Elmslie, James Arthur
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | James Arthur |
Surname | Elmslie |
Gender | M |
Age | 25 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 29-07-1942 |
Next of Kin | Son of Charles Walter Elmslie and Margaret Elmslie (née Sparrow), of Windsor, Ontario, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Vickers Wellington III |
Serial Number | X3456 |
Markings | WS- |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | United Kingdom |
Burial/Memorial Place | Runnymede Memorial |
Grave Reference | Panel 103. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 160 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/67644 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 9 (IX) |
Trade | WOp/AG |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Village Green, Bardney, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stone Memorial, Propeller and Plaque |
Memorial Text | In memory of the killed or missing of IX Sqd. 1939 - 1945 |
Miscellaneous Information
James was born on 5 September 1916 at Windsor, Ontario. His father was born at Guelph, Ontario and his mother in North Dakota, USA. Both were deceased by the time of James's enlistment. His father died in 1936 and his mother in 1937. He had two sisters Maude and Florence (Maude shown as next of kin) and two brothers , one named Charles Walter. Another sister, Jennie, had died in infancy. He attended Douglas Avenue Public School, 1922-1930 (High School Entrance) followed by Patterson Collegiate, 1930-1934. James enjoyed playing golf and tennis and occasionally softball and swimming. After leaving school he worked as a delivery boy for a short while before joining the cereal company, Canadian Postum where he worked in the shipping department for four years between 1936-1940. He then worked as a salesman for a jewellers until enlisting on 17 August 1940. |
After enlisting and initial training, James was posted to the U.K. where he arrived at 3PRC on 15 September 1941, 1.S.S. 29 September 1941, 12 OTU 16 December 1941 and 9 Squadron on 27 May 1942. James was to lose his life on 29 July 1942 |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/126/37 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/126/36 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 28-07-1942 |
End Date | 29-07-1942 |
Takeoff Station | Honington |
Day/Night Raid | Night (98% moon) |
Operation | Hamburg. Was to have been a much larger raid but bad weather in the north of England prevented many Squadrons taking part. Further bad weather en route- the 91 Group OTU aircraft were recalled, the rest becoming scattered. Only 68 bombed the target but a hospital was hit. Heavy aircraft losses including 15.2% of 4 Group OTU Wellingtons |
Reason for Loss | Presumed lost over the sea |