Military service
Burial/memorial information
Son of John Wilson Charles and Violet Ann Colville Peake, of Toronto, Ontario
He served in Canada and Great Britain. He had 773 days of service, including 364 days overseas.
1939-1945 Star, Europe Star, Defense Medal, War Medal 1939-1945, General Service Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, operational wings.
Digital gallery of Pilot Officer William James Donald Charles
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Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer William James Donald Charles
P/O William James Donald CHARLES, in uniform.
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer William James Donald Charles
Grave of P/O William James Donald CHARLES
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer William James Donald Charles
The Toronto Star February 1, 1945, page 13
Details from Bomber Command daily operations:
Pilot P/O Charles served in 103 (RAF) Squadron. On the night of May 22/23, 1944, he was part of a force of 361 Lancasters and 14 Mosquitos of Nos 1, 3, 6 and 8 Groups which carried out the first large raid on Dortmund for a year. 18 Lancasters were lost, 4.8 per cent of the force. The RCAF Bomber Command 6 Group sent up
27 Lancasters from 408 and 419 Squadron at a loss of 24 aircrew.
Other Canadian crew members on Lancaster ND 629 were:
F/O (BA) L. S. Kennedy, age 25, from Chalk River, Ont.
F/O (N) Owen Wright, age 28, from Ottawa, Ont.
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer William James Donald Charles
The Toronto Star February 1, 1945, page 13
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer William James Donald Charles
Memorialized on the pages of the Globe and Mail. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer William James Donald Charles
Pilot Officer William James Donald Charles is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer William James Donald Charles
Pilot Officer William James Donald Charles is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer William James Donald Charles
Father J P Lardie's comments as inscribed on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer William James Donald Charles
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer William James Donald Charles
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer William James Donald Charles
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer William James Donald Charles
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer William James Donald Charles
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer William James Donald Charles
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer William James Donald Charles
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer William James Donald Charles
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer William James Donald Charles
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer William James Donald Charles
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer William James Donald Charles
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer William James Donald Charles
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer William James Donald Charles
From the Toronto Telegram February 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer William James Donald Charles
From the Hamilton Spectator c.1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer William James Donald Charles
From the Hamilton Spectator c.1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer William James Donald Charles
From the Niagara Falls Evening Review November 14th 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Pilot Officer William James Donald Charles
From then Niagara Falls Evening Review. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
Image gallery
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P/O William James Donald CHARLES, in uniform.
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Grave of P/O William James Donald CHARLES
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The Toronto Star February 1, 1945, page 13 Details from Bomber Command daily operations: Pilot P/O Charles served in 103 (RAF) Squadron. On the night of May 22/23, 1944, he was part of a force of 361 Lancasters and 14 Mosquitos of Nos 1, 3, 6 and 8 Groups which carried out the first large raid on Dortmund for a year. 18 Lancasters were lost, 4.8 per cent of the force. The RCAF Bomber Command 6 Group sent up 27 Lancasters from 408 and 419 Squadron at a loss of 24 aircrew. Other Canadian crew members on Lancaster ND 629 were: F/O (BA) L. S. Kennedy, age 25, from Chalk River, Ont. F/O (N) Owen Wright, age 28, from Ottawa, Ont.
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The Toronto Star February 1, 1945, page 13
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Memorialized on the pages of the Globe and Mail. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
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Pilot Officer William James Donald Charles is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
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Pilot Officer William James Donald Charles is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
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Father J P Lardie's comments as inscribed on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
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Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
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Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
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Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
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Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
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Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
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Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
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Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
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Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
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Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
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Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
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Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
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Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
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From the Toronto Telegram February 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
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From the Hamilton Spectator c.1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
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From the Hamilton Spectator c.1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
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From the Niagara Falls Evening Review November 14th 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
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From then Niagara Falls Evening Review. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
In the Books of Remembrance
Commemorated on:
Page 271 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance.
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REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY Germany
The REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY is located 5 km south west of Kleve. From Kleve the cemetery is located, using the Hoffmannallee from the Town Centre, which becomes the Materbornerallee. This road enters Reichswald Forest and becomes the Grunewaldstrasse. Follow direction Gennep, entering Reichswald Forest the cemetery is situated 500 metres on the left.
Alternatively from the motorway 57, take exit Kleve/Goch, which leads onto the 9 N road in the direction towards Kleve. After 3 km turn left on to the 504 direction Kranenburg. Reichswald cemetery is clearly signposted on the 504 at cross roads Grunewald. REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY is situated on the Grunewald Strasse direction Kleve on the right, 3 km from cross roads Grunewald.
For more information, visit Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
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