James was born in Detroit, Michigan on October 13, 1927. He immigrated to Canada with his parents at the age of 2 years old. His Father was Victor Platjouw and married to his wife Emma (Modde)  Platjouw.
He passed one day before their 58 year anniversary.   Survived by 1 son James Jr., 2 daughters, Betty Belanger and Judith Macko Turner.  

James enlisted in 1943 in Wallaceburg and trained first at Camp Ipperwash. James and his wife married in 1940 in Wallaceburg.  The one daughter Betty Belanger was 1 year old at the time of enlistment.  James went to Whitley England.  Private James was then shipped to France.

In 1945, James was promoted to Corporal while at Anthwarp, Belgium, at the front lines at Hockwell Forest, Germany, where he was blown up in Combat.  Corporal James was taken to the Field Doctor who drilled into his skull by hand to relieve pressure in his brain.

James was flown to England Feb 15 1945.  At Reding Hospital they continued working at removing shrapnel.  After two months he was able to see again but bedridden.  He was unable to walk for another three months and was moved to to Camp Aldershot and then to Farmborough for convalescencing and learning to walk again.

Due to severe migraines and inability to walk without pain, Corporal James was not sent back for active duty.  Returning to Canada James worked at several jobs.  The pain in his back kept him very limited.  He
tried for assistance from the Dept. of Veterans Affairs.  They ruled his pain was not due to his being blown up in the war.

James unfortunately retired to a chair at the age of 65 years old.  After many years of pain, James had Back Surgery at Toronto General Hospital by Dr. T. Wright, in January 1995.  His mobility improved and Dr. Wright indicated James had broken vertebrae which appeared to have happened back when he was blown up, causing years of pain and suffering.

James passed away on October 27, 1999 with interment at Riverview Cemetery, Wallaceburg, ON.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Sources

Judith Turner, Daughter

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