*The members of his family did not--and do not--consider him to be a 'Veteran' because, sadly, he lost his life while serving during the Second World War.*

An anonymous classmate of Bruce's from the same course, #9 Service Flying Training School (SFTS), wrote a poem about the tragic accident which claimed Bruce's life:-

"The barrack room is very still tonight

The boys are quiet, pensive, and restrained

This thoughtful stillness all night long

It isn't fright - I know it isn't fright.

Today we lost the first of our flight

The blinding sun condemned him ere it would

And whiffed away the friendship we had gained

So Red can sit and talk with us tonight.

Last night while Red was here among the boys

He stood for laughter, glee, and mirth; but yet

Tonight the spirit is anything but noise

And Red is in the midst of us.

You get to hate the sun sometimes.

It just decoys and coaxes you to fly where death is met."

Military Service:-

Rank: Leading Aircraftman

Trade: Pilot (Under Training)

Service Number: R/214844

Age: 18

Force: Air Force

Unit: Royal Canadian Air Force

Son of the Revd. Simeon Moore Gordon and Jessie W. Gordon of Hagersville, Ontario, Canada. He was a loyal friend, a young man of strong faith, and a gifted singer and pianist. Younger brother of Flight Sergeant Richard Lawrence GORDON who died on 29 April 1942 while serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force. F/S (Pilot) Gordon was laid to rest in Ohlsdorf Cemetery, Hamburg, Germany.

Leading Aircraftman Bruce Moore Gordon is commemorated on Page 318 of Canada's Second World War Book of Remembrance.

From the book...

"They Shall Grow Not Old--A Book Of Remembrance"

Published by-- Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum Inc.

P.O. Box 1481

Brandon, Manitoba

R7A 6N3

By Les Allison & Harry Hayward

'Dedicated to all those Canadian airmen and airwomen who served their country, during the Second World War, that we may be free.'

(Lives lost between 3 Sep 1939-12 Aug 1945)

Page 271--

"GORDON, BRUCE MOORE---LAC (P) R214844 under training. From Hagersville, Ontario.

Killed 24 Feb 1944. Age 18. #9 Service Flying Training School, Centralia, Ontario. Anson aircraft #7269, piloted by LAC D.J. Byrne [Leading Aircraftman Donald Joseph BYRNE], and Anson aircraft #7314, piloted by LAC Gordon were in a mid-air collision before they crashed one mile north of Crediton, Ontario. Both airmen were killed. Leading Aircraftsman Pilot Gordon is buried in the Hagersville Cemetery, Hagersville, Ontario."