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World War Two Roll of Honour

 

R

Private Albert Renz
September 20, 1944
Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry
Service Number M/36953. Original unit of Service – Military District 13 Depot
Gradara War Cemetery, Italy. Age 31
Son of Frederick and Mathilda Renz, Chilliwack, B.C.

Albert Renz was born in Romania circa 1914. His family immigrated to Canada in 1927 and settled in Craigmyle, Alberta where they were wheat farmers until they moved to Chilliwack in 1937. Later Albert became a coal-miner in Drumheller until he joined the Royal Canadian Engineers in Calgary. He was posted to Victoria and then helped to build the Royal Canadian Engineer's base at Vedder. Albert transferred to the P.P.C.L.I., a unit of the First Canadian Infantry Division. The unit saw action throughout Sicily and Italy. On September 20, 1944, Albert Renz died of wounds received in action.

 

Trooper Douglas Milton Rexford
December 15, 1941
8th Reconnaissance Battalion, (14th Canadian Hussars)
Service Number M/16140. Original unit of service - Edmonton Regiment
Brookwood Military Cemetery, Woking, England. Age 20
Son of Roy Eben and Daisy Belle Rexford, Sardis, B.C.

Douglas Rexford was among the first men of the district to enlist during the Second World War. He came to Chilliwack in 1932 when his family decided leave Mission City, B.C. and return to the family farm on Vedder Mountain Road. He was well liked by his schoolmates in Sardis and many would recall his red hair and outgoing personality. Particularly adventuresome, he desired to experience everything the world had to offer. Apart from being a daredevil, Doug found time for lacrosse, hunting and fishing and operated his own trap line. Doug chose not to go on to high school and went to work at Eddies Nurseries where he was employed in previous summers. He was on occasion paid in plum trees that were taken home and planted on the family farm. On a visit to see his sister in Edmonton in September 1939, he attempted to join the Edmonton Regiment, but as his father informed the army that Doug was only 16, he was discharged in December 1939. In March 1940, he joined the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada and this time his father remained silent. Overseas Doug served with the 8th Reconnaissance Regiment as a despatch rider. Trooper Rexford was fatally injured in England, during a blackout night on December 15, 1941, when the motorcycle he was driving crashed into a truck.

 

 

Warrant Officer I Lorne Clarence Rideout
July 18, 1944
165 Squadron, Royal Canadian Air Force
Service Number R/87913
Chilliwack (Royal Canadian Legion) Cemetery, Little Mountain, British Columbia. Age 28
Son of Clarence Walter and Amber May Rideout, Sardis.
Husband of Vida Alwyn Rideout. Calgary, Alberta.

In 1927, Lorne Rideout was born in Calgary. He began school in Chinook, Alberta and moved with his parents to Chilliwack in 1937. He was employed by Cherry Motors and worked as an entertainer with dance orchestras. Lorne was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge and Carman United Church Choir. Following his enlistment in the Royal Canadian Air Force he became a very popular entertainer and singer. He graduated as a wireless air gunner and was posted to Western Air Command in December 1941, just after the attack on Pearl Harbour. In 1942 he was married in Calgary to Alwyn Vida McLeod and the couple had a daughter. On July 18,1944, when serving with 165 Squadron, located on Sea Island, the Dakota in which Lorne was flying crashed and burst into flames on take‑off in Port Hardy. All of the six crewmen of the aircraft, called the "Northern Witch", were killed. Funeral services were conducted at Carman United Church in Sardis.

 

Acting Lance Sergeant Everett Anthony Ronksley
September 20, 1943
IV Princess Louise Dragoon Guards
Service Number P/21434. Original Unit of Service – P.P.C.L.I.
Bari War Cemetery, Italy. Age 25
Son of Kenneth and Maude Ronksley.
Husband of Joan Rosemary Ronksley, Addington. Surrey, England

The IV Princess Louise Dragoon Guards was the reconnaissance unit of the First Canadian Infantry Division. E.A. Ronksley was killed September 20, 1943. He was a member of the pre-war Canadian permanent force serving with the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. Everett married Joan Rosemary Harris in Croydon, England. On 24 March 1944 his wife Joan gave birth to their son.

 

 

 

Chilliwack Museum and Archives 45820 Spadina Avenue, Chilliwack, BC, Canada V20 1T3 [604.795.5210]