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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Wilmer James Armstrong

In memory of:

Lieutenant Wilmer James Armstrong

January 26, 1945

Military Service


Age:

25

Force:

Army

Unit:

Lincoln and Welland Regiment, R.C.I.C.

Additional Information


Born:

February 10, 1919
Montreal, Quebec

Son of the Rev. Rinaldo William Armstrong and Maude Humphries Armstrong. Husband of Dorothy Annette Brown Armstrong, of Toronto, Ontario. B.A. (Toronto).

Commemorated on Page 492 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information


Cemetery:
Grave Reference:

XVI. C. 11.

Location:

Groesbeek is located 10 km south east of the town of Nijmegen and close to the German frontier. The Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery is 3 km north of the village and 1500 metres east of the main road to Nijmegen. On leaving the A73 motorway at the junction Overasselt Mook Groesbeek follow directions to Mook. Follow direction signs towards Mook War cemetery. After passing Mook War cemetery continue to the village of Groesbeek to a set of traffic lights. Turn left at the lights onto Dorpstraat passing through Groesbeek. The road name then changes to Molenweg. A Commonwealth War Graves Commission direction sign indicates the right hand turning from Molenweg onto the Zeven Heuvelenweg. The Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery is located on the right hand side, about 1 km after entering this road. On the Memorial in the Canadian War Cemetery at Groesbeek are inscribed the following words:
Pro amicis mortui amicis vivimus, We live in the hearts of friends for whom we died.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

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  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Telegram February 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Telegram February 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Merrickville Remembers– This project was sponsored jointly by the Canadian Legion Branch 245 and the Merrickville District Community Health Centre.  Serving on the Committee were Jack Jessop, Past President of Legion Branch 245;  Joyce McKay, who lost a brother in the Second World War;  Peter McKenna, Executive Director of Merrickville and District Community Health Centre;  and Jack Wilcox, who upon discharge from the Canadian Army in 1945, prepared the Sydney Academy Memorial Booklet honouring the students of the Academy who gave their lives in the Second World War.
  • Memorial Page– Wilmer Armstrong is honoured on page 29 of the Merrickville Remembers booklet, published in January 2003.
  • Newspaper clipping– The Toronto Star February 17, 1945, Page 11
  • Newspaper clipping– The Toronto Star February 17, 1945, Page 11
  • Soldiers' Tower Memorial– The Soldiers’ Tower was built by the University of Toronto Alumni Association in 1924 as a memorial to the Great War of 1914-1918. The names of those who died in that conflict are carved on the Memorial Screen at photo left. After the Second World War, more names were carved in the Memorial Arch at the Tower’s base. In total, almost 1200 names are inscribed.  A Memorial Room inside the Tower contains mementoes and artifacts, and a 51-bell carillon serves as the audio element of the living memorial to the alumni, students, faculty and staff who died in the World Wars. The Soldiers’ Tower is the site of an annual Service of Remembrance. Photo: Kathy Parks, Alumni Relations.
  • Memorial Arch– The names of those who died in the Second World War were added to the archway beneath the Soldiers’ Tower in 1949. The name of “Lt W. J. ARMSTRONG C.I.C” is among the names inscribed. Photo: Cody Gagnon, courtesy of Alumni Relations.
  • Memorial Room– Soldiers’ Tower, University of Toronto. Photo: David Pike, courtesy of Alumni Relations.
  • Memorial– University of Toronto Memorial Book, Second World War 1939-1945. Published by the Soldiers’ Tower Committee, 1993. Entry on page 2 reads: Lt Wilmer James ARMSTRONG  The Lincoln & Welland Regt. Victoria College, BA 1942. Killed in action in Holland, 26 January 1945. Buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, Holland.
  • Memorial– This outdoor plaque is located at Victoria College, part of  Victoria University in the University of Toronto. “They were valiant in life and triumphant in death. [Victoria University Crest] Abeunt studia in mores. Erected to the memory of the students of this college who gave their lives in the Great War 1939-1945. This tablet was erected by the Board of Regents and Dedicated October 13th, 1953”. Among the 79 names inscribed is that of: “Wilmer James Armstrong”.  Photo: Cody Gagnon, courtesy of Alumni Relations.
  • Image from Torontonesis– University of Toronto's Yearbook in 1942 describes Armstrong and his extra-curricular activities.
  • Group Photo– Group photo of the student newspaper editorial team shows Armstrong in front row, 2nd from photo left.

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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