George Stanley Latimer

George, born in 1923, was the second son of Donald Latimer (WW1) and Tryphosa, who died in 1939 of surgery related to an ectopic pregnancy. George had an older brother Ronald (WW2), a younger brother Douglas (WW2) and a sister Joan. From available information, the family is presumed to have lived at 27 Mill St (formerly John St.), Georgetown.

George completed Grade 8 and part of Grade 9 at Georgetown High School before leaving school at age fifteen due to financial difficulties. Between 1939-1940, George was unemployed, working between 1940-1941 at Georgetown Clay Products moulding fire bricks at a wage of $24 per week and subsequently at Beardmore tannery in Acton between 1941-1942 earning a weekly wage of $18. He reported the promise of a job at Beardmore upon his eventual discharge.

George enlisted with the Lorne Scots in April 1942 and trained at Georgetown, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Brantford and Nanaimo before heading overseas in June 1943. He was transferred to the Irish Regiment of Canada, sent to Italy October 1944 and was in battle almost continually since the capture of Rome. He was awarded a Good Conduct Badge in 1944. His military record described him as quiet, soft spoken, with a mild personality and a very good physical appearance.

George was reported killed in action on December 20, 1944…he was 18 years of age. According to an article in the Georgetown Herald, the Padre of his Unit spoke of George’s record as a fighting man and said that he had been instantly killed by enemy small arms fire while waiting to attack an enemy position. Private Latimer was buried in Villanova Canadian War Cemetery, Italy.

George is commemorated on the Georgetown Cenotaph in Remembrance Park, Georgetown District High School, on the Honour Roll at Knox Presbyterian Church and the Beardmore Honour Roll at the Acton Branch of the Canadian Legion.

Truly a Canadian Hero. His story lives on.

*Information taken from Georgetown Herald January 24, 1945, Veterans. gc.ca and Ancestry.ca and Rick Ruggle (Lorne Scots Historian)

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