Leading Aircraftman Joseph Willard Bryson
Survivor of WW2
Date of Death:
Service Biography
Joseph Willard Bryson was born at Brysonville, Quebec, on 5 May 1921. He attended Ormstown High School and completed a two-year agricultural diploma at Macdonald College before enlisting in the Royal Canadian Air Force at Montreal on 24 September 1941. He served in Canada as an electrician and briefly entered aircrew training before returning to his electrical trade when that training was curtailed. Released as a Leading Aircraftman on 17 October 1945, he planned to continue his education and pursue science or agriculture.
General Information
Conflict:
WW2
Regimental No.:
R135005
Cause of Death (in war):
Survived
Branch:
Air Force
Regiment:
Royal Canadian Air Force
Battalion:
Canadian training establishments
Company:
Date of Birth :
Place of Birth:
Brysonville, Quebec
Date of Enlistment:
Age at Enlistment:
20 years 4 months
Date of Discharge:
Age at Discharge:
24 years 5 months
Date of Death:
Age at Death:
74 years 8 months
Country Born:
Canada
Trade or Calling:
Farmer; student
Next of Kin:
Joseph John Bryson, father, Brysonville, Quebec
Address at Enlistment:
Ormstown, Quebec
Religion:
United Church of Canada
Place of Enlistment:
Montreal, Quebec
Was a Prisoner of War:
No
Height:
5 ft 10.0 in / 178 cm
Weight:
150 lbs / 68 kg
Chest:
33.0 in / 84 cm
Expansion:
2.0 in / 5 cm
Marital Status:
Single
Prior Military Experience:
No
Saw Service in:
Canada
Place of Discharge:
Montreal, Quebec
Discharge Type:
Regular/End of Service
Discharge Notes:
Battle Died/Wounded:
Length of Service:
1484 days in service
Buried at:
Links
Ranks
| Conflict |
Rank |
Regiment |
Branch |
Unit |
Company |
Date From |
Date To |
| WW2 |
Leading Aircraftman |
Royal Canadian Air Force |
Air Force |
Canadian training establishments |
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Leading Aircraftman |
Royal Canadian Air Force |
Air Force |
No. 25 Elementary Flying Training School |
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Leading Aircraftman |
Royal Canadian Air Force |
Air Force |
No. 4 Initial Training School, Edmonton |
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Leading Aircraftman |
Royal Canadian Air Force |
Air Force |
No. 3 Manning Depot, Edmonton |
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Leading Aircraftman |
Royal Canadian Air Force |
Air Force |
No. 3 Bombing and Gunnery School, Macdonald, Manitoba |
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Aircraftman 2nd Class |
Royal Canadian Air Force |
Air Force |
No. 3 Bombing and Gunnery School, Macdonald, Manitoba |
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Aircraftman 2nd Class |
Royal Canadian Air Force |
Air Force |
Technical Training School, St. Thomas |
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Aircraftman 2nd Class |
Royal Canadian Air Force |
Air Force |
No. 1 Manning Depot, Toronto |
|
|
|
Awards
| Conflict |
Award |
Action |
Date of Award |
Date of Citation |
Source |
| WW2 |
Canadian Volunteer Service Medal |
|
|
|
|
| WW2 |
War Service Badge, General Service Class |
|
|
|
|
Service Chronology
1921-05-05 — Born at Brysonville, Quebec — Brysonville, Quebec / Bryson family.
1941-09-24 — Enlisted voluntarily in the Royal Canadian Air Force at Montreal — Montreal, Quebec / RCAF.
1941-09-24 — Taken on strength at No. 1 Manning Depot — Toronto, Ontario / No. 1 Manning Depot.
1941-10-27 — Posted to Technical Training School — St. Thomas, Ontario / Technical Training School.
1942-02-28 — Posted to No. 3 Bombing and Gunnery School — Macdonald, Manitoba / No. 3 Bombing and Gunnery School.
1942-03-28 — Held the rank of Leading Aircraftman — Canada / RCAF.
1942-06-05 — Requested remustering to electrician — Canada / RCAF.
1942-06-10 — Consented to and requested remustering to electrician — Canada / RCAF.
1942-11-04 — Recorded as not qualified for Link Trainer Maintenance — St. Thomas, Ontario / Technical Training School.
1943-07-23 to 1943-07-29 — Treated for poison ivy dermatitis and improved — Macdonald, Manitoba / RCAF Station Macdonald.
1943-09 — Remustered to aircrew training — Canada / RCAF.
1943-10-02 — Posted to No. 3 Manning Depot — Edmonton, Alberta / No. 3 Manning Depot.
1943-10-30 — Posted to No. 4 Initial Training School — Edmonton, Alberta / No. 4 Initial Training School.
1944 — Aircrew training was curtailed; reverted to former electrical trade — Canada / RCAF.
1944-01-03 — Posted to No. 25 Elementary Flying Training School — Canada / No. 25 Elementary Flying Training School.
1944-11-28 to 1944-12-04 — Absent without leave from 0800 on 28 November to 1800 on 4 December; disciplinary entry records forfeiture of one day's pay — Canada / RCAF.
1945-07-03 — Volunteered for RCAF duty in the Pacific theatre — Canada / RCAF.
1945-09 — Lost identification discs while wearing them — Penfield Ridge, New Brunswick / RCAF.
1945-10-17 — Released from the RCAF as a Leading Aircraftman on completion of voluntary wartime service — Montreal, Quebec / RCAF.
1945-12-03 — Approved for college-preparatory training at Sir George Williams College beginning January 1946 — Montreal, Quebec / DVA rehabilitation.
Notes
Joseph Willard Bryson was born at Brysonville, Quebec, on 5 May 1921 and was living at Ormstown when he enlisted. He completed part of Grade 11 at Ormstown High School and a two-year diploma in agriculture at Macdonald College. Before enlistment he farmed with his father. He spoke English and some French. His leisure interests included skating, swimming and reading. After the war he planned to complete matriculation at Sir George Williams College and then return to Macdonald College to pursue science or agriculture.
[Previous notes - manual reconciliation required]
Born at Ormstown, on May 5 (no year)
Joseph Willard Bryson BIRTH 5 MAY 1921 • Ormstown, Quebec, Canada DEATH 27 JAN 1996 • Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
Request confirmation number EA2026_0173302
Additional Service Notes
Bryson enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force at Montreal on 24 September 1941. He served in Canada only and trained and worked as an electrician. In September 1943 he remustered to aircrew and undertook Canadian aircrew training, but reverted to his former electrical trade when aircrew training was curtailed. He volunteered in 1945 for RCAF duty in the Pacific theatre. He was released on 17 October 1945 as a Leading Aircraftman.
Additional Next of Kin Notes
At enlistment his next of kin was his father, Joseph John Bryson of Brysonville, Quebec, a farmer. The attestation also names his mother as Janet Gilbert Bryson.
Version: 3 Last modified: 2026-09-30 14:54:38
by: marc
