PREST, Robert Hardwick

NAME                PREST           Robert Hardwick
RANK                Warrant Officer 1st          99074                                                                                                                                  RAF Coastal Command - Group 18                                                                                                  SQUADRON     No. 404 “Buffalo”
                          “ready to fight”
                          Wick Airfield  - Wick - Caithness - Scotland
                          Squadron Markings EE                                                                                                                    Residence:        Auburn - Ontario                                                                                                                              Birth:                 October 4, 1917 - Goderich - County of Huron - Ontario                                                        Death:               October 14, 1943          25 years   8 months                                                                                   Memorial:         Runnynede Memorial - Englefield Green - Surrey - England
                          Panel 180
Wife:                  Mrs. Betty Kathleen Prest - Kenton - Middlesex - England / Toronto - Ontario
Parents:            Mr. Thomas and Helen Prest - Brussels

Robert was born in Goderich on October 4, 1917. At some point the family moved west to Saskatchewan and he obtained his primary education in Fiske - Saskatchewan and his secondary education in Edam - Saskatchewan. As he grew up he enjoyed boxing, swimming, tennis, hockey, baseball along with badminton.. He also enjoyed building model aircraft. Growing up he had measles, mumps, chicken pox, whooping cough and influenza. He would have attended St Johns Anglican Church. He then moved back to Huron County and resided in Brussels. He was employed in Toronto and worked as a bank clerk with the head office of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. On November 22, 1940 he enlisted into the non permanent active militia with the Middlesex and Huron Regiment until the end of 1940. During this period he was at No. 11 RTC in Woodstock - Ontario.

Canada

On May 7, 1941 he journeyed to London and enlisted into the Royal Canadian Air Force. Upon enlistment he was 5' 4" tall and he weighed 120 pounds. His complexion was fair with hazel eyes with brown and thinning hair. He was immediately posted to the London Recruitment Centre. On May 17th he was Taken on Service with No. 1 Manning Depot in Toronto with the rank of Aircraftsman 2nd class. Here he learned to polish his boots, polish his buttons, maintain his uniform, take two hours of physical education daily, instruction in marching, do rifle drill and foot drill and learn how to salute. On June 10th he was Taken on Service with No. 31 Air Navigation School in Port Albert - Ontario. He then was Taken on Strength with No. 1 Initial Training School in Toronto. He received 87% in Mathematics, 85% in Armament, 98% in Signals, 85% in Hygiene / Sanitation, 85% in Drill and 87% in Law and Disciplines. His average was 88% and he was 21 out of a class of 125. He was the recommended for Pilot Training or Air Observer. He was next Taken on Service with No. 9 Elementary Flying Training School in St. Catharines - Ontario and he would be flying in the Fleet Finch II. He spent 13:15 hours in the air duo flying and he spent 4 hours on the Links Trainer. Following this course his ability to be a pilot was poor party because he had difficulty reaching the foot controls. He was given the rank of Leading Aircraftsman. The next stop was Trenton where he was Taken on Strength on October 12th. It is believed he attended the re-selection centre for those who washed out as pilots. He was given another chance by means of close coaching. He had the marks and knowledge to be a pilot but it is thought his height hindered him. Following Trenton he was Taken on Strength on November 23rd at No. 4 Air Observer School in London - Ontario. He flew in Ansons for 69:20 hours. In his exams and proficiency he was 17th out of a class of 24 for an average of 71%.                                            On March 1, 1942 he moved to No. 4 Bombing and Gunnery School in Fingal - Ontario where he flew in Fairey Battle aircraft for 23:05 hours. He was 5th out of a class of 30 for an average of 72%. It was at Fingal where he received his Observers Badge. His next posting was Pennfield - New Brunswick to No. 2 Air Navigation School. Here he flew 31:20 hours in the Anson. He placed 110th out of a class of 141 and his average 63.6%. Here he received the rank of Temperary Sergeant. For all of his training to date his average was 70%.With his Canadian training complete he was assigned to No. 1 "Y" Depot at Debert - Nova Scotia from the middle of May until the end of the month.

England

Sergeant Prest disembarked in the United Kingdom on June 11, 1942 and arrived at the Personnel Reception Centre in Bournemouth - Hampshire on June 13th and was there until July 28th. He then was attached to No. 1 Signals School at Cranwell - Lincolnshire and he flew in Vickers Valentia and the Westland Wallace aircraft. He received the rank of Flight Sergeant.On November 21st he was attached No. 3 Squadron of General Reconnaissance.                                                                                                                                                    He then was Taken on Strength with No. 2 Coastal Operational Training Unit on April 5, 1943 which operated out of RAF Catfoss - North Yorkshire. While at Catfoss he received the rank of Warrant Officer 1st Class.

In the Field

On April 15th he was Taken on Strength with RAF 404 Coastal Command Squadron and one of their duties was to sink enemy ships along the Norwegian coast. 
On October 14, 1943  Warrant Officer Prest was a member of the crew of Beaufighter Mk VIC LZ 190 V. They were airborne at 11:25 hours and on this flight he was the Navigator. This was a reconnaissance mission of the
Norwegian Coast and was to take this aircraft from Sula Fiord in the north – south to Stadtlander and
Brewanger on the coast. To avoid enemy radar they would fly at a height of 50' above the waves. Three hours after liftoff, the aircraft was to radio base, but no message was ever received. The planned route from Wick Airfield was to fly northeast to the Sula Fiord near Alesund and at that point turn to the southwest and fly down the coast to Stadlandet and continue following the coast to Bermanger. From this point they would follow the coast before making their way back to base.
Even before being listed as overdue the squadron had search planes in the air and followed the intended
return leg, flying very low, searching for 4 ½ hours and saw no wreckage or debris. The searching aircraft
reported total cloud cover off of the Norwegian Coast and in some cases it was down to 300 feet. As well
showers extended out from the coast for 80-90 miles with visibility being only 2-3 miles. The following day, with the weather very much improved, more aircraft were in the air and this search lasted 5 ½ hours. Nothing was ever seen. The most likely scenario was as they were flying low and the weather was very poor with poor visibility, wind and rain that the aircraft dropped below 50' and crashed into the sea. 

His wife Betty and his mother received the Memorial Cross in April of 1950. Robert was  awarded the            1939-45 Star, the Atlantic Star, the Defence and War Medals along with the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with clasp.

Robert is honoured and remembered on the Brussels - Ontario Cenotaph. He is honoured and remembered on the Memorial Plaque of St Johns Anglican Church. He is honoured and remembered in a book published by the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. He is honoured and remembered on the Virtual Canadian War Memorial.