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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

James Sydney Thomson

In memory of:

Pilot Officer James Sydney Thomson

May 12, 1944

Military Service

Service Number:

J/90921

Age:

20

Force:

Air Force

Unit:

Royal Canadian Air Force

Division:

432 Sqdn.

Additional Information

Son of James and Elizabeth W. Thomson, of Toronto, Ontario.

Commemorated on Page 462 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information

Cemetery:

CALAIS CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY (Leubringhen)
Pas de Calais, France

Grave Reference:

2. H. 9.

Location:

Leubringhen is a village in the Department of the Pas-de-Calais, halfway between Calais and Boulogne. The Calais Canadian War Cemetery is in Leubringhen and is situated on the east side of the Calais-Boulogne road, 14 kilometres from Calais. From Calais leave the motorway at junction 9 and turn left onto the N3-E402 toward St Inglevert. Proceed through the village and immediately after, turn first left over motorway bridge and follow the road for approximately 250 metres. The Calais Canadian War Cemetery will be found on the left.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

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  • Grave Marker– Grave marker - Calais Canadian War Cemetery … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

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    Grave Marker
    Grave Marker – Grave marker - Calais Canadian War Cemetery … 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

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

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

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    Memorial
    Memorial – Pilot Officer James Sydney Thomson is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Grave marker– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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    Grave marker
    Grave marker – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Other– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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

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

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    Attestation paper
    Attestation paper – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of JAMES SYDNEY THOMSON– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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    Photo of JAMES SYDNEY THOMSON
    Photo of JAMES SYDNEY THOMSON – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of JAMES SYDNEY THOMSON– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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    Photo of JAMES SYDNEY THOMSON
    Photo of JAMES SYDNEY THOMSON – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of James Sydney Thomson– James Thomson 432 Squadron RCAF prior to departure to England. TORONTO 1943

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    Photo of James Sydney Thomson
    Photo of James Sydney Thomson – James Thomson 432 Squadron RCAF prior to departure to England. TORONTO 1943
  • Newspaper Clipping– The Toronto Star, February 14, 1945, page 9 P/O Thomson, age 20, served as Air Gunner in 432 Sqn on Halifax III NA-500. On the night of May 11/12, 1944 they were sent on an operation to Boulogne-Sur-Mer, France. They were airborne 22:57 11 May from East Moor and collided with a 427 Sqn Halifax, both aircraft crashing between le Portal (Pas-de-Calais) in the NW outskirts of Outreau and SW of the entrance to Boulogne-sur-Mar Harbour. (www.lostbombers.co.uk) S/L Barrett is commemorated on Panel 243 of the Runnymede Memorial; P/O Shaw is buried in the Marquise Communal Cemetery; the rest of the crew have been re-interred in the Canadian War Cemetery at Calais. Crew members were: S/L (P) Clayton K. Barrett, age 23, from Westmount, Que. F/O (N) Douglas G. Bentley, age 27, from Toronto. P/O (BA) Thos. A. Goundrey, age 25, from Riverfield, Que. P/O (AG) Alexander Hamilton, age 26, from Nanaimo, B. C. P/O (AG) James S.Thomson, age 20, from Toronto, Ont. F/S (WAG) George E. Coe, RAF, age 33, from Chester, England F/S (AG) William H. Riding, RAF, age 20, from Lancashire. P/O (P) William Muir Shaw, RAF, age 20, from Glasgow, Scotland From //rcaf.com/6group: it is possible that the aircraft collided with Halifax III LW-114 piloted by F/Lt. David Perry.

    Details

    Newspaper Clipping
    Newspaper Clipping – The Toronto Star, February 14, 1945, page 9 P/O Thomson, age 20, served as Air Gunner in 432 Sqn on Halifax III NA-500. On the night of May 11/12, 1944 they were sent on an operation to Boulogne-Sur-Mer, France. They were airborne 22:57 11 May from East Moor and collided with a 427 Sqn Halifax, both aircraft crashing between le Portal (Pas-de-Calais) in the NW outskirts of Outreau and SW of the entrance to Boulogne-sur-Mar Harbour. (www.lostbombers.co.uk) S/L Barrett is commemorated on Panel 243 of the Runnymede Memorial; P/O Shaw is buried in the Marquise Communal Cemetery; the rest of the crew have been re-interred in the Canadian War Cemetery at Calais. Crew members were: S/L (P) Clayton K. Barrett, age 23, from Westmount, Que. F/O (N) Douglas G. Bentley, age 27, from Toronto. P/O (BA) Thos. A. Goundrey, age 25, from Riverfield, Que. P/O (AG) Alexander Hamilton, age 26, from Nanaimo, B. C. P/O (AG) James S.Thomson, age 20, from Toronto, Ont. F/S (WAG) George E. Coe, RAF, age 33, from Chester, England F/S (AG) William H. Riding, RAF, age 20, from Lancashire. P/O (P) William Muir Shaw, RAF, age 20, from Glasgow, Scotland From //rcaf.com/6group: it is possible that the aircraft collided with Halifax III LW-114 piloted by F/Lt. David Perry.
  • Newspaper Clipping– The Toronto Star, February 14, 1945, page 9

    Details

    Newspaper Clipping
    Newspaper Clipping – The Toronto Star, February 14, 1945, page 9

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