Nova Scotia/Nunavut Command of The Royal Canadian Legion www.ns.legion.ca 123 continued ... Now ‘Gunner’ Issac Ruggles was quickly dispatched overseas and served in England until he went ashore in France on 18 July. On 25 July he was transferred to F Squadron of the 25th Armoured Delivery Regiment (The Elgin Regiment) and became ‘Trooper’ Ruggles. On 29August he was transferred to the 22nd Canadian Armoured Regiment (The Canadian Grenadier Guards) and became ‘Guardsman’ Ruggles. On 17 November Issac was transferred to the Kangaroos and became ‘Trooper’ Issac Ruggles again. Trooper Ruggles was killed in action on 18 January 1945. In 2005 former Trooper Harold Thompson, a veteran of the Kangaroo Regiment stated: “… the regiment had just come back from carrying infantry and were parked for a rest at the edge of a farm field. Most of the men went out in the field and were exploring some German vehicles that had been abandoned there, especially a German motorcycle. Isaac was one of a few men who remained back with the tanks. Alone in his tank, he went to sleep.. At this time, German mortar bombs were falling ever closer to the field…. they were used to the constant mortaring and were not too concerned; no tanks were moved right away. It was some time, before the men in the field went back to their tanks, having enough fun with the motorcycle and deciding the bombs might be ranging in on them. When they returned Ruggles was found dead, no wounds were evident. It was determined he had died from the shock wave of an airburst above or near the open-topped tank.” Thirty-six-year-old Trooper Issac Wilkins Ruggles is buried in grave 4C11 of the Nederweert War Cemetery, Limburg, Netherlands. Sergeant Earl Frank Smith was born at Port Maitland, Yarmouth County on 23 May 1917. He started his wartime service in the Royal Canadian Dragoons. Earl was a Group “C” driver/ mechanic (tank) when he was posted to the Kangaroos on 6 October 1944. He died in Bridgewater in August 1993. Trooper Ernest Euberto Walton was born in Bible Hill, Colchester County on 6 July 1913. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Artillery. Ernest married Rosie Evelyn Whalen in October 1942 before going overseas. He was serving as a corporal in the 23rd Field Regiment (SP), RCA, when he was transferred the Kangaroos (probably in September 1944). E F Smith E E Walton The Nova Scotia troopers of the Kangaroo Regiment continued ...
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