Sergeant William Arthur Furey

Survivor of WW2

Date of Death:

Biography General Links Ranks Awards Chronology Print

Service Biography

William Arthur Furey was born at Huntingdon, Quebec, on 26 March 1911. Before the war he worked as a labourer and had also worked in farming, seafaring and as a fitter/operator attendant. He enlisted at Montreal on 12 September 1939 as D-6536 with the Royal Canadian Artillery and proceeded overseas that December, disembarking at Gourock, Scotland, on 18 December. Furey served in the United Kingdom and the Mediterranean theatre, including Sicily and Italy, principally with the 2nd Canadian Field Regiment. He rose from Gunner through Bombardier and Lance Sergeant to Acting Sergeant. On 7 December 1943 he was wounded in action in Italy by high explosive, suffering wounds to the right shoulder and buttocks. He was confirmed in the rank of Sergeant effective 20 December 1944. In March 1945 he moved from Italy to France, then returned to Canada and was discharged at Montreal South on 12 July 1945 on demobilization. His medal entitlement included the 1939–45 Star, Italy Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Clasp and War Medal 1939–45. Furey died at the Ste. Anne de Bellevue Military Hospital on 22 January 1986.

General Information

Ranks

Conflict Rank Regiment Branch Unit Company Date From Date To
WW2 Sergeant Royal Canadian Artillery Army 2nd Canadian Field Regiment
WW2 Acting Sergeant Royal Canadian Artillery Army 2nd Canadian Field Regiment
WW2 Bombardier Royal Canadian Artillery Army 2nd Canadian Field Regiment
WW2 Acting Sergeant Royal Canadian Artillery Army 2nd Canadian Field Regiment
WW2 Lance Sergeant Royal Canadian Artillery Army 2nd Canadian Field Regiment
WW2 Acting Sergeant Royal Canadian Artillery Army 2nd Canadian Field Regiment
WW2 Lance Sergeant Royal Canadian Artillery Army 2nd Canadian Field Regiment
WW2 Acting Lance Sergeant Royal Canadian Artillery Army 2nd Canadian Field Regiment
WW2 Bombardier Royal Canadian Artillery Army 2nd Canadian Field Regiment
WW2 Acting Bombardier Royal Canadian Artillery Army 2nd Canadian Field Regiment
WW2 Acting Lance Bombardier Royal Canadian Artillery Army 2nd Canadian Field Regiment
WW2 Gunner Royal Canadian Artillery Army 7th (Montreal) Field Battery

Awards

Conflict Award Action Date of Award Date of Citation Source
WW2 1939-45 Star
WW2 Italy Star
WW2 France and Germany Star
WW2 Defence Medal
WW2 Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Clasp
WW2 War Medal 1939-45

Service Chronology

1911-03-26 — Born
1939-09-12 — Voluntarily enlisted as Gunner
1939-12-09 — Struck off strength C.A.S.F. (Canada) on embarkation
1939-12-10 — Taken on strength C.A.S.F. (Overseas)
1939-12-18 — Disembarked at Gourock
1941-07-17 — Appointed Acting Lance Bombardier with pay
1941-12-22 — Appointed Acting Bombardier
1942-01 to 1942-05 — Completed Royal Artillery / mechanical-transport related training and course attachments
1942-03-30 — Confirmed in rank of Bombardier
1943-05-14 — Appointed Acting Lance Sergeant
1943-06-14 — Appointed Lance Sergeant
1943 — Served in Mediterranean theatre, including Sicily and Italy
1943-11-13 — Appointed Acting Sergeant
1943-12-07 — Wounded in action by high explosive; right shoulder and buttocks
1943-12-07 — Reverted from Acting Sergeant to Lance Sergeant on being struck off strength after wounding
1943-12-07 — Received field medical treatment through the field-medical chain
1943-12-10 — Admitted for continued wound treatment
1944-01-02 — Transferred for continued wound treatment
1944-01-25 — Transferred for continued wound treatment
1944-04-14 — Taken on strength from X List
1944-05-03 — Appointed Acting Sergeant
1944-06-07 — Reported sick/admitted with N.Y.D. fever
1944-07-09 — Reverted to Bombardier
1944-07-14 — Admitted with typhoid fever
1944-08-03 — Discharged from No. 5 Canadian General Hospital to Convalescent Depot
1944-09-20 — Appointed Acting Sergeant
1944-12-20 — Confirmed in rank of Sergeant
1945-03-07 — Embarked from Italy / struck off strength Canadian Army (C.M.F.)
1945-03-09 — Disembarked in France
1945-05-01 — Struck off strength to X-8 List on proceeding on rotation leave to Canada
1945-05-02 — Taken on strength X-8 List from 2nd Canadian Field Regiment on rotation leave to Canada
1945-05-31 — Return-to-Canada movement recorded
1945-06-01 — Taken on strength in Canada from Canadian Army Overseas
1945-06-09 to 1945-07-06 — Granted leave and ration allowance
1939-09-12 to 1945-07-12 — Qualifying service total: 2,131 days; 71 days Canada and 2,060 days overseas
1945-07-12 — Honourably discharged on demobilization under R.O. 1029 para. 5
1986-01-22 — Died at Ste. Anne de Bellevue Military Hospital

Notes

Completed Grade 8 at Ormstown High School in 1925. Occupational-history records show work from 1926 to 1936 as a general labourer, farmer and seaman, and from 1936 to 1939 as a fitter/operator attendant with the Canadian Spool Cotton Company in Montreal. He had about five years of farming experience in Huntingdon County. Personnel-selection material records English as his language and interests including stamp collecting, swimming, basketball and hockey.

Born at: Huntingdon, Que, March 26, 1911
BIRTH 26 MAR 1911 • New Erin, Godmanchester, Huntingdon, Québec DEATH 22 JAN 1986 • Ste Anne de Bellevue, Québec
Mother Mrs Mrs. Margaret Jean Furey of Ormstown. He was born at Huntingdon, Que. on March 26th, 1911 and enlisted in the 7th Montreal Field Battery and he is listed as wounded.

atip Request confirmation number EA2026_0171646

Additional Service Notes

Enlisted at Montreal on 12 September 1939 with the Royal Canadian Artillery and proceeded overseas in December 1939, disembarking at Gourock, Scotland, on 18 December. He served 71 days in Canada and 2,060 days overseas, for 2,131 days total qualifying service. His overseas service included the United Kingdom, Sicily, Italy and France, principally with the 2nd Canadian Field Regiment, R.C.A. He progressed through Acting Lance Bombardier, Acting Bombardier, Bombardier, Lance Sergeant and Acting Sergeant, and was confirmed Sergeant effective 20 December 1944. He was wounded in action in Italy on 7 December 1943 by high explosive, sustaining wounds to the right shoulder/scapular area and buttocks, and later suffered typhoid fever in 1944. He embarked from Italy on 7 March 1945, disembarked in France on 9 March, returned to Canada in May/June 1945, and was discharged at Montreal South on 12 July 1945 on demobilization.

Additional Next of Kin Notes

At enlistment he was single and named his mother, Margaret Jean Furey of Ormstown, Quebec, as next of kin. Family particulars also name his father, John Charles Furey of Ormstown. A 1986 obituary names his wife Elizabeth Whiteron and siblings Ina MacInnis, John, Maida, Scott, Elsie Henderson, Robert, Audrey, Elliott and the late Gladys Whealon.

Version: 3 Last modified: 2026-09-19 18:52:11 by: marc