| Rank | Flight Sergeant (WAG) |
| Service # | R/68329 |
| Unit # | RCAF, 418 City of Edmonton Sqdn. |
Born 19/05/1918 in Wallaceburg, ON. Son of Dr. Duncan and Henrietta (Rowe) Stuart of 1119 Elgin St., Wallaceburg, ON., the brother of Pte. Jack Stuart, 1st Batt. Highland Light Infantry and a sister Dirinda. Charles was employed by the Dominion Glass Co. prior to enlisting. Charles was attending Wallaceburg High School prior to his enlistment. CDN 5/11/42 He was very active in sports in particular basketball. The Assistant Scout Master of No.3 Patrol, Trinity United Church. He had a good singing voice and was a member of the First Baptist Church in Wallaceburg.
Charles enlisted with the RCAF in London, ON. 21/08/1940 and trained at Toronto, Ottawa and Rockcliffe, ON. Montreal, PQ. and Halifax NS. He left for overseas service in October of 1941 arriving at Bournmouth, England. A photograph of Charles and his brother appeared in the CDN 30/10/42 under the heading “Brother-In-Arms”, reporting that Sergt. Charles Edwin “is missing as a result of air operations on September 17th last.” Flt. Sgt., 418 Squadron – City of Edmonton. He was a Wireless Air Gunner aka: WAG.
He and his crew were lost returning from a night bombing raid on Leeuwarden, Holland. The aircraft was a Boston Bomber W8331 and went down off the English Coast. There was two C-K men on that op. Sharles Gordon Tassie McGregor of Highgate was the air crafts Navigator.
The WN 5/11/42(P) reported a letter from the Wing Commander as follows:
Overseas, September, 24, 1942
Dear Mr. Stuart:
No doubt by the time you receive this letter you will have had a telegram informing you that your son R68329, Sgt. C. E. Stuart has been reported missing as a result of air operations on the 17th of September
Your son with the remainder of his crew namely (see below), took off at 8:15 p.m. on the night of September 17 on a patrol of enemy occupied territory. Since your son’s aircraft failed to return from operations it was accordingly reported as missing. A brief wireless contact was made with your son’s aircraft when it was off the coast of England but no further messages was received. A thorough search of the area from which the wireless message was received was made but no trace of the missing aircraft was found. I regret that no further information is available at the present time but you may rest assured that should further news reach us you will be informed without delay
I trust you will not consider this letter means that your son is not safe. Considerable time must necessarily elapse before definite news may be secures through the various channels. Knowing the resourcefulness of your son and his crew. I trust I shall have better news to send you before long.
The loss of your son and his crew is deeply felt as they comprised one of our best crews and during these times it will be difficult to replace them with men of the same caliber and initiative. Through your sons operational hours were not great he had contributed largely to the success of the Squadron as a whole.
Your son was popular with all personnel and his loss is specially felt in the Sergeants Mess where his cheerful nature and devotion to duty set a high example.
May I now express the sympathy which all of us feel with you in our anxiety and assure you that your feeling are shared by the host of friends your son has made on this squadron.
Wind Commander Commanding, RCAF.
A personal card of sympathy from Major Charles G. Power, Minister of National Defence for Air was also received from Ottawa.
While flying in a Boston bomber # W8331, returning from a night bombing mission to Leeuwarden, Holland the pilot made a forced landing in the sea off the coast of Essex, England.
KIA – Date of Death: 17/09/1942 age 24 years.
Also in that crew, P/O C.G.T. Stuart, J9567 of Highgate, F/O A. T. Persain and P/O C. G. McGregor (also of Wallaceburg), Fl./Sgt Stuart’s body was never recovered.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead, Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 106. Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL.
The WN 8/07/43 reported that Flt.-Sgt. Charles Edwin Stuart had been placed on the “final casualty list” no further ‘advice’ had been received for the last nine months.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
| Sources | Steinhoff Memorial Cenotaph – Wallaceburg. Index of Overseas Deaths. They Shall Grow Not Old,, VIS-IODE |
| Supplemental Information | Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead, Grave/Memorial Reference: Panel 106. Memorial: RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL. |
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