Douglas Pole was born on October 15, 1923, the son of Willard Harford Pole (born in Strathroy, Ontario) and Muriel Grace (nee Proctor, born in Lambton County, Ontario) Pole, of 208 Essex Street, Sarnia. He had an older brother Ross Norman (see below) and a younger brother Neil. Douglas was a member of Central United Church and of the Central Century Club, having played hockey, softball and basketball for the Club. He was a student of Sarnia public schools and Sarnia Collegiate, active in a number of sports while there. He was a member of WOSSAA hockey and played basketball, rugby, and football while at Sarnia Collegiate. He was also a badminton star, having received a championship cup while playing at the local Armouries. After leaving high school, he was employed at the Imperial Oil Limited.

Douglas enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in August 1942. He received his training at Lachine and St Huberts, Quebec; Belleville; Oshawa; and the AOS at Malton. In mid-May and mid-June of 1943, Douglas and his brother Ross would spend two weekend leaves in Sarnia visiting with their parents Willard and Muriel Pole. He received his Navigator Wings and commission as Pilot Officer at Malton No. 1 Air Observer School on September 16, 1943. Two days following his graduation, Douglas would get married to Miss Ivy Mae Logan, the youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Logan of Sarnia Township on September 18, 1943 at St. George’s Anglican Church. At the wedding ceremony, the bride was given in marriage by her brother, Bert Logan. The maid of honour was Miss Jacqueline Davison and Neil Pole, the brother of the groom, served as the best man. Following the ceremony, a reception was held at Dell’s for fifty guests. Afterwards, the newlywed couple left for a wedding trip to points east.

Douglas left for overseas in October 1943. While he was overseas, his wife Ivy Mae Pole resided with her sister, Mrs. A.G. Knight, of 245 Stuart Street, Sarnia. In early November of 1943, Ivy Mae would receive a cable from her husband Douglas telling her of his safe arrival overseas. Douglas received his operational training in England and then became a member of RCAF #429 Bison squadron “Fortunae Nihil” (Nothing to chance). He was promoted to the rank of Flying Officer-Navigator while on operational duty in June of 1944. Also in June of 1944, Douglas would lose his brother, RCAF Flying Officer Ross Pole. In mid-June of 1944, parents Willard and Muriel Pole in Sarnia would receive a telegram from Ottawa informing them that their son, Flying Officer Ross Pole, was reported missing on June 13, after active operations over enemy territory. No other details were given. Four months later, parents Willard and Muriel Pole would lose a second son, Douglas.

Between August 14 through September 21, 1944, Douglas Pole was in hospital with leg wounds he received on a flight when his bomber was hit by flak. He had only recently returned to active duty. One month after being released from hospital, on October 23, 1944, Douglas was a member of a crew aboard a Halifax aircraft MZ906 that failed to return from a night trip to Essen, Germany. In late October of 1944, parents Willard and Muriel Pole in Sarnia were advised by Squadron Leader Caufield of the St. Thomas R.C.A.F. station that their son, Flying Officer Douglas Pole had been reported missing on October 23, presumably while on operations over enemy territory. Douglas Pole would later officially be listed as, Previously reported missing after air operations, now for official purposes, presumed dead, overseas (Germany). Perishing with Douglas Pole were FS.s G.T. Hallam and L.J. Moore; F/O. N.C. Muir; P/O.s L.J. Innes and P.J. Mitchell; and Sgt. J.M. Wemyss (RAF). Twenty-one year old Douglas Pole has no known grave. His name is inscribed on the Runnymede War Memorial, Surrey, United Kingdom, Panel 247. Douglas left behind Ivy Mae, his wife of just over one year. Willard and Muriel Pole lost their second son to war, having lost son Ross Pole of the RCAF four months earlier when his plane was shot down over France.

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