George Albert Quarrier
Gunner, Royal Canadian Artillery
1st Survey Regiment
Woodstock, Ontario, A-103610
George Quarrier was born in Woodstock, Ontario on December 2, 1916 to Marguerite and Edwin Quarrier. George Quarrier was the youngest brother to four siblings: Norman, Eileen, Louise, and Patricia.
Quarrier was raised in London, Ontario and attended St. Michael’s Roman Catholic church and school and then attended de La Salle high school for two years. He became a casual labourer doing deliveries, plumbing carpentry and painting. He also worked as a bartender at the Oxford Hotel for four years before becoming a sprinkler fitter for the Viking Automatic Sprinkler Company in Toronto.
In his personnel assessment report, he was described as “a single chap who likes the outdoor life. Belongs to the Boy Scouts” and “a bright, polite chap” with “considerably above average ability.” He was measured as being five feet tall and seven inches and weighed 144 pounds. He had hazel eyes and brown hair.
George Quarrier had served with the army reserves as a member of the Canadian Fusiliers for five and a half years, between 1932 to 1937. On September 1, 1942, George enlisted in the regular army at Camp Petawawa, Ontario. He proceeded to Kingston, Ontario where he did advance training and became qualified as an artillery signaller.
He was confirmed as a bombardier in February of 1943. He qualified in May of that same year as a driver in class III wheeled and tracked vehicles as well as motorcycles.
Gunner Quarrier embarked from Canada on October 5, 1944, and disembarked in the United Kingdom on October 12, 1944. Several months later, he was sent to the Netherlands on March 29, 1945.
On April 15, 1945, Gunner Quarrier was stationed at the 6th Canadian Reinforcement Transit Camp in Oss, located in North-Brabant, the Netherlands. He and another soldier were severely wounded while a third soldier was killed when enemy grenades exploded in an ammunition dump. Gunner Quarrier later died of his accidental injuries.
He was first buried at the temporary Canadian burial ground in Nijmegen.
George Albert Quarrier was reburied at the in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, grave reference: III. D. 11.
His headstone is inscribed:
“Lovingly remembered by
his Mother, Father, Sisters
and Brother. R.I.P.”
Quarrier was awarded the 1939-1945 Star, the France-Germany Star, and the War Medal. He had already received the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Clasp.
This life story was researched and written by: Teaghan Graham, student at All Saints H.S., Kanata, ON, Canada, for the Faces to Graves Foundation.
Made available for Defining Moments Canada via Faces to Graves, courtesy of Vanessa Kirtz, teacher at All Saints H.S.
Sources:
- Library and Archives Canada, WWII Service Files of War Dead, 1939-1947 for George Quarrier and Ralph Clifford Fellows
- Veterans Affairs Canada, The Canadian Virtual War Memorial
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Casualty file
- City of London Book of Remembrance
- photographs provided by Cindy Bryson
