Sergeant (Observer) James Edward "Jimmy" Jamieson—Died in the Line of Duty July 1, 1941

 James Edward “Jimmy” Jamieson was born at Canso, Guysborough County, on August 17, 1913. Jimmy’s mother, Helen “Nellie,” was the daughter of James and Annie “Nan” (Mitchell) Reid, Lossiemouth, Scotland, where Nellie was born. According to Canadian census records, she immigrated to Canada in 1905. Jimmy’s father, Roy Edward, was the son of Edward and Lucinda (Myers) Jamieson, Canso.

Sgt. (Observer) James Edward "Jimmy" Jamieson

Roy and Nellie married at Port Mulgrave, NS, on October 13, 1905. While the couple’s marriage license lists Roy’s occupation as “carpenter,” the Jamieson family had a lengthy history of involvement in the Canso fishery. Roy’s grandfather John was a fisherman, while his father Edward was a master mariner and “wharfinger” (commercial wharf operator).

According to the 1911 Canadian census, Roy and Nellie were residing at Canso, where Roy was employed at a “fish store” and “storage” facility, presumably operated by his father. Sometime after Jimmy’s 1913 birth, the family relocated to North Rustico, PEI, where Roy continued to work in the fish buying and processing business. The couple’s second son, Joseph Thomas “Joe,” was born there on September 8, 1916. Shortly afterward, the family returned to Canso, where a daughter, Jean Lucinda, joined the family on March 19, 1918.

According to available documents, Nellie and her two young sons made at least one trans-Atlantic voyage to Scotland, returning to Canada in June 1920. A later note in Jimmy’s service file indicated that he attended one year of public school at Lossiemouth. The trans-Atlantic passenger records suggest it may have been the 1919-20 school year, not 1920-21 as stated in military documents.

Nellie and her three children were residing at Port Hawkesbury at the time of the 1921 Canadian census, although Roy is not listed among the household’s members. According to his service record, Jimmy attended elementary school at Canso from 1921 to 1923, and completed his public and high school education—Grades 10 and 11—at Port Hawkesbury from 1923 to 1931. During his adolescent years, Jimmy played baseball and was captain of the “1st team” at Hawkesbury High. Family descendants recall that he was an excellent swimmer.

After his Grade 11 year, Jimmy worked as a foreman for his father’s Canso-based company, R. E. Jamieson Ltd. Family sources state that, among other ventures, the company pioneered in the export of live lobster to the United States, packing the crustaceans in barrels between layers of seaweed.

After four years’ employment in his home community, Jimmy decided it was time to broaden his horizons. In the spring of 1935, Jimmy departed for central Canada. According to a reference letter from Canso Mayor Leslie R. Croucher, he planned “to visit Toronto and other places on a vacation.” In the event that Jimmy should seek employment, Mayor Croucher assured prospective employers: “He is a young man of the highest character,… fully qualified to fill any position for which he may apply.”

A second reference from Rev. George E. Levy, United Baptist Church Minister, Canso, described Jimmy as “a young man of good character, temperate habits, worthwhile ideals and a good student. Furthermore, I should say that [there is] no need [to] have any fears in employing Mr. Jamieson in a position [where] honesty, industry and trustworthiness are expected.”

The letters of recommendation earned Jimmy a position as a salesman with White & Co. Wholesalers Ltd., Toronto. During his first four years in the city, he boarded at the Toronto YMCA, 40 College St. When he departed the facility for other accommodations in the spring of 1939, the YMCA’s Residence Secretary described Jimmy’s time there in glowing terms:

“It gives me great pleasure to state that at all times his conduct has been that of a gentleman. He can be trusted absolutely to meet his financial obligations, and he is the type of man whose presence is highly desirable in any Association building or elsewhere.”

Shortly after Canada’s September 10, 1939 declaration of war on Germany, Jimmy applied for a commission as a “provisional pilot officer” with the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). On October 9, he completed the required medical examination at Toronto. The resulting report included only common childhood ailments—measles and whooping cough—on an otherwise clear bill of health. Jimmy listed hockey and cricket as his sporting activities, while boating was a recreational hobby.

The RCAF application process stretched into the following year. On April 29, 1940, Jimmy completed an interview and personality assessment at the RCAF Toronto Recruiting Centre. At the time, he stood five feet six inches and weighed 145 pounds (66 kilograms). Documents related to the interview describe his appearance as “healthy, short, refined [and] clean,” and his dress as “conservative, clean and neat, smart.”

Jimmy’s personality assessment describes his demeanour as “very polite and gentlemanly,” his intellect as “quick, organized [and] accurate,” and his personality as “confident, mature [and] pleasant.” Overall, Jimmy received an “average” rating, his examiners recommending him for training as an “observer.” Considering his educational background, this was his likely RCAF path, as standards for the “pilot” training stream favoured at least partial completion of a post-secondary program.

On June 6, 1940, Jimmy formally attested for “air crew std. [standard]” service with the RCAF at Toronto. Before month’s end, he commenced “Course No. 3” at No. 1 Initial Training School (ITS), Toronto. Comments on his “Air Observer Pupil Report” describe Jimmy in these words: “Good reliable type. Will make a good observer.”

Jimmy completed his initial training on July 20 and enjoyed eight day’s leave before departing for No. 2 Air Observers’ School, Edmonton, AB. From August 5 to October 26, he completed Course No. 4, a program that consisted of two components. One portion involved daytime and night-time flights as 1st and 2nd Navigator in a Lockheed Anson. Altogether, Jimmy logged 52.5 hours of flight time, eight of which took place at night. His flight assessment report described him as “good material” for the role.

The second component—ground training—involved navigational and flight-related courses, covering such topics as compasses and instruments, signals, maps and charts, meteorology, photography and reconnaissance. Jimmy scored 758 out of a possible 1,000 points and placed 16th in a class of 40 air observer cadets. Comments on his final report described him as a “conscientious, careful worker.” While his Air Navigation rating was “average,” Jimmy earned an “above average” rating as an Air Observer.

On October 27, Jimmy reported to No. 2 Bombing and Gunnery School, Mossbank, SK, where he commenced Armament Training Course No. 1. Over the ensuing six weeks, he logged 8.45 hours of bombing drill and 2.30 hours of gunnery training, all daytime flights. Jimmy achieved a score of 204 out of 300 points in bombing, and 137 out of 200 point in gunnery. Overall, he earned a percentage mark of 77 and ranked fourth in a class of 36 cadets.

An evaluation report made several comments on Jimmy’s performance. With regard to bombing, instructors stated: “Will be a very good bomb-aimer. Some inexperienced pilots. Bombs could not be plotted on B 6 exercises because of snow.” In reference to his air gunner training, “inexperienced pilots” meant that there was “insufficient time to complete [the] exercise.” Overall, Jimmy received a very positive assessment: “Thorough, studious[,] and at the same time, a very good, soldierly airman. Should be considered for commission[,] pending results of A. N. S. [Air Navigation School]. Air work above average.”

On December 9, 1940, Jimmy received his Air Observer’s Badge and was promoted to the rank of T[emporary]/Sergeant. That same day, he commenced Course No. 4 at Air Navigation School (ANS), Rivers, MB. Jimmy logged 32.50 hours in the air as 1st and 2nd Navigator, under both daytime and night-time conditions. His performance warranted a score of 185 out of 250 points and another positive assessment: “Keen worker, will improve with experience.”

In the ground training component, Jimmy completed a course in Astronomical Navigation (Plotting and Training), achieving 170 out of 250 points. While his rating was “average” and he placed 28th in a class of 36, written comments were once again impressive: “Hard worker, has grasped the subject well…. Resourceful. Should make a dependable air observer.”

While stationed at Rivers, MB, Jimmy completed his RCAF Officers’ Application, listing a total of 73 hours and 35 minutes of flying time. His final ANS assessment, dated January 13, 1941, stated that Jimmy had passed with an overall mark of 73.6 percent and a rank of 15 in a class of 36 cadets. Assessed as “above average,” his superiors recommended Jimmy for a Commissioned Rank, with the supporting comment: “Quiet and gentlemanly. Should make a good officer.”

On January 26, Jimmy was assigned to No. 3 Manning Depot, RCAF Station, Rockcliffe, located along the banks of the Ottawa River, east of the national capitol. Upon arrival, he was placed in the Embarkation Pool, which contained RCAF personnel destined for overseas service. On February 8, Jimmy was officially “taken on strength” by Eastern Air Command Embarkation. One week later, he departed for the United Kingdom, and was officially “taken on strength” overseas on March 2.

Jimmy was assigned to No. 15 Operational Training Unit (OTU) on March 15, 1941. As the name suggests, OTUs represented the final stage of training before assignment to an active squadron. All air crew trainees completed three months with an OTU before being assigned to an operational squadron. While OTUs training bomber crews occasionally participated in actual missions, their personnel usually performed more routine operations, such as coastal surveillance and home defence. Each OTU focused on training crews for a specific branch of the RAF—bomber, fighter or transport.

No. 15 OTU was formed in August 1940 and was based at Harwell, Berkshire, west of London, at the time of Jimmy’s arrival. The unit was part of No. 6 Group, RAF Bomber Command, and prepared its personnel for service with night bomber crews aboard Vickers Wellington aircraft. The planes flown by OTU personnel had been discarded by operational squadrons and thus were prone to various malfunctions, often resulting in precarious experiences for their crews. In fact, RAF OTUs lost more than 1,600 aircraft during the war, many due to accidental crashes over land and sea. The majority of the lost planes were Wellingtons.

On June 23, 1941, Jimmy was assigned to Middle East Command (MEC), which oversaw RAF aircraft operations in North Africa and the Mediterranean Sea. The major Allied focus at the time was the island of Malta, located south of Sicily. Controlled by the United Kingdom at the outbreak of the war, the small island’s strategic location was crucial to the Allies’ ability to attack Italian supply lines from the air and sea. The opening of a new front in North Africa in June 1940 enhanced Malta’s importance and resulted in a sustained German and Italian campaign to bomb the island into submission. The air assault continued until late 1942, when significant German losses in North Africa finally relieved the pressure.

One of the tasks assigned to RAF crews during the “siege of Malta” involved “ferrying” the required aircraft from the United Kingdom to the island. One week after Jimmy was assigned to MEC, he found himself fulfilling air observer duties aboard a Lockheed Hudson destined for Malta. The twin-engine, American-built plane was designed for light bomber, coastal reconnaissance, transport and maritime patrol duties.

On July 1, 1941, Jimmy’s aircraft was officially reported missing. Family sources state that crew members in an accompanying aircraft later reported observing it explode in mid-air, possibly the result of hostile fire. The aircraft and its crew were never located. A note in Jimmy’s service record states that he was presumed dead, due to a “flying accident [while on] ferrying duty, overseas, continent of Europe.”

Sergeant (Observer) James Edward Jamieson’s name is inscribed on the Malta Memorial, erected at Floriana, Malta, in 1954. The monument is dedicated to the memory of 2,298 Commonwealth air personnel who perished in the Mediterranean Theatre during the Second World War and who have no known final resting place.

Malta Memorial, Floriana, Malta

Jimmy’s younger brother Joe also enlisted with the Canadian armed forces during the war. He was later selected for the First Special Service Force (FSSF), a joint Canadian - American unit organized in 1942 that came to be known as the “Devil’s Brigade.” FSSF personnel served in the Aleutian Islands, Italy and France before the unit was disbanded in December 1944, its members dispersed to other existing units. During his time with the unit, Joe rose to the rank of Sergeant and was awarded the Bronze Star Medal in February 1945, “in recognition of distinguished services in the cause of the Allies.”

Sgt. Joseph Thomas "Joe" Jamieson

After the war’s conclusion, Joe returned to Guysborough County, where he married Sarah “Sadie” Feltmate, took up residence at Guysborough and raised a family of three sons. Joe Jamieson passed away at Guysborough Memorial Hospital on March 18, 2007, and was laid to rest in Fourth Hill Cemetery, Canso.

Photographs of Jimmy and Joe Jamieson courtesy of Paul Long, Guysborough, NS.