Douglas was born in 1921 on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia¹. As a Canadian by birth, he held dual nationality. Educated at Hampton House School, Chester and Wrekin College. Douglas had originally planned to attend Christ’s College, Cambridge and to join the Army as a University candidate. However, with the threat of war looming in the summer of 1939, he chose instead to enrol at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst upon leaving school.

Military Career

Douglas was commissioned into the Dorsetshire Regiment in 1940. His military journey continued when, on 19^th April 1941, he was commissioned into the Royal Air Force  and seconded to the Army Co-operation Branch. Four months later, in August 1941, he earned his pilot’s wings.

Service and Sacrifice

Stationed at RAF Bircham Newton in Norfolk, Douglas piloted the Bristol Blenheim, a twin-engined light bomber. Tragically, while flying Blenheim V5762, Douglas lost his life along with his three crew members when their aircraft crashed into the ground at Tebbs Farm, Flagg Fenn House, near Peterborough, Cambridgeshire on Tuesday 7^th October 1941: he was 20 years old. Douglas was buried at Castleton (St.Mary Magdalene) Churchyard, Sherborne, Dorset.

Only son of Lt-Col Alan Copland Alan-Williams & Violet Mabel Alan-Williams of Chester, Cheshire.

As a Canadian national Douglas is also commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War memorial (CVWM), a registry to honour and remember the sacrifices of more than 118,000 Canadians and Newfoundlanders who, since Confederation, have given their lives serving in uniform.

1. Salt Spring Island or Saltspring Island is one of the Gulf Islands in the Strait of Georgia between mainland British Columbia, Canada, and Vancouver Island.

A copy of this story is also available to download here.

Revised: October 2025