B64225 Rifleman Donald Ross Pethick was born on 28 October 1919 in Toronto, Ontario, the son of Arthur Norman Pethick and Charlotte Milicent Macdonald. He had a sister and two brothers one of which, Roger served in the Royal Canadian Naval Reserve.

Pethick left Bloor Street Collegiate at 17 years old after 3 years, and attended Carman United Church. He spent several summers in Penetaguishene where he was active in baseball.

He’d been working for one year as a Roofer for William Campbell Roofer when he enlisted on 21 June 1940 in Toronto with The Queen’s Own Rifles active service battalion. He served with “W” Force in Newfoundland and trained at Camp Borden and in Sussex, New Brunswick before arriving in Scotland with the QOR in July 1941.

He continued to train in England and was appointed Lance Corporal on 21 May 1943 and Acting Corporal on 27 August 1943 before reverting to Rifleman at his own request on 4 October of the same year.

Rifleman Pethick landed with B Company on Juno Beach on D-Day, 6 June 1944 and was killed in action, at age 24. He is buried in Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, grave reference I. G. 1.