Son of Mrs. Hilda Stacey of 22 William St. S., Chatham, ON., brother of Arthur (honourably discharged from the army), Garnet (serving in the Merchant Marine).

George enlisted in December of 1939 at the age of seventeen with the Royal Canadian Regt. and within two weeks was on his way overseas. Before he left home he told his mother he would be “home in 1945”. While in England Pte. Stacey would be transferred to the Princess Louise Dragoon Guards 4^th Recce. Bn.

Wounded in the knee on 23 September,1943 during the campaign in Sicily he quickly recovered and withing two weeks time was back in his unit. The CDN 27/10/44(P) reported Pte George Henry Stacy was reported WIA while serving in Italy.  While awaiting for the final word on his thirty-day leave his unit was ordered into action and the 22 year old went into the line with his regiment. CDN 30/12/44(P)

It would be during the Moro River campaign and the Battle for Ortona, in particular the action referred to as “The Gully” Pte. George Henry Stacey would be killed. George had told his mother and brothers he’d be home in 1945.  After five years in service it appeared as if his prediction might come true as he was slated to come home.  Mrs. Stacey said she had a premonition that things were not well with her son when a letter and a post card was received by her three days before Christmas that was not in his hand writing.  However no indication of anything being wrong was conveyed in the letters.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Sources	Chatham Fire Fighters 1944 Field Day Booklet 7 to 12/08/1944. Index of Overseas Deaths. CDN30/12\44(P).
Supplemental Information	Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead, Grave/Memorial Reference: V, B, 1. Cemetery: VILLANOVA CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY.

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