William Leigh Washbrook was born 12 May 1922 at Lethbridge, Alberta. He had 3 brothers Edwin Sidney, Herbert George, Glenn Alfred, and one sister Beverly Ann. He joined the militia initially as a gunner with the Lethbridge 39th Battery Canadian Field Artillery and worked as a mechanic for Trans Canada Airlines. He was commissioned into the Royal Canadian Air Force 27 August 1944 as a Pilot Officer (Air Gunner) attached to No. 215 (RAF) Squadron. Based at Dhubulia, India he operated B-24 Liberator aircraft on day and night bombings during the Burma Campaign. His plane was shot down 3 January 1945 without a trace. William Washbrook is commemorated on the Singapore Memorial and Lethbridge Cenotaph.