Remembering World War II

Name: Reginald Percy Withers Rank: Sergeant Service No.: H/41111 Service: Royal Winnipeg Rifles, RCIC Date of Birth: January 21, 1904 Place of Birth: Wash Common, Newbury, Berkshire, England Date of Enlistment: June 25, 1940 Place of Enlistment: Winnipeg, Manitoba Address at Enlistment: Red Lake, Ontario Age at Enlistment: 36 Height: 6 feet, ½ inch Complexion: Ruddy Eyes: Blue Hair: Auburn Date of Death: May 12, 1941 Age at Death: 37 Cemetery: Robie St Cemetery, Truro, NS Grave: Lot 78, Division E, Grave 1 Commemorated on Page 48 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on February 4 Reginald Percy Withers was the son of William Charles (1875-1929) & Charlotte (Hatten) Withers (b. 1878). At the age of 20, Reginald Percy Withers enlisted, in England, with the Grenadier Guards on May 12, 1924 and served until May 11, 1927 when he was transferred to the army reserves. His Certificate of Service record exemplary character. On November 7, 1927 he joined the London Metropolitan Police from J Division as a Police Constable until Nov 4, 1928. He moved to Canada in 1929, travelling from Southampton, England, arriving in Saint John, NB on February 18, 1929 aboard the SS Melita of the Canadian Pacific Line. He was working as a miner for the Hasaga Gold Mines Ltd in Red Lake, Ontario, when he enlisted with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles. He listed his mother s next of kin living at 18 Royate Hill, Upper Eastville in Bristol, England. Post-war, she moved back to Berkshire. Sergeant Withers served with the Headquarters (HQ) Battalion of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles and was transferred to Debert, NS after training at Camp Borden in Ontario. He died of illness, a coronary issue following pneumonia, at the #7 Debert Military Hospital on May 12, 1941 while in active service. He was buried with full military honours and Wednesday May 14, 1941 at 14:30 hours. The funeral was held at the Church of England in Truro with Padre Captain Gardiner, Chaplain of the 1st Battalion, Canadian Scottish Regiment. He was laid to rest in the Robie St Cemetery, Truro, NS.

Reginald Percy Withers

Source: Canadian Virtual War Memorial National Archives UK