B65578 Rifleman John “Jack” Richard Hastie was born on Manitoulin Island on 4 January 1925, the son of Colonel William John Argyle Hastie, Royal Canadian Army Service Corps (who also served overseas during WWII in the Headquarters of the 1st Canadian Army) and Marion Arliss Thompson.

He had two sisters, attended Runnymede Public School and Central Technical School, and was a member of St John’s Anglican Church in West Toronto.

Hastie served two months with The Queen’s Own Rifles reserve battalion before enlisting with the active service battalion on 22 May 1942.  He trained in Camp Niagara, Camp Borden, and Debert and served several temporary attachments.

Rifleman Hastie landed on Juno Beach with D Company on D-Day, 6 June 1944, but was first reported missing and later confirmed as killed in action during the battle for Le Mesnil Patry on 11 June 1944.

He is buried in Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, grave reference III. B. 9.