George Eaton Atkinson was born in Port Rowan, Ontario, the son of Charles and Linnie Atkinson. He had three older sisters. He was well known in hockey circles, having played on the Simcoe team in the Ontario Hockey League.
An analysis of the Dieppe Raid in August 1941 identified the need for the protection of engineer demolition parties breaching obstacles. It was decided that the Engineers should have tanks and the problem was given to the Tank Design Division to resolve. Within eight days, Lieutenant John Denovan, RCE, a Canadian liaison officer with the Division, produced rough drawings and specifications for a vehicle to protect engineers based on a Churchill Tank. His concept was supported, but due to a lack of resources, it could not be pursued at that time.
Harold Francis Allen was born in St. George in Charlotte County, New Brunswick, one of five sons of Howard and Mary Allen. His mother died when he was seven and he and his brothers were raised by their father, a mason. He completed Grade VII and followed his father into the mason trade. He enrolled in the Canadian Army on 3 October 1941 in Fredericton, NB, assigned to the Royal Canadian Engineers. Prior to that, he had completed basic army training in Woodstock, NB and was assigned to the artillery.
The arrival of large numbers of troops in the United Kingdom, during the first years of the Second World War, created a crisis in accommodation and training facilities. The Royal Canadian Engineers soon found themselves involved in construction projects. Even the Divisional Engineers companies, whose primary activity was training for operations, were tasked with the construction of their own barracks and other facilities.
Raymond Rousseau was born in Jonquière, Quebec, the son of Adelard and Marie Anna Rousseau. He had an older brother and two younger sisters. He enlisted in Noranda, QC on 7 August 1941 and declared his civilian occupation as commercial artist and painter. He was sent right away to the 4th Battalion, Royal Canadian Engineers in Camp Petawawa, Ontario.
Nicholas James ‘Nick” Hantiuk was born in Vegreville, Alberta, the son of Mike and Mary Hantiuk, Romainian immigrants. He was the oldest in a family of ten children. He went to school in Vegreville but left part way through Grade IX to start work. Nick served in the 19th Alberta Dragoons from September 1939 until he enlisted in the Canadian Army Active Force on 11 September 1942 in Edmonton, AB. He had married Mary M. Semotiuk in Vegreville the previous year. He declared his occupation as painter.
Owen Howard Taylor has born on 21 November 1918 in Bridgetown, Annapolis County, NS to John and Myrtle Taylor. He was in the third position in family with two brothers and two sisters.
Owen had completed his Senior Matriculation at Bridgetown High School in 1938 and had been working as a carpenter in construction with J. A. Bent Company in 1937 and 1939. He had also worked at fruit packing in Bridgetown during 1938 to 1939 and on road survey with the Nova Scotia Department of Highways for four months in 1938.
Alphonse was 22, single and living in Mildmay, ON when he enlisted on 2 July 1940 at a Kitchener, ON recruiting depot from the Royal Canadian Regiment Regimental Depot from London. He had been working with a local lumber company for four years as a sawyer at that time and stated during the enlistment procedure that he wanted to be a machinist.
Neil Truman Sponagle was born to George and Clara Mae Sponagle on 11 May 1919 in Coddle's Harbor, Guys County, NS. His father was a fisherman. Neil was the youngest child with brothers Earl and Ward who served overseas. He also had a sister named Annie.