Day, John Francis

Date of birth:: March 11th, 1917 (Preston/Ontario, Canada)
Date of death:: July 26th, 1942 (Orthen/North Brabant, The Netherlands)
Buried on:: Commonwealth War Cemetery Jonkerbos
Plot: 18. Row: E. Grave: 7.
Service number:: J/8099
Nationality:: Canadian

Biography

John was born on March 11 1917 in Preston Ontario, the son of John Herbert Day and Ruby I. Day nee Crittenden of Preston, Ontario. They were married on June 22 1910 in Damascus Ontario.

His brother R.C. Day served with the RAF in India and his other brother was A.B. Gerald Day. His sisters were Verna I. Day, Mary Gladys Hahre and Laurena P. Day.

He was a foreman and member of the United Church. He had followed a cadet training as a signaller with the scouting and his sports were swimming, softball, tennis, golf and rugby.

He served as a private from November 22, 1940 7 months with the 2nd Bn H.L.I of Canada of The Non-Permanent Active Militia of Canada. He enlisted on February 12 1941 then the RCAF in London Ontario and he went on November 22 1941 thereafter overseas to the UK.

John was killed in action on Sunday July 26 1942 age 25 due to a crash at Orthen - Den Bosch before or after an attack on Duisburg in Germany. He was temporarily buried then in Den Bosch before being reburied on December 4 1947 at the Jonkerbos War Cemetery in Nijmegen.

The fallen RAAF crew member Sgt William A. Alssopp age 24 was also buried there in grave 18-E-8 as well as the other fallen RAF Volunteer Reserve crew member P/O John E. Maple age 28 in grave 18-E-7.
The fallen RCAF crew members were buried then at the Uden War Cemetery: P/O Haddo E. V. Bruce age 31 in grave 4-A-13, F/Sgt Clarence E. Evans age 27 in grave 4A 10-11 and F/Sgt Douglas M. Ross age 29 in grave 4A-10-11.
RAF crew member Sgt J.T. Bennett survived the crash and he could evade then.

On his headstone: IN SURE AND CERTAIN HOPE OF THE RESURRECTION

He served with the 35 (R.A.F.) Sqdn Royal Canadian Air Force.