Canada, Commonwealth. A Kit Sack Belonging to Vickers Wellington Air Gunner Willian A. Cauthers, K.I.A

A mess kit sack belonging to wireless operator (air gunner) William Austin Cauthers. The sack is constructed of dark navy-blue coloured cotton, with faded white writing on the obverse reading “R.C.A.F R146885 Austin Cauthers, Mansfield, Ont.” The reverse features a partial return shipping label to Canada reading “London & North Eastern Railway” with the majority of the label illegible”. The opening of the sack is ordained with a series of six horizontally oriented metal eyelets for secure closing, measuring 54 cm x 34 cm, the writing on the obverse mostly faded but still legible, the sack with minor staining throughout from use and storage, in overall very fine condition.

Footnote:William Austin Cauthers was born on March 24th, 1923 in Mansfield, located in Dufferin County, in Ontario, Canada, to his parents William Charlton Cauthers (a carpenter) and his mother, Margaret Jane Cauthers, a homemaker. He grew up a protestant, completed 8 years of preschool and 2 years of high school. Austin Cauthers had work experience as a farm-aid, and worked in a munitions plant prior to enlisting at the age of 18, on December 16th 1941. He trained in Alberta, Manitoba and Nova Scotia, and went overseas in June of 1943. His training continued in England and Ireland, and he was attached to the RCAF 407 Squadron, a general reconnaissance squadron protecting allied shipping from U-boats. Nicknamed the Demon Squadron, they flew Vickers Wellington bombers out of RAF Chivenor in north Devon, England. On June 21, 1944, Cauthers took off on an operational flight over the Bay of Biscay and never returned. He was officially reported missing on June 22nd, 1944, after air operations on anti-submarine patrol. During his service he was awarded the 1939-1945 Star, the Atlanding Star, the Defence Medal, the General Service Medal, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal, as well as the Air Gunner Badge. This mess kit sack is accompanied by his R.C.A.F personnel file spanning 64 pages.