Remembering World War II

Name: Raymond John Ashe Rank: Gunner Service Number: F/65567 Service: 1st Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery Date of Birth: May 22, 1923 Place of Birth: Springhill, Cumberland Co., NS Date of Enlistment: May 6, 1942 Age at Enlistment: 18 Place of Enlistment: Truro, NS Address at Enlistment: Herrett Road, Springhill, NS Height: 5 feet, 8 inches Eyes: Brown Hair: Black Trade: Coal miner Marital Status: Single Religion: Church of England Next of Kin: Charles Ashe, father Date of Death: July 5, 1943 Age: 20 Cemetery: Cassino Memorial, Italy Grave: Panel 14 Commemorated on Page 132 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on March 20 Raymond John Ashe was the son of Charles Ashe (1884-1948) and Viola Lorraine (Campbell) Ashe (1896-1956). His parents were married June 2, 1917. His father was born in Tracadie, NS; his mother – in Springhill. Raymond had one brother Irvin Winthrop Ashe (1926-1997) and three sisters – Sarah ‘Sadie’ Lorraine (Ashe) Allen (1918-2018), Lilian (Ashe) Martin (1917-2001) and Eleanor Margaret (Ashe) Halfkenny (1920-1995). Raymond enjoyed hunting, fishing, skiing, hockey (left wing), baseball (1st base) and football. At enlistment, he indicated he had some skills as a mechanic and that after the war he would like to work as one. Prior to enlistment he was working from 1940-1942 at the Dominion Coal Co. in Springhill, NS as a coal miner (listed his role as a “tally-man on the bank head”) for $25.00 a week. From May 4 to July 16, 1942, he completed Basic Training at #60 Canadian Infantry Basic Training Centre (Camp 60) in Yarmouth, NS. He embarked in Halifax on September 25, 1942, disembarking in England on October 8, 1942; and was attached to the 2nd Canadian Artillery Reinforcement Unit October 10, 1942. He was one of 58 Canadians who lost their lives on July 4-5, 1943. They were travelling in convoy KMS-18B on their way to Sicily, Italy, for Operation Husky. Three ships (City of Venice, St. Essylt and Devis) were torpedoed and sunk by Germans U-boats in the Mediterranean Sea near Alger, Algeria.

Raymond John Ashe

Sources: Canadian Virtual War Memorial Read about the Italian Campaign convoys at: Italian Campaign - Convoys

Charles and Viola Ashe (parents of Raymond Ashe)