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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

John Sydney Legon

In memory of:

Leading Aircraftman John Sydney Legon

December 29, 1941

Military Service


Service Number:

R/93484

Age:

23

Force:

Air Force

Unit:

Royal Canadian Air Force

Division:

10 Sqdn.

Additional Information


Son of Frederic and Frances M. Legon, of Peterboro, Ontario.

Commemorated on Page 35 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information


Cemetery:

OTTAWA MEMORIAL
Ontario, Canada

Grave Reference:

Panel 1. Column 2.

Location:

The Ottawa Memorial stands on the north-eastern point of Green Island in the City of Ottawa. Overlooking the northern branch of the Twin Falls of the Rideau River, it commands a panoramic view of the Ottawa River and the Gatineau Hills beyond. The Memorial commemorates those of the Air Forces of the British Commonwealth who lost their lives while serving in units operating from bases in Canada, the British West Indies and the United States of America, or while training in Canada and the U.S.A., and who have no known graves. The main feature of the Ottawa Memorial is a sculptured terrestrial globe in bronze, 3 metres in diameter, on a base formed by three bronze beavers rising from the centre of an ornamental pool. The globe, of open lattice-work corresponding to the lines of latitude and longitude, on which the land masses are super imposed in low relief, is crowned by the Air Forces emblem of a bronze eagle with outspread wings. Two curved screen walls faced in limestone, bearing cast bronze panels on which the names appear, face inwards towards the globe. They are placed slightly off centre to allow a clear view through the Ottawa Memorial from the central steps on Sussex Drive and from the wide pathway. Two Air Force crest exist in the paving between the screen walls. A dedicatory inscription, in English on one screen wall and in French on the other, is incised in the stonework between the bronze name panels, which reads as follows:
1939 - 1945
In honoured memory of the men and women of the air forces of the British Commonwealth and Empire who gave their lives in Canada, in the United States of America and neighbouring lands and who have no known grave.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

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  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Telegram January 1942. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Memorial– Ottawa Memorial … In honoured memory of the men and women of the Air Forces of the British Commonwealth and Empire who gave their lives in Canada, in the United States of America and in neighbouring lands and seas and who  have no known grave. Photo courtesy of Marg Liessens October 2023.
  • Memorial– Leading Aircraftman John Sydney Legon as commemorated on the Ottawa Memorial, Ottawa, ON. Photo courtesy of Marg Liessens October 2023.
  • Inscription– Leading Aircraftman JOHN SYDNEY LEGON, Corporal CECIL GEORGE HEENEY, Flight Sergeant ARTHUR  CHAPMAN, Pilot Officer KENNETH GEORGE SCHAEFER, Pilot Officer ALBERT WILLIAM RUNTE, and Flying Officer JAMES WILLIAM PAUL SKIDMORE were presumed to have died on December 29, 1941, the day their aircraft went missing in Newfoundland.  They are commemorated on these panels of the Ottawa Memorial, which contain the names of  30 members of the RCAF who died on active service during 1941 and have no known grave.
  • Newspaper clipping– Leading Aircraftman JOHN SYDNEY LEGON,  Corporal CECIL GEORGE HEENEY, Flight Sergeant ARTHUR  CHAPMAN, Pilot Officer KENNETH GEORGE SCHAEFER, Pilot Officer ALBERT WILLIAM RUNTE and Flying Officer JAMES WILLIAM PAUL SKIDMORE were reported as ¿Missing in Active Service¿ in Canada in the 151st Casualty List of the Royal Canadian Air Force published in the Globe & Mail on January 3, 1942, three days after their aircraft went missing.
  • Newspaper clipping– Leading Aircraftman JOHN SYDNEY LEGON, Flight Sergeant ARTHUR  CHAPMAN, Pilot Officer KENNETH GEORGE SCHAEFER, Pilot Officer ALBERT WILLIAM RUNTE and Flying Officer JAMES WILLIAM PAUL SKIDMORE were listed as ¿previously reported missing in Newfoundland now presumed dead¿, in the  336th Casualty List of the Royal Canadian Air Force published in the Globe & Mail on August 7, 1942. The name of Corporal CECIL GEORGE HEENEY who died along with these men, is missing from this list.  He was listed as ¿previously reported missing in Newfoundland now presumed dead¿, in the  324th Casualty List of the Royal Canadian Air Force published in the Globe & Mail on July 24th, 1942.
  • Ottawa Memorial
  • Inscription– Dedicatory inscription at the Ottawa Memorial
  • Attestation Papers– First World War Attestation Paper of Private SIDNEY FREDERICK LEGON, the brother of Leading Aircraftman JOHN SYDNEY LEGON.  Private LEGON died in action on May 3, 1917, aged 19 years, a year or so before his brother John was born.  He is commemorated at the Vimy Memorial, because he, like his brother John, has no known grave. Source: Soldiers of the First World War-CEF.  Library and Archives Canada.
  • Attestation Papers– First World War Attestation Paper of Private SIDNEY FREDERICK LEGON, the brother of Leading Aircraftman JOHN SYDNEY LEGON.  Private LEGON died in action on May 3, 1917, aged 19 years, a year or so before his brother John was born.  He is commemorated at the Vimy Memorial, because he, like his brother John, has no known grave. Source: Soldiers of the First World War-CEF.  Library and Archives Canada.

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