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Wartime Heritage
ASSOCIATION
Remembering World War II
Yarmouth Connections
Name:
Arthur John Surette
Rank:
Private
Service No:
F/86933
Regiment/Service:
North Nova Scotia Highlanders, R.C.I.C.
Date of Birth:
December 3, 1915
Place of Birth:
Pinkney’s Point, Yarmouth Co., NS
Date of Enlistment:
July 12, 1941
Place of Enlistment:
Yarmouth, NS
Age at Enlistment:
25
Height: 5 feet, 6 inches
Complexion: Medium
Eyes:
Blue
Hair:
Brown
Previous Military :
2nd West Nova Scotia Regiment (January 1941)
Trade:
Fisherman
Marital Status:
Single
Religion:
Roman Catholic
Next of Kin:
Mrs Emma Surette (Mother)
Pinkney’s Point, Yarmouth Co., NS
Date of Death:
June 11, 1944
Age:
28
Cemetery:
Brookwood Military Cemetery (Surrey, England)
Grave Reference:
55. I. 3.
The 107th name on the WWII list of the Yarmouth War Memorial
Commemorated on page 456 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance
Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on October 1
Arthur Surette was the son of Thomas John and Rose Emma Surette, of Pinkney's Point, Yarmouth
Co., Nova Scotia. Canada. He had seven brothers and eight sisters. His brother, Donald Francois
Surette also served during the war. The family was originally from Pinkney’s Point. A fisherman by
trade, he helped support the family as his father was in ill health. There were six children at home
under the age of sixteen; Edward (14), Arnold (12), Clarence (8), Anita (13), and Angeline (10).
Arthur enlisted at Yarmouth and was taken on strength for No. 6 District Depot and was attached to
Canadian Army's 14 Advanced Infantry (Rifle) Training Centre at Aldershot. He was transferred to
No. 60 CABTC Yarmouth between August 1, 1941 and October 1, 1941 and then completed
advanced training at Aldershot, NS. He went overseas as re-enforcement for the North Nova Scotia
Highlanders arriving in England on December 26, 1941.
He disembarked in Normandy on June 6, 1944 with the North Nova Scotia Highlanders and was
severely wounded in action by multiple gun shot wounds (grenade) June 7, 1944 and retuned to
England for hospitalization; however, he died June 11, 1944. He was buried the following day in
the Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey.
His sister, Anita recalling the war, years later, remembered her family all wore black bands on their
arms and a wreath on their door. He was the first of her brothers to leave, and before he left he
picked up all the children and said, “I’ll be back and bring you a piece of Hitler’s moustache.”
Arthur John Surette