D114787 Rifleman John Mearns was born in Greenfield Park, Quebec on 25 June 1912, the son of John Mearns and Jean Boag. He left school at age 14 after completing grade 7, enjoyed hockey and baseball, and listed his religion as Church of England.

Mearns had a sister Helen and one brother, Quartermaster Sergeant Alex Mearns, who served with the Royal Canadian Artillery. He worked in various places, including New York and California, and his jobs included fruit packer, truck driver, and ride supervisor for a travelling amusement show.

Mearns served in the military on and off before the Second World War. In March 1933, he enlisted with the 4th Divisional Signals militia based in Montreal, Quebec, and served until 12 March 1934. In January 1938, he enlisted with the British Columbia Regiment militia and served for four months.

On 30 September 1940, a few weeks after Canada declared war against Germany, Mearns enlisted in Montreal with the active service army in the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps. However, on 8 December 1940, he transferred to the Royal Canadian Artillery, trained in Debert, Nova Scotia, and on 18 December qualified as a driver.

He arrived in the United Kingdom on 19 April 1941 and for the next three years undertook various training courses and attachments. On 29 September 1944, he arrived in France, was transferred to the Canadian Infantry Corps, and posted to The Queen’s Own Rifles on 10 October 1944. He served with them through France, Belgium, The Netherlands and Germany.

Rifleman Mearns was killed in action in Germany on 30 March 1945, aged 30 and is buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, grave reference XX. A. 9. His family had the following engraved on his marker:

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN