Following the Echoes

NOW AVAILABLE IN HARDCOVER, PAPERBACK, AND E-BOOK FROM ALL MAJOR BOOK RETAILERS INCLUDING:

RELATED POSTS:

After the death of their British-born Grandma Gladys in 2021, siblings Claudia and Lance took a sudden interest in the Canadian fiancé Gladys lost during World War II. Wendell “Del” Pierce Drew, a member of the elite RAF Pathfinder Force with Bomber Command, hailed from the tiny farming settlement of Radisson, Saskatchewan. On July 29, 1944, he disappeared along with six other crew members during a bombing attack on Hamburg, Germany.

With little more than a couple of old photos and a few anecdotes to go on, the siblings set out to uncover Del’s story. In the process, they discovered a rich, multilayered history spanning generations of people travelling great distances in search of adventure or a better life. From the Canadian prairie to London’s Notting Hill, to the shores of the North Sea and beyond, the reader is given a glimpse into the lives of many individuals whose stories had been previously obscured by the passage of time.

Following the Echoes is the first book to examine in depth the fate of JB707, the Lancaster heavy bomber on which Del and his crewmates were aboard. Using an array of sources, Lance pieces together the story of JB707’s last sortie, and the reader is taken along the crew’s final moments, even learning who likely pulled the fateful trigger that led to their demise.

Uniquely blending a biography, a love story, and a memoir, Claudia reflects on the ripple effect the pulling of literal and metaphorical triggers has on individual lives through generations. Exploring the theme of grief, she also recounts an incredible event in Gladys’s life, when her grief over Del suddenly and dramatically resurfaced one day in 1993—forty-nine years after his death.

Through archival research and meetings with the residents of Radisson, Following the Echoes also unravels the story of Del’s parents, Albert and Achsah Drew, revealing how the couple had already experienced unfathomable loss long before losing their son in the war, and how they continued to be haunted by grief in the war’s aftermath.

Finally, the siblings describe how “following the echoes” of incredible coincidences, revelations, and connections led them to a place of deep awe and admiration, as well as profound gratitude, for those who went before them—most especially for those who served in Bomber Command.

This is a poignant and inspiring story of love and loss but also one of a legacy extending into the present, uniting families, friends, and fellow citizens through exploring the richness and tragedy in the lives of those who built Canada into a great nation, and how the Greatest Generation sacrificed to preserve it—lest we forget.

What more will we uncover as people read the story? Follow the echoes with us here, or on Facebook and Instagram.

About the Authors

Claudia Fox Reppen is an editor and writer interested in exploring the many nuances of complex issues and preserving freedom of expression through the written word. In 2002, she moved to Ringsaker, Norway, where she currently resides. After learning Norwegian and working many years as a nursing home assistant and middle-school language instructor, she completed UC Berkeley’s Professional Sequence in Editing in 2021. In her free time from freelance editing and writing, Claudia enjoys listening to music and long-form discussion podcasts, cooking, running, and cross-country skiing with her husband.

Lance Fox, BA, MLIS, is a librarian with a passion for history (particularly from the Second World War) and genealogy. He earned his Bachelor of Arts (with a major in history) in 2014 and Master of Library and Information Science in 2016, both from the University of Western Ontario. In 2016, he moved to Regina, Saskatchewan, where he works as Clinical Librarian for the Saskatchewan Health Authority. He is also currently serving as the President of the Canadian Health Libraries Association/Association des bibliothèques de la santé du Canada. In his free time, Lance enjoys playing and watching sports, watching movies, and spending time with his family.

8 thoughts on “Following the Echoes”

  1. Hello Janet: Enjoyed the book very much. I am Noel Cleveland, W>H> Cleveland was my grandfather. As we lived in Saskatoon we saw the Drews about twice a year, and have a few stories. I was suppose to meet Lance when he went to Radisson, but got sick and could not make it.

    Like

    Reply

  2. Wanting to contact family or colleagues of Flight Lieutenant Jack Sinclair, my uncle, DSO, DFC,Pathfinder, who was killed in an aircraft accident at Abbortsford in Canada in July 1943.

    Like

    Reply

      1. Good to hear from you
        My uncle was born in Beddington, Surrety, UK on 7 Feb 1914. He died on 3 July 1945 as a result of an aircraft collision. He was buried at Matsqui (Haselwood) Cemetery British Columbia. Wife Jane of Islington, London. My uncle was John Allen Sinclair who at the time of the accident was serving at No 5 Operational Training Unit.
        Hope this helps,
        Michael

        Like

      1. Dear Claudia,

        Many thanks for the info.   I already have most of it from

        <

        div>an earlier search.   Wh

        Like

  3. Hello. His is Janet (McKellar) Louis from Edmonton Ab. Canada I’m Shelley Christian’s sister. Our family has been following your story, as Wendell Drew was my Dad’s friend in Radisson. Looking forward to seeing you in August.

    Like

    Reply

    1. Hi Janet! Thank you so much for your comment! I’m so looking forward to meeting all of you as well! 🙂

      Like

      Reply

Leave a reply to Janet Louis Cancel reply