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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

William Walker Reeve

In memory of:

Flying Officer William Walker Reeve

June 6, 1945

Military Service


Service Number:

J/47321

Age:

29

Force:

Air Force

Unit:

Royal Canadian Air Force

Division:

357 (R.A.F.) Sqdn

Additional Information


Born:

February 10, 1916

Son of John Thomas Reeve and Margaret S. Reeve, of Owen Sound, Ontario.

Commemorated on Page 557 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information


Cemetery:

SINGAPORE MEMORIAL
Singapore

Grave Reference:

Column 456.

Location:

In the Far East at Singapore, the SINGAPORE MEMORIAL bears, on its columns, the names of over 24,000 soldiers and airmen of the British Commonwealth and Empire who have no known grave. The airmen whose names are inscribed on the Memorial died during operations over the whole of southern and eastern Asia and the surrounding seas and oceans. The SINGAPORE MEMORIAL stands in Kranji War Cemetery. The central avenue of the Cemetery rises gently from the Stone of Remembrance near the entrance, to the Cross of Sacrifice beyond which flights of steps lead to a terrace on top of a hill, on which the Memorial stands. Twelve wide columns bear the name panels and support a flat roof, which gives protection to the inscribed names and shade and shelter to the visitor. Rising through the roof in the centre, to a height of 24 metres, is a great pylon surmounted by a star. On a curved panel at the foot of this pylon are inscribed in English these words:
1939 - 1945 On the walls of this memorial are recorded the names of twenty-four thousand soldiers and airmen of many races united in service to the British Crown who gave their lives in Malaya and neighbouring lands and seas in the air over Southern and Eastern Asia and the Pacific but to whom the fortune of war denied the customary rites accorded to their comrades in death. Kranji War Cemetery is 22 kilometres north of the city of Singapore, on the north side of Singapore Island overlooking the Straits of Johore. It is just off the Singapore-Johore road (Woodlands road) at milestone 13 1/2 and there is a short approach road from the main road. The Cemetery is known locally as Kranji Memorial.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

Send us your images

  • Photo of WILLIAM WALKER REEVE– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Memorial– Owen Sound Collegiate and Vocational Institute Second World War Memorial. Image courtesy of Owen Sound Collegiate (OSCVI) Digital Soldier Library.
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Owen Sound Sun Times May 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Owen Sound Sun Times May 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Group Photo– Members of two RCAF Liberator crews relaxing at Poona Swim Club, India in March 1945.  Of the eight RCAF crewmen of Liberator KH326 who failed to return from an RAF 357 Squadron Special Duties operation on 6 June 1945 (supply drop to Force 136 operatives behind Japanese lines), at least two are identified here:

J/12779 Flight Lieutenant Arie Frank TIMMERMANS:  Captain of the aircraft (pilot).  Age 28, son of Frank Joseph and Maude Gladys Timmermans of Blind River, Ontario; husband of Mary Constance Timmermans (nee Galashan), of Burlington, Ontario.  He is standing at right, wearing sunglasses. 

J/47321 Flying Officer William Walker REEVE:  Air Bomber.  Age 29, son of John Thomas Reeve and Margaret S. Reeve, of Owen Sound, Ontario.  He is seen at center, wearing a dark belt, to the left of Arie Timmermans.

Squatting in front of Timmermans, with sunglasses, is his close friend & fellow Liberator pilot, RCAF C.1490 S/Ldr O.A.H. “Haig” SIMS.
  • Document
  • Newspaper Clipping
  • Photo of William Reeve– Photo courtesy of Owen Sound Collegiate (OSCVI) Digital Soldier Library.

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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