Firth, Joseph Arthur
Personal Information
Rank | W/O |
Forename(s) | Joseph Arthur |
Surname | Firth |
Gender | M |
Age | 26 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 12-07-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Arthur Firth and May Isabel Firth (née Hacking), of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster I |
Serial Number | ED561 |
Markings | HW-J |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | France |
Burial/Memorial Place | St. Oulph Churchyard |
Grave Reference | Coll. grave. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 35 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/97647 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 1 |
Squadron | 100 |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Off the A16, Holton le Clay, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Stone Pillar & Information Boards |
Memorial Text | Do not attack the Hornets nest, 100 Squadron Royal Air Force Waltham Grimsby, December 1942 April 1945, Honour the brave |
Miscellaneous Information
Joseph was born at Clitheroe, Lancashire , England on 5 August 1916. Both parents were born in Lancashire and his father, who was deceased by the time Joseph enlisted, worked as a photographer. The schools he attended were Long Beach 1921-1927, followed by Vancouver Academy 1927–1931 and again in 1931-1935. The sports he took part in were tennis, skiing, skating and softball. Joseph worked as a painting contractor, and then worked for himself between 1935 and 1939. |
He enlisted on 15 March 1941 and after training embarked for the U.K. on 1 June 1942. He arrived at 3 PRC on 13 June 1942, 7 AGS 22 July 1942, 30 OTU 18 August 1942, 142 Squadron on 9 November 1942, 166 Sqn on 27 January 1943, 1656 CU on 5 April 1943 and 100 Squadron on 27 May 1943. Sadly on 12 July 1943 Joseph lost his life. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/796/10 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/796/9 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 12-07-1943 |
End Date | 13-07-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Grimsby |
Day/Night Raid | Night (74% moon) |
Operation | Torino |
Reason for Loss | Crashed at St-Oulph (Aube) on the E bank of the Seine, 30 km NNW of Troyes, France. |