Ainsworth Dyer was born in Montréal and grew up in Toronto.

He enrolled with the Militia's 48th Highlanders of Canada as an Infantryman in February 1996 and transferred to the Regular Force in October 1997. After completing Battle School, Cpl. Dyer was posted to 3 PPCLI in the spring of 1998, where he served as a Rifleman and deployed with 3 PPCLI on Operation Palladium to Bosnia-Herzegovina in 2000.

A mature and responsible soldier, Dyer was well-respected by his colleagues. He took on many challenges including training for the military's grueling 'Mountain Man' endurance competition, qualifying as a paratrooper and serving in Canadian Forces peace support efforts in Bosnia-Herzegovina in 2000.

Corporal Dyer was taking part in night training in Afghanistan on 17 April 2002 when his position was bombed by an American warplane in a friendly fire incident at Tarnak Farms. Sadly, he and three other Canadian soldiers – Sgt. Marc Léger, Pte. Richard Green and Pte Nathan Smith – were killed and eight more were injured. Dyer was just 24 years old.

Corporal Ainsworth Dyer was buried with full military honours in the Necropolis Cemetery in Toronto. The Royal Canadian Legion named his mother, Mrs. Agatha Dyer, the 2004 National Silver Cross Mother. With courage, integrity and loyalty, Ainsworth Dyer left his mark. He is one of our Canadian Veterans. Discover more stories.