(Note: Though a poppy does not appear on the street sign, this street is part of the City of London's "Streets of Honour" program and was named for Sergeant Masterson)
This street is named in memory of Sergeant James Craig Masterson.
James Craig Masterson was born on 17 November 1911 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He emigrated to Canada and settled in London, ON where he lived on Elizabeth Street with his wife and children. He was in the workforce when he enlisted on 7 September 1939 at the age of 27. Upon joining the military, he was assigned to the Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR) and soon after, embarked for England with his Regiment.
It is unclear at what point Masterson was transferred to the West Nova Scotia Regiment (WNSR) but both the RCR and WNSR were in the 1st Canadian Division and took part in the invasion of Sicily on 10 July 1943, as well as the invasion of mainland Italy in September and the subsequent advance along the Adriatic coast. There followed the Battle for Ortona, the breaking of the Gustav and Hitler lines and Gothic Line. By September 1944, the Canadians were advancing towards Rimini and the Rimini Line. On 15 September 1944, the West Nova Scotia Regiment were fighting for the small town of San Lorenzo in Corregianno when Sergeant Masterson was killed in this heated battle. Sergeant James Craig Masterson is buried at the Coriano Ridge War Cemetery.
