Remembering World War II

John Cedric Jollimore

Name: John Cedric Jollimore Rank: Technical Sergeant Service Number: 36560983 Service: 564th Bomber Squadron, 389th Bomber Group, Heavy, USAAF Awards: Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart Date of Birth: November 24, 1915 Place of Birth: Halifax, NS Date of Enlistment: Unknown Place of Enlistment: Unknown Age at Enlistment: Unknown Address at Enlistment: Detroit, Wayne Co., Michigan Height: 5 feet, 8 inches Complexion: Ruddy Hair: Brown Eyes: Brown Date of Death: March 24, 1945 Age: 29 Cemetery: Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands Grave: Plot H, Row 2, Grave 26 John Cedric Jollimore was the son of Edmund St Clair Jollimore (b. 1893) and Margaret "Maggie" Ann Grant McKessick (1888-1922). His mother was born in Old Deer, in Buchan, Aberdeenshire, Scotland; his father – in Halifax, NS. John had an older brother Edmund Clair, Jr. (1914-2003), a younger brother Roy Ernest (1920-2004), and a sister Phyllis Elaine (1921-1991). Before moving to the US, John and family lived on the North West Arm in Halifax, NS (in the 1921 census). John immigrated September 16, 1934, via Calais, Maine, USA, with his older brother Edmund. John’s mother had died in 1922, and in 1940 his father remarried – Ellen Rose Jollimore (1908-1963). John registered for the US Draft October 16, 1940, in Detroit, Michigan. He was living in Detroit and working at the Good Housekeeping Shop. John married Rose Lena Talbot (1915-1988) April 10, 1943 in Newton, Missouri. Rose was born in Louisville, Jefferson, Kentucky. Technical Sergeant Jollimore was assigned tot the 564rd Bomber Squadron of the 389th Heavy Bomber Group of the USAAF. By 1945, he was stationed at Hethel airfield in Norfolk, England. John served as the Flight Engineer and Top Turret Gunner on B-24 Liberator bomber (B-24H-25-FO) aircraft # 42-95240; known as “The Old Veteran”. On supply mission to aid the 17th US Airborne during Operation Varsity (American and British forces crossing the Rhine). The plane, flying at 300 ft, was hit by ground fire shortly after dropping the supplies. After being hit the B-24 nosed straight down into the ground and exploded. All nine crew members were killed instantly. Also lost were: Second Lieutenant Theodore Francis Bartle Navigator Staff Sergeant Gerrard E. Crotty Right Waist Gunner Second Lieutenant Trenton E. Gard Co-Pilot Staff Sergeant Martin J. Kaufmann Tail Gunner First Lieutenant Harvey Renfro Mosher Pilot Staff Sergeant Richard Sheraski Nose Turret Gunner Private Jack O. Snider Left Waist Gunner Technical Sergeant Taffy Williams Radio Operator John Cedric Jollimore was initially interred at temporary cemetery 4650 in Margraten (Plot V, Row 9, Grave 220), and reinterred at the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, Netherlands with grave consolidation. Just seven miles from the city centre of Maastricht, is the Netherlands American Cemetery. A tranquil landscape masks the countries turbulent history during WWII. Over 8200 Americans are buried here. Their headstones, set in long curves. John is buried in the second row of Plot H, in Grave 26. The memorial of the cemetery is of white portland stone, a sculpture depicts a mourning women flanked by hovering doves, and new growth from the shattered remains of a tree. It represents new life sprouting from war’s destructions and proclaiming people’s hope for peace.

Sources: American Battle Monuments Commission – John Cedric Jollimore American Battle Monuments Commission – Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial

Liberator bomber (B-24H-25-FO) aircraft # 42-95240; known as “The Old Veteran”