Nova Scotia/Nunavut Command of The Royal Canadian Legion www.ns.legion.ca 65 continued ... Winston Charles Henrick 'Winnie' Ploeg from Halifax, Winnie was born in Sultan, Washington State, USA, in 1914 to Frits and Margaret (Clark) Ploeg. Winnie moved to Halifax, with his parents, in 1921 where his father found employment with Farmers Dairy Ltd. Winston enlisted in the 6th Battalion Canadian Machine Gun Corps May 1931 when he was 17 years old. He represented Nova Scotia at the 1933 Dominion of Canada Rifle Association's National Competition in Ottawa. Remaining in the Active Permanent Militia he transferred to the 1st (Halifax) Coast Brigade, RCA, in November 1934, serving until November 1937. He married Dorothy Burnett of Ives Point of McNab’s Island on 11 September 1937. Their marriage license notes that Winne was a soldier and living in South Barracks (now RAPark). Winnie travelled to England and enlisted in the 2/Mancs on 1 February 1939. After being evacuated from Dunkirk, in June 1940, he voluntarily transferred to the Canadian Army. In 1941 he was selected for officer training and was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Royal Canadian Artillery. He arrived in Sicily in August 1943 and went on to serve in the Italian and Northwest Europe campaigns. When the war was over, he resigned his officer commission and returned to the ranks. He continued to serve in the RCA and retired in 1966 as a regimental sergeant major. He found civilian employment with the University of British Columbia and retired as the head of the university’s traffic department. 'Winnie' Ploeg died on 17 December 1982 in Richmond, BC, at age 68. Ernest Frederick ‘Fred’ Rampton was born in Halifax on 29 March 1916 to Ernest Frederick and Mary (Hamiliton) Rampton. He was born eight months after his father went to war. His father, Corporal Ernest Frederick Rampton of the Royal Canadian Regiment, was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for conspicuous gallantry during the Battle of Mount Sorrel. Corporal Rampton, DCM, was killed in action, near Vimy Ridge, on 24 April 1917. Young Fred enlisted in the 2/Mancs in late April 1939. After the retreat from Dunkirk, Fred opted to transfer to the Canadian Army and was posted to the Toronto Scottish Regiment (M.G.). He was listed as missing during the raid on Dieppe on 19 August 1942, but, in fact, he had been able to make his way back to a landing craft and safety. He served in Korea with the 2nd Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment during the 1951-1952 period. From 1959 to 1970, Fred was employed as the lighthouse keeper at Maugher Beach on McNabs Island. Ernest Frederick Rampton, Jr, died on 1 March 1970 in Halifax. R J Ramsey of Lethbridge, Alberta. Arthur Vincent ‘Art’ ‘Tony’ Rodgers was born on 21 September 1918 to William and Laura Rodgers of 69 Agricola Street, Halifax. His father served as a sergeant in the 1st Depot Battalion of the Nova Scotia Regiment during the Great War. Art travelled to England and enlisted in the 2/Mancs on 2 May 1939. He survived the fighting in France and was evacuated off the beaches at Dunkirk in early June 1940. In August 1941 he transferred to the Canadian Army and was posted to the Toronto Scottish Regiment (M.G.). After the war he served with the Halifax Fire Department for 33 years. Arthur Vincent Rodgers died on 15 March 1991 at age 72. He is buried at Gates of Heaven Cemetery, Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia. continued ...
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