B79124 Lance Corporal Gordon Reed was born on 21 May 1921 in Acton, Ontario, the son of Private Philip George Reed and Flora Edna Smith. He attended Dewson St Public School and left school at age 15 after two years at Central Tech. He was a member of West United Church.

Reed had three sisters and two brothers – Douglas who also served in The Queen’s Own Rifles, and Ross who served in the Ordnance Corps. Their father served in WWII with the Toronto Scottish Regiment.

He was engaged to be married to Lieutenant Margaret Ellen Gilbert who was serving with the Red Cross, permission being granted by the army on 31 May 1944.

Reed was working as a clerk in Adamson’s retail storewhen he enlisted with The Queen’s Own Rifles on 25 June 1940 in Toronto. He trained in Camp Borden and Sussex, New Brunswick and arrived in the United Kingdom with the regiment in July 1941. He was appointed Acting Lance Corporal on 18 May 1944.

Rifleman Reed landed on Juno Beach on D-Day, 6 June 1944 and was killed in action at age 23, as was his older brother Douglas. He is buried in Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, grave reference I. A. 16.  just two rows from his brother.