George Henry Lazenby Jr

George was the first-born of George Henry Lazenby (WW1 and WW2) and Elsie Phillips. George was born on October 13, 1916 in Guelph…his father reporting his occupation to be “soldier”, having enlisted in April of that same year.

What must Elsie have thought as her husband agreed to fight for his country, thus leaving her alone with a baby…barely six-months-old? Was she proud or terrified…or perhaps a little of both?

Having been discharged in 1919 and returned safely home, the 1921 Census places George Sr. and his young family in Erin Township…at this time George Sr. identifying himself as a farmer. George Jr. was 5 years of age.

Having made the move to Acton, the 1931 Census shows 14-year-old George Jr., a student, living with his parents and sister Dorothy (11) renting a semi-detached house on Brock Avenue, Acton. The 1935 List of Electors shows the family living “south of Mill St. and West of Willow St. and extension”.

Little is known of George Jr.’s military service, we do however know that he returned to Acton, and 1949 he was working at Beardmore tannery and was married to Pauline Hurst. The 1957 Canada Voters List shows him at 170 Guelph St. (the street name later changed to Poplar) and the 1962 Voters List shows George still at 170 Poplar Ave., but by 1965 he had moved to 290 Arthur St.

George Jr. died in 1974 (the same year his father George Sr. died) and he was buried at Fairview Cemetery in Acton.

Truly a Canadian Hero. His story lives on.

*Information taken from Ancestry.ca and Findagrave .com