William Lavers was born in Grand Mere, Quebec on August 27, 1919, the son of Robert Henry Lavers (born in Montreal) and Maria Theresa (nee Kennedy) Lavers. Both his parents were born in Quebec. On September 5, 1919, William was baptized at his parents’ home parish in Granby, Quebec. His godparents were Wilfred Kennedy (represented by Elmer Cleary) and Lucy Kennedy. In 1938, William would lose his mother, and three years later William would graduate from Kennedy High School in Windsor, Ontario.
On July 28, 1941, twenty-one year old William Lavers would marry twenty-one year old Marie Delia Cloutier of Windsor, Ontario in St. Alphonse Catholic Church in Windsor, Ontario. Marie was the daughter of Theophile Cloutier and Mary Jane Langis. The newlywed couple would reside at 1363 Benjamin Avenue, Amherstburg (Windsor), Ontario. Together, William and Marie Lavers would have a daughter together, Lyn Lavers (later Westfall). William (wife Marie referred to him as “Wilf”) would join the Royal Canadian Air Force, becoming a member of RCAF #75 New Zealand Squadron “Ake Ake Kia Kaha” (For ever and ever be strong), attaining the rank of Flight Sergeant-Observer.
On the night of September 10, 1942, William Lavers and his crew were flying over Germany in their Wellington bomber. On that fateful night, their plane was shot down and its remnants and crew never located or recovered. Along with Flight Sergeant-Observer William Lavers, also killed were FS.s F. Burrill, R.E. Gorman, and M. St. Louis. One RNZAK member of the crew was reported missing and believed killed. William Lavers would later be officially listed as, Previously reported missing after air operations, now for official purposes, presumed dead, overseas. Twenty-three year old William left behind his young wife, Marie Lavers, and their three-month old daughter Lyn, who never got to meet her dad. William and his crew have no known grave. William and the rest of the crew are memorialized at Runnymede Memorial in Surrey, United Kingdom, Panel 105.
Years later, Williams widow, Marie Lavers, would marry Ed Westfall, a resident of Sarnia, and they became the parents of 10 children of their own. Lyn Westfall (Lavers), surrounded by the love of her 10 brothers and sisters grew up in Sarnia and Point Edward. Lyn Westfall created a painting to honour her late father, “Dies Irae (Day of Anger)”, which can be found on You-tube.
SOURCES: C, D, E, F, L, M, 2C, 2D, b