True and Fascinating Canadian History
Vet of the Month: September, 2011
Reg.#9639, Constable Grenville Ingle. WWI. WWII
RCMP Vets. Ottawa, ON
Grenville Ingle's life can only be described as a life of total dedication to the Armed Services and to Canada - and sacrifice -- he distinguished himself having served honourably both in WWI and in WWII.
Grenville Ingle was born in Coboconk, Kawartha Lakes, ON. Although his WWI Attestation Papers cited his date of birth as August 15, 1898 his actual birth date seems to be in dispute -- it might have been 1901 or 1902, but in reality at the young age of 14 years, Grenville Ingle joined the 48th Highlanders of Canada and then he was sent overseas where he fought for two years with the Canadian Expeditionary Force (C. E. F.).
His youthfulness did not deter Grenville Ingle from war and its danger. It was widely believed that he was the youngest person ever to enlist for WWI -- signing up among the first to serve in war as a volunteer was the hallmark of the 48th Highlanders of Canada with its origins going back to 1891. The Regiment experienced an exceptional war record in the C. E. F. and its Regimental Battle Honours included Ypres, Gravenstafel Ridge, St Julien, Festubert, Mount Sorrel, Somme, and France and Flanders to name but a few conflicts.
After serving in WWI, Grenville Ingle returned home to Canada. He joined the RCMP at Ottawa, ON., on November 18th, 1920, and he served for three years at Edmonton, AB., then called 'G' Division. He left theForce in 1923 for reasons unknown but possibly to get married. After a spell, he joined the RCMP again as a Special WWII Engagement in the autumn of 1939, and he was employed as a Guard Supervisor at Sault Ste. Marie. All the while, WWII was approaching.
Constable Ingle left the Force again in 1939 and he signed up with the Toronto Scottish Regiment. It was the second time that he was sent overseas -- Canada entered WWII on September 10th, 1939 and within just eight weeks the first Contingents of Canadian troops arrived in the United Kingdom to supplement the British Expeditionary Forces (B. E. F.).
According to Grenville's obituary in The Quarterly (1941), he was with the Canadian Troops that narrowly escaped capture at Dunkirk. Often described as a miracle in the midst of war, allied troops were trapped on Dunkirk beaches while German forces advanced. However, under air and ground cover from British and French forces, allied troops were slowly and methodically evacuated from the beach with the aid of every serviceable naval and civilian vessel that could be found.
Unfortunately, Grenville Ingle was killed in a bus accident in London, England on October 3rd, 1940. His death was believed to have occurred during a blackout. Grenville was 39 years of age. It was reportedthat Grenville was survived by his widow Catherine of Toronto, ON., and their two daughters Margaret 16 yrs and Rhoda 12 yrs.
Grenville Ingle gave his life unselfishly and for a noble cause. He will long be remembered for the huge sacrifice which he made during WWI and WWII for the common good and freedom of all Canadians.
Constable Ingle was buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery in Guilford, England -- 30 miles from London. It is the largest Commonwealth War Cemetery in the United Kingdom. xR. I. P.
Reporting from Fort Healy,
J. J. Healy
September 23, 2011
Brookwood Military Cemetery. UK.
48th Highlanders of Canada & Battle honours: http://www.48highlanders.com/01_02.html.
Grenville Ingle: Canadian Virtual War Memorial:
http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/2667186
Constable Ingle's obituary: Newspaper Clipping – Memorialized on the pages of the Globe and Mail. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me.
Dunkirk facts & figures: https://www.warhistoryonline.com/war-articles/dunkirk-evacuation-40-facts.html
The RCMP Quarterly. 1941. V.8(3). Obituary. p. 358.
