Erickson, James William

Operation Market Garden

Date of birth:: June 5th, 1921 (Calgary/Alberta, Canada)
Date of death:: September 21st, 1944 (Driel/Gelderland, The Netherlands)
Buried on:: Commonwealth War Cemetery Arnhem Oosterbeek
Plot: 4. Row: C. Grave: 2.
Service number:: J/40284
Nationality:: Canadian

Biography

James was born on June 5 1921 in Calgary, the son of Arthur Wilhelm Erickson (American) and Ada Erickson nee Grime. (English) of Banff Alberta. They were married on September 22 1920 in Calgary. His brother was Arthur Clarence Erickson and his sisters were Irene Ada and Edith Mae Erickson. Their other brother Eric Gordon Erickson deceased already earlier in 1932 during the infancy.

He was a store clerk and member of the Presbyterian Church. His sports were swimming, hockey and hiking and his hobbies were astronomy and meteorology.

He enlisted on May 16 1941 in Calgary and he went thereafter on July 1 1942 overseas to the UK.

James was killed in action on Thursday September 21 1944 age 23 due to a crash near the football pitch 'Zeldenrust' in Driel during operation Market Garden. He was temporarily buried then at the Jonkerbos War Cemetery in Nijmegen before being reburied on March 17 1947 in Oosterbeek. His other fallen RCAF crew member was F/O Jack G. Wills age 21 in grave 4-C-1. The other fallen RAF Volunteer Reserve crew members were P/O Desmond G. Hardy age 30 in grave 4-C-2 and F/Sgt David S. Black age 22 also in grave 4-C-2. The other fallen (British) RASC crew members and all also buried in the same grave 4-C-2 were Dvr. Ben Welham age 38, L/Cpl Eric Roscoe age 36, Dvr. Jack Taylor age 27 and Lt. Herbert A. Edwards age 27.

On his headstone: GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS. ST. JOHN XV. 13

His name is at the Memorial in Banff Alberta.

He served with the 48 (R.A.F.) Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force.

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