Lake Thomas, NWT: Commemorating William Evans Thomas

Lying halfway between Great Bear Lake and Hottah Lake lies Thomas Lake.


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Thomas Lake is one of the many geographical features that commemorates those Canadian men and women who have died in service of their country.   Most of the places that commemorate Canada's war dead were named in the years following the Second World War.

Thomas Lake commemorates William Evans Thomas, an RCAF pilot, who died in hospital in London, England from polio on 12 August 1945.  William Evans Thomas was the son of Harding Pearce Thomas and Elizabeth Florence Evans of Toronto, Ontario.  William was only 24 and he had only been married a few days short of two years to Ruth Burton, also of Toronto.

The lake is situated in the Northwest Territories in Canada's north at latitude: 65° 7' 0.85'' North, and longitude : 119° 11' 5.91'' West.

William E. Thomas is buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery just outside of London, England.  In turn, Thomas Lake was dedicated to his memory on 2 May 1957.

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