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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Wilfred Sydney Johnson

In memory of:

Flying Officer Wilfred Sydney Johnson

November 20, 1943

Military Service

Service Number:

J/13060

Force:

Air Force

Unit:

Royal Canadian Air Force

Division:

422 Sqdn.

Additional Information

Commemorated on Page 175 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information

Cemetery:

RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
Surrey, United Kingdom

Grave Reference:

Panel 174.

Location:

During the Second World War more than 116,000 men and women of the Air Forces of the British Commonwealth gave their lives in service. More than 17,000 of these were members of the Royal Canadian Air Force, or Canadians serving with the Royal Air Force. Approximately one-third of all who died have no known grave. Of these, 20,450 are commemorated by name on the Runnymede Memorial, which is situated at Englefield Green, near Egham, 32 kilometers by road west of London.

The design of the Runnymede Memorial is original and striking. On the crest of Cooper's Hill, overlooking the Thames, a square tower dominates a cloister, in the centre of which rests the Stone of Remembrance. The cloistered walks terminate in two lookouts, one facing towards Windsor, and the other towards London Airport at Heathrow. The names of the dead are inscribed on the stone reveals of the narrow windows in the cloisters and the lookouts. They include those of 3,050 Canadian airmen. Above the three-arched entrance to the cloister is a great stone eagle with the Royal Air Force motto, Per Ardua ad Astra". On each side is the inscription:

IN THIS CLOISTER ARE RECORDED THE NAMES OF TWENTY THOUSAND AIRMEN WHO HAVE NO KNOWN GRAVE. THEY DIED FOR FREEDOM IN RAID AND SORTIE OVER THE BRITISH ISLES AND THE LANDS AND SEAS OF NORTHERN AND WESTERN EUROPE

In the tower a vaulted shrine, which provides a quiet place for contemplation, contains illuminated verses by Paul H. Scott."

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

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  • Memorial– The Soldiers' Tower was built by the University of Toronto Alumni Association in 1924 as a memorial to the Great War of 1914-1918. The names of those who died in that conflict are carved on the Memorial Screen at photo left. After the Second World War, more names were carved in the Memorial Arch at the Tower's base. In total, almost 1,200 names are inscribed. A Memorial Room inside the Tower contains mementoes and artifacts, and a 51-bell carillon serves as the audio element of the living memorial to the alumni, students, faculty and staff who died in the World Wars. The Soldiers' Tower is the site of an annual Service of Remembrance. Photo: Kathy Parks, Alumni Relations.

    Details

    Memorial
    Memorial – The Soldiers' Tower was built by the University of Toronto Alumni Association in 1924 as a memorial to the Great War of 1914-1918. The names of those who died in that conflict are carved on the Memorial Screen at photo left. After the Second World War, more names were carved in the Memorial Arch at the Tower's base. In total, almost 1,200 names are inscribed. A Memorial Room inside the Tower contains mementoes and artifacts, and a 51-bell carillon serves as the audio element of the living memorial to the alumni, students, faculty and staff who died in the World Wars. The Soldiers' Tower is the site of an annual Service of Remembrance. Photo: Kathy Parks, Alumni Relations.
  • Memorial Arch West– The names of those who died in the Second World War were added to the archway beneath the Soldiers' Tower in 1949. The name of "F/O W.S. JOHNSON R.C.A.F." is among the names inscribed.

    Details

    Memorial Arch West
    Memorial Arch West – The names of those who died in the Second World War were added to the archway beneath the Soldiers' Tower in 1949. The name of "F/O W.S. JOHNSON R.C.A.F." is among the names inscribed.
  • Memorial Room– Soldiers' Tower, University of Toronto. Photo: David Pike, courtesy of Alumni Relations.

    Details

    Memorial Room
    Memorial Room – Soldiers' Tower, University of Toronto. Photo: David Pike, courtesy of Alumni Relations.
  • Memorial Book– University of Toronto Memorial Book, Second World War 1939-1945. Edited by H. E. Brown, published by the Soldiers' Tower Committee, 1993. Entry on page 34 reads: "F/O Wilfred Sydney JOHNSON 422 Sqn RCAF. Trinity College, BA 1937. Missing, presumed dead, in an air operation overseas, 20 November 1943. Name inscribed on the Runnymede Memorial, Cooper's Hill, Egham, Surrey, England.

    Details

    Memorial Book
    Memorial Book – University of Toronto Memorial Book, Second World War 1939-1945. Edited by H. E. Brown, published by the Soldiers' Tower Committee, 1993. Entry on page 34 reads: "F/O Wilfred Sydney JOHNSON 422 Sqn RCAF. Trinity College, BA 1937. Missing, presumed dead, in an air operation overseas, 20 November 1943. Name inscribed on the Runnymede Memorial, Cooper's Hill, Egham, Surrey, England.
  • Memorial Stele– This stone stele is located in the chapel at Trinity College in the University of Toronto. "AS DYING AND BEHOLD WE LIVE. TO THE MEMORY OF THOSE MEMBERS OF THIS COLLEGE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE TWO GREAT WARS." The name of "W.S. JOHNSON" is among those inscribed.

    Details

    Memorial Stele
    Memorial Stele – This stone stele is located in the chapel at Trinity College in the University of Toronto. "AS DYING AND BEHOLD WE LIVE. TO THE MEMORY OF THOSE MEMBERS OF THIS COLLEGE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE TWO GREAT WARS." The name of "W.S. JOHNSON" is among those inscribed.
  • Memorial Scroll– This framed illuminated scroll, written in calligraphy, is entitled "Men and Women of Trinity College on Active Service. Met'Agona Stephanos". It hangs in the hallway outside the narthex of the chapel at Trinity College in the University of Toronto. Small symbols beside the names indicate men and women who are fallen, decorated, and prisoner of war. The list of names includes: '37 Johnson, W.S. Photo: Cody Gagnon, courtesy of Alumni Relations.

    Details

    Memorial Scroll
    Memorial Scroll – This framed illuminated scroll, written in calligraphy, is entitled "Men and Women of Trinity College on Active Service. Met'Agona Stephanos". It hangs in the hallway outside the narthex of the chapel at Trinity College in the University of Toronto. Small symbols beside the names indicate men and women who are fallen, decorated, and prisoner of war. The list of names includes: '37 Johnson, W.S. Photo: Cody Gagnon, courtesy of Alumni Relations.
  • Photo– Photograph of Johnson from Torontonensis, University of Toronto yearbook, 1937.

    Details

    Photo
    Photo – Photograph of Johnson from Torontonensis, University of Toronto yearbook, 1937.
  • Photo– Group photograph shows Johnson with other members of the yearbook staff. Johnson is shown in the back row, third from photo left. Two of his colleagues in the back row, James Cooper and Alfred Henderson, were also killed in the war. From Torontonensis yearbook, 1937.

    Details

    Photo
    Photo – Group photograph shows Johnson with other members of the yearbook staff. Johnson is shown in the back row, third from photo left. Two of his colleagues in the back row, James Cooper and Alfred Henderson, were also killed in the war. From Torontonensis yearbook, 1937.
  • Photo of WILFRED SYDNEY JOHNSON– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Photo of WILFRED SYDNEY JOHNSON
    Photo of WILFRED SYDNEY JOHNSON – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Telegram January 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Telegram January 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Memorial– Entrance - Runnymede Memorial - September 2010 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

    Details

    Memorial
    Memorial – Entrance - Runnymede Memorial - September 2010 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Runnymede Memorial - September 2010 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

    Details

    Memorial
    Memorial – Runnymede Memorial - September 2010 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Stone of Remembrance - Runnymede Memorial - September 2010 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

    Details

    Memorial
    Memorial – Stone of Remembrance - Runnymede Memorial - September 2010 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Panels - Runnymede Memorial - September 2010 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

    Details

    Memorial
    Memorial – Panels - Runnymede Memorial - September 2010 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Inscription– Inscription - Runnymede Memorial - September 2010 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

    Details

    Inscription
    Inscription – Inscription - Runnymede Memorial - September 2010 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

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