B52460 Rifleman Vincent Alfred Hearty was born in Pembroke, Ontario on 16 November 1911, the son of Joseph Hearty and Catherine Stafford and had two older brothers Lawrence and Sylvester. He attended St Vincent de Paul and St Helen’s schools, leaving at 16.

On 7 August 1937, he married Grace Alvona Wilburn in Toronto.

Hearty worked as a truck driver when he enlisted with the Lorne Scots. He trained at Camp Borden and arrived in the United Kingdom on 10 July 1942. He undertook various training and attachments and was posted to The Queen’s Own Rifles on 2 October 1942. He was appointed Acting Lance Corporal on 1 Aug 1943 and Lance Corporal on 2 November.

Hearty landed with B Company on D-Day, 6 June 1944 and on the 10th was appointed Acting Corporal. Eleven days later he was injured, returned to England, and reverted to Rifleman. He rejoined the QOR on 8 November 1944.

Rifleman Hearty was killed in action on 19 December 1944 and is buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, grave reference II. D. 6.

The family had the following engraved on his marker:

A FINE CANADIAN SON.
MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE