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

Source: Veterans Affairs Canada