B65507 Corporal Maurice James Quinlan was born in Belleville, Ontario on 3 July 1917, the son of Edward Thomas Quinland and Ellen Kathleen Breen. He had three sisters and three younger brothers. One brother – William E. – served in the Royal Canadian Air Force.

After moving to Toronto Quinlan attended St Clare’s Separate School, De La Salle College, Oaklands and Vaughan Road Collegiates. He was a member of St Clare’s Roman Catholic Church.

He married Eleanor Myrtle Potts in April 1941.

Quinlan served with The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada militia battalion from July 1940 until he transferred to active service on 21 May 1942. At this time he was with General Steel Wares Ltd as an enameller. He was quickly promoted to Acting Corporal and this promotion was confirmed on 23 November 1942. He trained at Camp Niagara and Camp Debert in New Brunswick with the 3rd Battalion QOR.

He arrived in the UK in January 1943 and after further training was posted to the 1st Battalion QOR on 27 May 1943, and continued training with the Regiment until D-Day.

Rifleman Quinlan landed with the second wave on Juno Beach with D Company on D-Day, 6 June 1944 but was killed in action on 11 June aged 26, during the battle for the village of Le Mesnil Patry.

He is buried in Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, grave reference III. B. 12. Quinlan is also memorialized on the Vaughan Collegiate Second World War memorial.