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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

John Robert Thurlow

In memory of:

Pilot Officer John Robert Thurlow

June 22, 1943

Military Service

Service Number:

J/17471

Force:

Air Force

Unit:

Royal Canadian Air Force

Division:

100 (R.A.F.) Sqdn

Citation(s):

1939-45 Star, Air Crew Europe Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp. Operational Wings awarded posthumously the 7 September 1946.

Additional Information

Enlistment:

July 4, 1941
Vancouver, British Columbia

Son of Horace and Marjorie Eileen (née Saunders) Thurlow, of Hollyburn, British Columbia. Brother of Mary Joyce and Eileen Joan.

Commemorated on Page 220 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information

Cemetery:

BERGEN-OP-ZOOM CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY
Netherlands

Grave Reference:

11. F. 9.

Location:

BERGEN-OP-ZOOM CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY is located 39 Km north west of Antwerp and 19 Km after passing the Border into the Netherlands. The N11 connects Antwerp to Bergen op Zoom via Kapellen, Pulte, Hoogerheide and finally on to Bergen op Zoom. On reaching Bergen op Zoom railway station turn right onto the Stationsplein and after 200 M turn right onto the Bredastraat. Follow this road for 500 M where it becomes Wouwsestraatweg and carry straight on for 2.5 kilometres. The street name has now changed to the Ruytershoveweg and the BERGEN-OP-ZOOM CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY can be found on the left of this street. Steps into cemetery (not suitable for wheelchairs).

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

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  • Grave marker– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

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    Grave marker
    Grave marker – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Grave marker– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Grave marker
    Grave marker – Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From a World War 2 issue of the Vancouver Province c.1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – From a World War 2 issue of the Vancouver Province c.1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of John Robert Thurlow– Thurlow, John Robert - Pilot Officer. Born 2nd April, 1911, at Marshall, Sask. Educated at Marshall and Prince Albert, Sask. Entered the service of the Bank 24th September, 1926. Served at branches in Saskatchewan and at Vancouver and Victoria, B.C. Enlisted 21st July, 1941, from Victoria in R.C.A.F. Sergeant Pilot 25th March, 1942; Pilot Officer 10th April, 1943. Trained at Edmonton, Alta., Boundary Bay, B.C., and Claresholm, Alta. Overseas in May, 1942. Attached R.A.F., Bomber Command, as Pilot of a Lancaster bomber. Took part in several raids, ranging from Kiel to Spezia and from the Ruhr to Pilsen. Killed in action after air operations on 21st June, 1943, when returning from his 17th operational flight. His body and the bodies of the other members of the crew were identified by the discs collected by a Dutch physician, at the risk of his own life, from a field guarded by Germans. Buried at Breda?Princenhaugen, and re-interred in permanent Canadian Cemetery at Bergen-op-Zoom, Holland. From a memorial booklet prepared by the Canadian Bank of Commerce.

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    Photo of John Robert Thurlow
    Photo of John Robert Thurlow – Thurlow, John Robert - Pilot Officer. Born 2nd April, 1911, at Marshall, Sask. Educated at Marshall and Prince Albert, Sask. Entered the service of the Bank 24th September, 1926. Served at branches in Saskatchewan and at Vancouver and Victoria, B.C. Enlisted 21st July, 1941, from Victoria in R.C.A.F. Sergeant Pilot 25th March, 1942; Pilot Officer 10th April, 1943. Trained at Edmonton, Alta., Boundary Bay, B.C., and Claresholm, Alta. Overseas in May, 1942. Attached R.A.F., Bomber Command, as Pilot of a Lancaster bomber. Took part in several raids, ranging from Kiel to Spezia and from the Ruhr to Pilsen. Killed in action after air operations on 21st June, 1943, when returning from his 17th operational flight. His body and the bodies of the other members of the crew were identified by the discs collected by a Dutch physician, at the risk of his own life, from a field guarded by Germans. Buried at Breda?Princenhaugen, and re-interred in permanent Canadian Cemetery at Bergen-op-Zoom, Holland. From a memorial booklet prepared by the Canadian Bank of Commerce.
  • Memorial– Pilot Officer John Robert Thurlow is commemorated on the Bomber Command Memorial Wall in Nanton, AB … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

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    Memorial
    Memorial – Pilot Officer John Robert Thurlow is 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

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

    Details

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

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