Holten Project

Private Roy James Sim

November 29, 1924 to April 10, 1945

Private Roy James Sim, the son of Marion James and Edith Mary (Kendrick) Sim was
born November 29, 1924 in Vancouver, B.C., Canada. Pte. Sim had one brother –
Walter Albert Sim — who served with the RCAF and did return home after the war.

Roy attended Sir Guy Carlton Elementary School and John Oliver High School to
Grade 13 for Junior Matriculation. Everyone liked Roy; he was an easy-going, nice
guy. (See additional information below regarding Roy’s time at John Oliver High School).

Roy was a member of the Baptist Church.

Canadian ScottishRoy’s Attestation papers were signed on February 7, 1944 in Vancouver at the Central Station No. XI District Recruiting Depot. He served with the Canadian Scottish Regiment, R.C.I.C. His Registration number was K2152. Previous service: reported for N.R.M.A. Service, February 7, 1944. Regmt #: K98923.

Roy’s Attestation Papers indicated that he had been a truck driver for Ryan’s Carriers (8 months) and as a Foundry Hand and Electrician’s Helper in Sheet Metal work (3 years).

In late February 1944 Roy was posted to A.3 CATC in Shilo, Manitoba. He had basic training including small arms range courses. In May 1944 Private Sim was authorized to wear a Marksman Crossed Rifles Badge.

Pte. Sim embarked Canada July 12, 1944 and left July 13, 1944. He disembarked in
the U.K. on July 19, 1944. On October 16, 1944 he embarked in the U.K. and on October 17, 1944 he disembarked in Belgium.

On April 10, 1945, within days of the end of the war, Pte. Sim was Killed in Action in
the Western European Theatre of War (Holland). Pte. Sim was in the D Convoy during the battle of Deventer. Pte. Sim’s temporary burial took place at the Canadian Military Cemetery near Deventer. A letter dated April 27, 1945 was sent to Pte. Sim’s father advising him of his son’s death.

Private Roy James Sim

Private Roy James Sim

Private Roy James Sim

On December 17, 1945 Pte. Sim’s remains were carefully and respectively reburied at Holten Canadian War Cemetery. On July 4, 1946 Private Sim’s father received a letter advising that his son’s permanent burial had taken place at Holten Canadian War Cemetery, The Netherlands. The Grave Reference is: 1.B.3.

Pte. Sim’s total days of service were:
429: Western Hemisphere: 157, Overseas: 272.
Canada: February 7, 1944 to July 12, 1944;
U.K.: July 13, 1944 to October 16, 1944;
N.W. Europe: October 17, 1944 to April 10, 1945

Pte. Sim received the following Medals: 1939-45 STAR, France – Germany STAR, War Medal, CVSM with Clasp (Canadian Volunteer Service Medal) and the Defence Medal. Roy’s mother received all her son’s medals as well as the Memorial Cross.

Roy James Sim medals

Pte Sim is commemorated on page 564 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. This page is displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on November 25.

Wording on Pte. Roy James Sim’s Gravestone: K2152 Private
R.J. Sim
Canadian Scottish Regiment, R.C.I.C.
10th April 1945
EVERY DAY SWEET MEMORIES
MOM, DAD,. WALT “MR”
PRICE STREET
VANCOUVER, B.C., CANADA

Roy James Sim grave

John Oliver High School

There were a number of students who had attended John Oliver High School, went to
war and did not return. As you enter the school there is a beautiful Roll of Honour on
the wall.

JO We Remember Display

There had been correspondence received from some ex-students who were serving during WW11, only to receive news a short time later that these young men had been killed. One of those letters was from Pte. Roy James Sim who wanted to order a yearbook. This letter was received a few days before “the news of his death reached us”. This information was in the school newspaper “The Pep Master”, June 1945.

One of Roy’s John Oliver classmates remembers his friend: “
Roy Sim lived up on Joyce Road on Price Street just a few blocks from me. He accepted his draft notice and went into the army. Everybody liked Roy. He was an easy-going guy. We had lots of fun. We used to go to Boundary Bay in a car, an old Nash that he and his dad revamped. We’d play hooky from John Oliver and go down there and sneak some beer. (Boundary Bay was the place to go for kids in those days).

Unfortunately Roy got shell-shocked and got killed overseas”.
(From: The Story of South Vancouver and John Oliver High School – page 491).

Submitted by Janice Kidwell,
Member # 5033

Sources:

  • Ancestry.ca : Military file and other links
  • B.C. Archives : BMD
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial
  • Find A Grave
  • Google
  • Newspapers.com
  • John Oliver High School including a book on the school entitled The Story of
    South Vancouver and John Oliver High School by Ken MacLeod. This very large book is dedicated to JFE Palmer, Principal of South Vancouver/John Oliver High School, 1912-1945, who built the school into one of the most prominent high schools in British Columbia. This remarkable book is also dedicated to the memory of those 106 John Oliver High School students who gave their
    lives for freedom in the Second World War. One of those men was Pte. Roy James Sim.
  • Edie Kernighan who is the sister of the late Ken MacLeod – author of the above book – as well as a member of the JO Legacy Society (https://jolegacy.ca/ ). This Society is very active and is the group who put together the Legacy window – In Remembrance – at John Oliver High School. Edie also e-mailed me a photo of what was the John Oliver High School Crest during the 1940s.