Rifleman John B. Connelly was born on September 7, 1922 in Campbellford, Ontario. Just after his 17th birthday, he forged his mother’s signature to sign up in September 1939. He served as a Rifleman with the Queen’s Own Rifles in Canada, Great Britain, France and Belgium where he was wounded for the second time and sent back to England. John was also a Juno Beach survivor. He was discharged from hospital on August 28, 1946.

While he received the 1939-45 Star, the France and Germany Star and the Defence Medal, he was most proud of his Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Silver Clasp.

John returned to Canada with his Scots bride Julia, his wife for over 53 years. Together they raised five children. Returning to France for the first time in 2004, he remarked how wonderful it was that the country and people had survived and prospered since he was last there. John was a member of Arrowsmith Legion Branch 49 for twenty years before he passed away on January 4, 2008.

Content from Royal Canadian Legion Magazine