B64926 Rifleman William George Kennedy was born on 8 August 1920 in Craigmont, Ontario, the son of George Kennedy and Janet “Nettie” Stewart Wilson. He completed Grade 8 and left school at age 14. Kennedy was the second oldest of 10 sisters and three brothers. One brother Cecil also served overseas in the army and another Gordon, with the Navy.

He had been working as a freight handler with the Canadian Pacific Railroad when he enlisted with The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada on 2 June 1942. He trained in Guelph and Camp Borden before joining the Regiment in England on 21 August 1942 and continuing two more years of training.

Rifleman Kennedy landed on Juno Beach on D-Day, 6 June 1944 and was killed in action. He is buried in Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, grave reference II. F. 7.