Robert Arthur Roach
Private, Royal Regiment of Canada
Royal Canadian Infantry Corps
Welland, Ontario, B-160135
Roach, Robert Arthur Private
Royal Regiment of Canada
Royal Canadian Infantry Corps B160135
Robert Arthur Roach was born in Welland, Ontario on September 8th, 1925. He was a Baptist. Robert’s parents are Blanche Ruth Roach and Wilfred George Roach. Before he signed up for the military, Robert resided in 49 Elm Street in Fort Colborne, Ontario. His father was from Wales, UK and his mother was born in Canada.
Robert had completed two years of high school education but he did not like his studies so he quit to gain employment. He worked as a general labourer packing flour at the Maple Loaf Milling Company mill in his hometown of Port Colborne.
He had some experience with high school cadets when he enlisted at 18 years of age on March 4, 1944. His older brother, George Roach, was already serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force.
In his personnel assessment report, Robert Roach is described as five foot nine inches and weighing 137 pounds. He had blue eyes and brown hair. He is described as “a rather quiet youth” Injured playing baseball, he had avoided team sports. Robert is reported as being, “very uncertain about army life and is entering service with a reserved attitude.”
He took basic rifle training in Brantford, Ontario and he obtained infantry training at Camp Borden, Ontario. Then he was shipped overseas arriving in the United Kingdom on December 9, 1944.
As a reinforcement soldier, he was sent on January, 23, 1945 to Northwest Europe. He was assigned as a Rifleman to the infantry unit, the Royal Regiment of Canada.
Robert Arthur Roach, at age 19, was killed in action on March 3, 1945 in Germany. He was buried in a temporary battle cemetery near Bedburg, Germany.
After the war, he was reburied in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery grave references: VIII. C. 6.
The inscription on his headstone reads:
“God shall wipe away all tears There is no death, no pain nor fears.”
Private Robert Rawcliffe was awarded Canadian medals of the 1939-45 Star. the France-Germany Star. the War Medal and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Clasp.
Biography: Mingze Li, student from All Saints H.S., Kanata, Canada for Faces to Graves.
Biography made available for Faces to Graves courtesy of Vanessa Kirtz, All Saints H.S.
Sources:
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- Library and Archives Canada
- Veterans Affairs Virtual Memorial