The depression had also hit this area hard and
jobs were hard to come by. William Houle,
Charles his great nephew writes: 'Work was still
scarce as the Depression was still in effect and
I suppose the air force must have looked good to
him. His mother and father were not happy that
he had chosen the air force for a career as they
were aware of the impending war but let him
enlist as they thought he would be conscripted
in any case."
Charles enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force and after
his training as an air gunner/wireless operator, was attached to
226 squadron, flying Blenheim bombers from Wattisham.
On 26 August 1941, at 11.54, Sgt Topping and his
two crewmates, pilot Sgt Gilbert Vincent Smith
from Australia and Sgt Stanley Burdon took off in Blenheim
IV Z7305 MQ-T on an anti-shipping mission off
the Dutch coast. They were one of 40 Blenheims
conducting this operation.
Sgt Topping's group of 11 Blenheims attack a
convoy of 20 ships 7 km SW of IJmuiden. After
returning, the crews report' One ship of between
2,000 and 3,000 tonnes, two ships of 4,000 to
5,000 tonnes and one ship of 2,000 tonnes hit.
Another, 7,000 to 8,000 tonnes ship is hit
amidships by two bombs, followed by a heavy
explosion. The ship is left sinking. The ships
in the convoy are also strafed. However, only
the German freighter "Stadt Emden" has been
damaged and is towed to a safe harbour. One of
its sailors is taken off board to hospital.
Sgt Stanley Burdon's body wash ashore on the
coast near Bergen aan Zee where he is buried.
Both Sgt Smith and Sgt Topping are still missing
and are commemorated at the Runnymede Memorial.
(Sgt Charles
Topping comemmorated at the family grave in
Marysville, Onatrio.
Pictures courtesy of Mr. William Houle
www.houlefamily.org)