William Gordon McNaughton

1939-1945 Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (CVSM) and Clasp, 1939-45 War Medal

Queens Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada

Seaforth Highlanders of Canada

WW II

Gordon was born 12 September 1920 to Neil and Bertha (Sandercock) McNaughton. He was the 5th of 7 children and his siblings were Thomas, Coll, Vera, Don, Margaret and Irene. The family lived in the Opawaka School district and Gordon attended there. Opawaka is in the Rural Municipality of Thompson southwest of present day Miami, Manitoba. They eventually moved to the Edgar Sandercock farm one mile north of Morden and Gordon then attended school in Morden until grade 8.

Gordon enlisted 05 April 1940 with the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada. He departed Canada 13 December 1940 and landed at Gourock Scotland 28 December 1940. He spent almost three years in the United Kingdom, training on a variety of courses. He was promoted to Corporal 24 June 1942 and to Lance Sergeant 01 May 1943 and was then deployed to the Mediterranean 26 September 1943. On arrival in Italy, he was transferred to the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada and a month later became Acting Company Sergeant Major (A/CSM). He was wounded in March 1944 and while recovering was promoted to Warrant Officer 2nd Class (WO2) and confirmed Company Sergeant Major (CSM), 20 March 1944. CSM McNaughton recovered from his wounds and returned to duty and was wounded again in October 1944. He was returned to Canada in March 1945 and after recovering from his wounds and leave he was discharged effective, 04 August 1945.

Gordon married Margaret (Peggy) Ferris, of the Cheval District, north of Morden, on 25 September 1946 and they had 2 children, Gwen and Valerie. They farmed 3-4-6 at Dunston, northwest of Morden, until the 1980’s when they moved to Miami.

William Gordon McNaughton succumbed to cancer 02 May 1990 and is buried at the Nelsonville Cemetery in the Rural Municipality of Thompson, Manitoba.

Information supplied family and Gordons war records from Library and Archives Canada.