Leslie James Darby (1921 - 1945)

Born 4 Mar 1921 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Ancestors

Died 8 Feb 1945 at age 23 in Netherlands

Biography

While born in March 1921, he is not listed as living with his mom in the 1921 (June) census or 1931 census, but lists her as his next of kin on his army enlistment.

In the 1931 census Leslie (age 10) was a brother in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.^[1]

In July 1943, he enlisted in the Canadian army. He was in the Calgary Highlanders, R.C.I.C. (service number M7575).^[2]

He had one son with Frances Marie Haynes on 18 Mar 1944 in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada. It looks like the son was given up for adoption and parentage was determined by DNA tests.

Leslie arrived from Newcastle Upon Tyne, England to New York on 27 May 1944^[3]

He married Maureen Elizabeth Sullivan on April 21, 1944, in Brampton, Ontario, Canada.

Leslie died on 8 February 1945 in Holland.^[4][5][6]

Leslie was mentioned on a memorial in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery and Memorial, Groesbeek, Berg en Dal Municipality, Gelderland, Netherlands with a death date of 8 February 1945.^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ 1931 Census: "1931 Census of Canada"
   Library and Archives Canada; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Seventh Census of Canada, 1931; Folder Number: T-27350; Census Place: Calgary East, Alberta, Canada; Page Number: 22
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 62640 #5822506 (accessed 27 January 2024)
   Leslie Darby (10), single brother, in household of Leslie Darby (10) in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Born in Alberta.
2. ↑ Military: "Canada, World War II Records and Service Files of War Dead, 1939-1947"
   Library and Archives Canada; Ottawa, Canada; Service Files of the Second World War - War Dead, 1939-1947; Series: RG 24; Volume: 25699
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 9145 #54794 (accessed 27 January 2024)
   Death Date: 8 Feb 1945; Next of Kin: Eva Marguerit Leask; Service Number: M7575; Birth Date: 4 Mar 1921; Birth Place: Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Relationship: Mother; Rank: Private; Name: Leslie James Darby; Regiment: Calgary Highlanders, R.C.I.C.; Residence Place: Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
3. ↑ Passenger List: "New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957"
   The National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, DC, USA; Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at New York, New York, 1897-1957; Microfilm Serial or NAID: T715; RG Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; RG: 85
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 7488 #3018932831 (accessed 27 January 2024)
   Gender: Male; Ship Name: Port Adelaide; Ethnicity/ Nationality: English; Arrival Port: New York, New York, USA; Birth Date: abt 1922; Departure Port: Newcastle Upon Tyne, England; Arrival Date: 27 May 1944; Name: Leslie Jas Darby; Age: 22.
4. ↑ Military: "Canada, World War II Records and Service Files of War Dead, 1939-1947"
   Library and Archives Canada; Ottawa, Canada; Service Files of the Second World War - War Dead, 1939-1947; Series: RG 24; Volume: 25699
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 9145 #54794 (accessed 27 January 2024)
   Death Date: 8 Feb 1945; Next of Kin: Eva Marguerit Leask; Service Number: M7575; Birth Date: 4 Mar 1921; Birth Place: Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Relationship: Mother; Rank: Private; Name: Leslie James Darby; Regiment: Calgary Highlanders, R.C.I.C.; Residence Place: Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
5. ↑ Military: "Web: Scotland, National War Memorial Index, 1914-1945"
   The Scottish War Memorial; Edinburgh, Scotland; The Scottish National War Memorial: Roll of Honour for Scots; URL: https://www.snwm.org/roll-search/
   Ancestry Record 70908 #205010 (accessed 27 January 2024)
   Military Unit: The Calgary Highlanders Affiliated the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Princess Louise's; Death Date: 8 Feb 1945; Rank: Pte; Service Number: M7575; Birth Place: Alberta; War: WW2; Regiment: Canadian Army; Name: Leslie J Darby; Death Place: North West Europe.
6. ↑ Canadian Virtual War Memorial
7. ↑ Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
   Find A Grave: Memorial #12903438 (accessed 27 January 2024)
   Memorial page for Private Leslie James Darby (4 Mar 1921-8 Feb 1945), citing Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery and Memorial, Groesbeek, Berg en Dal Municipality, Gelderland, Netherlands (plot: V. A. 3.); Maintained by Operation:PictureMe (contributor 47833248).