B64462 Lance Corporal Donald Ferguson Gourlay was born on 10 October 1921 in Inglewood, Ontario, the son of David and Mary Gourlay. His father served in WWI with the 75th Battalion, CEF.

The Gourlay family moved to Toronto when Donald was two, and he attended Rose Avenue School and Jarvis Collegiate which he left after two years at age 16. He had worked for three years as an “examiner” at Parkers Cleaners and Dyers when he joined the active service.

He joined The Queen’s Own Rifles (Reserve) in August 1940 and while living at 595 Church St, enlisted on 26 April 1941 in Toronto with the QOR Active Service battalion. He trained in North Bay before joining the regiment in Halifax and disembarking in Gourock, Scotland on 29 July 1941. He was appointed Acting Lance Corporal on 18 May 1943, and confirmed as a Lance Corporal on 19 August 1943.

Lance Corporal Gourlay landed on Juno Beach on D-Day, 6 June 1944 when he was first reported missing and then confirmed as killed in action, aged 22. He is buried in Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, grave referenceI. A. 15.