James “Jim” Rochford (son of Joseph (2) Rochford)
24 February 1899, Leicester, England - 21 October,1981, Montreal, QC
Married Alice Dunne 14 June 1922  b: 19 May 1896, Leicester, England  d: 29 Apr 1984 Montreal

Joseph Rochford b:15 Oct 1923, Montreal d: 5 Apr 1945 in aircraft crash, England
Gerald Rochford b: 3 Nov 1926, Montreal  d: 10 Nov 1983, Montreal
Patricia Ann Rochford

Click here to view a detailed list of Jim and Alice’s descendants.

Patricia’s (4) Reminiscences – 2006

My father, James Rochford was born on February 24, 1899 in Leicester, England. In his early years was very active in the sport of Soccer and was acclaimed as a star player.

On June 14, 1922 he married Alice Dunne. They had three children, Joseph, Gerald and Patricia. Dad worked in various jobs, one of which was as a salesman in a music store in Montreal which no doubt had some influence on his love of music throughout his life.

In 1932, he was hired as an Insurance Agent with the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company and was with them until his retirement in 1962. The family lived on Jeanne Mance Street in the parish of St. Michael’s throughout this period. Just about everyone in this area knew Mr. Rochford, the Insurance Agent, and in later years as we children grew up we would meet people who would inquire, after being introduced, “are you related to Mr. Rochford”?

My older brother, F/O. Joseph Rochford, Nav. J-39294 enlisted in the RCAF during World War 2 and was posted overseas and assigned to 424 Squadron. He flew in a Lancaster Bomber named “Piccadilly Princess”

Tragedy of the worst kind struck the family on April 5, 1945. While returning from one of the last bombing raids over Merseburg, Germany, their aircraft, having been damaged by enemy action, and in the midst of a thunder storm crashed in the neighborhood of a small village in England. There were no survivors. My brother Joe and his entire crew are buried, side by side in Brookwood Cemetery Grave 2, Row “F”, plot 51 in Woking, Surrey, England. The family received many letters of condolences from relatives, friends and strangers. We have kept them all in special memory of him. In July, 1950 my mother and I sailed to England. Dad flew over to join us and we visited Joe’s grave site and also visited with relatives in England. Bob, (my husband) and I revisited his grave in 1992.

A Land End Lancaster website has been developed by shane Stockbridge-Allen describing the Avro Lancaster’s final flight RF150 QB-W, the crew, the crash and the memorial in the Brookwood Cemetery where all 7 officers have graves.

After his retirement, Mom and Dad lived in a small cottage they had bought in Laval West, Quebec where they were well liked and had many friends. Towards the end of his life, Dad suffered a series of minor strokes which left him weakened but still active. On October 21, 1981 he passed away from a massive stroke and is buried in Laval West.

My brother, Gerald, accidentally drowned on November 10, 1983 and my mother passed away on April 29, 1984. The three of them rest in the family plot in Laval West, Quebec.

James and Alice are survived by myself, Patricia and daughter-in-law Julie, Nine grandchildren, eighteen great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren.

Patricia Rochford Johnson, April, 2006.