Thomson, James Austin

Date of birth:: November 13th, 1922 (Drumheller/Alberta, Canada)
Date of death:: May 14th, 1943 (Nederhorst den Berg, the Netherlands)
Buried on:: Commonwealth War Graves Oud-Leusden (Rusthof)
Plot: 13. Row: 6. Grave: 121.
Service number:: R/121044
Nationality:: Canadian

Biography

James was born on November 13 1922 in Drumheller Alberta, the son of John James Thomson and Harriet Estella Thomson nee Richardson (deceased) of Nacmine Alberta He was married on August 3 1942 in Calgary with Nora Thomson nee Hanson of Midland Vale, Alberta. She remarried later as Mrs. Grieve. He had four brothers and two sisters.

He was a student and member of the United Church and his sports were baseball, softball, basketball and hockey.

He enlisted on July 25 1941 in Calgary and he went thereafter on October 8 1942 overseas to the UK.

James was killed in action on Friday May 14 1943 age 20 due to a crash at the Vreelandseweg near Nederhorst den Berg before or after an attack on Bochum in Germany. His other fallen RCAF crew members were F/Sgt Joseph P. Ethier age 24 in grave 13-6-123, F/Sgt Albert F. Hopley age 20 in grave 13-6-122 and F/Sgt Thomas F. How age 25 in grave 13-6-124. The fallen RAF Volunteer Reserve crew member was Sgt Norman Hudspith age 22 in grave 13-6-120.

On his headstone: WHILE YOU, MY DEAR, REST AND SLEEP A LOVING MEMORY OF YOU WE'LL ALWAYS KEEP

A monument for the 5 fallen crew members was unveiled in September 2019 by family members in Nederhorst den Berg, Holland.

He served with 426 Sqdn Royal Canadian Air Force.

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