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RCAF Personnel - Honours and Awards - 1939-1949

LOWER, F/L William Matthew (C8042)

Mention in Despatches - No.202 Group, France
Award effective 1 January 1945 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 337/45 dated 23 February 1945. Born in Toronto, 2 May 1919. Educated there; home there; enlisted there 4 April 1941. Radar Officer. No citation.

LOWER, F/L William Matthew (C8042)

Member, Order of the British Empire - No.871 AMES
Award effective 14 June 1945 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 1219/45 dated 27 July 1945. Although as of 27 November 1994 no citation has been found, the following found in DHist file 181.009 D.3054 (RG.24 Vol.20634) seems to have had some bearing. On 8 February 1945 Wing Commander N.J. Smith (Commanding Officer, RCAF District Headquarters, Italy) wrote to the RCAF AOC-in-C, London, first quoting an RAF MAAF (Mediterranean Allied Air Forces) Order dated 3 February 1945, and then adding his own comments:

While it is not the usual practice to commend individual Units, The Commander-in-Chief wishes to make an exception in the case of No.871 A.M.E.S. This Unit landed in enemy-occupied soil on D-Day, or shortly afterwards, during the landings in Sicily, at Salerno, at Anzio and in southern France.
No.871 A.M.E.S. (Air Ministry Experimental Stations) is commended by the Commander-in-Chief, Royal Air Force Mediterranean and Middle East, on the Station's outstanding record of uninterrupted operations under M.A.T.A.F. (Mediterranean Allied Tactical Air Force) since July 1943. This Unit's success during four operations between July 1943 and September 1944 is due in a large measure to the whole-hearted co-operation, skill and enterprise of each individual member. The conduct of the entire Unit has been exemplary and in the best tradition of the Royal Air Force.
To the above, W/C Walsh adds:
It is interesting in that a Canadian, Flight Lieutenant W.M. Lower (C8042) was posted to this unit as an Acting Flight Lieutenant on May 1st, 1943, and was posted to the United Kingdom on December 27th, 1944. It would appear, therefore, that to a great extent the cause of the commendation is the work done by this officer.
Public Records Office Air 2/9056 has recommendation for MBE (Member, Order of the British Empire) which is probably the definitive final statement:
This officer was posted for form No.871 AMES in May 1943. Since that time he has worked unceasingly to build up a reputation and efficiency second to none for his unit. he has displayed an extremely high standard of technical skill and excellent qualifications of leadership and initiative. The skill and high standard of the station as a whole can be attributed to his unfailing enthusiasm and example. Under his command the unit has accounted for 30 enemy aircraft.