Victor Harris was born on December 5, 1918, the son of John William Henry and Hannah Beatrice (nee Chappell) Harris, of Exmouth Street, Sarnia. Both his parents were born in England. He had one brother, Bert. Victor graduated from Sarnia Collegiate in 1938. When Victor was three years old, his family visited his relatives in England, returning to Canada in July 1922 aboard the passenger ship Montrose. The Harris family resided at 254 Queen Street, Sarnia at that time. Victor’s Death Certificate lists his residence as Shadynook, Exmouth Street, R.R. #1, Sarnia, Ontario. In September 1938, Victor went to Haileybury School of Mines on a government-sponsored program where tuition, books and living allowances were supplied. The government-sponsored program was created to alleviate the shortage of qualified miners. In September 1939, he went to Michigan Mining and Agricultural Technical School in Houghton, Michigan. In 1940, he was working in a gold mine in Timmons, Ontario.

In the spring of 1941, Victor, single at the time, enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in Timmons. He trained at Toronto and Oshawa, and graduated from #16 Flying Training School in Hagersville, Ontario in January 1942. Victor became a member of RCAF #15 Squadron “Aim Sure”, attaining the rank of Flight Lieutenant-Pilot. He was with the RCAF for about 2 ½ years and a veteran of many flights over Germany and other enemy territory. He was the “skipper” of his ship, a Stirling Bomber R9279, stationed out of Milden Hall, Lincolnshire, England. On February 26, 1943, Victor Harris’ Stirling aircraft failed to return from operations over enemy territory. Seven of the crew, not Canadians, were reported missing and believed killed.

In early April of 1943, parents John and Hannah Harris in Sarnia would receive a telegram informing them that their son Victor Henry Harris was, Reported missing after operations over enemy territory. John and Hannah would cling to the hope that their son was possibily a prisoner of war, knowing that many months could elapse before authorities could definitely determine the fate of one listed as missing. Some time later, William and Hannah Harris would receive the telegram informing them that their son Victor was now officially listed as, Previously reported missing after air operations, now for official purposes, presumed dead, overseas. Twenty-four year old Flight Lieutenant-Pilot Victor Harris has no known grave. His name is inscribed on the Runnymede War Memorial, Surrey, United Kingdom, Panel 172.

SOURCES: C, D, E, F, G, J, L, M, N, R, 2C, 2D