Language selection

Government of Canada / Gouvernement du Canada

Search veterans.gc.ca

Canadian Virtual War Memorial

William James Donald Charles

In memory of:

Pilot Officer William James Donald Charles

May 23, 1944
Stadlohn, Germany

Military Service

Service Number:

J/19622

Age:

27

Force:

Air Force

Unit:

Royal Canadian Air Force

Division:

103 (R.A.F.) Sqdn

Citation(s):

1939-1945 Star, Europe Star, Defense Medal, War Medal 1939-1945, General Service Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, operational wings.

Additional Information

Born:

August 3, 1916
Toronto, Ontario

Enlistment:

March 10, 1942
Toronto, Ontario

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.

Commemorated on Page 271 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information

Cemetery:

REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY
Germany

Grave Reference:

23. C. 16.

Location:

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.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

Send us your images

  • Newspaper Clipping– Memorialized on the pages of the Globe and Mail. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Newspaper Clipping
    Newspaper Clipping – Memorialized on the pages of the Globe and Mail. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Memorial– Pilot Officer William James Donald Charles is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

    Details

    Memorial
    Memorial – Pilot Officer William James Donald Charles is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Pilot Officer William James Donald Charles is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

    Details

    Memorial
    Memorial – Pilot Officer William James Donald Charles is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Father J P Lardie's comments as inscribed on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

    Details

    Memorial
    Memorial – Father J P Lardie's comments as inscribed on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Photo of WILLIAM JAMES DONALD CHARLES– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Photo of WILLIAM JAMES DONALD CHARLES
    Photo of WILLIAM JAMES DONALD CHARLES – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Other– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Other
    Other – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Other– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Other
    Other – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Other– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Other
    Other – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Other– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Other
    Other – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Other– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Other
    Other – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Other– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Other
    Other – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Other– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Other
    Other – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Other– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Other
    Other – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Other– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Other
    Other – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Other– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Other
    Other – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Cemetery– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Cemetery
    Cemetery – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Telegram February 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Telegram February 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper Clipping– 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.

    Details

    Newspaper Clipping
    Newspaper Clipping – 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.
  • Newspaper Clipping– The Toronto Star February 1, 1945, page 13

    Details

    Newspaper Clipping
    Newspaper Clipping – The Toronto Star February 1, 1945, page 13
  • Photo of William Charles– P/O William James Donald CHARLES, in uniform.

    Details

    Photo of William Charles
    Photo of William Charles – P/O William James Donald CHARLES, in uniform.
  • Grave Marker– Grave of P/O William James Donald CHARLES

    Details

    Grave Marker
    Grave Marker – Grave of P/O William James Donald CHARLES

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.

Date modified: