Are you related to this man? A UK village wants to talk to you
Local council looks to name new road in memory of WWII airman
A village in the United Kingdom is searching for a possible Winnipeg connection to the Second World War.
The parish council in Barmby Moor in northern England, wants to rename a road in a new village development after Royal Canadian Air Force air observer William Patrick James. The catch: they need his family's permission first, and the local squadron association believes they're still in Winnipeg where James was born.
"There's a lot of new house building in the area," said Simon Kularatne, secretary and treasurer for the 102 Ceylon Squadron Association. He put out the call to track down the family or next of kin after a policy change which requires family notification prior to naming a street.
Kularatne is hoping the meagre details he has about James will help lead him to his relatives. James's parents were named Eric Wallwyn McDonald James and Ellen Muriel Bertram, they lived on Balfour Road in Winnipeg at the time of the airman's death, and he had two brothers, two sisters and a number of aunts and uncles.
A Canadian in the war effort
James died on Aug. 12, 1942 while serving in the 24 OTU Bomber Command. He, along with 41 other aircrew members, are buried in the cemetery at Barmby Moor church.
Kularatne said they wanted to rename the road in honour of James' s service.
The village has an intimate connection with the war, planes used to fly out from the village and nearby Pocklington every day. Kularatne adds residents of Barmby Moor got to know the soldiers in the village shops and pubs.
"When you think of nearly twenty four-engine bombers taking off every night, the locals got quite a close connection to the air crew," he said. "So they think a great deal of the aircrew who flew from there."
Another Canadian connection
The village is also looking to name another street after a fallen Canadian, Charles Hackney. He was born in Toronto, and died on Feb. 26, 1942. His parents, Taylor Hackney and Helen (nee) Rollo are both from Dundee, Scotland, and lived on Glebeholme Rd. in Toronto at the time of Charles' death.
Any information relating to the family members can be directed to the squadron association's Facebook page.