D81532 Rifleman John “Jack” Showers was born on 24 June 1917 in Montréal, Quebec, the son of Joseph Anthony Showers and Mary Elizabeth Bathurst. He had three sisters, four brothers, and a half-brother.

On 14 September 1939, he married Albeana Margaret Blackman in Montreal at the Pentecostal Papineau-Laurier church and they had one daughter Patricia Evelyn Showers.

He was employed as a mechanic before enlisting.

Showers initially enlisted in The Black Watch in September of 1939. He served with that Regiment in Newfoundland but did not depart with it in July 1940. He was seconded to The Queen’s Own Rifles and served with the Regiment in Newfoundland, New Brunswick, and then England.

From the QOR Regimental History by Lieutenant Colonel Barnard:

“An interesting event occurred on 12 August when two errant members of The Black Watch came out of the woods. They had apparently been on a spree at some lumber camp and didn’t even know that their unit had left. Their remorse was pitiful to behold. As The QOR was then officially known as Force W and was controlled directly by Ottawa, the suggestion was made to NDHQ that the two men be sent to rejoin their unit now in Canada. This was refused but no other instructions were sent. Finally, after two or three weeks, The Queen’s Own were ordered to take them on strength. This was done and the two finally went overseas with the battalion.”

Rifleman Showers landed on Juno Beach on D-Day, 6 June 1944 and was initially reported wounded and missing but later confirmed died of wounds received in action at age 26. He is buried in Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, grave reference I. E. 3.