Leading Aircraftman James Gordon Anderson

Survivor of WW2

Date of Death:

Biography General Links Ranks Awards Chronology Print

Service Biography

James Gordon Anderson was born at Huntingdon, Quebec, on 28 February 1908. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force at Montreal on 1 April 1941 and initially served on general duties before remustering as a Driver, Motor Transport. After training in Canada he went overseas in November 1941. His wartime service included England and operational service in France, Belgium and Holland with RCAF organizations including No. 414 Squadron, 129 Airfield Headquarters and 143 Wing. He was appointed Temporary Corporal on 1 February 1942 and reverted to Leading Aircraftman on 28 August 1943. He married Doreen Edith Lee at Littleborough, Lancashire, England, on 3 April 1943. Anderson returned to Canada in February 1945 and was discharged at Lachine, Quebec, on 12 May 1945 with the rank of Leading Aircraftman after four years and 42 days of active service. He died on 5 September 1978.

General Information

Ranks

Conflict Rank Regiment Branch Unit Company Date From Date To
WW2 Leading Aircraftman Royal Canadian Air Force Air Force 129 Airfield Headquarters; 143 Wing; repatriation/release establishments
WW2 Temporary Corporal Royal Canadian Air Force Air Force No. 414 Squadron and subsequent overseas RCAF units
WW2 Leading Aircraftman Royal Canadian Air Force Air Force No. 6 Bombing and Gunnery School / early overseas RCAF units
WW2 Aircraftman 1st Class Royal Canadian Air Force Air Force No. 1 Manning Depot / No. 6 Bombing and Gunnery School
WW2 Aircraftman 2nd Class Royal Canadian Air Force Air Force RCAF Recruiting Centre / No. 1 Manning Depot

Awards

Conflict Award Action Date of Award Date of Citation Source
WW2 1939-45 Star
WW2 France and Germany Star
WW2 Defence Medal
WW2 Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp

Service Chronology

1908-02-28 — Born at Huntingdon, Quebec.
1941-04-01 — Enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force at Montreal, Quebec, as Aircraftman 2nd Class.
1941-04-23 — Struck off strength of the RCAF Recruiting Centre at Montreal, Quebec, for posting to No. 1 Manning Depot.
1941-04-24 — Taken on strength of No. 1 Manning Depot at Toronto, Ontario.
1941-06-23 — Struck off strength of No. 1 Manning Depot at Toronto, Ontario, for No. 6 Bombing and Gunnery School.
1941-06-24 — Taken on strength of No. 6 Bombing and Gunnery School at Mountain View, Ontario.
1941-07-01 — Reclassified Aircraftman 1st Class while serving in Canada.
1941-08-28 — Reclassified Leading Aircraftman while serving in Canada.
1941-10-16 to 1941-10-27 — Granted embarkation leave in Canada.
1941-10-28 — Struck off strength of No. 6 Bombing and Gunnery School at Mountain View, Ontario, for No. 1 Y Depot.
1941-10-29 — Taken on strength of No. 1 Y Depot at Halifax, Nova Scotia, for overseas movement.
1941-11-02 — Struck off strength of No. 1 Y Depot at Halifax, Nova Scotia, to the RCAF Trainees Pool for overseas service.
1941-11-14 — Taken on strength of No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre in the United Kingdom.
1941-11-21 — Posted to No. 414 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force, in the United Kingdom.
1941-11-24 to 1941-11-27 — Granted four days private leave in the United Kingdom.
1942-02-01 — Appointed Temporary Corporal while serving with the RCAF in the United Kingdom.
1942-02-08 — Recommended for remustering from General Duties while serving with No. 414 Squadron in the United Kingdom.
1943-04-03 — Married Doreen Edith Lee at Littleborough, Lancashire, England.
1943-06-19 to 1943-06-27 — Granted private leave in the United Kingdom.
1943-07-10 — Posted from No. 414 Squadron to 129 Airfield Headquarters in the United Kingdom.
1943-08-28 — Remustered to Driver, Motor Transport while serving in the United Kingdom.
1943-08-28 — Reverted from Temporary Corporal to Leading Aircraftman while serving in the United Kingdom.
1943-10-19 to 1943-10-25 — Granted seven days private leave in the United Kingdom.
1943-10-26 to 1943-10-27 — Granted 48 hours leave in the United Kingdom.
1943-12-04 to 1943-12-10 — Granted seven days private leave in the United Kingdom.
1943-12-11 to 1943-12-12 — Granted 48 hours leave in the United Kingdom.
1944-04-06 to 1944-04-12 — Granted seven days private leave in the United Kingdom.
1944-04-13 to 1944-04-14 — Granted 48 hours leave in the United Kingdom.
1944-04-27 to 1944-04-29 — Completed ground-defence rifle/range training while with 129 Airfield Headquarters in the United Kingdom.
1944-06-26 — Commenced qualifying operational service in continental Europe with 129 and 143 Wing, RCAF; the service summary identifies this service as France / Belgium / Holland.
1944-08-27 — Daughter Jean Evelyn Margaret Anderson was born; the service record does not state her place of birth.
1944-12-27 — Qualified for the France and Germany Star while serving with 143 Wing, RCAF, in continental Europe.
1945-01-15 — Authorized to wear the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Maple Leaf emblem while serving overseas in Europe.
1945-02-10 — Trade assessment recorded Leading Aircraftman Anderson as Driver/Transport with superior proficiency while serving in Europe.
1945-02-14 — Posted from No. 143 Wing Headquarters to an RCAF Repatriation Depot in the United Kingdom.
1945-02-28 — Returned to Canada for repatriation and release processing.
1945-03-13 — Taken on strength at Air Command, Trenton, Ontario, during repatriation processing.
1945-05-02 — Posted to No. 2 Release Centre at Lachine, Quebec.
1945-05-11 — Service interview at No. 2 Release Centre, Lachine, Quebec, recorded permanent slight deafness in both ears and recommended work away from noisy surroundings.
1945-05-12 — Discharged from the RCAF at No. 2 Release Centre, Lachine, Quebec, on completion of a term of voluntary service, with the rank of Leading Aircraftman.
1978-09-05 — Died on 5 September 1978; the DVA death notification does not state a place of death.

Notes

Completed Grade IX in Quebec in 1924 and spoke English only. Before enlistment he had worked about three years as a lineman, four years as a truck driver, and three years in farming; his attestation occupation was labourer. At enlistment he was 5 ft 6 1/2 in tall, weighed about 134 1/2 lb, had a 36 in chest with 2 in expansion, medium complexion, brown eyes and brown hair. He remustered to Driver, Motor Transport in August 1943. Character assessments were Very Good and his driver/transport trade proficiency was rated superior. At discharge he had permanent slight deafness in both ears and was advised to avoid noisy surroundings.

[Previous notes - manual reconciliation required]

Born February 28th, 1908.
Next of Kin:.Mrs, Mary Anderson.
Address: -Huntingdon, Que.
James Gordon Anderson BIRTH 28 FEB 1908 • Quebec, Canada DEATH SEPTEMBER 5, 1978 • Huntingdon, Quebec
Marriage 1 April 1943 • Surrey, England Doreen Edith Lee 1925–1998
Obit HG 1978-09-13
Request confirmation number EA2026_0173298

Additional Service Notes

4 years 42 days of active service. Served in Canada from 1 April to 2 November 1941 and again from 28 February to 12 May 1945, with overseas service from 3 November 1941 to 27 February 1945. Initial Canadian postings included Montreal, No. 1 Manning Depot at Toronto, No. 6 Bombing and Gunnery School at Mountain View, and No. 1 Y Depot at Halifax. Overseas he served with No. 414 Squadron, 129 Airfield Headquarters and 143 Wing, including operational service in France, Belgium and Holland. He was appointed Temporary Corporal on 1 February 1942 and reverted to Leading Aircraftman on 28 August 1943. He remustered to Driver, Motor Transport and was rated superior in that trade. The service file explicitly supports the 1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, and Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp.

Additional Next of Kin Notes

Parents: Alexander Anderson, farmer, born Huntingdon, Quebec, and Mary Jane Anderson (née MacFarlane), born Martintown, Ontario. He married Doreen Edith Lee at Littleborough, Lancashire, England, on 3 April 1943. Their daughter Jean Evelyn Margaret Anderson was born on 27 August 1944.

Version: 3 Last modified: 2026-09-14 02:05:09 by: marc