James Roland Baird (1918 - 1943)

Born 13 Dec 1918 in Perth, Victoria, New Brunswick, Canada

Died 19 Jul 1943 at age 24 in Agira, Enna, Sicily, Italy

Biography

He was the son of Bernard Roy Baird and Adèle Louise Matone, of Perth. New Brunswick.

He enlisted in the Canadian Army in February, 1940, and was sent overseas in May, 1940.^[1] Roland served with the Carleton & York Regiment in England and Sicily.^[1] He was killed in action on “Beginner’s Hill” near Agira, Sicily in July, 1943.^[1] Roland rests in the Canadian War Cemetery at Agira, Sicily, Grave Reference: A, B, 26.^[2]

Note

On 10 July 1943, following the successful conclusion of the north African campaign in mid May, a combined allied force of 160,000 Commonwealth and American troops invaded Sicily as a prelude to the assault on mainland Italy. The Italians, who would shortly make peace with the Allies and re enter the war on their side, offered little determined resistance but German opposition was vigorous and stubborn. The campaign in Sicily came to an end on 17 August when the two allied forces came together at Messina, but failed to cut off the retreating Axis lines. Agira was taken by the 1st Canadian Division of 28 July and the site for the war cemetery was chosen in September for the burial of all Canadians who had been killed in the Sicily campaign. Agira Canadian War Cemetery contains 491 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Military Service Recognition Booklet. New Brunswick Command. Royal Canadian Legion. 2006.
2. ↑ Canadian Virtual War Memorial. Private James Roland Baird