Name: Walter John Shebib Rank: Private Service Number: F/56032 Service: West Nova Scotia Regiment, Royal Canadian Infantry Corps Date of Birth: July 8, 1920 Place of Birth: North Sydney, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia Date of Enlistment: January 29, 1943 Place of Enlistment: Halifax, Halifax County, Nova Scotia Address at Enlistment: Archibald Ave, North Sydney, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia Age at Enlistment: 22 Height: 5 feet, 4 inches Complexion: Medium Hair Colour: Dark Brown Eye Colour: Blue Occupation: Barber Marital Status: Single Religion: Roman Catholic Next of Kin: Annie Shebib (Mother) Date of Death: June 17, 1944 Age: 23 Cemetery: Caserta War Cemetery, Campania, Italy Grave: Section II, Row A, Grave 20 Commemorated on Page 441 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on September 24 Walter John Shebib was the son of Farajallah 'Fred' Shebib (1881-1927) from Beirut, Lebanon, and Annie (Nader) Shebib (1885-1967), born in of Tripoli, Libya. His father was a shoemaker, and his parents immigrated to Canada in the 1920’s. Walter was born in North Sydney, Cape Breton. Walter’s father’s first name also appears as Fregilla and Frugalla on various records, and the majority of census records identify him as Syrian (because Lebanon as a state wasn’t founded until 1943). Walter’s siblings were Yousef ‘Joseph’ Shebib (1909-1978), Michael Shebib (1910-1936), James Shebib (1910- 1972), Frederick Edward Shebib (1912-1980), Rose Marie Shebib-Babbage (1914-1995), Eva Shebib (1915- 2012), Albert Abdullah Shebib (1916-1984), Maurice ‘Morris’ Shebib (1918-1995), and Francis Shebib (1921- 1922). Fred also served overseas during WWII, as a Craftsman with the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (RCEME). Walter John Shebib from North Sydney, Cape Breton, was a barber in civilian life before enlisting in January 1943. He joined the West Nova Scotia Regiment in September 1943. He departed Canada in July of 1943, disembarking in England on July 23, 1943. From the UK, he transferred to the Mediterranean Theatre in the middle of September, arriving there at the end of the month. Walter was wounded in the right thigh and his left lower chest from shell fragments. He was one of 48 West Novas wounded in action on May 20, 1944. Thirteen other WNSR soldiers were killed in action during this fighting along the Hitler Line during the Italian Campaign. Private Shebib succumbed to his wounds June 17, 1944, age 23. He is buried in the Caserta War Cemetery in the Campania region of Southern Italy.

Source: Canadian Virtual War Memorial findagrave

original grave maker