Lance Sergeant Joseph Baird McIlreavey (B/11124) served in 12th Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery during the Second World War. Born on 23rd December 1922, he was the second son of Robert McIlreavey and Annie McIlreavey of Castlerock, Co. Londonderry.
In April 1926, as a young boy, he emigrated to Brantford, Ontario, Canada. He attended Bellview Public School and King Edward School. He was also a member of the Wesley United Church. After school, he gained employment ar Harding Carpets Limited in Brantford, Ontario.
On 7th June 1940, he enlisted with 11/69th Field Battery. He trained at Hamilton and Petawawa, Ontario, and Sussex, New Brunswick. He departed for the United Kingdom with 11th Battery, 12th Field Regiment in July 1941. Joseph died in Belgium on 11th October 1944 aged 21 years old when a bomb exploded prematurely. He received a temporary field burial at Maldegem.
Joseph Baird McIlreavey’s grave is in Section IX, Row B, Grave 4 of Adegem Canadian War Cemetery, Oost-Vlaanderen, Belgium. His headstone bears the inscription:
His today he gave for our tomorrow.