Military service
Burial/memorial information
Digital gallery of Warrant Officer Class II Donald Leroy Torkelson
Digital gallery of
Warrant Officer Class II Donald Leroy Torkelson
Torkelson, Donald Leroy - Warrant Officer. Born 2nd October, 1920, at Bengough, Sask. Educated at Coney Island Country School, Bengough High School, and Balfour Technical School, Regina, Sask. Entered the service of the Bank 23rd June, 1938. Served at Regina and Wiseton, Sask., and Gilbert Plains, Man. Enlisted 5th November, 1940, from Gilbert Plains in R.C.A.F. Sergeant Pilot in November, 1941; Warrant Officer in June, 1942. Trained at Maclend, Alta. Overseas in July, 1941. Attached R.A.F. Took part in numerous bombing raids, including those on Rostock and Cologne. Missing after air operations over Bremen on 25th June, 1942. Officially presumed dead 10th March, 1943. <br><i>From a memorial booklet prepared by the Canadian Bank of Commerce.</i>
Digital gallery of
Warrant Officer Class II Donald Leroy Torkelson
Warrant Officer Class II Donald Leroy Torkelson is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
Digital gallery of
Warrant Officer Class II Donald Leroy Torkelson
Warrant Officer Class II Donald Leroy Torkelson is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
Digital gallery of
Warrant Officer Class II Donald Leroy Torkelson
Father J P Lardie's comments as inscribed on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
Image gallery
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Torkelson, Donald Leroy - Warrant Officer. Born 2nd October, 1920, at Bengough, Sask. Educated at Coney Island Country School, Bengough High School, and Balfour Technical School, Regina, Sask. Entered the service of the Bank 23rd June, 1938. Served at Regina and Wiseton, Sask., and Gilbert Plains, Man. Enlisted 5th November, 1940, from Gilbert Plains in R.C.A.F. Sergeant Pilot in November, 1941; Warrant Officer in June, 1942. Trained at Maclend, Alta. Overseas in July, 1941. Attached R.A.F. Took part in numerous bombing raids, including those on Rostock and Cologne. Missing after air operations over Bremen on 25th June, 1942. Officially presumed dead 10th March, 1943. <br><i>From a memorial booklet prepared by the Canadian Bank of Commerce.</i>
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Warrant Officer Class II Donald Leroy Torkelson is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
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Warrant Officer Class II Donald Leroy Torkelson is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
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Father J P Lardie's comments as inscribed on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
In the Books of Remembrance
Commemorated on:
Page 120 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance.
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RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL Surrey, United Kingdom
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."
For more information, visit Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
The Poppy Design is a trademark of The Royal Canadian Legion (Dominion Command) and is used with permission. Click here to learn more about the poppy.
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