Sergeant Kenneth Barrie Dewar
Accident in WW2
Date of Death:
Service Biography
Kenneth Barrie Dewar was born at Moose Creek, Ontario, on 8 December 1922, the son of Theodore Dewar and Bella McRae Dewar. He attended school at Moose Creek and Finch and worked in general repair, welding and blacksmithing and as a millwright before the war. He also served with the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders in the Non-Permanent Active Militia. Dewar enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force at Ottawa on 19 August 1941 as R125448. He initially trained and served as an airframe mechanic, but undertook additional studies so that he could qualify for aircrew. Accepted for pilot training in 1942, he trained at No. 1 Initial Training School, No. 7 Elementary Flying Training School and No. 1 Service Flying Training School at Camp Borden. On 9 May 1943 he was critically injured in a flying accident near Camp Borden. He died at Camp Borden Military Hospital on 16 May 1943, aged 20. His RCAF Record of Service records promotion to Sergeant and classification as a pilot effective that date. He was buried in Finch Community Cemetery, Ontario.
General Information
Conflict:
WW2
Regimental No.:
R-125448
Cause of Death (in war):
Accident
Branch:
Air Force
Regiment:
Royal Canadian Air Force
Battalion:
No. 1 Service Flying Training School
Company:
Date of Birth :
Place of Birth:
Moose Creek, Ontario
Date of Enlistment:
Age at Enlistment:
18 years 8 months
Date of Discharge:
Age at Discharge:
20 years 5 months
Date of Death:
Age at Death:
20 years 5 months
Country Born:
Canada
Trade or Calling:
Millwright
Next of Kin:
Theodore Dewar, father
Address at Enlistment:
Valleyfield, Quebec
Religion:
Presbyterian
Place of Enlistment:
Ottawa, Ontario
Was a Prisoner of War:
No
Height:
5 ft 10.0 in / 178 cm
Weight:
170 lbs / 77 kg
Chest:
33.0 in / 84 cm
Expansion:
4.0 in / 10 cm
Marital Status:
Single
Prior Military Experience:
Yes
Saw Service in:
Canada
Place of Discharge:
Discharge Type:
Died in Service
Discharge Notes:
Died in service on 16 May 1943 from injuries sustained in a flying accident near Camp Borden on 9 May 1943.
Battle Died/Wounded:
Length of Service:
635 days in service
Buried at:
Finch Community Cemetery
Ranks
| Conflict |
Rank |
Regiment |
Branch |
Unit |
Company |
Date From |
Date To |
| WW2 |
Sergeant |
Royal Canadian Air Force |
Air Force |
No. 1 Service Flying Training School |
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Leading Aircraftman |
Royal Canadian Air Force |
Air Force |
No. 1 SFTS / No. 1 ITS / No. 7 EFTS / No. 1 SFTS |
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Aircraftman First Class |
Royal Canadian Air Force |
Air Force |
Technical Training School / No. 1 Service Flying Training School |
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Aircraftman Second Class |
Royal Canadian Air Force |
Air Force |
No. 5 Manning Depot / Technical Training School |
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Private |
Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders |
Army |
No. 3 Company / Headquarters Company |
|
|
|
| Prior Non-Permanent Active Militia service; Statement of Services records SOS on joining RCAF. |
Awards
| Conflict |
Award |
Action |
Date of Award |
Date of Citation |
Source |
| WW2 |
War Medal 1939-45 |
|
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Canadian Volunteer Service Medal |
|
|
|
|
Service Chronology
1922-12-08 — Born
1940-08-09 — Accepted for service with the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders, Non-Permanent Active Militia
1940-09-02 to 1940-09-15 — Attended Petawawa Camp
1940-12-02 — Posted from No. 3 Company to Headquarters Company
1941-05-27 — Granted leave of absence
1941-08-11 — Struck off strength on joining the RCAF
1941-08-19 — Enlisted in the RCAF as R125448; Aircraftman Second Class; taken on strength No. 5 Manning Depot
1941-09-28 — Struck off strength No. 5 Manning Depot
1941-09-29 — Taken on strength Technical Training School
1942-03-07 — Reclassified Aircraftman First Class
1942-03-18 — Struck off strength Technical Training School
1942-03-19 — Taken on strength No. 1 Service Flying Training School while serving in airframe-mechanic trade
1942-06-14 — Promoted Leading Aircraftman
1942-06-15 — Struck off strength No. 1 Service Flying Training School
1942-07-09 — Aircrew medical board: fit; particularly wished to become a pilot
1942-07-10 — Passed aircrew educational assessment (C.T. score 43); accepted for remustering to aircrew and considered suitable for commission
1942-08-16 — Taken on strength No. 1 Initial Training School
1942-08-17 to 1942-10-09 — Completed No. 1 Initial Training School Course 60; ground-school result 81%, position 32 of 64
1942-11-07 — Struck off strength No. 1 Initial Training School
1942-11-08 — Taken on strength No. 7 Elementary Flying Training School
1942-11-09 to 1943-01-01 — Completed No. 7 Elementary Flying Training School Course 68; ground-school result 75.9%, position 2 of 18; flying result 67.2%, position 8 of 18
1943-01-09 — Struck off strength No. 7 Elementary Flying Training School
1943-01-10 — Taken on strength No. 1 Service Flying Training School for continued pupil-pilot training
1943-05-09 — Seriously injured in flying accident; sustained compound comminuted depressed frontal-bone fracture
1943-05-09 — Admitted; debridement performed
1943-05-10 to 1943-05-15 — Remained critically ill; neurological observation and supportive treatment continued
1943-05-16 — Died from accident injuries; Record of Service records promotion to Sergeant and pilot classification effective this date
1943-05-17 — Military service held in Camp Borden chapel
1943-05-19 — Funeral held at St. Luke's Presbyterian Church; interred in Finch Community Cemetery
Notes
Dewar attended Moose Creek public school and Finch High School and later undertook additional study specifically to meet aircrew educational requirements. He spoke English. Before enlistment he worked in general repair, welding and blacksmithing and as a millwright in Valleyfield. His RCAF records note three years' experience in a brass band as a cornet player, wood turning and making brass table lamps; he played hockey and softball and was a high-school junior athletic champion. He stated that he was very interested in the construction of an aeroplane. His character references on the RCAF application were Miss Mabel Pacey, Miss E. Armstrong, Arthur McMillan and J. W. Carr of Finch. His RCAF enlistment medical recorded height 5 feet 10 inches, weight 170 pounds, chest 33 inches at full expiration with 4 inches expansion, medium complexion, grey eyes, brown hair, 20/20 uncorrected vision in each eye, blood pressure 110/90, 32 teeth with 22 dental points, negative urine tests and a right rectus appendectomy scar. The later aircrew medical on 9 July 1942 recorded weight 160 pounds and chest circumference 36 inches, described his physique as athletic and mentality as alert, and noted two discoid scars on the right elbow. His medical history recorded pneumonia at age 7, scarlet fever at age 6, appendectomy in 1938 and a fractured right femur at age 8; he reported no smoking or alcohol use. The 1942 aircrew medical assessment called him quiet and conscientious. The selection board described him as well built, intelligent and alert, composed and collected, with a sustained desire to fly. His Initial Training School assessment described him as steady, reliable and determined with plenty of self-confidence; at Elementary Flying Training School he was described as a very good student who found flying difficult at first but worked hard and improved.
Additional Service Notes
Kenneth Barrie Dewar served briefly with the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders in the Non-Permanent Active Militia before joining the Royal Canadian Air Force at Ottawa on 19 August 1941 as R125448. He initially served as an airframe mechanic, was promoted Aircraftman First Class on 7 March 1942 and Leading Aircraftman on 14 June 1942, and deliberately completed additional studies to qualify for aircrew. He was accepted for remustering to aircrew in July 1942. He attended No. 1 Initial Training School, Course 60, from 17 August to 9 October 1942, then No. 7 Elementary Flying Training School, Course 68, from 9 November 1942 to 1 January 1943, before continuing pupil-pilot training at No. 1 Service Flying Training School, Camp Borden. On 9 May 1943 he was critically injured in a flying accident near Camp Borden and admitted to Camp Borden Military Hospital with a compound comminuted depressed fracture of the frontal bone. He died there on 16 May 1943. His Record of Service records promotion to Sergeant effective 16 May 1943 and pilot classification effective the same date; the Service Award Card likewise records his rank as Sergeant. The pupil-pilot training report was not completed as a successful SFTS graduation because his course ended with the fatal accident.
Additional Next of Kin Notes
Parents Theodore Dewar and Bella McRae Dewar. Theodore was born at Moose Creek, Ontario, worked as a mechanic and was named next of kin at RCAF enlistment; Bella McRae Dewar was born at Finch, Ontario. The RCAF attestation describes both parents as Scottish Canadian. Later casualty correspondence used 147 Willowdale Avenue, Lansing, Ontario. The 9 July 1942 aircrew medical recorded his father living with cardiac disease, his mother in good health, and two brothers and five sisters alive and in good health. His service will left his estate to his mother, Bella Dewar, and appointed his father Theodore Dewar executor. The user-supplied obituary identifies the five sisters as Mrs. Perrin Magwood, Mrs. Ernest Brown, Mrs. John Howard, Mrs. William Emmerton and Edith Dewar, and the two brothers as Duncan Dewar and Theodore Dewar.
Version: 3 Last modified: 2026-09-19 19:13:28
by: marc
