Collyer, John William

Date of birth:: January 8th, 1912 (London, England)
Date of death:: June 17th, 1944 (Spijk/Gelderland, The Netherlands)
Buried on:: Commonwealth War Graves General Cemetery Tolkamer
Row: A. Grave: 16.
Service number:: J/23976
Nationality:: Canadian

Biography

John was born on January 8 1912 in London England, the son of James Collyer (killed in action in 1914 during WW1 at age 33) and Dorothy Collyer nee Moss (deceased in 1919 age 26 due to the Spanish influenzas) of Winnipeg.

He was married on August 5 1938 in Winnipeg with Agnes Allan Collyer nee Harper of Winnipeg. Their son was Rodger William Collyer (May 21 1941). His grandfather was William Moss of Lower Edmonton London England.

He was a farmer and member of the Church of England and his sport was soccer and his hobby was rifle shooting.

He served as a machine gunner from February 9 1933 till April 27 1938 with the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry and he was as an aero engine fitter then from February 2 1939 till September 4 1939 with the Air Force. He enlisted on October 28 1939 then the RCAF in Winnipeg and the date is unknown when he went thereafter overseas to the UK.

John was killed in action on Saturday June 17 1944 age 32 due to a crash at the village of Spijk, municipality Herwen en Aerdt before or after an attack on Sterkrade near Oberhausen in Germany.

The other fallen RCAF crew member was F/O. Douglas N. Cameron age 21 in grave A-16.
The other fallen RAF Volunteer Reserve crew members were Sgt David H. Hooper age 19 in grave A-14, F/Lt Benjamin R. Robinson (DFC) age 30 in grave A-15, Sgt Leslie E. Basford age 23 in grave A-13, F/O John W. Summers age 38 in grave A-10 and Sgt Kenneth D. Blyth age 34 in grave A-11.

On his headstone: TOO DEARLY LOVED TO EVER BE FORGOTTEN

He served with the 640 (R.A.F.) Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force.

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