Gilbert Boxall
In 1964 in a CBC program I saw, Canadian Sergeant Alf Allen told about one of the dead at Beny-sur-Mer, a Regina Rifles stretcher-bearer named Gilbert Boxall:
"He came from Canwood in northern Saskatchewan, grew up in the Depression and had very little of this world's goods. He'd never have had been the stick man in a British Guards parade but as a dedicated working man there was none better. He landed in the assault wave, gave first aid on the beach and in the battle inland. On D-plus 3, running to a chap he heard calling for help, he was cut down and killed. On his body we latter found five dried shell dressings - he'd had five wounds prior to being killed. He never said a word to anybody, just crawled away somewhere, put a dressing on and went back in."
Every D-Day since then Gilbert Boxall has been in my thoughts. In 2005 when my 2 oldest sons went to Europe, I had them drop by for a visit.
Gilbert Donald Boxall
Regina Rifles
L27355
Died June 9, 1944 age 24
Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, France
Plot: IV. E. 14.
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