Our Genealogy - Person Sheet
Our Genealogy - Person Sheet
NameHarold Francis Burt-Gerrans 
136, 2C2R, M
136, 2C2R, MBirth3 Jul 1916148
Death19 Dec 1942, Oban, Scotland
Burialburied at sea
OccupationPilot in WW2
FatherJames Tresawna Burt-Gerrans I , M (1878-1965)
MotherNellie Christina Harrison , F (1883-1961)
Notes for Harold Francis Burt-Gerrans
He was an active member of the 79th Boy Scouts in Toronto and later was Scout Master.
He was a Flying Officer with the Royal Canadian Air Force and did two tours of ops in Coastal Command out of the Shetland Islands. He was killed in a tragic accident in the Firth of Lorne in 1942.
He was married to a lovely girl (Lena) from Winnipeg. They had no children and had only 3 months of married life together. Because her address was in Manitoba, Harold's address at death was the same as hers and recently the Gov't of Manitoba saw fit to honour WW2 casualties with a place name in the province. Hence there is now Burt-Gerrans Lake in that province about 1/2 way up from the American border, near Husaon's Bay. Dr. N. E. Burt-Gerrans and his sons wanted to go there some day and erect a cairn so the name will be known to all that fequent the lake.136
He was a Flying Officer with the Royal Canadian Air Force and did two tours of ops in Coastal Command out of the Shetland Islands. He was killed in a tragic accident in the Firth of Lorne in 1942.
He was married to a lovely girl (Lena) from Winnipeg. They had no children and had only 3 months of married life together. Because her address was in Manitoba, Harold's address at death was the same as hers and recently the Gov't of Manitoba saw fit to honour WW2 casualties with a place name in the province. Hence there is now Burt-Gerrans Lake in that province about 1/2 way up from the American border, near Husaon's Bay. Dr. N. E. Burt-Gerrans and his sons wanted to go there some day and erect a cairn so the name will be known to all that fequent the lake.136
Published Source notes for Harold Francis Burt-Gerrans
From “Life and Times of 422 Squadron”:
[page 21]“The first crews were Nick Honey's, W/O Len Limpert's and W/O H.P. Burt-Gerrans', but on the trip to Russia Burt-Gerrans flew as second pilot to Len Limpert.
Then Roy Dewar flew with Burt-Gerrans on the ferry trip on Catalinas. Sadly Burt-Gerrans was later killed in a crash at Oban on December 19, 1942. (See Page 38 and Appendix 1 - Losses)...”
[page 38] “On December 19, 1942, Sunderland W6029 captained by F/L J. D. Reed from Ottawa, Ontario crashed at Oban. Five crew members, LAC W. A. Allen, Fitter, P/O H. F. Burt-Gerrans, Pilot, Sgt. John Luke, Flight Engineer, F/O J. K. Bud Potter, Navigator, Sgt. A. G. Rees, Wireless Operator, Air Gunner and two other military passengers were killed or missing believed dead. A moderate swell caused the bow of the aircraft to collapse on touching down, and it overturned. There were 22 persons being transported. Remains of Sunderland losses, according to Neil Owen, still lie off Oban Bay (1999). Scarcely a year goes by without a fragment brought into the main harbour area entangled in the nets of a fishing boat.”152
[page 21]“The first crews were Nick Honey's, W/O Len Limpert's and W/O H.P. Burt-Gerrans', but on the trip to Russia Burt-Gerrans flew as second pilot to Len Limpert.
Then Roy Dewar flew with Burt-Gerrans on the ferry trip on Catalinas. Sadly Burt-Gerrans was later killed in a crash at Oban on December 19, 1942. (See Page 38 and Appendix 1 - Losses)...”
[page 38] “On December 19, 1942, Sunderland W6029 captained by F/L J. D. Reed from Ottawa, Ontario crashed at Oban. Five crew members, LAC W. A. Allen, Fitter, P/O H. F. Burt-Gerrans, Pilot, Sgt. John Luke, Flight Engineer, F/O J. K. Bud Potter, Navigator, Sgt. A. G. Rees, Wireless Operator, Air Gunner and two other military passengers were killed or missing believed dead. A moderate swell caused the bow of the aircraft to collapse on touching down, and it overturned. There were 22 persons being transported. Remains of Sunderland losses, according to Neil Owen, still lie off Oban Bay (1999). Scarcely a year goes by without a fragment brought into the main harbour area entangled in the nets of a fishing boat.”152
Obituaries notes for Harold Francis Burt-Gerrans
from the Toronto Star, Dec. 29, 1942:
“Missing, Believed Killed During Air Operations
Burt-Gerrans, Harold Francis, warrant officer R72427, Mrs. H. F. Burt-Gerrans (wife), Winnipeg.”
from the Toronto Star, Dec. 19, 1946 (waited until after the war to post in the paper):
“Active Service in Memoriam
BURT-GERRANS -- In proud and loving memory of Harold Francis Burt-Gerrans, pilot officer with R.C.A.F., drowned in Firth of Lorne Dec. 19, 1942; beloved husband of Lena Tod, Winnipeg, and dearly loved second son of Prof. and Mrs. J. T. Burt-Gerrans, 46 Dawson St., Toronto.
Splendid you passed, the great surrender made,
Into the light that nevermore shall fade.”
“Missing, Believed Killed During Air Operations
Burt-Gerrans, Harold Francis, warrant officer R72427, Mrs. H. F. Burt-Gerrans (wife), Winnipeg.”
from the Toronto Star, Dec. 19, 1946 (waited until after the war to post in the paper):
“Active Service in Memoriam
BURT-GERRANS -- In proud and loving memory of Harold Francis Burt-Gerrans, pilot officer with R.C.A.F., drowned in Firth of Lorne Dec. 19, 1942; beloved husband of Lena Tod, Winnipeg, and dearly loved second son of Prof. and Mrs. J. T. Burt-Gerrans, 46 Dawson St., Toronto.
Splendid you passed, the great surrender made,
Into the light that nevermore shall fade.”