Charles Berry was born January 1, 1923, the son of Edward Lee Berry and Mary Berry, of 234 Queen Street, Sarnia. He had three brothers who, at the time of his death, were Milton and Harold, both on active service overseas, and Wilfred, in a Nova Scotia training camp. Charles enlisted in the Canadian Army at the age of sixteen. In November of 1942, Mary received a cable in Sarnia from her son Charles informing her that he had arrived somewhere in England safely. Charles would be overseas for several years, and he participated in the Normandy invasion in France during the summer of 1944. He was a member of Royal Canadian Engineers, 6 Field Coy, with the rank of Sapper.
On September 22, 1944, Charles Berry would lose his life while fighting in France. In early October of 1944, Edward and Mary received the news from Ottawa that their son, Sapper Charles Berry, was killed in action last month. The telegram did not state where or the circumstances of his death. Charles Berry would later be officially listed as, Overseas casualty, killed in action, in the field (France). At the time of his death, his home address was listed as 142 North Brock Street, Sarnia, and his profession as a truck driver. Twenty year-old Charles Berry is buried in Calais Canadian War Cemetery, Leubringhen, France, Grave 4.D.10. On Charles Berry’s headstone are inscribed the words, Our dear son & brother. He lies among the brave. At his country’s call his life he gave.
SOURCES: A, B, C, D, E, F, J, L, N, 2C, 2D