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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Thomas Donovan Copeland

In memory of:

Flying Officer Thomas Donovan Copeland

March 11, 1945
Germany

Military Service

Service Number:

J/18182

Age:

25

Force:

Air Force

Unit:

Royal Canadian Air Force

Division:

434 Sqdn.

Citation(s):

1939-1945 Star, Air Crew Europe Star, French and Germany Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Clasp

Additional Information

Born:

December 2, 1919
Dundalk, Ontario

Enlistment:

October 24, 1940
Toronto, Ontario

Son of James C. and Elizabeth Copeland, of Dundalk, Ontario. Husband of Vivienne (nee Tomkins) Copeland, of Whitton, Twickenham, Middlesex, England. Father of Donna May Elizabeth. Brother of Mary Elizabeth Copeland and Pilot Officer James Coulter Copeland who died on December 6, 1944 while serving with the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Commemorated on Page 505 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information

Cemetery:

REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY
Germany

Grave Reference:

1. B. 11.

Location:

The REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY is located 5 km south west of Kleve. From Kleve the cemetery is located, using the Hoffmannallee from the Town Centre, which becomes the Materbornerallee. This road enters Reichswald Forest and becomes the Grunewaldstrasse. Follow direction Gennep, entering Reichswald Forest the cemetery is situated 500 metres on the left. Alternatively from the motorway 57, take exit Kleve/Goch, which leads onto the 9 N road in the direction towards Kleve. After 3 km turn left on to the 504 direction Kranenburg. Reichswald cemetery is clearly signposted on the 504 at cross roads Grunewald. REICHSWALD FOREST WAR CEMETERY is situated on the Grunewald Strasse direction Kleve on the right, 3 km from cross roads Grunewald.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

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  • Record of Service– Thomas Donavon Copeland record

    Details

    Record of Service
    Record of Service – Thomas Donavon Copeland record
  • Circumstances of Death– Account of crash by survivor.

    Details

    Circumstances of Death
    Circumstances of Death – Account of crash by survivor.
  • Report– Official report on crash.

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    Report
    Report – Official report on crash.
  • Grave Marker– photo of grave marker courtesy of Mitch Buiting

    Details

    Grave Marker
    Grave Marker – photo of grave marker courtesy of Mitch Buiting
  • Memorial– Father J P Lardie's comments as inscribed on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

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    Memorial
    Memorial – Father J P Lardie's comments as inscribed on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Flying Officer Thomas Donovan Copeland is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

    Details

    Memorial
    Memorial – Flying Officer Thomas Donovan Copeland is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Flying Officer Thomas Donovan Copeland is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

    Details

    Memorial
    Memorial – Flying Officer Thomas Donovan Copeland is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Star March 1942. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Star March 1942. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Star March 1942. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Star March 1942. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Star March 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Star March 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Memorial– Remembering brothers lost … Brothers In Arms Memorial, Zonnebeke, BE … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens … May 2022

    Details

    Memorial
    Memorial – Remembering brothers lost … Brothers In Arms Memorial, Zonnebeke, BE … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens … May 2022
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Telegram April 1942. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Telegram April 1942. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Owen Sound Sun Times March 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – From the Owen Sound Sun Times March 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Owen Sound Sun Times March 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – From the Owen Sound Sun Times March 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Owen Sound Sun Times December 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – From the Owen Sound Sun Times December 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Grave Marker– In remembrance to F/O Thomas Donovan Copeland R.C.A.F. killed in action in Lancaster KB834 of 434 squadron March 11/1945 during air operations over Essen Germany. Only surviving crew member F/O Henri Bernard Marceau R.C.A.F. - POW who courageously completed 47 missions through 2 tours of North Africa and Europe. In Remembrance To The AirCrew Of Lancaster KB834 434 Squadron, F/O T.D. Copeland, R.C.A.F. F/O J. Latremouille, R.C.A.F. F/LT R. Fern, R.C.A.F. P/O W. Jones, R.A.F. F/LT A.G. Rowe, R.C.A.F. F/O G. Scott, R.C.A.F. F/O H.B. Marceau, R.C.A.F. - POW

    Details

    Grave Marker
    Grave Marker – In remembrance to F/O Thomas Donovan Copeland R.C.A.F. killed in action in Lancaster KB834 of 434 squadron March 11/1945 during air operations over Essen Germany. Only surviving crew member F/O Henri Bernard Marceau R.C.A.F. - POW who courageously completed 47 missions through 2 tours of North Africa and Europe. In Remembrance To The AirCrew Of Lancaster KB834 434 Squadron, F/O T.D. Copeland, R.C.A.F. F/O J. Latremouille, R.C.A.F. F/LT R. Fern, R.C.A.F. P/O W. Jones, R.A.F. F/LT A.G. Rowe, R.C.A.F. F/O G. Scott, R.C.A.F. F/O H.B. Marceau, R.C.A.F. - POW
  • Grave Markers– A row of Grave Markers marking the final resting place of the 6 men killed in action in Lancaster KB834 of 434 squadron on March 11/1945 during air operations over Essen Germany.

    Details

    Grave Markers
    Grave Markers – A row of Grave Markers marking the final resting place of the 6 men killed in action in Lancaster KB834 of 434 squadron on March 11/1945 during air operations over Essen Germany.
  • Reichswald Forest War Cemetery– The entrance to the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery

    Details

    Reichswald Forest War Cemetery
    Reichswald Forest War Cemetery – The entrance to the Reichswald Forest War Cemetery
  • Memorial– Flying officer Thomas Donovan Copeland is commemorated on Canada's Bomber Command memorial at the Nanton Lancaster Society Air Museum in Nanton, Alberta.

    Details

    Memorial
    Memorial – Flying officer Thomas Donovan Copeland is commemorated on Canada's Bomber Command memorial at the Nanton Lancaster Society Air Museum in Nanton, Alberta.
  • Memorial– Flying officer Thomas Donovan Copeland is commemorated on Canada's Bomber Command memorial at the Nanton Lancaster Society Air Museum in Nanton, Alberta.

    Details

    Memorial
    Memorial – Flying officer Thomas Donovan Copeland is commemorated on Canada's Bomber Command memorial at the Nanton Lancaster Society Air Museum in Nanton, Alberta.
  • Memorial– Flying officer Thomas Donovan Copeland is commemorated on Canada's Bomber Command memorial at the Nanton Lancaster Society Air Museum in Nanton, Alberta.

    Details

    Memorial
    Memorial – Flying officer Thomas Donovan Copeland is commemorated on Canada's Bomber Command memorial at the Nanton Lancaster Society Air Museum in Nanton, Alberta.
  • Aircrew Photo– The Fern crew L to R: P/O William Jones (RAF), F/LT Albert George Rowe (background), F/O Thomas D Copeland, F/LT Raymond J Fern, F/O Joe Latremouille and F/O Ben Marceau. (absent - F/O Gibson Scott) Photo courtesy of the Nanton Lancaster Society Air Museum Photo submitted for the project Operation Picture Me.

    Details

    Aircrew Photo
    Aircrew Photo – The Fern crew L to R: P/O William Jones (RAF), F/LT Albert George Rowe (background), F/O Thomas D Copeland, F/LT Raymond J Fern, F/O Joe Latremouille and F/O Ben Marceau. (absent - F/O Gibson Scott) Photo courtesy of the Nanton Lancaster Society Air Museum Photo submitted for the project Operation Picture Me.

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