B136751 Rifleman George Albert Fryday was born in Toronto, Ontario, on 11 November 1925, the son of Thomas Smithwick Fryday and Corporal Millicent Frances Ida Payton, who served in the Canadian Women’s Army Corps, and brother Thomas William. They were members of the Church of England (i.e. Anglicans). Fryday attended Memorial and Jesse Ketchum public schools and completed one year of technical school.

Fryday joined the merchant marine at the age of 15. From April 1942 to September 1942, he served in the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve until he was discovered underage (only 16) and subsequently discharged.

On 11 January 1943, Fryday enlisted in the active service army and after eleven months of training, reported for duty in the United Kingdom on 10 December 1944. He was posted to The Queen’s Own Rifles on 31 January 1945, wounded on 2 April, and rejoined the QOR on 25 April.

Rifleman Fryday was killed in action in Holland on 4 May 1945, aged 20. He and Rifleman Melvin Smith were the last two QOR soldiers killed during the Second World War. He is buried in Holten Canadian War Cemetery, grave reference VII. F. 12. His family had the following engraved on his marker:

A HELPING HAND TO ALL
HE WAS SO KIND, SO TRUE
HE NOBLY DID HIS BEST
GRANT HIM LORD, HEAVENLY REST