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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

James Reid Demerchant

In memory of:

Private James Reid Demerchant

August 29, 1944

Military Service

Service Number:

G/18527

Age:

21

Force:

Army

Unit:

Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, R.C.I.C.

Additional Information

Son of William H. and Elizabeth Demerchant; husband of Nancy Demerchant, of Darwen, Lancashire, England.

Commemorated on Page 289 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information

Cemetery:

BRETTEVILLE-SUR-LAIZE CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY
Calvados, France

Grave Reference:

XX. F. 15.

Location:

This cemetery lies on the west side of the main road from Caen to Falaise (route N158) and just north of the village of Cintheaux. Bretteville-sur-Laize is a village and commune in the department of the Calvados, some 16 kilometres south of Caen. The village of Bretteville lies 3 kilometres south-west of the Cemetery. Buried here are those who died during the later stages of the battle of Normandy, the capture of Caen and the thrust southwards (led initially by the 4th Canadian and 1st Polish Armoured Divisions), to close the Falaise Gap, and thus seal off the German divisions fighting desperately to escape being trapped west of the Seine. Almost every unit of Canadian 2nd Corps is represented in the Cemetery. There are about 3,000 allied forces casualties of the Second World War commemorated in this site.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

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  • Photo of James Reid Demerchant– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Photo of James Reid Demerchant
    Photo of James Reid Demerchant – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of James Demerchant– Picture of J. Reid DeMerchant (left) and his brother Gerald DeMerchant (right) at training camp in Aldershot, NS. Reid joined the Canadian Army when he was 17 but was discharged when it was discovered. He re-joined after he turned 18 years of age.

    Details

    Photo of James Demerchant
    Photo of James Demerchant – Picture of J. Reid DeMerchant (left) and his brother Gerald DeMerchant (right) at training camp in Aldershot, NS. Reid joined the Canadian Army when he was 17 but was discharged when it was discovered. He re-joined after he turned 18 years of age.
  • Newspaper Clipping– Obituary of J. Reid DeMerchant. Reid's wife was Nancy Pillering of Darwin England. Their daughter Anita DeMerchant was born on August 29th, 1944...the same day her father was killed in action.

    Details

    Newspaper Clipping
    Newspaper Clipping – Obituary of J. Reid DeMerchant. Reid's wife was Nancy Pillering of Darwin England. Their daughter Anita DeMerchant was born on August 29th, 1944...the same day her father was killed in action.
  • Letter– 1st page of letter (rest of letter not found)..."leave together so that will make about 21 days. That isn't bad don't you think. It would of been nice to get home for Xmas but New Year is good. Dick & Bill is coming the 7 or the 9 and get back here the 28. We are having a pretty good time lots of shows. Will that is much more news to write so will have to close now. From your loving sons Gerald + Reid. To Keith How are you Bunty. Do you think Santa Clause is going to get you anything. What do you want me and Reid to get you. We will be to see you pretty quick. so don't worry will be there

    Details

    Letter
    Letter – 1st page of letter (rest of letter not found)..."leave together so that will make about 21 days. That isn't bad don't you think. It would of been nice to get home for Xmas but New Year is good. Dick & Bill is coming the 7 or the 9 and get back here the 28. We are having a pretty good time lots of shows. Will that is much more news to write so will have to close now. From your loving sons Gerald + Reid. To Keith How are you Bunty. Do you think Santa Clause is going to get you anything. What do you want me and Reid to get you. We will be to see you pretty quick. so don't worry will be there
  • Letter (Page 2)– 2nd page of letter "Now be a good boy and don't swear or tell Momma lie. This is for Jack to. From G Jerry + Reid [Note to Mother] See if you can get some U.S.A cigarette will you. We are saving our money. So don't worry. You will have to exuse this writing.

    Details

    Letter (Page 2)
    Letter (Page 2) – 2nd page of letter "Now be a good boy and don't swear or tell Momma lie. This is for Jack to. From G Jerry + Reid [Note to Mother] See if you can get some U.S.A cigarette will you. We are saving our money. So don't worry. You will have to exuse this writing.
  • Newspaper clipping– The grave of RHLI Private J R DeMerchant,21, one of 3000 graves at the Canadian War Cemetery in Cintheux, the largest Canadian war Cemetery in the world." Source: "Hamilton Spectator" August 19, 2002. (NAD 2007)

    Details

    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – The grave of RHLI Private J R DeMerchant,21, one of 3000 graves at the Canadian War Cemetery in Cintheux, the largest Canadian war Cemetery in the world." Source: "Hamilton Spectator" August 19, 2002. (NAD 2007)
  • Grave Marker– A photograph of the headstone at the Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery, located 20 kilometres south of Caen, France. May he rest in peace. (J. Stephens)

    Details

    Grave Marker
    Grave Marker – A photograph of the headstone at the Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery, located 20 kilometres south of Caen, France. May he rest in peace. (J. Stephens)
  • Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery– The Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery, located 20 kilometres south of Caen, France. (J. Stephens)

    Details

    Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery
    Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery – The Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery, located 20 kilometres south of Caen, France. (J. Stephens)
  • Original Grave Marker

    Details

    Original Grave Marker
    Original Grave Marker

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