GRANT, Jean
Age at Death: 23
Rank Private
Unit Canadian Women’s Army Corps
Service Number W4781
Place of Burial Upper Cape United Church Cemetery, NB
Date of Birth 1921.03.16
Place of Birth Glasgow, Scotland
Enlistment January 22, 1943, Montreal PQ
Date of Death 1944.11.10
Daughter of Robert and Georgina D. Grant, of Upper Cape Melrose
A Scottish immigrant, Jean was the eighth of 12 children. Three of her brothers served in the military. She enlisted as a driver, but had difficulty completing her training. A note dated April 8, 1943 reads, “Referred to the Army Examiner by the Officer in charge D & M School because she refused to write examinations. Appeared nervous when driving and was in a very depressed mood.” Her instability was explained by her worry about her brother and fiancé, who had been transferred to commando units overseas. A week later, the same evaluator wrote, “Refused to write examinations and has been rejected from the Driver’s Course. Complains of a headache which she has had constantly for three years. Stated that she was no good for anything and would be better out of the Army.”
The following week’s note states that her attitude has improved, and her training continued. In the summer of 1944, she was disciplined twice for failing to appear at a parade. On November 10 of that year, she was killed when a Jeep she was driving went off the road. She was deemed not at fault, having lost control on a slippery road. Her mother asked for a diamond ring to be returned, but it appeared to have been stolen by a shady undertaker.
