Lieutenant Harold (Hal) Mills
Harold Abraham Mills was born at Meaford, Ontario on August 23, 1919. In 1938, he moved to Barrie where he was employed as an auto mechanic. He joined the Grey & Simcoe Foresters Reserve Battalion in 1939 and, in July, 1940 enlisted with the 1stBattalion so that he could qualify to go overseas. While a Forester, he was promoted to sergeant and then lieutenant following officer training.
In 1942, the G&S Foresters were converted from an infantry to an armoured regiment now known as the 26thArmy Tank Battalion, Grey & Simcoe Foresters. More training ensued and the Regiment embarked for England in the spring of 1943. A decision to reduce the division to one tank brigade resulted in the breakup of the 26thArmy Tank Regiment and Mills was re-assigned to the 1stHussars Regiment, 6thArmoured Division.
On June 6th, D-Day, Lt. Mills and his tank crew went ashore at Juno Beach as part of the 1stHussars “B” Squadron. Five days later, Lt. Mills and 60 other members of the 1stHussars paid the supreme sacrifice when they attacked into a strongly defended enemy area near Le Mesnil-Patry, France. He is buried in the Bretteville-sur-Laize, Canadian War Cemetery.