From Elrose, Saskatchewan. Killed in Action Feb. 25/44  age 27. #408 Goose Squadron (For Freedom). BROTHER to Donald Ernest Hillman. Lancaster aircraft # DS844 was shot down twelve miles souith of the target during night operations against Schweinfurt, Germany. Flying Officer Navigator Hillman has no known grave, his name is inscribed on the Runnymede War Memorial, Englefield Green, Egham Surrey, England.

Crewmates: Sgt. A.J. Emerson, P/O.s H.N. Cunliffe (RAF), H. Sherlock D.F.C. (RAF), Sgt. H.G. Basten (RAF), FS.s R.S. Nurse (RAF), and R.R. Walker (RAF) were also killed.

FIVE SONS OF
MR. & MRS. R. B. HILLMAN OF ELROSE
ARE SERVING
NEWSPAPER CLIPPING FEATURING THE HILLMAN BOYS (1943)

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Mr. And Mrs. R. B. Hillman of Elrose, have reason to be proud of the military record of their family, having five sons and a son-in-law in the armed forces. The sons are all Saskatchewan-born, and have lived in Elrose since 1922, having received their public and high school education here.

Chief Petty Officer Gerald Hillman, 22, is a shipwright, with the R.C.N., and is stationed in Newfoundland. He is married and has a small son. Before joining up he held a position with the McCabe Elevator Company in Elrose.

Pte. Lorne Hillman, 19, is with the Canadian Active Army at Maple Creek.

The youngest son, Arthur, 17, is with the Signal Corps in Saskatoon.

(Pilot Officer) Flying Officer Gordon Hillman, 26, is a navigator with the R.C.A.F. in England. He enlisted in June, 1941, and went overseas in October, 1942. Prior to enlistment he taught school at Pleasant Deer Hill, and Hitchcock Schools.

(Flight Sergeant) F/L Donald Hillman, 24, is also with the R.C.A.F. in England. Before enlisting he was an accountant with the Empire Meat Company in Saskatoon.

The eldest son, Rupert, who lives with his family at Fleet, Alberta, has tried several times to enlist but has been rejected on medical grounds.

Pte. Alan Walker, a son-in-law, who enlisted as a driver mechanic in the army, is stationed in Ontario. His mother resides in Biggar.

Anyway, my reason for writing: my wife, Jean Hazledine is Bud Emerson's niece - her mother, Betty was Bud's sister. It was amazing to see those pictures of Bud that we'd never seen before. I've enclosed some photos that you may be interested in. Feel free to use them on your website: the first is a portrait of Bud in his uniform; the second shows Bud's grave that we took in 1998 in a cemetery south of Munich; the third is a group photo taken in 1943. Bud is seventh from the right in the top row. I have a feeling that James may be at bottom, third from right. Can you confirm?

I too am a guitarist, owning two Strats, a Les Paul and a couple of acoustics. Although Jean and I lived for seven years in western Canada (1999-2006), we now live back in the U.K. in East Anglia.

Kinds regards, 
Martin Page