Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

James was born in Kent, UK to Ernest & Ethel Annie Hollands, husband of Myra Evelyn Hollands of Kondinin, WA Aged 30yo from Busselton, he originally enlisted in the AIF, No. WX31475 as a Gunner with the 15th Field Regiment in the field on the 8 August 1942, discharged on 12 August 1942, he re-enlisted in the RAAF the next day. Flight Sergeant. No. 429620. 100 Squadron. RAAF attached to RAF. He was killed in action during flying battle over France, 1 July 1944. He flew with Bomber Command from various stations in the UK.
The official report stated that: On Friday, 30 June 1944, as part of mission, along with other Lancasters, the aircraft , (Avro Lancaster (type I, with serial LL958 and code HW-H). of the 100 squadron (RAF), took off for a mission to Vierzon in France from an airfield in Grimsby UK at 22:24 hrs, the mission was planned for Satuarday 1 July 1944. GREAT POND JULY 1, 1944 LOCATION The Great Pond-Near Le Marchais La Ferté St Cyr Commune (1 km SE) DATE July 1, 1944 around 1H15 UNIT 100 Squadron (squadron # 100) Avro Lancaster-type B N ° LL958 registered HW-H was lost. The aircraft was delivered May 17, 1944 and had only 22 hours of flight when it crashed about ¼ H after that of Mazeaux. MISSION: Takeoff from Grimsby east of Lincolnshire (England), June 30th at 10:24 pm. - Mission: destruction of railways in Vierzon (like that of Mazeaux) - The plane was hit by a night fighter. It hit a pylon South of the pond. Falling into the pond it burnt for several hours. Three bodies were recovered the first day but it was necessary to empty the pond to find them all. - The 7 victims were buried at the Ferté St Cyr cemetary , there were 5 Australians, 1 Canadian & 1 British airman on board. James is buried LA FERTE.ST.CYR Communal Cemetery, France Plot 3. Grave 8. and is remembered with honour on the Busselton Cenotaph W.A. and the Kondinin Honour Roll, WA.