Ramsay Alexander Ribs Monaghan

1939-1945 Star, Italy Star France and Germany Star, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (CVSM) and Clasp, 1939-45 War Medal, Bronze Cross (Netherlands)

Royal Winnipeg Rifles

Loyal Edmonton Regiment

WW II

Ramsay Alexander Monaghan was born in Morden, Manitoba on 23 October 1923. He was the son of John Leo (1884-1924) and Elizabeth Mae (Morden 1890-?) Monaghan. Ramsay had two brothers, David, who was killed while serving in Europe during WW II, Douglas and one sister, Verna (McNaughton).

Ramsay enlisted with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles in June 1940, he was 16 years old. For unknown reasons, he was transferred to the Loyal Edmonton Regiment (Loyal Eddies). He was sent to Europe in 1941 and fought in the battle for Sicily with his regiment, July – August 1943. After the capture of Sicily in September of that year the Loyal Eddies were sent to Italy. Canadian Press War Correspondent, Douglas Amaron, in a report from the battle for Ortona, listed Private R.A. Monaghan of Morden as one of the First Aid men and drivers who worked throughout the battle. Corporal Ramsay A. Monaghan is later mentioned in a casualty report from Ottawa as one of 34 Manitobans wounded. In March of 1945, at the conclusion of the Italian campaign, the Loyal Eddies were sent to North-West Europe (France, Belgium and Germany) and eventually ended up in Holland where the regiment was disbanded in late 1945. On his return to Canada, after more than 5 years of military service, Ramsay was finally old enough to vote, he was 21 years old.

Ramsay was awarded the Het Bronzen Kruis (Bronze Cross) of the Netherlands by the Dutch Council in Winnipeg on behalf of Queen Wilhelmina of The Netherlands. The medal is awarded for,” Acts of courage and leadership in the face of the enemy.” It is the third highest military decoration still being awarded for bravery by the Netherlands.

On 10 October 1946 Ramsay married Irene Glades “Micky” Pritchard (1919-2010) in Killarney. In those post war years he operated a Barber Shop and Hair Salon in Morden. In the late 1950’s he purchased the former Rabinovitch store and until 1990 operated a men’s clothing store at that location.