Traill, James Edward
Personal Information
Rank | F/O |
Forename(s) | James Edward |
Surname | Traill |
Gender | M |
Age | 24 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 21-03-1945 |
Next of Kin | Son of William Ralph Traill and Elizabeth M. Traill (née Pretty), of Lanark, Ontario. Husband of Eileen Vivienne Traill (née Rogers) - marriage at Westminster Cathedral on 17 January 1945. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Lockheed Hudson III |
Serial Number | T9445 |
Markings | MA-O |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Belgium |
Burial/Memorial Place | Heverlee War Cemetery |
Grave Reference | Joint grave 8. D. 3-4. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 2 |
Panel Number | 255 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | J/87484 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 3 |
Squadron | 161 (Special Duties) |
Trade | WOp/AG |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Route de Trace, Dochamps (Samree), Luxembourg Province |
Country | Belgium |
Memorial Type | Memorial stone and inscribed metal tablet |
Memorial Text |
Location | Village Green, Tempsford, Bedfordshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stone Memorial with inscribed Marble Tablets |
Memorial Text | In honour of the men and women of Special Duties Sqns stationed at RAF Tempsford |
Location | Gibraltar Farm Barn, Tempsford, Bedfordshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Framed Scrolls |
Memorial Text | In memory of 161 Sqn, RAF Tempsford February 1942 - June 1945 |
Location | Church of St. Peter, Tempsford, Bedfordshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Inscribed Brass Plaques & Roll of Honour |
Memorial Text | In memory of the men and women of 161 Sqn, RAF Tempsford including those of the Royal Australian Air Force, and SOE agents killed during WW2 |
Miscellaneous Information
Previous service number R/146680 |
James was born on 26 April 1920 at Lanark, Ontario. His father was a baker and both parents were born in Lanark. He had two sisters, Reta Elizabeth and Vera Madeleine. The schools which James attended were both in Lanark: Lanark Public School 1927-1933 (Entrance) and Lanark Continuation 1933-1936 (Matric incomplete). His sporting interests were hockey and baseball. Between 1936 and 1940 James worked as a Transport driver. The first three years, 1936-1939 with Ervin Gibson of Lanark and then with Taggart Service of Ottawa 1939-1940. James then worked as a diamond drill operator 1940-1941 at Central Patricia Northern in Ontario. |
James had enlisted on 26 November 1941 and embarked from Halifax for the U.K. on 16 May 1943. He arrived at 3 PRC on 24 May 1943, No. 1(C) OTU 12 August 1943, 2PDC 7 October 1943, Gibraltar 23 October 1943, 48 Sqn. 14 October 1943, 161 Sqn. 1 March 1944, 138 Sqn 24 February 1944 and 161 Squadron 24 July 1944. Sadly James was to lose his life on 21 March 1945, only two months after his marriage. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1068/38 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/1068/37 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 21-03-1945 |
End Date | 22-03-1945 |
Takeoff Station | Tempsford |
Day/Night Raid | Night (63% moon) |
Operation | SOE Operation Norvic to Germany |
Reason for Loss | Shot down in a 'friendly fire' incident by a US P61 Black Widow after being mistaken for a Dornier |