K51677 Rifleman Earl Vernon Mulhern was born in Mossbank, Saskatchewan, on 29 June 1923, the son of Herbert Henry Mulhern.

His mother died when he was 2 1/2 and he had three sisters, one of whom served in the Canadian Women’s Army Corps. He left school at age 16 having completed part of grade 10.

Mulhern worked as a mill worker when he enlisted on 5 June 1943 in Vancouver. He requested to join the paratroops but was deemed unsuitable. He trained in Suffield before arriving in the UK on 12 April 1944. He was first posted to the Royal Regina Rifles before being transferred to The Queen’s Own Rifles on 8 June 1944.

Rifleman Mulhern was killed in action during the battle for the village of Le Mesnil Patry, age 20.  He is buried in Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, grave reference III. B. 16.