Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Sergeant A. E. J. Rouse, 460 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, who was killed in action when his Lancaster bomber was lost without trace during a bombing mission on Vaires-sur-Marne, 28 June 1944

1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star; War Medal 1939-45, with named Air Council enclosure and paper slip named to ‘1436301 Sgt Rouse’, in card box of issue addressed to ‘A. Rouse Esq., 48, Waghorn Rd., Plaistow, London. E.13.’, extremely fine (3) £100-£140

Albert Edward John Rouse was born in Plaistow, London. From the end of May 1944 he served with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve as an air gunner in Lancaster bombers with 460 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force. He participated in 14 operational sorties, his first mission a bombing raid on the Merville gun emplacement on the 27 May 1944, in preparation for its assault by the 9th Parachute battalion on D-Day. His other missions included: Tergnier Marshalling Yard; Dieppe/Bernival le Grand; St Martin de Varreville; Vire; Foret de Cerisy; Evereux Marshalling Yard; Galsenkirchen; Bolobne; Domleger; Reims; Les Hoyons; and Lisnes Court. His final raid was on Vaires-sur-Marne, France on the night of 27/28 June 1944 whilst flying in Lancaster ME793. Albert Rouse and his crew went missing without a trace; all were presumed killed in action. Rouse and his crew are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial.