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Wartime Heritage
ASSOCIATION
Remembering World War II
Yarmouth Connections
Charles Allister Ritcey
Lieutenant
F/79555
11th Infantry Brigade Support Group
Princess Louise Fusiliers, RCIC
October 22, 1915
Lunenburg, NS
November 3, 1941
Halifax, NS
Vancouver St, Yarmouth, NS
26
5 feet 10 inches
Medium
Brown
Dark
Salesman
Church of England
Married
Bertha Marion Ritcey (Wife) Yarmouth, NS
May 27, 1944
28
Cassino War Cemetery, Frosinone, Italy
V. J. 8.
Commemorated on Page 428 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance
Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on September 10
(Not listed on the Yarmouth War Memorial)
Charles Ritcey was the son of Evelyn Blanche Victoria (Spearwater) Ritcey (1889-1960), and
Captain Colin David Ritcey (1884-1962) of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. He had three sisters Marguerite
(Mrs Herman Levine), Evelyn, and Phyllis (Mrs. R. C. Comeau) and two brothers; Corporal Eugene Ritcey
(b. 1910), who served with the Royal Canadian Artillery, and Fenwick Ritcey (1911-1956).
Charles served as a Private and Corporal with the Lunenburg Regiment (Non-Permanent Active
Militia) from 1930-1935. He then worked as a store clerk and salesman for W Brock, Ltd. (wholesale
home furnishings) based in Montreal, Quebec from July 3, 1935 until 1941. He was a commercial
traveller for the company and although the company was based in Quebec, his territory was Nova
Scotia.
Charles then served with the 2nd Battalion, West Nova Scotia Regiment (Non-Permanent Active
Militia/Reserves), enlisting in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, June 16, 1941. He was promoted to Sergeant
on August 16, 1941.
He re-enlisted for active Canadian Army service in
Halifax on November 3, 1941, and transferred to Officer
Training College (OTC) November 7, 1941 in Brockville,
Ontario. He was promoted to the provisional rank of Second
Lieutenant on February 7, 1942, and was stationed there until
February 14, 1942, when he transferred to Aldershot, Nova
Scotia.
His enlistment records indicate he was, “vigourous,
alert, sincere; self-reliant, energetic, with initiative and
imagination; quick responses; smart appearance and pleasant
personality, good character in camp and at home.” It notes
that he enjoys tennis, baseball, swimming, hunting, fishing,
sailing and reading (mainly fiction).
He married Bertha Marion Power in Charlottetown, PEI on
August 11, 1942 while stationed in Charlottetown. His wife
was a resident of Yarmouth, NS.
He served in Canada until October 26, 1942, and disembarked in the United Kingdom on
November 4, 1942 where he served until October 22, 1943. He transferred to Italy, disembarking on
November 10, 1943.
He died of his wounds on May 27, 1944 while serving with the 11th Infantry Brigade Support
Group with the Princess Louise Fusiliers.
Charles Allister Ritcey
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