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Biography
John Reginald “Reg” Ranton
John Reginald Douglas Ranton (February 13, 1892—March 27, 1974) born in St. Thomas, Ontario, to parents Samuel and Emily Ada (Leitch) Ranton. They moved to Stratford, Perth County, Ontario, where they lived at 187 Brunswick Avenue. After graduating school, John worked as a furniture finisher.
At twenty-two years old, Reg Ranton signed his attestation papers on October 31, 1914, in Stratford, enlisting as a Private in the 18th Battalion (Western Ontario) CEF of the 4th infantry brigade in the 2nd Canadian Division. With this unit, he sailed out of Halifax on April 19, 1915, on the SS Grampian, arriving in Avonmouth, England, on the April 29. From there, they travelled to West Sandling Camp in Kent, England, near Folkestone Port. At this major military training base, the unit spent four months training before being deployed to active forces.
On September 9, 1915, Private Ranton with the 18th Battalion embarked from Folkestone, disembarking in Boulogne, France on September 15. With this unit, he participated in operations in the Battles of Mount Sorrel, the Somme (including Flers-Courcelette, Thiepval Ridge, and Ancre Heights), Arras (including Vimy Ridge), Hill 70, and Passchendaele.
On January 1, 1917, Private Ranton was attached for duty to the 2nd Canadian Division Salvage Company, which was responsible for the salvaging of government and enemy property.
On July 1, 1917, Private Ranton transferred from the 18th Battalion CEF to the 2nd Canadian Division Employment Company while remaining attached to 2nd Canadian Division Salvage Company. After nineteen months, on February 6, 1919, Private Ranton was transferred back to the 18th Battalion CEF from the 2nd Canadian Division Employment Company while remaining attached to the 2nd Canadian Division Salvage Company for duty.
On April 4, 1919, Private Ranton took on strength to the Canadian Record List at Witley Military Camp in Surrey, England, pending return to Canada. A month later, he left 2nd Division Pool to P wing Canadian Concentration Camp in Whitley Camp in Surrey, England, where they gathered, processed, and demobilized Canadian soldiers back to Canada. On May 13, he sailed back to Canada, and was discharged upon demobilization on May 24, 1919, at the No.1 District Depot in London, Ontario.
He returned to civil life in Stratford, working as a finisher at Farquharson-Gifford Co., a furniture manufacturing company, while living with his parents. In 1925, he moved on to work as a finisher at McLagan Furniture Co.
On June 30, 1927, Reg Ranton married Eleanor Marietta Park, a school teacher of Durham, Ontario, in Stratford, and together they moved to 319 Cobourg. Together they had four children, Lorna, Marion, Reginald (Reg), and Doris.
Reg passed away on March 27, 1974. His body was donated to Medical Science at Western University in London, Ontario, where his remains are buried.
Medals: the 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal, and the Victory Medal