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Holt, Peter Grattan

Date of birth:
May 31st, 1923 (Montreal/Quebec, Canada)
Date of death:
May 30th, 1943 (Castenray/Limburg, The Netherlands)
Buried on:
Commonwealth War Cemetery Jonkerbos
Plot: 7. Row: H. Grave: 1.
Service number:
J/12470
Nationality:
Canadian

Biography

Peter was born on May 31 1923 in Montreal, the son of William Robert Granttan Holt and Mary Lucille Holt nee Jeffery (American) of Montreal.

He was a student and member of the Church of England. He spoke English and French fairly well. His sports were football, tennis, swimming, skiing, badminton, hockey and water skiing.

He served as a Sergeant from 1936-1941 with the Bishop College School Cadet Corps. He enlisted on July 29 1941 the RCAF in Montreal and went on September 1 1942 thereafter overseas to the UK.

Peter was killed in action on Sunday May 30 1943 age 19, just one day before his 20th birthday due to a crash north of the Lollebeekweg 2 km west-southwest of Castenray before or after an attack on Wuppertal in Germany. He was temporarily buried then at the Military Cemetery in Venlo and he was reburied on October 30 1947 at the British Cemetery in Mook before being reburied definitely on December 3 1947 at the Jonkerbos War Cemetery.

The other fallen RAF Volunteer Reserve crew members and also temporarily buried in Venlo were Sgt Donald McColl in grave 12-H-5, Sgt Walter Young age 25 in grave 24-B- 4, Sgt Raymond T. Stoddart age 22 in grave 24-B-3 and Sgt Harry Robinson age 21 in grave 24-B-5.
The other fallen RAF crew member was Sgt Ivor Tucker age 19 in grave 24-B-7.
RAF crew member W/O D.E.D. Kimpton survived the crash and he became then a prisoner of war.

A plaque is placed next to the crash site with the names of fallen crew members.

He served with the 44 (R.A.F.) Sqdn. Royal Canadian Air Force.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:
July 3rd, 1942
Pilot's Flying Badge
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Flying Officer
Unit:
No. 44 (Rhodesia) Squadron, Royal Air Force
Awarded on:
February 24th, 1944
Memorial Cross

Sources