Frederick Roy Squires was born in Dresden, Ontario. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Engineers in January 1942 and after training, was sent to the United Kingdom. He took part in the Battle of Normandy with the 9th Field Squadron and carried on through the Low Countries. When the war ended, it appears from records that he remained in Europe as part of the Canadian Army Occupation Force. He returned home to Canada and was discharged in February 1946. Sapper Frederick Roy Squires, MM, died on June 1, 1988, in York, Ontario, at the age of 75.
After crossing the Kusten Canal, 10 Canadian Infantry Brigade continued its advance northward. At Map Reference R.140026, near Osterscheps, on the night of 23/24 April 1945, a Bailey bridge had to be built over the strongly defended 700-foot gap at that spot, in order to get supporting weapons up to the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada, who has assaulted across the obstacle at 1700 hours. No.3 Troop, 9 Canadian Field Squadron, given this task, knew that if the task was not completed by dawn, observed fire of more deadly accuracy than that already falling would pinpoint the site. Owing to a late start, the job was a race against time and enemy fire. Sapper Squires was detailed to work on the far bank of the gap. He crossed nonchalantly on the debris partially blocking the stream. As he worked on he shouted a running fire of jokes and jibes to the main bridge construction party on the opposite bank, urging them not to keep him and his party with him waiting there all night. Several times he crossed and recrossed the open gap, under intense mortar fire, carrying timbers for the task. Finally he returned to the near bank and immediately joined in the launching of the bridge. He inspired the whole troop, tired as it was by the pace of the advance for 3, 6 hours, to push the job through to completion in spite of near misses from heavy mortars. As a result, the bridge was completed shortly before first light 24 April 1945. Through the magnificent courage and unfailing spirit of this Sapper, a difficult bridging task was completed during darkness and much needed support weapons moved up to the infantry ahead.