Private Ira Charles Langille was born in New Germany on May 7th, 1912, to Charles and Elsie (nee Acker) Langille.  He married Viola (nee Morash) on September 23rd, 1935 in the Caledonia Baptist Church and they settled in South Brookfield, where he was working as a Planer Operator at a box factory.  Ira and Viola had four children; Marilyn, Eileen, Arnold, and Doreen (born after Ira enlisted).   Ira stood 5 feet 5 ¾ inches tall (167 cm), weighed 140 pounds (64 kg), and had blue eyes and brown hair.

 

      Ira enlisted on July 8th, 1941.  In his enlistment interview, he was noted to be a “sturdy man of medium build and good appearance with a friendly co-operative manner” and “is willing to do his best at any job given to him”.  He was initially assigned to Number 6 Depot in Halifax for occupational selection and placement, and given Service number F86580 and the rank of Private.

           

      Private Langille was selected as a Pioneer and qualified as a Sapper on October 14th, 1941.  During World War Two, the light engineering tasks of the Pioneer Corps included building anti-aircraft emplacements on the Home Front, working on the Mulberry harbours for D-Day, and serving during beach assaults in Europe.  Private Langille landed in Holland on November 4th, 1944, and was assigned to the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders who had been operating in France, Belgium, and Holland since D-Day.  They continued the push into Germany while Private Langille was with the Unit.

           

      Private Langille perished on April 28th, 1945, when he was 32 years old, as the Highlanders were pursuing the enemy across the Ems River within Germany.  While under heavy machine gun and rifle fire, the boat Private Langille was in got caught in the wake of the craft immediately ahead and plunged beneath the surface.  None of the men returned to the surface and were presumed drowned.

           

      On May 14th, Private Langille’s wife, Viola was informed via telegram that he was missing in action.  On June 6th, she was sent a detailed letter with particulars of the incident, which stated that he almost certainly drowned, but with the conclusion that it is usual for the Military to only declare a member dead after he had been missing for six months.  Finally, on September 12th, Viola received the telegram that confirmed her husband, Private Ira Langille, was killed in action.   

           

      Private Langille left his estate to his widow Viola.  She was awarded the Memorial Cross Medal (also known as the Silver Cross) and received his posthumous Medals; the 1939-45 Star, the France and Germany Star, the Defence Medal, the War Medal, and the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (with Clasp).

           

      Private Langille’s remains were recovered and interred in the Canadian Temporary Cemetery in Leer Germany awaiting the completion of hostilities.  In November 1945, his remains were disinterred and moved to the Holten Canadian War Cemetery in Holland and reinterred in Plot 11, Row D, Grave number 6.  His headstone is inscribed with “IN LOVING MEMORY OF A WONDERFUL HUSBAND AND DADDY”. 

 

      Private Ira Charles Langille is commemorated on page 532 of the World War Two Book of Remembrance.  He is also listed on the Caledonia Cenotaph.

 

​

​

 

Online References

War Grave Search – https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2227493/ira-c-langille/

Local Grave Search – https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14041052/ira-charles-langille

Canadian Virtual War Memorial - https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/2227493?Ira%20Charles%20Langille

Second World War Personnel Records Database (file download size 12.7 Meg) - https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Home/Record?app=kia&IdNumber=19516&ecopy=44485_83024005508_0559-00001