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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

John Roper Henderson

In memory of:

Lieutenant John Roper Henderson

August 13, 1944

Military Service

Age:

23

Force:

Army

Unit:

Royal Canadian Artillery

Additional Information

Son of Dr. Ernest Malan Henderson and Mary Kathleen Henderson, of Toronto, Ontario; husband of Virgina Rutland Henderson. B.Com., Toronto University.

Commemorated on Page 333 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:

XXIII. G. 2.

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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  • 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 "Lt. J.R. HENDERSON R.C.A." 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 "Lt. J.R. HENDERSON R.C.A." 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 2 reads: "Lt. John Roper HENDERSON 5 Anti-Tank Regt RCA. Former student Trinity College, Arts, 1939-42. Killed in action in France, 13 August 1944. Buried in Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery, France."

    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 2 reads: "Lt. John Roper HENDERSON 5 Anti-Tank Regt RCA. Former student Trinity College, Arts, 1939-42. Killed in action in France, 13 August 1944. Buried in Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery, France."
  • 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 "J.R. HENDERSON" 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 "J.R. HENDERSON" is among those inscribed.
  • Memorial Scroll– 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 "J.R. HENDERSON" is among those inscribed.

    Details

    Memorial Scroll
    Memorial Scroll – 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 "J.R. HENDERSON" is among those inscribed.
  • Photo of JOHN ROPER HENDERSON– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Photo of JOHN ROPER HENDERSON
    Photo of JOHN ROPER HENDERSON – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Group Photo– John, Ginny Rutland, Lyman Henderson, Deck Lesser and Tom Jarvis. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Group Photo
    Group Photo – John, Ginny Rutland, Lyman Henderson, Deck Lesser and Tom Jarvis. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Attestation paper– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Attestation paper
    Attestation paper – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Attestation paper– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Attestation paper
    Attestation paper – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Circumstances of death– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Circumstances of death
    Circumstances of death – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Star September 1942. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Star September 1942. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Star August 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Star August 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Star August 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Star August 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

Learn more about the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

To learn more please visit our help page. If you have questions or comments regarding the information contained in this registry, email or call us. For inquiries regarding the names and information found in the RCMP Honour Roll, please email the RCMP.

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