Jack Marshall Cantor

Air Gunner, 550 Squadron
Service number 1247573
Died 31 January 1944
Buried Willesden Jewish Cemetery, London
Age 23

Headstone Inscription
‘HE DIED THAT OTHERS MIGHT LIVE. DEEPLY MOURNED BY PARENTS, SISTERS AND BROTHER’

Jack was the son of Alfred and Bessie née Griver of London.

On an operation to Berlin on 30 January 1944 in Lancaster DV305, the aircraft was attacked by a night-fighter. Both Jack and the rear air gunner received fatal injuries. The pilot managed to regain control of the aircraft and nursed it back to England landing at Woodbridge.

Click on the links below for Jack’s story.

Resources

Jack’s ancestry and early life Download
Jack’s niece interview with navigator ‘Bill’ Bennett 2011. His version of the attack. Download
Bill Bennetts report on the attack part 1Download
Bill Bennetts report on the attack part 2Download
Bill Bennetts report on the attack part 3Download
Bill Bennetts report on the attack part 4 Download
Bill Bennetts report on the attack part 5Download
Bill Bennetts report on the attack part 6Download
Bill Bennetts report on the attack part 7Download
Bill Bennetts report on the attack part 8Download
Bill Bennetts report on the attack part 9Download
Bill Bennetts report on the attack part 10Download
Poems written about Jack by his sister Joyce Download

Gallery

  • 1901 Census
  • 1911 Census
  • Bessie Griver
  • Jack with his mother Bessie
  • Jack with his mother Bessie
  • Jack with his mother Bessie
  • Jack with his siblings Daphne and Cecil
  • Jack at school
  • Jack’s report card
  • 1939 Register Alfred Cantor
  • 1939 Register Bessie Cantor
  • DV305 Crash landed at Woodbridge. Copyright 550 Squadron Association
  • DV305 Crash landed at Woodbridge. Copyright 550 Squadron Association
  • Letter from Wing Commander Graham to Jack’s father
  • Obituary in Jewish Chronicle
  • © Cathie Hewitt