Gold, David Sidney

Normandy Massacres

Date of birth:: November 13th, 1918 (Swan River/Manitoba, Canada)
Date of death:: June 8th, 1944 (France)
Buried on:: Canadian War Cemetery Beny-sur-mer
Plot: XV. Row: H. Grave: 13.
Service number:: H/16928
Nationality:: Canadian

Biography

David Sidney Gold was the son of Ernest Stanley Gold and Beatrice Elizabeth Gold, and grew up in Pine Falls, Manitoba. Raised in a United Church household, David completed eight years of public schooling and worked as a laborer for the Winnipeg Cartage Company prior to his enlistment. He was known to be fluent in English and expressed a personal ambition to become a prospector.

David enlisted in the Canadian Active Service Force on February 26, 1940, at the age of 21. He began his military career with Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry and was later transferred to the Royal Winnipeg Rifles. His regimental number was H16928. Over the course of his service, David underwent training in various locations including Winnipeg, Shilo, and Debert, and was eventually deployed overseas.

He embarked from Halifax on August 28, 1941, and arrived in Liverpool on September 13, 1941. His overseas service took him through the United Kingdom, Italy, and France.

On June 8, 1944, during the Normandy campaign in France, David was reported missing. It was later confirmed that he had been captured and murdered while a prisoner of war. He was only 25 years old.

Following his death, David was initially buried in a temporary grave near Caen, France. His remains were later exhumed and reburied with full military honors in the Beny-sur-Mer Canadian Military Cemetery.

The Canadian government issued a Certificate of Death and extended condolences to his family. His father and mother received memorial crosses and were recognized as next of kin. David’s estate included a Dominion Life Insurance policy and a war service gratuity totaling $731.53, which was distributed between his parents.

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