C120897 Rifleman Harold Alexander (Alex) Adair was born on 17 August 1923, in Tamworth, Ontario, the son of Reg Adair and Jean Adams. His father had served in France with the 8th Canadian Field Battery, Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War.

At the age of 20, Alex was taken on with 12 Platoon, B Company of The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada on 8 October 1943. He landed with them in the first wave, A photo taken in front of what is now called Canada House just minutes after landing is well-known regimentally (see header above – second rifleman from the left) and he talks about what led to that photo in the short video below.

He was wounded 15 October 1944 after serving with the QOR for 1 year and one week exactly.

Alex was the last known QOR D-Day veteran when he passed away in his 100th year, at the Golden Plough Lodge in Cobourg, Ontario on Saturday, 24 December  2022.

2019 Interview with Alex: