B36737 Lance Corporal William Alexander Dearness was born in Hamilton, Ontario on 6 December 1921, the son of William Alexander Dearness and Doris Bella Fletcher. He had two brothers and one sister, and the family was Presbyterian. He left school at age 16.

From 18 August 1940 to 3 January 1941 Dearness served with the 11th Field Battery reserve unit as National Service. Before his enlistment with the active service on 8 January 1941, he worked for three years as a motor mechanic at Fred Kozell in Smithville, Ontario.

During his reserve service, Dearness was highly recommended, however, when he joined the active service some of his discharge pay was clawed back and going forward he appeared to become disillusioned and while training in Canada, had numerous charges for being absent without leave (AWOL) and was twice deemed a deserter and given time in detention barracks.

In October 1941, Dearness married Margaret Alice Irene Toogood in England. They had a daughter, Margaret, and a son, William.

• 19 Apr 1941 – Arrived in Scotland
• 25 Aug 1944 – Transferred to Winnipeg Grenadiers
• Numerous charges for AWOL
• 29 Sep 1944 – Arrives in France and posted to reinforcement unit
• 10 Oct 1944 – Taken on Strength by QOR
• 18 Nov 1944 – Appointed Lance Corporal
• 17 Dec 1944 to 7 Jan 1945 – Attached to 3rd Canadian Infantry Division Training School
• 5 Feb 1945 – Another AWOL charge

Lance Corporal Dearness was wounded on 26 February 1945 but died of his wounds on 27 February, aged 23 and is buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, grave reference XVI. H. 1.

His family provided the following epitaph for his grave marker:

THERE IS A LINE
DEATH CANNOT SEVER
LOVE AND REMEMBRANCE
LAST FOREVER