Born in France his parents were refugees from Belgium in WWI, he was about five years old when the family arrived in Canada.  Son of Isadore and Augusta Thurston, of 155 Mercer St., Chatham, Ontario. He was educated at St. Joseph School and at the Chatham Vocational School.  Prior to his enlistment he worked on his father’s farm in the summer and at the Canadian Leaf Tobacco Company in the winter. CDN 2/03/45

Charles enlisted in September of 1942 in London, ON., with RCAMC. He was posted overseas in May 1943 serving as a stretcher-bearer with the Essex Scottish,in Belgium and France. He had been WIA with shrapnel wounds in the shoulder during combat 21 July 1944. CDN July 1944

 When he was last heard from he was in Holland. His family received notice that Charles was MIA by cable 1 March, 1945.

The CDN 10/03/45 reported that Pte. Charles Thurston was “officially reported killed in action”.

Age: 26, KIA – Date of Death: 19/02/1945, in Germany.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Supplemental Information

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead, Grave/Memorial Reference: IX. E. 2. Cemetery: GROESBEEK CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY. Index of Overseas Deaths. Found in Chatham Fire Fighters 1944 Field Day Booklet 7 to 12/08/1944. Index of Overseas Deaths.

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