John Clarence “Jack” Esselment was born in Wainwright, Alberta, on December 6, 1915, the son of James Edward Esselment (born in Sombra) and Alma L. (nee Luckins) Esselment, of Alvinston, Ontario. His father James, was a World War I veteran. The Esselment family moved to Sarnia in 1920. John, also known as Jack, had two brothers, Alton and Walter (William). At the time of John’s death, brother Walter was with the Canadian Forces in Kingston. John was educated in Sarnia, attending Johnston Memorial Elementary School and Sarnia Collegiate High School. He graduated with three years of technical studies and one year of drafting. He worked on numerous farms and the Scott Misner Line freighters for two years. After the Esselment family moved to Alvinston, John was hired as a bartender at the Columbia Hotel, a job that he held for four years, until he enlisted. On January 7, 1941, John married Annetta Gregory, of Brooke Township. John and Annetta Esselment moved to Strathroy. The couple would have two children together, Carole (became Mrs. Zavitz) and George (who passed away at a young age).
John enlisted in the Canadian Army, becoming a member of the NRMA. In May 1942, he was sent to serve on the West Coast in Prince George, British Columbia. From November 21 to December 9, 1942, he was in Prince George Military Hospital. By January 1943, he was receiving his $1.50 per diem. In September 1943, he was given a 13-day leave from Nanaimo, British Columbia. On February 18, 1944, he became qualified at a weapons course. On June 12, 1944, John joined active service in Prince George with the Highland Light Infantry of Canada, R.C.I.C.. He had one final furlough, from July 2- July 21, 1944. After serving on the West Coast for two years, John Esselment went overseas on July 22, 1944, and would serve in several countries.
Only three months after arriving overseas, on October 31, 1944, Private John Esselment would lose his life while fighting in Belgium, during the Liberation of the Netherlands. He and his fellow soldiers were hiding in a barn which was bombed by German air strikes. In mid-November 1944, James and Alma in Alvinston would receive a message from Ottawa informing them that their son, Pte. John Esselment, has been killed in action. No other details were provided.
John Esselment would later officially be listed as, Overseas casualty, killed in action, in the field (Belgium).
During his four months on the front, John earned the 1939-1945 Star, the France and Germany Star, the War Medal CVSM and Clasp. Twenty-eight year old John Esselment is buried in Adegem Canadian War Cemetery, Belgium, Grave IV.E.2. On John Esselment’s headstone are inscribed the words, There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. St. John I.6. John Esselment’s name is also inscribed on the Village of Alvinston’s Memorial.
SOURCES: C, D, E, F, G, L, N, R, 2B, 2C, 2D