Born 3/05/1919 at Wallaceburg, ON. Son of Edmond Courteaux (who died in London, ON.) and Florena Valkenir who was living in Detroit in 1942) a brother of Leonce (Leo) and half brother of Elta / Etta, living in Detroit and another half-sister living in Guelph. The husband of Beryl Edna Valkenier.

William was adopted by the Van Vyncht family of Windsor but in 1937 and 38 he lived with the Courteaux family in Wallaceburg. William was educated at Mt. St. Joseph (orphanage), Beal Technical High School both in London, ON. Lowe Vocational and O’Neil Business College in Windsor.

The 26^th of October 1940 William enlisted in the 1^st Kent Regiment in Chatham, at the time there were no openings in his first choice the RCAF. He did however transfer to the RCAF and began his training first in Manitoba, Montreal, Camp Bordon and in April of 1941 at Fengal, ON.  The Wallaceburg News 29/05/41, reported that Sgt. William COURTEAUX was enjoying a leave from his training at his home in Chatham Gore Twsp.

After going overseas in July 1941 as a Wireless Air Gunner, William met Beryl Edna Hogarth, fell in love and they were Married 2 February, 1942 at the Parish Church, Sutton, Surrey, England.  The WN 28/05/42(P) reported that Flt. Sgt. William J. Valkenier was reported as Missing.

Attached to # 419 Squadron (Moose sqd.) and flying in Wellington bomber # X3717 which was carrying 70 bundles of 30lb incendiaries (bombs) it went down over Germany, hit by anti-aircraft fire, during an attack on Stuttgart. KIA – Date of Death: 06/05/1942, the entire crew was lost.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead, Grave/Memorial Reference: 2. D. 10. Cemetery: DURNBACH WAR CEMETERY.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Sources	Index of Overseas Deaths,, NRT, WRH-MW, TSGNO, CWGC, VIS-IODE
Supplemental Information	Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead, Grave/Memorial Reference: 2. D. 10. Cemetery: DURNBACH WAR CEMETERY

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