B64328 Rifleman William Gilbert May was born on 19 February 1922 in Toronto, Ontario, the son of William May and of Ellen Bertram. He had three sisters and attended Pape Ave and Morse St Public Schools, and Danforth Technical School. He left tech school at age 16 after 1 1/2 years and was employed by Percy Hermant (Imperial Optical) as a lens grinder when he enlisted.

“Gil” May enlisted in The Queen’s Own Rifles on 22 June 1940 in the Band as a drummer. He served with the Regiment in Newfoundland, New Brunswick and England. When the Band was broken up, he became a stretcher-bearer.

On 1 May 1943, May married (with army permission) Miss Margaret-Ellen Cushion at St Pancras, London, England. A daughter Gillian was born in October 1944, four months after William’s death. It appears his wife emigrated to Canada to stay with her mother-in-law in September 1945, until she eventually remarried.

Rifleman May landed on Juno Beach on D-Day, 6 June 1944 and was killed in action, at aged 22. He is buried in Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, grave reference V. A. 16.