B143209 Rifleman Gordon William Ouderkirk was born in Orville, Ontario, on 7 February 1917, the son of William Henry Ouderkirk and Minnie Dora Barager. His Presbyterian family included four sisters and two brothers. He enjoyed softball and completed grade 8, leaving school at 16.

He married Carrie Farrell on 19 January 1938 and had one son, Gordon John, who died young.

Ouderkirk worked as an electrical plater when he enlisted on 25 February 1943. He trained in Brantford and Camp Borden before arriving in the United Kingdom on 1 September and was posted to the Royal Regiment of Canada on 26 November 1943.

On 21 June 1944, Ouderkirk was appointed a Lance Corporal and arrived in France on 6 July. One week later, he was wounded and returned to the UK. After being charged with absence without leave, he reverted to Private. On 16 October, he arrived in Belgium and was posted to The Queen’s Own Rifles. He served in  Support Company in the Carrier Platoon through Belgium, Holland and Germany.

Rifleman Ouderkirk was killed in action on 16 April 1945, aged 28, along with four others in carriers  (Cockburn, Jackson, Pennell and White) near Sneek, Holland. He is buried in Holten Canadian War Cemetery, grave reference XII. D. 12. His family had the following inscribed on his marker:

THE LORD GIVETH
AND THE LORD TAKETH AWAY
BLESSED
BE THE NAME OF THE LORD