George Arnold Booth was born on December 12, 1912 in Ottawa, Ontario. He had blue eyes, fair coloured hair and a tan complexion. George enlisted at the age of 27 where he was listed as 5’7” and 165 pounds. He lived on 290 First avenue with his parents, Lillian May Whitten Booth and George Edward Booth before going to war.His parents were married in Westboro, Ontario on October 11th 1911. Before enlistment, George worked as a clerk and a stock broker. He had one older brother, John Carleton Booth. His brother did not enlist in the war, and lived separately than with George. In his physical examination, George was found fit. In his childhood, he played golf, basketball, football and in 1934 was the junior hockey champion. He had a few hobbies, for example he enjoyed fishing and auto mechanics. His personality type was listed as confident, mature, pleasant, quick, organized and accurate.
Before enlisting, George worked from 1934 to 1938 as a broker clerk at McDougall & Cowans’ brokerage firm. He also worked in W.C. Pitfield & Company from 1939 to 1940. George enlisted on October 2, 1941 in Ottawa. He enlisted into the Royal Canadian Air Force and served as an air gunner as part of the 431 squadron. He had no previous service in the military but was noted to be a keen gunner. George embarked overseas on may 16 1942. He was promoted to flight sergeant and was awarded the air gunner’s badge on April 27th 1942. George was reported to have a moist infection on the soles of his feet that became worse over the course of a few months.
George Arnold Booth was presumed dead on April 11th, 1943 in a plane accident after air operations in Germany as an air gunner. George’s body was never found but his pilot A. Holden, was found washed ashore in Jersey. He was buried at Mont a L’Abbe cemetery in St Hilier, Jersey. The remaining three passengers who were involved in the crash were reported safe.
George Arnold Booth est né le 12 décembre 1912 à Ottawa, Ontario. Ses parents étaient Lillian May Booth et George Edouard Booth. Il avait également un jeune frère nommé John Carleton Booth. George A. a été décrit comme étant bronzé, avec des cheveux blonds et des yeux bleus et il mesurait 5'7. Il a fréquenté le Glebe Collegiate Institute entre 1926 et 1930. Pendant ses temps libre, il aimait le football, le basket-ball, le hockey, le golf et la pêche. Avant de rejoindre la guerre, il travaillait comme courtier en valeurs mobilières et vivait avec ses parents au 290 First Ave.
George A. s'est enrôlé dans l'armée le 2 octobre 1941, à l'âge de 28 ans. Le 27 avril 1942, il reçoit l'insigne des Air Gunners et est promu sergent. Plus tard cette année-là, le 16 mai, il s'embarque outre-mer, puis le 27 octobre, il est de nouveau promu sergent de section. Il rejoint le 431e Escadron(appeler le Iroquois squadron) seulement un jour après son 30e anniversaire, le 13 décembre 1942.
Et Finalement, le 11 avril 1943, il est déclaré disparu et présumé mort après des opérations aériennes au-dessus de l'Allemagne. Après sa mort, il fut enterré à Surrey, au Royaume-Uni, au mémorial de Runnymede en Surrey U.K. Au temps qu'il était mort il avait juste 30 ans. Il était enterré dans la religion de l'Eglise des Etats Unis. Trois autres dans son squadron sont tués et présumés morts au-dessus de l’Allemagne.
Newspaper clipping – Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
Newspaper Clipping – From a Winnipeg Tribune clipping.
Works Cited:
George Arnold Booth The Canadian Virtual War Memorial - Veterans Affairs Canada, https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/1530096?George%20Arnold%20Booth . Accessed 1 November 2023.
Google Maps, Google, www.google.com/maps/@45.402853,-75.6929317,3a,75y,158.99h,90.15t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s236HhgkozeRHpJ8VZV-KZg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?entry=ttu. Accessed 29 Oct. 2023.
“Second World War Service Files – War Dead, 1939 to 1947.” Collection Search, http://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.redirect?app=kia&id=3275&lang=eng. Accessed 26 October 2023.
“BOOTH, GEORGE ARNOLD.” Collection search, Gouvernement de Canada, 17 10 2024, https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/home/record?idnumber=3275&app=kia. Accessed 17 10 2024.
“The Canadian Virtual War Memorial (CVWM) - Memorials - Remembrance.” Veterans Affairs Canada, 15 January 2024, https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial. Accessed 17 October 2024.
Find A Grave database. “Flight Sergeant George Arnold Booth.” Find A Grave, International Wargraves Photography Project, 10 8 2006, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15245917/george-arnold-booth . Accessed 18 10 2024.
O'Malley, Dave. “DEATH CAME KNOCKING — Vintage Wings of Canada.” Vintage Wings of Canada, 12 July 2024, https://www.vintagewings.ca/stories/death-came-knocking . Accessed 17 October 2024.
The biographies appearing on this website have been written by students, roughly the same age as the soldiers they are studying, using primary source evidence from Library and Archives Canada, in addition to primary source documents from The Virtual War Memorial on veterans.ca. We welcome any corrections or additions you may have to these biographies.
'If we do preserve it, we honour them, and when we in our turn pass on, we will know that behind us lives a generation of free men and of free women to be the keepers of this great heritage of ours - Canada.'
- Ian A. McPhee, former student at GCI, 1937.
Glebe Collegiate Institute
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada