Captain John Jeffrey Kerr, known to his brother officers and friends as ‘JJ’, was born in Toronto on 3 March 1944. He attended Upper Canada College in Toronto where, along with his future brother officers in the 48th Highlanders, LCol David Temple, HCol Geordie Beal and Lt. David Cameron, he was a member of the school’s Cadet Corps serving as its Adjutant.
While attending Western University in London, John joined the 1st Hussars and qualified as an Armoured Officer.
After graduating from Western, John returned to Toronto to attend the University of Toronto and begin a 30-year career teaching English and Latin at Royal St. George’s College eventually becoming Head of English. David Cameron convinced John to consider joining the 48th in Oct 1964. Already proficient in armour tactics Lieutenant John Kerr was a qualified and competent infantry officer. He was also a very good shot having once won the Turner Shoot with the highest individual score. His platoon won both the Bayonet and Kitching trophies following a stiff run-off competition in Petawawa against platoons from every infantry regiment in CMA (Central Militia Area).
John was promoted to Captain and appointed Adjutant before leaving the Regiment in the fall of 1974. One of his colleagues at St. George’s was a fellow 48th Officer, Jim Leitch, who recalled that every Friday John wore his 48th Officer’s blazer to school. In 2000, John left Toronto and relocated to Meaford, Ontario where he continued teaching and became heavily involved in the Meaford community. As the Chair of the Meaford Hall and the Museum Restoration Board John oversaw major changes made to both buildings. As Chairman of the Museum Board, in 2010 and 2013, he organized successful art exhibitions for local painters. John passed away in Owen Sound on 17 August 2024 at 80 years of age.