Todd, Oliver William

F/S Oliver William Todd, Jr., only son of Mr. and Mrs. Oliver R. Todd, R.R. 3, Paris, and formerly of 1G Rose Ave., Brantford, flew in the first R.A.F. thousand-plane raid over the Ruhr Valley and his plane was one of the 44 lost on the night of June 23, 1943, when German industry received its first large-scale blow in what was ultimately to lead to its destruction. F/S Todd was buried in Shonselhof Military Cemetery in Hoboken, near Antwerp. Born in Galt, June 11, 1911, Oliver's education was obtained at Central School here. Afterwards he worked for a time in Windsor, operating a confectionery store. Before enlisting he was at the Verity Works of the Massey Harris Co. Limited. As a boy, he attended Marlboro' Street United Church Sunday School. An enthusiastic athlete, he was particularly keen on swimming and became very proficient in the art. At the Y.M.C.A., he captured prizes and was an outstanding member of the swimming classes of his years. He had another talent, and one the community could ill afford to lose, that of laughter and fun. His friends here recall with delight his humor and, as they put it, "his fund of gags." Enlisting in the R.C.A.F. in July, 1941, he left the day he reported for duty for Patricia Bay, B.C., and for a year his family did not see him in uniform. His first job was a clerk. Then he became a cook at Kamloops, B.C. remustering into aircrew in 1942, he was moved to Macdonald, Man., where in November, 1942, he graduated as an air gunner and received his sergeant's stripes. After a leave at home, he left for overseas, arriving in England in time to spend Christmas there.

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