MACNAUGHTON, JOHN ARCHIBALD (1896-1944)

MACNAUGHTON, JOHN ARCHIBALD, farmer and military officer; b. Black River, 7 Oct 1896, s/o John A. MacNaughton and Maria Cameron; m. 1929, Grace Helen MacNaughton, d/o John A. W. MacNaughton and Elspeth J. Watling, of Black River; d. Tailleville, France, 6 Jun 1944.

John A. MacNaughton was a Black River farmer who served as an officer in the militia and went overseas with the Canadian forces in both world wars. He was a major in the North Shore Regiment in World War II and was said to have been the most loved and respected of the officers. The regimental historian notes that he was always mild in his relations with all ranks. He "never swore or shouted," but his "absolute fairness" and his "integrity, honesty, and decency made even the hardest, toughest characters want his approval."

MacNaughton died a hero on D-Day, and his remains were consigned to the Canadian military cemetery at Beny-sur-Mer, France. He and his wife, Grace H. MacNaughton, had a daughter and a son.