Family Group: Brother 1 - 1939-45 Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal (Canadian issue), Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas clasp, War Medal 1939-45, and Birk's Memorial Bar. Bar is named SGT P.F. LATHAM RCA DIED IN HIS COUNTRY'S SERVICE 30 MAY 1944. Accompanied by five original portrait photos of Percy Latham in uniform (one smaller image in a photo studio folder, a larger 8" x 11" colourized version of the latter, a loose small image taken when he was a Lance Bombardier, another portrait photo the same size without headdress, and two wallet sized images), a press clipping with details of his death, condolence slip from Buckingham Palace, condolence slip from Canadian Minister of National Defence, Memorial Scroll from the city of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, an image of his original grave marker, transmittal slip for his medals, a silk handkerchief with UK and US flags and a personalized dedication, and a silk Royal Artillery themed embrodiered handkerchief. Brother 2 - Birk's Memorial Bar. Bar is named SGT H.R. LATHAM RCAF DIED IN HIS COUNTRY'S SERVICE 10 OCT 1944. Accompanied by two original portait photos of him in uniform, once with cap in a photo studio folder, the other a larger 8" x 11" colourized photo in civilian clothes, condolence slip from Buckingham Palace, condolence slip from Canadian Minister of National Defence, and a RCAF Bible inscribed to him.
L.7 Sgt Percy Franklin Latham joined the Canadian Active Service Force in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan on 4 September 1939. He was 19 years old, and had been serving in the 77th Battery, RCA in Moose Jaw since 1937. He was transferred to 3rd Field Regiment RCA in December 1939 in Aldershot, Nova Scotia, before embarking for overseas service. Arriving in Glasgow, Scotland in mid-December, he was promoted to Bombardier in June 1940. Recerting to the rank of Gunner at his own request in June 1941, he continued training in England, qualifying as an Assistant Surveyor in March 1943, before deploying with his unit to Italy in June. Landing on 10 July 1943, he received a series of promotions, being made an acting Lance Bombardier on landing, and an Acting Bombardier on 20 July, being confirmed in the rank of Bombardier in October, and made an Acting Sergeant in December. He was comfirmed in this rank in March 1944, just a couple of months before he died of wounds received in action in Frosinoni, Italy, during his unit's approach to Rome, on 30 May 1944. Just weeks before, on 12 May, the 3rd Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery provided fire support for the fourth and final Allied assault on Monte Cassino. The war diarist recorded that this was “the biggest barrage we or anyone else here has ever taken part in…”. Percy Latham is buried in the Commonwealth War Graves' Cassino War Cemetery, Italy.
Latham's younger brother, Horace Roger Latham, joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in Vancouver, British Columbia on 17 August 1943, being assigned service number K.268113. He was 18 years old at the time, with previous service experience in 59 Air Cadet Squadron. After training in Canada, he qualified as an Air Gunner on 12 March 1944, before embarking for England in May, and being appointed to the rank of T/Sergeant. Latham was serving with 1667 Heavy Conversion Unit RAF, based at RAF Sandtoft when he was pronounced missing, presumed dead, on 10 October 1944. He was a member of the crew of Halifax LL-501, which was returning from a night cross-country exercise when the crew mistook a bombing range for an airfield. The aircraft went out of control at a low altitude, hit a river bank at a narrow angle and sank at the mouth of the River Trent, England, where it joins the Humber Estuary. Latham's body was not recovered. He is commemorated on the Runnymede Air Forces Memorial, Surrey, England.
Good VF Condition $1300
