LEST WE FORGET
Pilot Officer Sydney Lawrence ROWE
Service No: 415830
Born: Bullfinch WA, 13 April 1916
Enlisted in the RAAF: 1 February 1942
Unit: No. 103 Squadron (RAF), RAF Elsham Wolds, Lincolnshire
Died: Air Operations (No. 103 Squadron Lancaster aircraft ME673), France, 4 May 1944, Aged 28 Years
Buried: Chalons-en-Champagne East Communal Cemetery, Marne, France
CWGC Additional Information: Son of Harold Vipond Rowe and Ivy Lillian Rowe, of Gwalia, Western Australia.
Roll of Honour: Perth WA
Remembered: Panel 129, Commemorative Area, Australian War Memorial, Canberra ACT
Remembered: Cenotaph Undercroft, State War Memorial, Kings Park WA
Remembered: Honour Avenues, Kings Park WA
Lancaster ME673 took off from RAF Elsham Wolds at 2148 hours on the night of 3 May 1944, detailed to bomb the military camp at Mailly-le-Camp, France. Nothing was heard from the aircraft after take off and it failed to return to base. The aircraft crashed in the target are while awaiting bombing instructions, and crashed in the centre of Chalons-sur-Marne France. All the crew were killed.
The crew members of ME673 were:
Sergeant Dennis John Coldicott (1583876) (RAFVR) (Rear Gunner)
Flight Sergeant Ernest George Housden (1323885) (RAFVR) (Navigator)
Flight Sergeant Edward Arthur Metcalfe (1515747) (RAFVR) (Air Bomber)
Pilot Officer Sydney Lawrence Rowe (415830) (Pilot)
Sergeant Jack Henry Sallis (1850084) (RAFVR) (Flight Engineer)
Sergeant Philip Arthur Staniland (1817806) (RAFVR) (Mid Upper Gunner)
Sergeant Henry Robert Warren (1391942) (RAFVR) (Wireless Air Gunner)
References:
Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour On-Line Records (RAAF Casualty Information compiled by Alan Storr (409804))
Commonwealth War Graves Commission On-Line Records
Department of Veteran’s Affairs On-Line WWII Nominal Roll
National Archives of Australia On-Line Record A705, 166/36/257
Bibliography:
Charlwood, D.E.C. (Donald Ernest Cameron) (408794) No Moon Tonight (Angus and Robertson 1956), Penguin Ringwood VIC, 3134, 1991