B138786 Rifleman Leonard Desjardin was born in Midland, Ontario, on 5 November 1924, the son of Xavier Joseph Desjardins and Ozelina Desroches and had one brother and three sisters. He spoke French at home and had challenges with English. He completed grade 8, left school at 16, and played hockey.

Before Leonard joined the Army he worked 6 months as a Machine Operator in a box factory, 8 months as a Deckhand & Watchman on a Great Lakes Freighter, and 5 months as a Moulder at Canada Metals.

Desjardin enlisted on 18 January 1943 and trained in Newmarket, Camp Borden and Toronto. Perhaps army life was not what he expected as he was struck off strength as a deserter on 13 January 1944. A month later he turned himself in and was awarded 20 days in military detention. On 14 March 1944, he arrived in the United Kingdom and three months later arrived in France and was posted to The Queen’s Own Rifles as a reinforcement.

He accidentally shot himself in the foot on 12 August 1944 and caused a minor injury deemed “not related to his duties”. Desjardin also had three additional charges for being Absent Without Leave in previous months.  He returned to the QOR on 27 October 1944 and continued to serve with them in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany.

Rifleman Desjardin was killed in action on 25 April 1945, aged 20. He is buried in Holten Canadian War Cemetery, grave reference XII. E. 5.