John Wade was born on May 4, 1923, the son of John William Wade and Evelyn Maude Wade, of R.R. #1, 6th concession, Sarnia Township. John had one brother and four sisters who at the time of John’s death were Fred, at home in Sarnia, and four sisters: Mrs. John Waghorne, in Edmonton; Mrs. R. Ferguson and Mrs. D. May, at home; and Mrs. J. Soper, in Sarnia. John grew up in Sarnia township and was employed by the Electric Auto-Lite plant as a press operator prior to enlisting.

Single at the time, John enlisted in the Canadian Army in a tank unit, becoming a member of the Lanark and Renfrew Scottish Regiment, R.C.I.C., attaining the rank of Private. He received most of his training at Camp Borden. He continued training in England after going overseas on June 2, 1943. He would go to Italy with the Lanark-Renfrew unit in May of 1944, serving with an armoured regiment on the Italian Front.

On October 11, 1944, John Wade was wounded in action in Italy. Parents John William and Evelyn Wade in Sarnia, were notified that he was wounded in November. John Wade was able to recover from these wounds and had just returned to his unit in Italy on the last day of 1944. Four days later, on January 4, 1945, Private John Wade suffered more serious wounds during fighting in the Italian Campaign. These more serious wounds resulted in John’s death. In mid-January of 1945, parents John William and Evelyn Wade in Sarnia would receive a telegram from Ottawa informing them that their son, Lance Corporal J.R. Wade, has died January 4 of wounds received in action in Italy. John Wade would later be officially listed as, Overseas casualty, died of wounds received in action, in the field (Italy).

In early February of 1945, London Road West United Church in Sarnia held a ceremony for two members of the church who had lost their lives recently in the war with a Sunday afternoon memorial service. Rev. P.S. Banes presided over a ceremony honouring Lance Corporal Robert John Wade, who lost his life January 4, 1945 in Italy; and Private Horace Humble, who lost his life December 10, 1944 in Italy (included in this project). Twenty-one year old John Wade is buried in Argenta Gap War Cemetery, Italy, Grave IV, G, 10.

SOURCES: A, B, C, D, E, F, L, N, 2C, 2D