Name: Rank: Service No: Service: Campaign Medals: Date of Birth: Place of Birth: Date of Enlistment: Place of Enlistment: Address At Enlistment: Age at Enlistment: Height: Complexion: Eyes: Hair: Weight: Trade: Marital Status: Religion: Next of Kin: Date of Death: Age at Death: Cemetery: Cemetery Reference:

Charles Allan Tolson

Sources; Veterans Affairs Canada Library and Archives Canada findagrave.com Background Information: The Battle of the Rhineland North Nova Scotia Highlanders - photo collection Canadian Army: The Nova Scotia Highlanders (North) Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery

Charles Allan Tolson Private F/36677 North Nova Scotia Highlanders, R.C.I.C. 1939-45 Star France-Germany Star War Medal, 1939-45 CVSM & Clasp May 20, 1925 Lansdowne Station, Pictou Co., NS January 31, 1944 Halifax, NS Lansdowne Station, Pictou Co., NS 18 5 feet, 8 inches Hazel Dark Brown 131 lbs. farm labourer/lumber-man Single Presbyterian Mary Tolson (Mother) Lansdowne Station, Pictou Co., NS February 19, 1945 19 Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery XIX. B. 11 Commemorated on page 571 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on November 29 Charles Allan Tolson was the son of Edmund St Clair Tolson (1900-1947) and Mary (Balfour) Tolson (1901-2000) of Lansdowne Station, Pictou Co., NS. He was the brother of George Balfour Tolson (1922- 2004) who served in the US Army during WWII, James Edmund Tolson (1924-1976) who served with the Royal Canadian Air Force, Mary E., Jean, and Virginia. Edmund, the father of Charles, lived in the United States. He served in the US Air Corps 390th Base Headquarters, during WWII, enlisting November 14, 1942 and discharged on May 1, 1945 (He died on May 21, 1947). Charles completed Grade 9 and at the age of fourteen and went to work, employed by Daniel Balfour in Lansdowne Station as a labourer and lumber-man. Charles completed his military medical on February 1, 1944 at No 6 District Depot, Halifax. On February 9, 1944 he was struck off strength at No 6 District Depot, Halifax and taken on strength on February 10, 1944 at No. 24 Canadian Army (Basic) Training Centre at Brampton, Ontario. He completed his basic training on April 10, 1944. On April 11, 1944 he was transferred to Aldershot in Nova Scotia for advanced training. He was granted furlough from June 10, 1944 to June 23, 1944. On July 12, 1944 Private Tolson was struck off strength from the Canadian Army, Canada and on July 13, was taken on strength with the Canadian Army Overseas, embarking Canada at Halifax and disembarking in England on July 19, 1944. Private Tolson embarked England on August 4, 1944 and disembarked in France on August 5, 1944. On September 17, 1944 he was wounded (slight gun shot wound to the right thigh) and admitted to No. 108 General Hospital in France September 19 and 24, 1944. On September 25, Private Tolson was posted to the 13th Battalion and returned to the North Nova Scotia Highlanders on October 10, 1944. On February 19, 1945 Private Tolson was killed in action while serving in Germany. On that date he was listed as missing in action and then officially listed as killed in action. His body was buried on February 20 in a temporary cemetery at Warheyen (Grave 8), two miles south west of Emmerich, Germany and reburied in the Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery in 1946. His mother received official notice of his death by telegram on March 4, 1945. Private Tolson served in Canada between January 21, 1944 and July 12, 1944, in the United Kingdom between July 13, 1944 and August 4, 1944, and in Northwest Europe betyween August 5, 1944 and February 19, 1945. The North Nova Scotia Highlanders, R.C.I.C. were part of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division during the European campaign in WWII and participated in Operation "Veritable” between February 8 and February 21, 1945.

Photo: Des Philippet (December 5, 2015)

St. Andrew's Presbyterian, Gairloch Cemetery: Pictou County, NS IN HONORED MEMORY OF MEN OF THIS CONGREGATION WHO SACRIFICED THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR AND WORLD WAR II IN WORLD WAR II 1939-1945 CHESTER F. MUNRO KILLED IN ACTION SEPT 6 1944 AGED 27 YRS CHARLES A. TOLSON KILLED IN ACTION FEB 19 1945 AGED 19 YRS