Private James Cameron (6982743) served in 21st Independent Company, The Parachute Regiment, Army Air Corps during the Second World War. He was the son of Thomas Cameron and Ellen "Nellie" Cameron (née Armstrong) of 64 Davy's Street, Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim.
Thomas Cameron served in 12th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles during The Great War. His son James followed the family military tradition joining the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in 1940. He volunteered for airborne training in 1942 and saw action in North Africa, Sicily, and Italy.
Imperial War Museum Photo: BU 1162 (Part of the War Office Second World War Official Collection). Paratroopers drop from a Douglas Dakota over Arnhem on 17th September 1944 during Operation Market Garden. Photo taken by Sergeant DM Smith - Army Film and Photographic Unit.
James died on 26th September 1944 aged 22 years old during Operation Market Garden. His death at St. Joseph’s Mental Hospital, Apeldoorn, Netherlands came on what would be the final day of the Battle of Arnhem. He sustained gunshot wounds during house-to-house fighting at Stationweg 6-8, Oosterbeek, Netherlands.
Before transfer to the hospital at Apeldoorn, James received treatment inside the house from Sergeant Gerry Thompsom and Private Harry Bruce. A temporary burial took place at Heidehof General Cemetery before reinterment in Oosterbeek. On 11th October 1944, the Belfast Telegraph reported that Cameron had sustained injuries and was a Prisoner of War.
James Cameron’s grave is in Section 18, Row C, Grave 4 of Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery, Gelderland, Netherlands. His name is on the family memorial in Victoria Cemetery, Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim. His headstone in the Netherlands bears the inscription:
Greater love hath no man than this.
In September 1947 James’ parents Thomas Cameron and Ellen Cameron visited their son’s grave in Oosterbeek, Netherlands.