Waterloo Region Generations
A record of the people of Waterloo Region, Ontario.

Private William John Irven

Male 1915 - 1942  (26 years)


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  • Name William John Irven 
    Prefix Private 
    Born 24 Dec 1915  Montreal, Ile De Montreal, Quebec Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    FindAGrave https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56044835 
    Military WW2 
    Misfortune 1942 
    Killed in WW2 
    Died 19 Aug 1942  Dieppe, , Haute-Normandie, France Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Buried Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery (Hautot-Sur-Mer) ; Seine-Maritime, France Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I488039  Generations
    Last Modified 26 Jun 2024 

    Family Carrie Elizabeth Roehrig,   b. 19 Dec 1912, , Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 2002  (Age 89 years) 
    Married 5 Dec 1938  Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Last Modified 26 Jun 2024 
    Family ID F299849  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Photos
    Irven-WilliamJohn-001-KPL.JPG
    Irven-WilliamJohn-001-KPL.JPG
    William John Irven - Kitchener Public Library

  • Notes 
    • Twin City Naval Airman and Soldier Reported Killed

      Honor Roll Reaches 41

      Lieut. John Harvey And Pte. W. J. Irven Are Killed in Action

      Two more Kitchener men have given their lives in the service of King and Country.

      The names of Lieut. John Frances Harvey and Pte, William John Irven were added to the Twin City's honor roll in reports received Saturday.

      HEARS FROM ADMIRALTY

      This community's casualty list was raised to 41 when Dr. Frank Harvey received the sad news that his son had been killed overseas.

      A message received from the Admiralty read "Deeply regret to inform you that your his son, son, Lieut. J. F. Harvey, has been killed in an aircraft accident.

      Pte. Irven, 18 York Street, was killed in action during the Dieppe raid. Aug. 19, his wife, the former Carrie Roehrig, was informed. He had previously been reported missing.

      Lieut. Harvey, 28, enlisted at London, Ont, with the R.N.V.R. in October, 1941. He went directly overseas and was asigned to the Fleet Air Arm. A letter received by his father only last Thursday read he was "feeling fine", and sald was flying from a Northern Scotland air base and patrolling the North Sea.

      BORN IN EDMONTON

      Lieut, Harvey was born at Edmonton, Alta, Jan. 30, 1914. He moved east with his family at five years of age and came directly to Kitchener. He attended Margaret Avenue and Suddaby public schools and the K-W Collegiate.

      Graduating in arts at Western University in 1938 he enrolled as a law student at the University of Southern California. Last year he followed a desire to take an active part in this "fight for freedom" and left studies to come back to Canada to enlist.

      During his residence in Kitchener, Lieut. Harvey attended Trinity United Church. Besides his father he is survived by one sister, Anne, and two brothers, Miln and Frank, all of this city.

      Seven Kitchener men were killed. taken prisoner or reported missing at Dieppe. Three were later reported prisoners of war, Lieut. Arthur Breithaupt, Sgt. Harry Basil and Pte. Alonzo Grant.

      3 KILLED AT DIEPPE

      Three now have been reported killed in action, Pte. Carol J. Fuja, Cpl. George Teasdale and Pte. Irven. The seventh, Pte. George Hoch, is still listed as missing.

      Pte. Irven, whose mother, Mrs. Mabel Irven, lives in Montreal, enlisted in January, 1940, and went overseas in the same year.

      He was a salesman for the McLean Publishing House and had lived in Kitchener for some years. He was married four years ago.

      Pte. Irven served with a Central Ontario Regiment.

      Kitchener Daily Record Mon, Dec 14, 1942 Page 3

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 24 Dec 1915 - Montreal, Ile de Montreal, Quebec Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - 5 Dec 1938 - Elmira, Woolwich Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDied - 19 Aug 1942 - Dieppe, , Haute-Normandie, France Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth