Date of birth:

December 1900

Service number:

L.12057

Nationality:

Canadian

Joseph Arthur Gregory concealed his age and joined the army at 15. He told friends he developed his later talent for sniping as a boy when he hunted in Saskatchewan. He had the use of a camera during his action in World War I and had a large collection of photographs documenting the horror he witnessed.
After his service as a sniper in France during the First World War, Gregory settled in Calgary, Alberta with his wife and worked as a labourer. Upon the outbreak of the Second World War, he re-enlisted with the newly-formed South Saskatchewan Regiment on 7 September 1939 in Weyburn, Saskatchewan.
Credited with several kills, he participated in the Dieppe Raid, where he lost an eye to a ricocheted bullet. He became a cause celebre after his return to Canada and was employed in Canadian Army recruiting.
His account of the Dieppe raid appeared in Time magazine's October 26, 1942 issue, and he was also interviewed for the December 1 Hamilton Spectator.
In the mid 1950's he worked at the RCAF base at Tofino, British Columbia and remained in the Tofino area for the rest of his life. He died sometime between the late 1950's and early 1960's.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Corporal

Unit:

1st Battalion South Saskatchewan Regiment, 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Infantry Division, Canadian Army

Awarded on:

October 2nd, 1942

Awarded for:

Operation Jubilee

Citation:
"During the operation at Dieppe, 19 August 1942, Corporal Gregory was a sniper and scout attached to Battalion Headquarters. On four occasions although under fire and observation he made lone trips into enemy sniper positions that were causing casualties at Battalion Headquarters. On each occasion he killed the enemy sniper. In between these sorties Corporal Gregory kept the defences of Battalion Headquarters organized and although he lost an eye during the action continued with his duties until the final withdrawal to the beach . His courageous devotion to duty was of inestimable value in the defence of Battalion Headquarters."

• Photo 1: Ric Moodie
• - Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 35729 published on the 2 October 1942
  - TIME Magazine
  - Estevan Community Acces Programme
  - 19 août 1942 OPERATION JUBILEE