Name: Ernest Joseph Melanson Rank: Trooper Service No: F/64806 Regiment/Service: The Ontario Regiment, R.C.A.C. 11th Armoured Regiment Date of Birth: June 26, 1922 Place of Birth: Haverhill, Mass. US Date of Enlistment: June 10, 1942 Place of Enlistment: Yarmouth, NS Address At Enlistment: Yarmouth, NS Age at Enlistment: 19 Height: 5 feet, 8½ inches Weight: 122 lbs Complexion: Sallow Eyes: Brown Hair: Black Trade: Mill-hand [Cosmos Imperial Mills Ltd., Yarmouth, NS] Marital Status: Single Religion: Roman Catholic Next of Kin: Mrs. Ida Grace Deveau [Aunt] Yarmouth, NS Date of Death: September 12, 1944 Age: 21 Cemetery: Florence War Cemetery (Italy) Grave Reference: VI. B. 7 The 75th name on the WWII list of the Yarmouth War Memorial Commemorated on page 392 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on August 23 Ernest Joseph Melanson was born in Haverhill, Mass. US, the only son of William Melanson and Adele Melanson. His Mother died on September 12, 1925 and Ernest came to Yarmouth to live with his Aunt, Ida Grace (Melanson) Deveau. He began school at the age of eight and left to work at the age of 16. He was employed at the Yarmouth Box Factory for six months in 1940, and as a fish cutter, employed by Mr. C. Vionette in 1940 and 1941. In that employment he earned $10 a week. He was then employed in 1941 as a weaver at Cosmos Imperial Mills Ltd., Yarmouth at a weekly salary of $25 until his enlistment. He liked softball, track and field, and hunting, although not active in any of these sports. He was assessed by the military in 1942 as a pleasant, alert and clean cut young man, with a good attitude toward the Army and anxious to better himself and serve his country. His desire was to drive a tank and he was assessed as suitable for special training as a automotive tradesman and driver mechanic. It was suggested by the military authorities that he be watched as possible N. C. O. with further army experience. He qualified as Driver Class III at Camp Borden in April, 1943. He left Canada on June 18, 1943 and disembarked in the United Kingdom on June 24, 1943. He served in the Italian Campaign with the 11th Armoured Regiment and was killed in action on September 12, 1944. He was initially buried near Panicaglia, Italy and reburied in the Florence War Cemetery on April 12, 1945.