James Mahon

War Service

James Mahon enlisted 3 July 1940 at Winnipeg in the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada. He embarked for Dieppe on 18 Aug 1942 in Operation Jubilee and was killed in action in France 27 Aug 1944. He was buried in Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery.
On 12 December 1944 he was posthumously awarded the Military Medal. Other medals he received were the Dieppe Campaign, 1939-45 Star, France-Germany Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45, CVSM Medal and Clasp.
The citation for Military Medal records: During the night attack on 7th August 1944 by the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders on the Town of Fontenay-le-Marmon, Sgt Mahon was platoon sergeant for 11 Platoon, B Company. The Platoon Commander was killed in the final stages of the advance to the objective. At a distance of 100 yards from the objective 11 Platoon came under fire from a machine gun post. The Platoon were pinned down and small arms fire was returned. Sgt Mahon worked his way to the enemy post and silenced it with two grenades. By this action the Platoon was able to push through and consolidate on its objective. Sgt Mahon by his quick and decisive action under heavy fire inspired his men and was to a large extent responsible for the Platoon gaining its objective.
Pontefract & Castleford Express 15 September 1944 p4 (with photo)
“KILLED IN FRANCE
Mrs A J Man [sic], of Royd’s Farm, Cattle Laithe, Knottingley, has been notified that her son Sergeant John Francis James Mann [sic] (36) of the Canadian Army has been killed in action in France. Sergeant Mann [sic] had been in the Army for about four years. Some 15 years ago he was employed by Mr Nurse, farmer, of Darrington and left England for Canada where he worked on farms in Saakatchewan and Ontario. He married a Canadian girl, and besides his wife, leaves a three year old son [my note Archie born 11 July 1941] whom he had not seen. His father Mr A J [Andrew James] Man [sic] who was a private in the KOYLI was killed in the last war.”
An acknowledgement of the error in the name was made later and corrected to Mahon.
Pontefract & Castleford Express 26 January 1945 p4 (with photo)
“POSTHUMOUS AWARD
Mrs H L Mahon of Marsh View, Knottingley, has received news from her daughter in law, Mrs J J Mahon, of Fort Francis, Ontario, Canada, that her eldest son James Mahon, Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada, has been posthumously awarded the Military Medal. Sergt Mahon was serving as an Acting Commander with the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division on August 7th, when he was killed. He leaves a widow and a child. Some years ago he worked for Mr Nurse, farmer of Darrington, and lived at Cattle Laithe, Knottingley. He was well known in Knottingley before he went to Canada some years ago. His father was killed in the last war. “

Family Life

James Mahon was born on 24 April 1908, the son of Andrew James Mahon and Harriet Louise (nee Wise) who married in the 4th quarter of 1907 and this was registered at Derby. His father Andrew had been a serving soldier serving with KOYLI in South Africa, then in WW1 he served with 1st Garrison Battalion Yorkshire Regiment and died 11 July 1918 age 38. He was buried at Rawalpindi War Cemetery, Pakistan. I.D.8. and commemorated on Willington War Memorial. He had moved to this area shortly after marriage and lived at Cattle Laithe.

Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery