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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

John Wilson Summerhayes

In memory of:

Pilot Officer John Wilson Summerhayes

May 13, 1944
Schendelbeke, Belgium

Military Service

Service Number:

J/89358

Age:

23

Force:

Air Force

Unit:

Royal Canadian Air Force

Division:

426 Sqdn.

Citation(s):

Croix de Guerre 1940 with Palm (Belgium) (posthumously) Canada Gazete No. 29, dated 17 July 1948. 1939-45 Star, Air Crew Europe Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, War Medal 1939-45. Posthumously awarded RCAF Operational Wings in recognition of gallant service in action against the enemy, the 25 January 1947.

Additional Information

Born:

April 17, 1921
Ridgetown, Ontario

Enlistment:

August 31, 1942
Hamilton, Ontario

Son of Philip Charles Leo and Daisy Rosella (nee Dodman). Raised in Brantford, Ontario, Jack attended high school for one year and did some farm work. In 1938 he started work as a mill hand at the Dunlop Tire and Rubber Company in Buffalo, New York, moving on to become a machinist at Goldie, McCullough in Galt. During 1940, Jack moved back to Brantford, Ontario where he was a machine operator for the Coshutt Plough Company. On June 6, 1942, he married Bernice Annie (nee Anderson).

Jack had previous military experience, having served for six months in 1940 with the Dufferin and Haldimand Rifles Regiment in the non-permanent active militia, when he enlisted with the RCAF in Hamilton on August 31, 1942. The family moved to Simcoe and on May 14, 1943, son, John Douglas, was born.

He disembarked for the UK on October 16, 1943. He had hopes of returning home and working for the plow factory after the war. He was the mid-upper gunner of LW 682/M, and was posthumously awarded the Croix de Guerre 1940 with Palm (Belgium).

Commemorated on Page 455 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information

Cemetery:

GERAARDSBERGEN (GRAMMONT) COMMUNAL CEMETERY
Belgium

Grave Reference:

Coll. Grave 1.

Location:

The town of Geraardsbergen is located south of the town of Aalst on the N42. From the motorway E40/A10, which runs between Oostende and Brussels, turn off at junction 17 onto the N42, direction Geraardsbergen. Follow this road to the town of Geraardsbergen and the junction with the N493. Turn right onto the N493, direction Parike, and the cemetery is along here on the right. The graves are located towards the centre of the cemetery.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

Send us your images

  • Album Cover– Album of Honour for Brant County World War 11 1939 - 1945 Published in 1946 by The Brantford Kinsmen Club and submitted with their permission by Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Album Cover
    Album Cover – Album of Honour for Brant County World War 11 1939 - 1945 Published in 1946 by The Brantford Kinsmen Club and submitted with their permission by Operation Picture Me
  • Biography– Album of Honour for Brant County World War II 1939-1945 Published in 1946 by The Brantford Kinsmen Club and submitted with their permission by Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Biography
    Biography – Album of Honour for Brant County World War II 1939-1945 Published in 1946 by The Brantford Kinsmen Club and submitted with their permission by Operation Picture Me
  • 426 Squadron and the Halifax LW682– 426 Squadron and the Halifax LW 682

    Details

    426 Squadron and the Halifax LW682
    426 Squadron and the Halifax LW682 – 426 Squadron and the Halifax LW 682
  • 426 Squadron and the Halifax LW682– 426 Squadron and the Halifax LW 682

    Details

    426 Squadron and the Halifax LW682
    426 Squadron and the Halifax LW682 – 426 Squadron and the Halifax LW 682
  • Photo of John Wilson Summerhayes– In Memory of the men from Norfolk County who gave their lives in World War II. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me.

    Details

    Photo of John Wilson Summerhayes
    Photo of John Wilson Summerhayes – In Memory of the men from Norfolk County who gave their lives in World War II. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me.
  • Memorial– In Memory of the men from Norfolk County who gave their lives in World War II. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me.

    Details

    Memorial
    Memorial – In Memory of the men from Norfolk County who gave their lives in World War II. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me.
  • Id card– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Id card
    Id card – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Document– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Document
    Document – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Other– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Other
    Other – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Other– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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    Other
    Other – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Memorial– Pilot Officer John Wilson Summerhayes is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

    Details

    Memorial
    Memorial – Pilot Officer John Wilson Summerhayes is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Father J P Lardie's comments as inscribed on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

    Details

    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– Pilot Officer John Wilson Summerhayes is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

    Details

    Memorial
    Memorial – Pilot Officer John Wilson Summerhayes is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Inscription– Runnymede Memorial - April 2017 … P/O John Wilson Summerhayes is also buried at Geraardsbergen (Gramont) Communal Cemetery, Belgium ... photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

    Details

    Inscription
    Inscription – Runnymede Memorial - April 2017 … P/O John Wilson Summerhayes is also buried at Geraardsbergen (Gramont) Communal Cemetery, Belgium ... photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

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