A reception to formally receive the donation took place at the University of New Brunswick's Gregg Centre for the Study of War and Society on January 17.  Barbara's Uncle Harry enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in Moncton, New Brunswick in 1940 at the age of eighteen. He was among the first to pass through the British Commonwealth Air Training Program set up to train pilots from around the world in the safety of Canadian airspace.  After flying training he was posted to 607 Fighter Squadron of the Royal Air Force.  

In February 1942, Gill’s squadron of Hurricane Fighters attacked the German warships Scharnhorst and Gniesenau during the infamous “Channel Dash”.  Gill’s bravery and flying skill in that action won him a Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM).  In June of 1942 Gill traveled with his Squadron to India to shore up Commonwealth defences against the Japanese.  On January 17 1943, at the age of only twenty years, Harry was shot down and killed in action.  He lies buried in Maynamati Commonwealth War Cemetery in Bangladesh.   

Harry Gill’s story symbolizes the wartime service of countless Canadian aircrew attached as individuals to RAF squadrons around the globe during the Second World War.  Because they served outside better-known Royal Canadian Air Force areas of operations over Europe and the Atlantic, their deeds are all too often unknown.   

Harry L. Gill’s letters will form the fall 2007 volume (edited by Brent Wilson) of the New Brunswick Military Heritage Series.  The series is published by the Gregg Centre and Goose Lane Editions. 

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