We regret to advise of the death of Corporal Ralph Milton Kinghorn (Ret’d) of Waterville, QC on 2 August 2008 in his 88th year.
Ralph was a veteran of the Second World War. He had been a farm boy when he joined the Royal Canadian Engineers. He completed his training at Camp Petawawa where he was trained as a machinist and reportedly a master in that trade.
Ralph served across Northwest Europe in the 10th Field Park Company, 2nd Canadian Corps Troops. Of particular note was his participation in Op BERLIN in September 1944 supporting the storm boat-mounted evacuation of British paratroopers from their shrinking bridgehead in Arnhem after Op MARKET GARDEN. This was an extremely important task. Throughout the operation, that was conducted under fire and observation, storm boat operators were often left with non-functioning motors swamped by the waves churned up on both the friendly and enemy sides of the river. Ralph and his comrades worked hard to keep these motors running and their work was instrumental in the success of the operation.
After the war, Ralph worked as a machinist at the B.F. Goodrich plant in Waterville for 32 years. He was also a renowned gunsmith and was well known for his expertise in all firearms old and new.
A small intimate service to celebrate the life of Ralph M. Kinghorn will be held at the Cass Funeral Home on 6 August with visitation from 3:30 until 4:30 PM. There will be a short service afterwards. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his name to the Megantic County Historical Society, Inverness, Quebec, G0S 1K0. {dcMay19gd} [zsp]
