CHRISTMAS, S/L Beverly Evans (C925) - Mention in Despatches - Award effective 1 January 1943 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 232/43 dated 12 February 1943. Born at St.Hilaire, Quebec, 1 November 1919. Educated in Westmount and at Lakefield School. Joined RCAF, 3 January 1939, being commissioned that date at Trenton. To Camp Borden, 2 May 1939. To Trenton, 4 September 1939. To No.1 Manning Depot, 24 November 1939. To No.1 (Fighter) Squadron, Dartmouth, 15 January 1940. Proceeded overseas with No.1 (Fighter) Squadron. Flew with No.1 (C) Squadron in Battle of Britain when credited with the following: 31 August 1940, one Bf.109 destroyed; 1 September 1940, one Do.215 damaged (shared with two others); 11 September 1940, one He.111 damaged; 27 September 1940, one Ju.88 destroyed (shared with another pilot); 5 October 1940, one Bf.109 destroyed. To No.59 OTU, 1 April 1941. To No.1 GDGS whatever that is), 24 April 1941. Promoted Flight Lieutenant, 1 November 1940. To No.403 Squadron, 16 May 1941. To Station Debden, 11 September 1941. To Air Headquarters, Western Desert, 30 September 1941. To No.4 Squadron, South African Air Force, 3 November 1941. Shot down in January 1942 but parachuted to safety. To No.260 Squadron, 23 March 1942. To No.1 Middle East Training School, 14 May 1942. Promoted Squadron Leader, 1 June 1942. Attached to South African Air Force, Pretoria, for liaison duties, 16 June 1942. Embarked from South Africa, 27 July 1942. Taken on strength of Canada (Rockcliffe), 30 July 1942. To AFHQ, 2 September 1942. To Composite Training School, Trenton, 12 October 1942. To Patricia Bay, 14 November 1942. Promoted Wing Commander, 1 June 1943. To Staff College, Toronto, 13 June 1944. To AFHQ, 10 August 1944. Emplaned from Dorval, 3 October 1944; arrived in Britain, 4 October 1944. Attached briefly to No.6 Group Headquarters. To Overseas Headquarters, 1 January 1945. To 2nd TAF, 3 February 1945 (No.126 Wing). Repatriated 11 December 1945. DHist file 181.009 D.1636 (RG.24 Vol.20604) has application for Operational Wings dated 11 February which indicates 80 hours ten minutes flown with No.1 (F) Squadron, January 1940 to April 1941, 50 hours ten minutes with No.403 Squadron, May to September 1941; Middle East service was with No.4 SAAF Squadron on Tomahawks (November 1941 to March 1942, 112 hours five minutes) and thirteen hours with No.260 Squadron (March to 5 May 1942). Total of 171 sorties. Subsequently served at Patricia Bay. Stayed in postwar air force (25471); duties included Operations Officer at Rivers (May to December 1947), Staff Officer at Northwest Air Command (December 1947 to August 1949), American Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk (August 1949 to May 1950), AFHQ, Establishments Branch (May 1950 to June 1951), command of Station Bagotville (June 1951 to February 1954); NATO Defence College, Paris (February to August 1954), Assistant Chief of Plans and Inspectorate Division, Training Division, Headquarters Allied Air Forces Central Europe (August 1954 to April 1955), Commanding Officer, 4 Wing, Soellingen (April 1955 to August 1957); Senior Personnel Staff Officer, Training Command, Trennton (August 1957 to July 1960), Operations and Plans Staff Officer, 25 NORAD Region, Larson Air Force Base, Washinton (July 1960 to July 1963), Commanding Officer, Portage la Prairie (July 1963 to September 1965), Commanding Officer, Winnipeg (September 1965 to June 1967), National Military Representative to SHAPE, Belgium (June 1967 to August 1971) and Deputy Base Commander, Esquimalt (August 1971 onwards). Retire 1 November 1974. Awarded Queen\'s Coronation Medal, 23 October 1953 while a Wing Commander at Bagotville. Promoted Group Captain, 1 January 1955. RCAF photo PL-4559 (ex-UK-297) shows him seated in Spitfire cockpit. Photo PL-4563 (ex UK-301) has Sergeant J.B. Rainville (St. Jean, Quebec), F/L B.E. Christmas (Montreal) and F/O L.E. Price (Quebec City) in front of their fighter aircraft. Photo PL-128208 is a portrait taken as a Group Captain at Trenton, 2 June 1959. When he retired (March 1973) he was the last Battle of Britain veteran in the RCAF. Died in Victoria, 17 May 1988 as per Airforce Magazine of October-November-December 1988. No citation to MiD. CHRISTMAS, S/L Beverly Evans (25471) - War Cross, 1939 (Czechoslovakia) - Canada Gazette dated 24 January 1948 and AFRO 81/48 dated 6 February 1948.