John Archibald MacNaughton (7 October 1896 – 6 June 1944) was a Canadian soldier.

Biography

Born on 7 October 1896 in

Black River Bridge, New Brunswick Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white have ...

, MacNaughton enlisted to fight in the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, serving in France and Belgium. On his return to Canada he married Grace Helen, with whom he had two children. He was a farmer and taught

Sunday School A Sunday school is an educational institution, usually (but not always) Christian in character. Other religions including Buddhism, Islam, and Judaism have also organised Sunday schools in their temples and mosques, particularly in the West. Su ...

. In the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

he re-enlisted and served as a major with the

North Shore Regiment The North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment is a Primary Reserve infantry regiment of the Canadian Army, and is part of the 5th Canadian Division's 37 Canadian Brigade Group. The regiment is headquartered in Bathurst, New Brunswick, with sub-units ...

. Because of his advanced age he was 43, and the maximum age for enlistment at the time was 45 – he was offered a retirement or reassignment, but opted to lead his company in

Operation Overlord Operation Overlord was the codename for the Battle of Normandy, the Allies of World War II, Allied operation that launched the successful invasion of German-occupied Western Front (World War II), Western Europe during World War II. The operat ...

. He was killed in Tailleville and buried in the Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery. He is believed to have been the oldest Canadian killed on D-Day.

Legacy

In 2019 MacNaughton became the subject of a

Heritage Minute ''The Heritage Minutes'' is a series of sixty-second short films, each illustrating an important moment in Canadian history. The ''Minutes'' integrate Canadian history, folklore and myths into dramatic storylines. Like the Canada Vignettes of t ...

References

External links

Canadian Virtual War MemorialHeritage Minute
{{DEFAULTSORT:MacNaughton, Archie 1896 births 1944 deaths Canadian Expeditionary Force soldiers Canadian Army personnel of World War II Canadian Militia officers Canadian military personnel killed in World War II People from Northumberland County, New Brunswick Canadian military personnel from New Brunswick Canadian military personnel of World War I North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment