Denis Sebestyen

This story is shared by the Trust with kind permission from Pete Colley, Curator, Wickenby Museum. Additional information and photo from the WWII Records and Service Files of War Dead, Libraries and Archives, Canada

Remembering Denis Sebestyen, Pilot Officer, air gunner, Royal Canadian Air Force, aged 21, son of Mr and Mrs Denes Sebestyen of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. He was killed on his 13th mission attacking Vierzon, shot down by a night-fighter and fell onto the road leading from Vernou- en Sologne (Loire-et-Cher).

Denis was born at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan on the 19th April 1923. His father and mother were born in Hungary and his father was working as a Market Gardener in Saskatoon. He had two brothers, Charles and Edmund, and two sisters, Margaret and Annie.

He went to Princess Alexander School, Saskatoon from 1930 to 1938 and enjoyed hockey, baseball and rugby. On leaving school, Denis worked as an apprentice butcher for D. K. Meat Market Hamilton, Ontario from December 1938 until August 1939. He then worked for F. Rendek, Saskatoon as a Cabinet Finisher in 1939 to 1940 and then for M. Davidner, Vogal Furniture Co, Saskatoon as an upholsterer from June 1940 until he enlisted on the 26 October 1942.

When he had finished his training in Canada, Denis was posted to the U.K. and embarked from Halifax on 26 August 1943. He arrived at 3PRC on 2nd September 1943 and then went to 83 OTU on 21 September 1943, 1667 Con Unit on 28 November 1943 and 12 Squadron on 9 March 1944. It was from there that Norman sadly lost his life on 1st July 1944.