Pte Fred Wirth 3-G-11

Fred was born on  July 31 1906 in St Gallen in Switzerland, as the son of Albrecht and Susette Wirth (deceased), of St. Gallen. His fiancee was Alice Lancaster. His brother was Hans Wirth in Switzerland and two other brothers  Albrecht and Ernest Wirth died already earlier in Switzerland. His sisters of Switzerland were Mrs. Susi Shiesser-nee Wirth and Mrs. Frieda Stark nee Wirth. His friend Ernest Keller of Cranbrook British Columbia was his executor. He was member of the Presbyterian Church and spoke English, German and read well French.

It is not known when he or his family emigrated to Canada, but on 1 Sep 42 he had been working as a logger a t Cranbrook when he volunteered f o r active duty and was posted to 110 CABTC a t Vernon for basic t r a i n i n g , On 18 Nov 42 he proceeded to A.3 CATC a t Shilo where he transferred to service corps and was posted on 15 Jan 43 t o /I26 Coy RCASC a t Prince George BC, On 1 Jul 44 he was posted to 1 Cdn Inf Training Brigade a t Debert NS, and disembarked in UK on 5 Dec 44, i n 1 CASCRU, On 10 Dec 44 he transferred to the infantry and was sent on 17 Feb 45 to NW Europe, where he joined 1 C SCOT R on 25 Feb 45 in the Rhineland,

He served with ‘D’ Coy at Emmerich and Deventer, and in the f i r s t attack f o r the l i b e r a t i o n of Wagenborgen he was f i r s t  a s ‘Missing’.

Fred was killed in action on Saturday April 21 1945 age 38. He was temporarily buried in Siddeburen and on February 15 1946 reburied in Holten. A family of Almelo adopted his grave after the war.

His medals were: 1939-45 Star, France-Germany Star, War Medal 1945; CVSM & Clasp.

His name is at the monument in Wagenborgen.