Albert "Ab" John Irwin

Ab was born on June 4, 1925 in Hillsburgh, Ont. to John Irwin and Hariet Hurd. The 1931 Census shows the family living in Erin and lists his father’s occupation as a threshing machine proprietor and his mother as a homemaker. Prior to the war, Ab picked potatoes on the farm.

Apparently, Ab tried to enlist in the service at 15 years of age, but his parents pulled him out. On February 25, 1942, he successfully enlisted at age 17 with the H.L.I. Ab served in Canada, the United Kingdom and Continental Europe. He was wounded in France and spent several months recovering in hospital in London, Ont. There he met his future wife Mary Procunier (WW2), who was working in the hospital as a member of the C.W.A.C. (Canadian Women’s Army Corp). The couple married in 1947, moving to the “war time” housing in Acton, specifically 212 McDonald Blvd. By 1974, the family moving to 10 Division St. Acton.

Following the war (1949) Ab worked as a tanner at Beardmore tannery as many Acton men did, eventually working at A.P. Green and Building Products in Acton and the Guelph Correctional Centre.

Ab was Past President and a Life Member of the Acton Legion, Branch 197.

Albert died on December 3, 2012 and was buried at Fairview Cemetery, Acton

Truly a Canadian Hero. His story lives on.

*Information submitted by Sandy Irwin Cooney and taken from Ancestrys.ca

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