White, Joseph

Date of birth:: September 28th, 1921 (Thorold/Ontario, Canada)
Date of death:: May 5th, 1943 (Wilnis/Utrecht, The Netherlands)
Buried on:: Commonwealth War Graves Wilnis
Grave: 4.
Service number:: R/114141
Nationality:: Canadian

Biography

Joseph was born on September 28 1921 in Thorold, Ontario, the son of Antonio White and Mary White nee Elia (both Italians) of Thorold. They were married on January 31 1912 in Terello Italy. He was the brother of Samuel, Roger and Lucy Ann White. He attended the Holy Rosary School from 1928 to 1934, and the Thorold High School from 1934 to 1940 where he held/behaalde the honour matriculation standings.

He was a mill worker and member of the Roman Catholic Church. His sports were swimming, rugby, tennis, gymnastics, hockey and basketball.
He enlisted on June 30 1941 in Hamilton, Ontario and he went on November 4 1942 thereafter overseas to the UK.

Joseph was killed in action on Saturday May 5 1943 age 21 due to a crash near Wilnis before or after an attack on Dortmund in Germany. The other fallen RCAF crew members were W/O Robert B. Moulton age 30 in grave 4 and F/Sgt Joseph E.A. Thibaudeau age 21 in grave 4. The other RCAF crew member Sgt G.C. Carter survived the crash and he became then a prisoner of war as well as the other RAF crew member F/Sgt H.H. Hoddinott.

On his headstone: I PUT OUT MY HAND AND TOUCHED THE FACE OF GOD

A monument was unveiled to commemorate the three fallen RCAF airmen at the cemetery in Wilnis and at the crash site.

He is also commemorated at the Runnymede Memorial in England.

He served with the 428 Ghost Squadron Royal Canadian Air Force.

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