Purcell Drive and Purcell Court are named in memory of Private Gerald Duncan Purcell.
Gerald Duncan Purcell was born in 1922 in Aldborough Township, now known as West Elgin, about 40 km south west of London ON. As a member of the Perth Regiment, he served during the Regiment’s campaign in Italy during the summer and autumn of 1944 including the breaching of the Gothic Line. After the fall of Rimini on 21 September, the Allies continued their advance along the Adriatic coast into the Romagna region of Italy. It is during this operation that Private Purcell was wounded. He later died of his wounds on 24 September 1944 and is buried at Coriano Ridge War Cemetery.
