Stuart, Douglas Holden (D.H.) Photo
Rank Private
Service # A-110151
Unit # Argylle and Southerland Highlanders
24th Reg. Yes
Resident Chatham
Books Of Rememberance Page Available

Previous Military Experience… Trained with the 2nd Kent Regiment.

Born in Scotland in 1915 he emigrated to Canada with his parents when he was one year old. The family set up farming in Harwich Twsp., Kent Co., On the River Road. Douglas grew up on the family farm. He married Maxine Helen (nee Whaley and they had three children, Kenneth Janet and Diana ( McOmber).

Even though he was married and in 1944 had two of his children, Douglas enlisted first with the 2nd Kent Batt. and then with the Essex Scottish Regt. who he went overseas with. In early May of 1945, in the closing days of the war Douglas was seriously wounded in action in the Klieve area in Germany.

A story of his wounding appeared in the Chatham Daily News 25/06/16 “Chatham war vet marks 101 years” by Don Robinet. While in a “foxhole he was in to get a cigarette from a buddy who was stading nearby. Just as (he) was returning to the foxhole, but not yet in it, a shell hit and killed the two men he had been sheltering with.” His life had been spared and war was over, he would spend the next eight months recovering from his wounds.

Being laid up in hospital was bad for Douglas but his wife Maxine had received a telegram that her husband had been killed in action, the shock of which but her in labour from their daughter Diana. She would later receive a telegram that he was only wounded. Douglas finally returned to Canada from hospital in England and was discharged from the Army in March, 1946.

Employed at the Ontario Steel Plant, where he retired.  He built his own house on Joseph St. in Chatham and it was there that his young family grew up. Douglas retired in 1974 and Maxine passed away in 1995.

Douglas was featured in the Chatham News along with his children in June of 2016 at the age of 101 years.  Douglas was a member of the Royal Canadian legion for 71 years when he passed away 24 April, 2017 with internment in Maple Leaf Cemetery, Chatham-Kent, ON.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Sources IODE(P), KCFA (24/05/45), CDN (3/04/45 (WIA), 21/05/45 (coming home))
Age born 1915
Birthplace England
Religion Presbyterian
Marital Status Married
When Enlisted March 1944
Next of Kin Maxine Stuart (Wife)

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