Charles Cecil Ingersoll Merritt

From Alf Askin's research notes

Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.

MERRITT, Charles Cecil Ingersoll (Reg. No.861).

Lieutenant Colonel The South Saskatchewan Regiment Canadian Infantry Corps London Gazetted on 2nd October 1942 Born on: Vancouver, Canada on the 10th November 1908 Died on: July 2000. (Reported Daily Telegraph 18th July 2000)

Memorials at: (Not yet established.)

Digest of Citation reads: On 19th August 1942 at Dieppe, France, Lieutenant Colonel Merritt's unit had to advance across a bridge swept by heavy machine-gun, mortar and artillery fire. The first parties had mostly been destroyed but the Colonel rushed forward and personally led the survivors of at least four parties, in turn, across the bridge, then led them in successful attacks on German pill-boxes. Although twice wounded he continued to direct the unit's operations and having collected bren and tommy guns, prepared a defensive position to cover the withdrawal from the beach

The obituary of lieutenant Colonel Cecil Merritt VC appeared in the Daily Telegraph on the 18th of July, 2000. He was Born on in Vancouver, British Columbia on the 10th of November 1908, the son of Major Cecil Merritt. His father Died on at Ypres during the European War (WW 1) He was educated at the University School, Victoria and continued at the Royal Military College at Kingston, Ontario. He graduated in 1929 and went on to study law. He was called to the bar in 1932. He was a member of the local militia and was commissioned in the Canadian Seaforth Highlanders. He married, in 1937, to Grace Graham the daughter of Mr Jamieson of Belleville, Ontario. The couple had three children, two boys and a girl. At the outbreak of the Second World War he was called in to the army and was promoted to Major. He served in England and in June 1941 attended Staff Course at Camberley. He was promoted in March 1942 and put in command of the South Saskatchewan Regiment. His regiment was sent to train for the raid on Dieppe on the Isle of Wight. His courage during this battle set an example to all who served under him. He is reputed to have stood on the bridge over the River Scie, which was littered with bodies of dead and wounded, and shouted that the German couldn't hit anything and urged the men to go on.. After the war, in 1945, he ran for Parliament and served as a backbencher. He left politics and returned to Law after the 1949 election. He rejoined the militia and commanded the Seaforth Highlanders. He was keen on sport and played rugby and a sort of Hockey called Shinny. (Daily Telegraph Article in archives.)