| Rank | P/O. |
| Service # | J96011 |
| Unit # | RAF |
The son of Hiram Webster and Ivy Myrtle LaMarsh. The brother to Marjory Ella and Joseph L. (RCAF) J90784 Enlisted 20 December, 1940 in Windsor, ON. The WJ 2/06/41 was at No.1 Manning Pool – RCAF Toronto. He had spent Christmas at his home in Wheatley. Trained through the BCATP in Canada, graduated and was shipped overseas 23/01/42. He did his ‘Operational’ training in the UK with the RAF No. 1 and 2 Squadron located at Honington in Suffolk, England.
The WJ 16/01/41 reported Mr. and Mrs. Don Hickson of the RCAF London had spent a week with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Wharram in Wheatley. The WJ 10/07/41 reported LAC Hickson along with his wife spent a weekend with relatives in the Wheatley area. The WJ 23/10/41 reported that Sgt. Hickson recently stationed in New Brunswick and his wife where visiting relatives in the community for a couple of weeks. Don was reported at RCAF-Picton and spent a weekend at his home. WJ 7/08/41 Sgt., and Mrs Don Hickson left for Pennfield NB for further training. LAC Hickson and wife were stationed at RCAF-Fingal spending a weekend at his home there. 18/09/41 The WJ (date unknown) were stationed at RCAF – Trenton and was home on a short leave.
In June of 1942 Donald was the Navigator in one of twelve Hudson III’s was being ferried from Horsham – St. Faith near Norwich, Norfolk, England to Cairo, Egypt (LG224)*. (Something in the range of 3500 miles), done in four legs Horsham to Portreath, Portreath to Gibralter, Gibralter to Merssa Matrun and finally Mersa Matrun to Cairo West. Donald’s was the only plane to complete the journey.
Transferred to RAF 203 Squadron he completed 24 reconnaissance missions and observer/navigator flying in Martin Maryland II’s over the Mediterranean Sea. On his last mission flown on 11 October, 1942 their plane was hit by enemy flak as they circled a convoy while they were sending out signals for a striking force to home in on. They ditched off the southwest corner of Crete. Escaping the sinking aircraft the crew of four drifted in a two 1man dinghies for eighteen hours before being picked up by a Dornier flying boat from the 7th Seenotstaffel. A Bristol Beaufighter flying out of Malta had directed the German flying boat to the rafts. About fifteen years ago (2000), Donald was contacted by the German pilot that saved them and many details of the rescue were exchanged.
After being rescued Donald was transferred to four different hospitals for treatment of wounds suffered in the ditching. After his recovery he was transferred to StalagXVIIIA, Stalag Luft 1, Stalag VI and Stalag Luft IV, at Heydekrug, Poland.
In 1945 Donald became one of some 80,000 POW’s that were marched westward across Poland, Czechoslovakia and Germany, Known by many names such as “The Black March”, generally just “The March”. Donald left Stalg Luft VI by ship in July of 1944. When they docked in Swindermunde, Prussia, Germany; 900 POW’s were trapped in the hold of the freighter during an Allied air raid. From there over 9,000 POW’s were forced marched for sixty-five days without winter clothing or food into Germany to Stalg Luft XI-B. After about a week, the forced march resumed until Donald escaped at Barnstead, Germany on 15 April, 1945 along with 12 other POW’s. The 13 escapes successfully reached the Allied lines (British Army 11th Armoured Division. He and other escapees commandeered a German bus and drove to Celle, Lower Saxony, Germany, got deloused and hitched a ride on a DC3 aircraft the next day. The plane landed in Brussels after losing an engine. The next day Donald got a ride as the tail-gunner in a Stirling bomberto Ford, England arriving 20 April, 1945. Upon arrival in England he was reunited with his brother Joe Hickson – RAF 420 Squadron he was a tail gunner on a Halifax bomber.
Donald shipped out to Canada in May 1945 on the S.S. Isle de France. Upon his return to Canada he was reunited with his wife Alice Annie (nee Wharram) and his daughter Carol Anne who was born while he was overses. Other children included William Donald and Robert Douglas.
Curators note: LG 224 was at first, thought to be the aircraft serial number. Thanks to Frank Dutil currently serving in the RCAF. He identified this as Landing Ground 224 an airfield near Cairo, Egypt.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
| Sources | Bulk of information from P/O Donald Hickson son Bob., KCFA. |
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