John Bruce Craik was born in Tees, AB, the son of John and Hattie Craik. After finishing junior high school in rural Alberta, he worked in farming for ten years in the Peace River area and later in construction as a pipe-fitter. He was 29 years old when he enlisted in Calgary AB on 11 January 1943 and declared his occupation at the time as hard rock miner.
Sapper Ernest Gagnon was born in Deschenes Mills QC, the son of Arthur and Josephine Gagnon. He enlisted on 8 September 1939 in Ottawa ON and was assigned to the 3rd Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers, the local RCE unit. He left Canada with one of the earlier Canadian contingents, disembarking in Scotland on 30 December 1939.
Sapper Robert Arthur Brewer was born in Saint John NB, son of Arthur and Irene Brewer.
Louis Dinicol was born in Winnipeg MB, the son of Saverio and Mary Dinicol. He had completed Grade 10 and was working as a sheet metal worker when he enlisted on 14 October 1942 and was assigned to the Royal Canadian Engineers. He completed training at A6 Canadian Engineer Training Centre at Camp Chilliwack BC and from there was sent to the UK, arriving on 8 April 1943 to join the Engineer Reinforcement Unit. He joined the 1st Bn RCE in June and was qualified Tinsmith Group ‘B’ when he was transferred to the 10th Field Squadron in September 1943.
Harry Booy was born in Spedden AB to Harasym “Harry” and Olga Booy into their large family of eight children. Harry had completed Grade 8 and had been living in Battleford, SK working as a truck driver for two years when he enlisted in the 8th Reconnaissance Battalion on 20 February 1941. He had been serving in The Prince Albert & Battleford Volunteers since the previous July. He was quite fit when he joined, but like most soldiers of the time, he was in need of dental care.
Jacques Barbeau was born and raised in Montréal QC. He completed Grade 7 and started working. At the time of his enlistment on 1 May 1942, he had been employed as a truck driver for Canadian Tube & Steel, a munitions manufacturer, in Montreal for six years. He was married with two girls when he served in the 7th Field Park Company, Royal Canadian Engineers, in Petawawa ON. A son was born shortly after he arrived overseas in England. He had a promise from his employer to return to work as a machinist after the war.
Kenneth James Southern was born in Port Arthur, ON, grew up in Ottawa and graduated from Queen’s University in 1934 with a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering. He was serving as a militia RCE lieutenant in Toronto when he transferred to the active force on 3 September 1939.
By the autumn of 1943, the Allies had advanced up the boot of Italy to the Winter Line. The main defence was the Gustav Line stretching across Italy from Ortona in the east to the hilltop fortress of Monte Cassino in the west. There it was reinforced in the south by the Bernhardt Line, and to the north by the Hitler Line.
In 1940, during the height of the Blitz, there was a strong desire to reward "for acts of the greatest heroism or for most conspicuous courage in circumstance of extreme danger" not in the face of the enemy. It was decided that the George Cross and the George Medal would be instituted to recognise both gallantry in the face of enemy bombing and brave deeds more generally.