B63890 Lance Corporal Leonard James Craig was born on 24 November 1911, in Ayr, Scotland, the son of Margaret Youngson. He had one sister. Little is known about his father except that he was Irish according to his pay book and deceased by the time he enlisted.

Craig married Mary Harvey McCaig on 29 August 1931, in Toronto, Ontario, and had two children: Barbara and Donald. They were both Christian Scientists according to their marriage certificate but by the time of his enlistment, he indicated he was a Baptist.

He was working in advertising when he enlisted with The Queen’s Own Rifles on 17 June 1940, in Toronto, Ontario, and indicated previous militia service in 1931 with the Royal Grenadiers. After training at Camp Borden and Sussex, New Brunswick, he arrived in the United Kingdom with the Regiment on 29 July 1941. Craig participated in training for the next three years. He was appointed Acting Lance Corporal in January 1944 and Lance Corporal in April.

Craig landed on Juno Beach with B Company on the first wave of D-Day, 6 June 1944, and was killed in action. He is buried in Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, grave reference I. G. 6. The epitaph chosen by the family reads:

Lovingly remembered by wife Mary
Daughter Barbara
And son Donald