Name: Rank: Service Number: Service: Date of Birth: Place of Birth: Date of Enlistment: Place of Enlistment: Address at Enlistment: Age at Enlistment: Height: Complexion: Eye Colour: Hair Colour: Martial Status: Trade: Religion: Next of Kin: Date of Death: Age at Death: Cemetery: Grave Reference:

Isaac Wilkins Ruggles

Sources Veterans Affairs Canada Kangaroo Regiment Archive

Isaac Wilkins Ruggles Trooper F/445098 F/8108 Royal Canadian Armoured Corps 1st Canadian Armoured Carrier Regiment (Kangaroo Regiment) August 12, 1908 Lequille, Annapolis Co., NS June 25, 1942 Yarmouth, NS Yarmouth, NS 32 5 feet 10½ inches Colored Black Black Single at enlistment Gardener, Houseman, Janitor, Butler Church of England George Ruggles (Brother) Lequille, NS, Barbara Ruggles (Wife) Yarmouth, NS January 8, 1945 36 Nederweert War Cemetery, Limburg, Netherlands IV. C. 11. Commemorated on page 560 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on November 23 Isaac was the son of James Wallace Ruggles (1855–1936) who had died prior to WWII at the age of 80, and Minnie Fowler Ruggles (1866–1908), who also predeceased her son at the age of 65. Isaac had 4 siblings alive at the time of his enlistment and more than 10 other brothers and sisters who predeceased him. His brother, James J. Ruggles, also served with the West Nova Scotia Regiment in WWII. His sister Edna lived in Montreal, QC, his older half-brother, George in Lequille, NS, and a half-sister Maude living in Boston, MA, USA. Isaac’s deceased brother Harry’s sons Harold and Donald Ruggles served in the Canadian Army overseas and survived the war. Isaac was the husband of Etta Barbara Robinson Ruggles, of Halifax, Nova Scotia. She was born July 7, 1907, the daughter of Albert and Clara (Fowler) Robinson. His enlistment records of 1942 read, “Ruggles has been employed in the Officer’s Mess at this training centre for the past three years. A man of high integrity and excellent deportment. Subject, during evenings at Yarmouth has studied motor mechanics and would prefer this work within the army... Ruggles has a great deal to bring to the Army service and will be an asset to any unit.” It is further noted October 15, 1943 that he, “enlisted July 15, 1940 and the served in Officers Mess at Yarmouth because of civil experience as butler. Had Basic Training at Yarmouth at end of 1942 and a 4 week course at New Glasgow in Aug-Sept 1943. He was Mess Corporal at Yarmouth Jan-Aug 1943. Age 35, cat, A1. Married. Height 5'10". Weight 200. This very likable man, has a good conduct record and as a credit to his race. He took a civil course at Motor Mechanics while at Yarmouth and wishes to carry on with D. & M. [Driver and Mechanics] for which he seems well suited.” He had previously served with the 2nd Battalion, West Nova Scotia Regiment beginning August 1, 1940. His records indicate he was employed at Canadian Army Basic Training Centre No. 60 (Camp 60 in Yarmouth, NS) as of September 9, 1940 until August 29, 1943. During his tenure at Camp 60, he married Barbara Etta Robinson on July 5, 1941, at the Holy Trinity Church in Yarmouth, NS. From Yarmouth, he transfered to Canadian Army Basic Training Centre No. 61 in New Glasgow, NS, for Basic Training from August 30, 1943, to October 5, 1943. He then transfered to A2 Canadian Artillery Training Centre, Camp Petawawa for additional training until March 25, 1944 where he qualified as driver and mechanic for wheel and track vehicles. He served in Canada until March 25, 1944, in the UK from April 1 - July 17, 1944, disembarked in France July 18, 1944 and served in Northwest Europe until January 8, 1945. He served in the 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment. His unit operated Ram Kangaroo Armoured Personnel Carriers, which were converted obsolete Ram tanks. Trooper Isaac Wilkins Ruggles was killed January 8, 1945, as the 2nd British Army (then also including the 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment), chased the last of the Germans out of Southeast Holland and back into Germany. From the War Diary for 18 January 1945, 1st Canadian Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment: At 0400 hours, the mobile reserve with ‘A’ & ‘B’ Companies, 2nd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment in Kangaroos moved along Green route to reinforce ‘D’ Company, 2 Devons in Echt (Netherlands). At first light, an attempt (with ‘C’ Company, 2 Devons in a section of 3 Kangaroos was made on the main road (Susteren – Schilberg)). This was stopped by a roadblock at Map Reference 695776 which was covered by enemy self-propelled gunfire. Another attempt was made to run past block with this section of kangaroos at 1345 hours (1:45 pm) but once more S.P. fire smashed the attempt but the vehicles, fortunately, got out. The infantry commander realizing the kangaroos were of no further value released them and they regrouped back in Dieteren. The Kangaroos were not used again until 1100 hours when (British) 9th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry there brought up from Dieteren to relieve the 2nd Devonshire Regiment. During the interim, the Kangaroos were used for ferrying prisoners, rations and evacuating wounded. (Mortar fire had been quite heavy during the day and one man was killed, Trooper Ruggles) A veteran interview undertaken by the Kangaroo Regiment Archive in 2005, provides additional detail: “As Trooper Harold Thompson recalled, the regiment had just come back from carrying infantry and were parked for a rest at the edge of a farm field. Most of the men went out in the field and were exploring some German vehicles that had been abandoned there, especially a German motorcycle. Isaac was one of a few men remained back with the tanks. Alone in his tank, he went to sleep there. Isaac was a Driver/Mechanic, an exhausting job at the best of times. At this time, German mortar bombs were falling ever closer to the field. As Thompson recalls, they were used to the constant mortaring and were not too concerned, no tanks were moved right away. It was some time, before the men in the field went back to their tanks, having enough fun with the motorcycle and deciding the bombs might be ranging in on them. When they returned Ruggles was found dead, no wounds were evident. It was determined he had died from the shock wave of an airburst above or near the open-topped tank.” Trooper Isaac Wilkins Ruggles is buried in the Nederweert War Cemetery, in Limburg, Netherlands.

Brothers, James and Isaac Ruggles. (Isaac on left)