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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

John Francis Griffiths

In memory of:

Group Captain John Francis Griffiths

May 9, 1945

Military Service


Service Number:

24037

Age:

39

Force:

Air Force

Unit:

Royal Air Force

Citation(s):

The London Gazette announced that Wing Commander John Francis Griffiths, a Canadian in the RAF, had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for air operations during the war. W/C Griffiths was decorated for attacks on German warships on 14 December 1939. He was the first Canadian to win the DFC during World War II
. Czechoslovakian Military Cross

Additional Information


Commemorated on Page 616 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:

III. C. 5.

Location:

HOTTON WAR CEMETERY is located 58 km south east of Namur. From Namur the N4 leads onto the town of Marche-en-Famenne. From Marche-en-Famenne, the N86 leads towards Hotton. On reaching Hotton, the cemetery is located 500 metres on the N86 towards Menil.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

Send us your images

  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Star December 1939. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Star January 1940. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Star January 1940. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Star January 1940. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Star December 1940. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Star May 1942. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Star January 1943. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Telegram September 1939. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Telegram December 1939. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Telegram January 1940. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Telegram March 1940. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Telegram December 1940. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Telegram November 1941. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Telegram May 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Owen Sound Sun Times May 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Owen Sound Sun Times May 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper Clipping– From the Edmonton Journal. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
  • Newspaper Clipping– Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
  • Newspaper Clipping– From the Charlottetown PEI newspaper The Guardian. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
  • Newspaper Clipping– The Times, London 16 Dec 1940, page 2
  • Newspaper Clipping– Memorialized on the pages of the Globe and Mail. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper Clipping– Memorialized on the pages of the Globe and Mail. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper Clipping– Memorialized on the pages of the Globe and Mail. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Memorial Stained Glass– Ex-cadets are named on the Memorial Arch at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario and in memorial stained glass windows to fallen comrades.

1684 G/C John Francis Griffiths DFC (RMC 1922) He served with the Royal Air Force. He awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for air operations during the war. W/C Griffiths was decorated for attacks on German warships on 14 December 1939. He was awarded the Czechoslovakian Military Cross and he was Mentioned in Despatches. He died on May 9, 1945. He was buried in the Hotton War Cemetery in Belgium.
  • Memorial Doll– Ex-cadets are named on the Memorial Arch at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario and in memorial stained glass windows to fallen comrades.

1684 G/C John Francis Griffiths DFC (RMC 1922) He served with the Royal Air Force. He awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for air operations during the war. W/C Griffiths was decorated for attacks on German warships on 14 December 1939. He was awarded the Czechoslovakian Military Cross and he was Mentioned in Despatches. He died on May 9, 1945. He was buried in the Hotton War Cemetery in Belgium.
  • Memorial Plaque– Ex-cadets are named on the Memorial Arch at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario and in memorial stained glass windows to fallen comrades.

1684 G/C John Francis Griffiths DFC (RMC 1922) He served with the Royal Air Force. He awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for air operations during the war. W/C Griffiths was decorated for attacks on German warships on 14 December 1939. He was awarded the Czechoslovakian Military Cross and he was Mentioned in Despatches. He died on May 9, 1945. He was buried in the Hotton War Cemetery in Belgium.

Learn more about the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

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