FARIS, PTE. FRED

Fred Faris apparently served from 1939 to 1945 and is identified as having served with the Hamilton Light Infantry 2^nd Division.

It would appear likely that this is actually Alfred ‘Fred’ Edwin Faris, born in 1922 in Sundridge, the son of Henry and Margaret (Sullivan) Faris. He married Leone Winnifred Pomfret and had 2 children.

Anciens Combattants Canada (https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/history/second-world-war/dieppe-raid/royal_hamilton) provides the following description:

“On 1 September 1939, the Regiment mobilized the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, C.A.S.F. It wasn't until 22 July 1940, however, that they set sail for the United Kingdom. On the legendary day of 19 August 1942, the Regiment saw action in the raid at Dieppe, where they were part of the main assault against the enemy. They landed at the west end of the promenade, and though greeted by the enemy with a hail of fire, the soldiers managed to make their way across the beach and into the town, where they engaged in heavy street battle. The RHLI succeeded in clearing the enemy, without any support, as the tanks had not arrived. Along with so many of their allies, the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry met tragedy on that summer day. They suffered 197 fatal casualties in total.

Honourary Captain John Weir Foote, a Regimental Chaplain with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, saved many lives through his heroic actions during the Second World War and for this he was awarded the Victoria Cross, making him only member of the Canadian Chaplain Services to be awarded this prestigious medal.

Over the next couple of years, the 2^nd Canadian Infantry Division, as the RHLI was distinguished during the Second World War, made their way through the battlefields of northwestern Europe before being disbanded on 31 December 1945.”

It is not know if Fred was present at Dieppe, or was in the European Theatre of war at a later time.

In that regard, Wikipedia notes:

“The 2nd Canadian Division came under command of the newly formed II Canadian Corps in Britain, and after almost two years of training after Dieppe, returned to France after D-Day to fight through the Battle of Normandy from early July onwards. During Operation Spring, the Rileys earned the distinction of being the only assault unit to hold their objective (the village of Verrières). During the winter of 1944-45, the Rileys fought through the Battle of the Scheldt and the Rhineland, and on V-E Day was deep into Germany.”