Frederick Ranger
Private, Royal Canadian Army Service Corps
2nd Corps Car Company
Bouchette, Quebec, B-28856
Frederick “Fred” Joseph Alfred Ranger was born on March 10, 1902 in Bouchette, Quebec, to Rosina Piche and Alphonse Ranger. At the age of two years, his parents moved to Sudbury, Ontario. He had a brother David Ranger (1904-1991).
Fred’s mother died in 1907 and then his father later married Victoria Charbonneau, and they had seven more children. His half-brothers were Arthur, Rene and Gerard Ranger. His half-sisters were Rita Barriault, Alice Despatie, Cecile Cloutier, Lina Desforges and Rose Dupuis. Alphonse Ranger died on August 27, 1940.
He had been working for 13 years in the mines in Sudbury Ontario. He worked for INCO (International Nickel Company) as a miner-machine runner and railroader. He also belonged to the army reserves with the Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury regiment.
Frederick Ranger enlisted in the Canadian army on July 27, 1940 in Sudbury in Northern Ontario.
It was at this time that he married Margaret Helen McCulloch of Toronto on September 12, 1940. Margaret Ranger, who was born in 1914, passed away in 1964.
His training took place at Camp Borden, Ontario where he was attached to the 2nd Canadian Motorcycle Corps. Private Ranger was sent overseas to the United Kingdom on October 22, 1940 where he was reassigned to the
Royal Canadian Army Service Corps with the 2nd Headquarters Canadian Corps in February 1941. He was awarded one good conduct badge in July, 1942.
Switching to the 2nd Canadian Car Company, RCASC, he disembarked in France on July 5, 1944 during the Battle of Normandy.
His unit, the 2nd Canadian Car Company, was deployed with the forward battle forces to deliver essential supplies such as ammunition, rations or petroleum products.
Frederick Ranger, who was 43 years old, was killed on March 12, 1945.
He was initially buried at a temporary cemetery in Bedburg, Germany.
Private Frederick Ranger was reburied at the Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery with grave references VIII. A. 15.
His headstone is inscribed:
“His life was taken so that we might live. Our thoughts will always be with him.”
He was awarded the 1939-1945 Star, the France-Germany Star, the Defence Medal, the War Medal, and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medals with Clasp.
Biography: Thomas Hammell, student from All Saints H.S., Kanata, Canada for Faces to Graves.
Biography made available for Faces to Graves courtesy of Vanessa Kirtz, teacher at All Saints H.S.
Sources:
- Library and Archives Canada, WWII Service Files of War Dead, 1939-1947 for George Quarrier and Ralph Clifford Fellows
- Veterans Affairs Canada, The Canadian Virtual War Memorial
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Casualty file
- Fédération québécoise des sociétés de généalogie