B132218 Rifleman William Potapchuk was born in Cochrane, Ontario on 18 August 1922, the son of Ivan Maksimovich and Fedora Potapchuk. He spoke English and Russian, left school at 15, and belonged to the Russian-Greek Church. He had three sisters and three brothers. The oldest brother John was a corporal in the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment and a German prisoner of war by August 1944.

He was working for Sterling Construction when enlisted with the active service army in Timmins, Ontario on 1 September 1942. He trained at Camp Borden before being sent overseas to join The Queen’s Own Rifles on 18 March 1943.

Rifleman Potapchuk landed with D Company on Juno Beach with the second wave on D-Day, 6 June 1944 however he was killed in action aged 21, during the battle for the village of Le Mesnil Patry on 11 June 1944.

He is buried in Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, grave reference III. F. 8.