Ralph William Ashford Wilson Leading Aircraftman R/117659 Royal Canadian Air Force June 5, 1923 Bury, Quebec July 23, 1941 RCAF Recruiting Centre, Montreal, Quebec Waterloo, Quebec 18 6 feet, 3¼ inches Fair Brown Blue Single Student United Church of Canada Jean Darling Wilson (Mother) January 20, 1942 18 Waterloo Protestant Cemetery, Quebec Lot 6, Range S, Grave 10

Name: Rank: Service No: 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: Marital Status: Trade: Religion: Next of Kin: Date of Death: Age at Death: Cemetery: Grave Reference:

Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Ralph William Ashford Wilson was the son of Reverend Ernest Merrill Wilson (d. 1938) and Jean Darling (Ashford) Wilson of Waterloo, Quebec, and the brother of Ralph Wilson and Nettie Wilson. Prior to enlistment, Ralph enjoyed photography, swimming hockey, and track and field. He attended Sawyerville and Waterloo High School. After enlisting in July of 1941, Ralph was taken on strength at the No. 9 Bombing and Gunnery School in Jarvis, Ontario on August 10, 1941, where he trained until September 25th. He then trained at the No. 5 Initial Training School (5 ITS) in Belleville, Ontario from September 26 to November 22, 1941, and transferred to the No. 13 Elementary Flying Training School (13 EFTS) in St. Eugene, Ontario, on November 23, 1941. Ralph tragically lost his life in a flying accident when his Finch aircraft stalled off a climbing turn at low altitude and spun into the ground 2 miles north of Dalkeith, Ontario during a solo practice flight. His body was returned to his family’s hometown of Waterloo, and he was interred at the Protestant Cemetery.