From the archives: John Thompson
From the traditional territories of the First Peoples of Turtle Island, to a farmland community, to a bustling city centre and everything in between – Vaughan's transformation is a story worth telling. The City of Vaughan’s popular monthly series continues, with historical content from Vaughan Archives.
Scroll through memory lane, learn about the city's past and explore the places, people and events that were pivotal to the development of the Vaughan we know today.
In Vaughan, November was proclaimed a Month of Remembrance to commemorate the service and sacrifice of local citizens and their families. In recognition of this observance, this month’s feature is on Second World War veteran John Thompson.
Born in 1923, John grew up in Woodbridge and enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) when he was 20 years old. He learned how to fly at the No. 11 Elementary Flying Training School in Cap-de-la-Madeleine, Quebec. At that time, pilots were sorted into advanced flying and operational training units before being deployed overseas.
John served in the 245 Squadron of the Second Tactical Air Force as a Hawker Typhoon pilot. A Hawker Typhoon is a ground-attack aircraft specialized in destroying armoured vehicles and precision ground targets.
The 245 Squadron served in the Battle of Normandy, between June and August 1944. In September 1944, the Squadron was assigned to assist with the battle over Holland and provide food and essential supplies to Dutch citizens.
Throughout the Second World War, the RCAF was a major contributor to the defence of the British Commonwealth and served in multiple arenas, including Great Britain, Europe, North Atlantic, North Africa and South Asia. By late 1944, the RCAF had reached its peak as the fourth-largest Allied air force with more than 215,000 members, including approximately 17,000 members from the women’s division.
During the war, John achieved the rank of flight sergeant. Later, he became a flying officer (the equivalent of an army lieutenant) and then commander of one of 245 Squadron’s two wings. After earning mentions in dispatches, he was awarded the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Operational Wings.
Being in the RCAF was one of the most dangerous positions during the Second World War, with many losing their lives. In an interview published in the Vaughan Weekly News in 1994, John remarked: “One day, a fellow would be at breakfast with you and the next, he wasn’t. The war waited for no one, and there wasn’t enough time to spend worrying about dying.” John’s service ended in March 1945, and he considered himself lucky to return home to Canada.
ABOUT VAUGHAN ARCHIVES
Established in 1988, the City’s Archives is home to more than 600 collections, consisting of both City records and cultural records about Vaughan from 1860 to the present day. Records include, but are not limited to:
- City business records with long-term legal and administrative value, such as Council meeting minutes, by-laws, assessment rolls, financial records, reports and official correspondence
- church, community and school records
- census records
- historical photographs
- land records
- historical maps, plans and aerial photographs
- newspapers
- personal papers of past residents and founding families, such as diaries, family histories, journals and letters
- records of local organizations, both past and present
VIEW VAUGHAN'S ARCHIVES ONLINE!
The City's Archival Collection is on digital display for all to explore! The below galleries are available in the City's online gallery on Flickr:
- Archival Awareness
- Early Churches of Vaughan
- Early Communities of Vaughan
- Early Pioneers of Vaughan
- Families in Arms
- From Township to City: The Evolution of Vaughan
- Historical Families of Vaughan
- Historical Photography
- Recollections of Rural Vaughan
- The Mary Wood Collection
- The Way We Were: Representations of Vaughan's Past
- Vaughan Working Environments
- Vaughan Through the Ages: Medicine, Music and Sports and Recreation
- And more!
A personal Flickr account is not required to access the City's online gallery, which contains only a small selection of the full archives collection. If you are looking for a particular image, original file, primary source record or more, please visit the Archival Database, or contact the Vaughan Archives by calling 905-832-2281 or emailing archives@vaughan.ca.
By managing and preserving both City and community records, the Enterprise Information Management Services team ensures that Vaughan's rich and varied history will continue to be available for future generations. Learn more at vaughan.ca/archives.
For the latest updates, subscribe to Vaughan News and follow the official corporate channel on X (formerly known as Twitter), Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
