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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

John Wakefield

In memory of:

Sergeant John Wakefield

October 20, 1944

Military Service


Service Number:

R/273518

Age:

18

Force:

Air Force

Unit:

Royal Canadian Air Force

Division:

1656 Heavy Conversion Unit

Additional Information


Born:

December 30, 1925
Toronto, Ontario

Enlistment:

August 26, 1943
North Bay, Ontario

Son of Percival Richard and Elsie Ada Wakefield, of Toronto, Ontario.

Commemorated on Page 470 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information


Cemetery:

HARROGATE (STONEFALL) CEMETERY
Yorkshire, United Kingdom

Grave Reference:

Sec. G. Row B. Grave 18.

Location:

The town cemetery is on the south east side of Harrogate, Yorkshire. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission's plot is in the southern part of the cemetery. To reach the cemetery from Harrogate, go along the Harrogate/Wetherby road (A661) to the junction with the A59. The cemetery is signposted at this junction. This cemetery contains war graves of both world wars. The large majority of the war burials occurred during the 1939-45 War. Nearly all are airmen, two-thirds of them belonging to the Canadian forces. Many of these men died in the Military Wing of Harrogate General Hospital. Of the many airfields established in Yorkshire during the War, a number were situated in the vicinity of Harrogate. Such were the R.A.F. station at Harrogate itself, and those at Linton-on-Ouse, Tockwith, Rufforth and Marston Moor. Nearly all the Canadians buried here belonged to No. 6 (R.C.A.F.) Bomber Group, whose headquarters were at Allerton Park. All the stations controlled by this Group were in the area north of Harrogate in the Vale of York, the largest base having its headquarters at Linton-on-Ouse. During the early months of the war a piece of land was set aside by the local authorities for service war burials near the north-west corner of the cemetery. This group of war graves is in Sections 20E and 21E within the northern boundary. In July 1943 the Air Forces Section was opened at the north-eastern corner of the cemetery, where men from airfields in Yorkshire and the north-eastern counties were brought, most of whom died in the great bomber offensive on targets in Germany.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

Send us your images

  • Photo of JOHN WAKEFIELD– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of JOHN WAKEFIELD– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Other– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Attestation paper– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Other– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Star November 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Star November 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Award Citation– To the Parents of Sergeant Air Gunner John Wakefield, RCAF. Badge R/273518
This commemorates the gratitude of the Government and people of Canada for the life of a brave man freely given in the service of his Country signed by Charles S. Power Minister of National Defence for Air
Dated October 20, 1944
  • Photo of John Wakefield– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of John Wakfield– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of John Wakefield– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of John Wakefield– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Family Photo– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of John Wakefield– Rear Gunner Sergeant John Wakefield R/273518 of RCAF 78 Squadron
  • Photo of John Wakefield– In memory of the students from the Vaughan Road Collegiate Institute  (Toronto) who went away to war and did not come home. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Press Clipping– Memorial Tribute by the family of Sgt. John Wakefield.  The memorial was placed in the Toronto Star newspaper four years after his death.
  • Photo of John Wakefield– In memory of the students from the Vaughan Road Collegiate Institute  (Toronto) who went away to war and did not come home. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Memorial– In memory of the students from the Vaughan Road Collegiate Institute  (Toronto) who went away to war and did not come home. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Memorial– In memory of the students from the Vaughan Road Collegiate Institute  (Toronto) who went away to war and did not come home. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Badge– In memory of the students from the Vaughan Road Collegiate Institute  (Toronto) who went away to war and did not come home. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Book of Remembrance– In memory of the students from the Vaughan Road Collegiate Institute  (Toronto) who went away to war and did not come home. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Roll of Honour– In memory of the students from the Vaughan Road Collegiate Institute  (Toronto) who went away to war and did not come home. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Memorial– Sergeant John Wakefield is also commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Memorial– Sergeant John Wakefield 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

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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