Recruit portrait with Calgary Highlanders.

The following content was submitted by his son Dennis.

Biography

William Ruhl was a short-term member of the South Saskatchewan Regiment and was one of their wounded in action. He was born in Myers, Montana January 20, 1917 and moved with his family to Duchess, Alberta in 1917 and to Campsie, Alberta in 1926.

In 1941 he travelled to the Calgary Stampede and while there joined the Calgary Highlanders CASF on July 15, 1940. On June 21, 1941 he joined the 4th Heavy Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery (RCA) at St. John, New Brunswick transferring to the 1st Searchlight Battery, RCA also at St. John, New Brunswick on August 8, 1941. On May 15, 1942 he joined the 108th Heavy Battery, RCA which was renamed the 108th Coastal Battery, RCA and sailed to Labrador. The battery operated outdated artillery pieces at Rigolet, Labrador guarding the approaches of Goose Bay at the point where saltwater Hamilton Inlet transformed into freshwater Lake Melville. In the winter when Lake Melville was frozen they lived at Goose Bay.

As it did not appear he would be going overseas with the artillery, he volunteered for the infantry and retrained as an infantry signaler at Barriefield, Ontario. On July 20, 1944 he sailed to Europe and on September 9, 1944 went to France.

On September 21, 1944 he joined the South Saskatchewan Regiment in the field in Belgium. On September 28, 1944 his platoon was approaching the Antwerp-Turnhout Canal carrying boats for a crossing. Bill said he could hear a machine gun in the distance and then he was hit in the abdomen. He was evacuated back to England within a day.

Bill was in hospital until October 25, 1944 and then served in light duties in an office doing typing and switchboard duties. He flew back to Europe February 10, 1945 and must have rejoined the regiment as no other employment is shown. From the record he transferred from the SSR to 2 Bn. Inf. Gen. Unall., likely a holding unit, on May 16, 1945. On June 4, 1945 he transferred to the Loyal Edmonton Regiment likely because it was the regiment closest to home. He was discharged November 14,1945 in Calgary, Alberta.

Bill farmed, married and had three children, and lived out his life at Campsie, Alberta. He died July 17, 1994 and is buried in the Field of Honour in the Barrhead, Alberta Cemetery.

Photos

In railway car in Calgary - could have been travelling to join army - from magazine. William Ruhl has the big hat. While this picture visiting Calgary wasn't necessarily when he joined the army, it was not all that common for a young farmer from Northern Alberta to visit Calgary in Southern Alberta at the time. His rank was private except for a couple weeks as lance bombardier in the artillery.

With gun on basic training with Calgary Highlanders.

Four Loyal Edmonton Regiment soldiers. Bill Ruhl on right.

Bill Ruhl marker, Field of Honour, Barrhead, Alberta Cemetery.

William Ruhl on left, his brother Alvin Ruhl on right. At Campsie, Alberta in 1941/1942, before berets.

GCS/gs 17Apr2026