B24480 Rifleman Gaston Duguay was born in Gogama, Sudbury, Ontario on 1 March 1924, the son of Eugene Gabriel Duguay and Berthe Marie Ladurantaye and had two brothers and three sisters. His family were Roman Catholic.

Duguay completed grade 7 and 10 months of grade 8 before leaving school at 16 to work. He was active in hockey, softball, swimming, hunting, fishing and snowshoeing. His first language was French but he could read and speak passable English.

Duguay worked as a driver for PIneland Lumber Company when he enlisted in Toronto on 17 Jan 1944. He trained in Brantford, Camp Borden and Woodstock and reported for duty in the United Kingdom on 10 December 1944. Duguay arrived in Northwest Europe on 23 January 1945 and was posted to The Queen’s Own Rifles as a reinforcement on 30 January.

Rifleman Duguay was killed in action in Germany on 3 March 1945, aged 20, and is buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, grave reference IX. C. 5.

His family provided the following epitaph for his grave marker:

OUR DEAR SON
WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN
SADLY MISSED
BY MOTHER AND FAMILY