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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

John Lange Harrison

In memory of:

Flying Officer John Lange Harrison

June 13, 1944

Military Service

Service Number:

J/23750

Force:

Air Force

Unit:

Royal Canadian Air Force

Division:

162 Sqdn.

Additional Information

Commemorated on Page 329 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information

Cemetery:

RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
Surrey, United Kingdom

Grave Reference:

Panel 246.

Location:

During the Second World War more than 116,000 men and women of the Air Forces of the British Commonwealth gave their lives in service. More than 17,000 of these were members of the Royal Canadian Air Force, or Canadians serving with the Royal Air Force. Approximately one-third of all who died have no known grave. Of these, 20,450 are commemorated by name on the Runnymede Memorial, which is situated at Englefield Green, near Egham, 32 kilometers by road west of London.

The design of the Runnymede Memorial is original and striking. On the crest of Cooper's Hill, overlooking the Thames, a square tower dominates a cloister, in the centre of which rests the Stone of Remembrance. The cloistered walks terminate in two lookouts, one facing towards Windsor, and the other towards London Airport at Heathrow. The names of the dead are inscribed on the stone reveals of the narrow windows in the cloisters and the lookouts. They include those of 3,050 Canadian airmen. Above the three-arched entrance to the cloister is a great stone eagle with the Royal Air Force motto, Per Ardua ad Astra". On each side is the inscription:

IN THIS CLOISTER ARE RECORDED THE NAMES OF TWENTY THOUSAND AIRMEN WHO HAVE NO KNOWN GRAVE. THEY DIED FOR FREEDOM IN RAID AND SORTIE OVER THE BRITISH ISLES AND THE LANDS AND SEAS OF NORTHERN AND WESTERN EUROPE

In the tower a vaulted shrine, which provides a quiet place for contemplation, contains illuminated verses by Paul H. Scott."

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

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  • Photo of JOHN LANGE HARRISON– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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    Photo of JOHN LANGE HARRISON
    Photo of JOHN LANGE HARRISON – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of JOHN LANGE HARRISON– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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    Photo of JOHN LANGE HARRISON
    Photo of JOHN LANGE HARRISON – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Attestation paper– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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    Attestation paper
    Attestation paper – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Letter– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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    Letter
    Letter – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Letter– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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    Letter
    Letter – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of John Harrison– Harrison, John Lang - Flying Officer. Born 12th June, 1922, at Winnipeg. Educated at Winnipeg Public Schools. Entered the service of the Bank 10th July, 1939. Served at Vancouver city branches. Enlisted 14th March, 1942, from Dunbar Street (Vancouver) in R.C.A.F. Pilot Officer in February, 1943; Flying Officer in 1944. Trained at Edmonton and Calgary, Alta., and Rivers and Paulson, Man. Posted to Patricia Bay, B.C., and later to Halifax. Posted to Goose Bay, Labrador, in January, 1944. Overseas to base in Iceland in March, 1944. Air patrol duties between Iceland and Wick. Scotland. Reported missing after air operations on 13th June, 1944, when the aircraft on which he was Navigator crashed into the North Sea after attacking an enemy submarine. (On the previous day it had destroyed another U-boat.) The Group Captain of the R.A.F. Station at Reykiavik, Iceland, wrote: "They were Out U-boat hunting. A wireless message was received from which it was deduced that they were about to carry out an attack, and after that no more was heard." It was later reported by the only Survivor of the crew, who was rescued and taken prisoner by a Norwegian fishing vessel manned by German civilians, that three lost their lives when their aircraft crashed and that the other five managed to reach a dinghy. Four died of exposure, including Flying Officer Harrison on the fifth day. Flying Officer Harrison's name is on the Honour Roll of 162 Squadron, R.C.A.F., at Reykjavik. From a memorial booklet prepared by the Canadian Bank of Commerce.

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    Photo of John Harrison
    Photo of John Harrison – Harrison, John Lang - Flying Officer. Born 12th June, 1922, at Winnipeg. Educated at Winnipeg Public Schools. Entered the service of the Bank 10th July, 1939. Served at Vancouver city branches. Enlisted 14th March, 1942, from Dunbar Street (Vancouver) in R.C.A.F. Pilot Officer in February, 1943; Flying Officer in 1944. Trained at Edmonton and Calgary, Alta., and Rivers and Paulson, Man. Posted to Patricia Bay, B.C., and later to Halifax. Posted to Goose Bay, Labrador, in January, 1944. Overseas to base in Iceland in March, 1944. Air patrol duties between Iceland and Wick. Scotland. Reported missing after air operations on 13th June, 1944, when the aircraft on which he was Navigator crashed into the North Sea after attacking an enemy submarine. (On the previous day it had destroyed another U-boat.) The Group Captain of the R.A.F. Station at Reykiavik, Iceland, wrote: "They were Out U-boat hunting. A wireless message was received from which it was deduced that they were about to carry out an attack, and after that no more was heard." It was later reported by the only Survivor of the crew, who was rescued and taken prisoner by a Norwegian fishing vessel manned by German civilians, that three lost their lives when their aircraft crashed and that the other five managed to reach a dinghy. Four died of exposure, including Flying Officer Harrison on the fifth day. Flying Officer Harrison's name is on the Honour Roll of 162 Squadron, R.C.A.F., at Reykjavik. From a memorial booklet prepared by the Canadian Bank of Commerce.
  • Newspaper clipping– In memory of the men and women memorialized on the pages of the Winnipeg Evening Tribune. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me

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    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – In memory of the men and women memorialized on the pages of the Winnipeg Evening Tribune. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
  • Memorial Entrance– Entrance - Runnymede Memorial - September 2010 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

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    Memorial Entrance
    Memorial Entrance – Entrance - Runnymede Memorial - September 2010 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Runnymede Memorial - September 2010 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

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    Memorial
    Memorial – Runnymede Memorial - September 2010 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Stone of Remembrance - Runnymede Memorial - September 2010 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

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    Memorial
    Memorial – Stone of Remembrance - Runnymede Memorial - September 2010 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Panels - Runnymede Memorial - September 2010 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

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    Memorial
    Memorial – Panels - Runnymede Memorial - September 2010 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Inscription– Inscription - Runnymede Memorial - September 2010 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

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    Inscription
    Inscription – Inscription - Runnymede Memorial - September 2010 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

Learn more about the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

To learn more please visit our help page. If you have questions or comments regarding the information contained in this registry, email or call us. For inquiries regarding the names and information found in the RCMP Honour Roll, please email the RCMP.

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