Charles Valentine Richards was born on 12 September 1915 in Sarnia, ON. He was the son of William and Maude Richards and had two brothers, Harry and George as well as a sister Edith. His mother had died in 1930 when he was 15 years old.
Donald Angus McLellan was born on 3 October 1923 to Malcolm and Catherine McLellan in Pipers Glen, Inverness County, NS. His father was a farmer and his mother died while he was in the Army. Donald had four brothers: James, John, Archie, and Charlie and three sisters: Mary, Margaret, and Christine. Donald had left school at age 14 after Grade 6. He had worked at farming with his father for some five years and had been working as a laborer in the lumbering industry for 2½ years when he enlisted.
Urban Mayo was born in London, Ontario on 27 June 1918 to William and Emma Mayo. He had four brothers: Earl, William, Alan and Ernest, and two sisters: Myrtle and Ruby. Urban left school at age 16 after Grade 9 and, at the time of his enlistment, he had been working with Bennett and Wright as a plumber apprentice for four years. Urban supported his parents financially as his father was in his 80s at the time and partially blind while his mother was elderly and partially incapacitated. He enlisted on 30 May 1940 at No 1 District Depot in London ON. He was age 22 and single at the time.
Harold Clifford Inkpen was born to Cecil and Nesta Inkpen on 26 April 1920 in Cowbridge, South Wales. The family emmigrated to Canada to Marchbank, Kings County, NB when Harold was seven years old and they started a farm. After having completed school up to Grade 6, Harold worked on the family farm for eleven years. He had a younger brother Dellwyn who fought in Europe with the Royal Canadian Artillery. There were also two younger adopted sisters in the family.
Albert Brown was born to Henry and Elizabeth Brown on 28 June 1913 in Oxbridge, Onario. His father was a farmer who was quite senior and who died in August 1944 at age 83 while Albert was overseas. His mother died about 20 years before he enlisted. Albert had an older sister Charlotte but her whereabouts appeared to be unknown.
Eric Frederick Rask Andersen* was born in Nasby, Denmark to Harold and Nellie Andersen on 7 April 1924. His family emigrated to Canada later that year and initially settled in Toronto, Ontario before moving to Montréal, Québec. His father was a night watchman. Eric had two sisters: Erna and Elna. Eric had left school at age 17 after two years of high school and had been working as office clerk for two years with the Dominion Glass Company.
William Thomas Haddock was born and raised in Toronto, the son of Thomas and Mary Ann Haddock. He had two brothers and two sisters. He studied draughting at the Northern Vocational School and then worked for two years in his father’s construction business as a plaster’s apprentice.
Alexander Atkinson was born in Togo, Saskatchewan, one of two boys Albert and Margaret Atkinson. He went to school in Naylor, SK, completing Grade VIII. His mother died when he was ten and he was essentially on his own from age 14 years.
Engineers have always been at the forefront of battle and the burden of death we share is proportionally as high as any other Arm.
Albert Mark Amiro was born in Lower East Pubnico, Nova Scotia, the son of Albert Joseph and Rose Amy Amiro. He had a younger brother and a sister. He had completed Grade VIII and was working as a labourer when he enrolled in the 2nd Battalion of the West Nova Scotia Regiment (Militia) on 21 November 1940. He had been working on a bridging crew with the Canadian National Railroad and also had some farming experience.