo City, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Bef 2000  (Age ~ 84 years) 
    Last Modified 26 Apr 2024 
    Family ID F45646  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Photos
    Donald Enright Soles
    Donald Enright Soles

  • Notes 
    • Sergeant Donald E Soles was a member of the crew of a Wellington bomber which crashed near Stapleford whilst returning from a raid on Frankfurt in the early hours of 3rd September 1941, all on board were killed.

      Information from Air Historical Branch Archives records show that Sergeant Soles was the Air Gunner on Wellington Bomber Mark II No W-5434. This aircraft took off from its base at RAF Feltwell, Norfolk 20: 25 hours on 2nd September 1941 for a night raid on Frankfurt. The aircraft was returning from this raid when, at 03: 20 hours on 3rd September, it flew into a house in bad visibility at Bars Lane in Stapleford, Cambridgeshire. The aircraft accident card (Form AM 1180) concluded that the loss of control of the aircraft was probably due to a stall but stated that the poor weather conditions were also a contributing factor. All of the crew were sadly killed. Their full details are as follows:

      AUS 402239 Sgt L T Hutchison RAAF- Captain/Pilot

      1058392 Sgt F McNeill- 2nd Pilot

      R58836 F/Sgt L T Lawson RCAF- 1st Wireless Operator/Air Gunner

      R 60667 F/Sgt A C Turgeon RCAF-2nd Wireless Operator/Air Gunner

      925452 Sgt F K Crossley- Air Observer

      R 64339 Sgt D E Soles RCAF- Air Gunner

      A tapestry plaque bearing squadron badge and the names of the crew is now displayed in Stapleford ChurchA tapestry plaque bearing squadron badge and the names of the crew is now displayed in Stapleford Church. The dedication of the plaque took place in 1970 and was attended by members of the squadron. The names of the crew and all men of Stapleford who were lost in the wars are now remembered each Remembrance Sunday and poppies are placed on their graves.


      Soul Search, the journal of The Sole Society. Dec 2000

  • Sources 
    1. [S1886] Military - Canada - Second World War Service Files Canadian Armed Forces War Dead.
      Soles, Donald Enright 26 years Birthdate: 1915 Feb 10 Died: 1941 Sep 3 Rank: Sergeant Unit: Royal Canadian Air Force Force: Air Service Number: R64339 Additional Details son of William & Lillian Soles - husband Helen Soles of Waterloo, Ontario

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 10 Feb 1915 - Verdun, Ile de Montreal, Quebec Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsResidence - Bef 1941 - 16 William St., Waterloo, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - Cause: killed in air operations, accident, aircraft crashed. - 3 Sep 1941 - Bar Lane, Stapleford, Cambridgeshire, England Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBuried - - Whittlesford Churchyard Cemetery, Whittlesford, , Cambridgeshire, England Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth