We regret to advise of the death of Sergeant William “Bill” Ludlow (Ret’d), peacefully at Ste. Anne's Hospital on 8 December 2020 at the age of 100. Bill was a Royal Canadian Engineer veteran of WW II.
Bill was born in Glasgow Scotland in 1920 and emigrated with his parents to Montreal at the age of 9. Bill enlisted for WW II in the Black Watch [The Royal Highland Regiment of Canada] along with some 800 men on first day the regiment started recruiting. He was two days short of 19. After a year of training in Canada, Bill sailed for the United Kingdom on 3 September 1940.
Bill’s father had enlisted with 16th Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers and arrived in England in 1941. Bill transferred to the Royal Canadian Engineers that year to be with his father. That situation was unusual later in the war but 16th Field Company had three father-and-son combinations and seven brother combinations, including a pair of identical twins.
16th Field Company was part of the Third Division D-Day assault force that landed on the beaches of Normandy. His company was in support of the Queens Own Rifles and had the task of clearing the beach of obstacles and breaching the sea wall fortifications. After D-Day, the company joined the advance through France, Belgium , Holland and eventually into Germany. Bill was a recipient of France’s Legion of Merit for his participation in the Battle for France.
After the war, Bill provided leadership of the 16th Field Company Association and for or many years he organized reunions of his 16th Field Company Association. He was also a member of the Black Watch Veteran's Association. He was also an accomplished artist, heraldry buff and avid gardener. Bill maintained a strong connection with 3 Field Regiment/34 Combat Engineer Regiment in Montreal. In recognition of his distinguished and dedicated service, the Regiment established the Ludlow Trophy in 1983 to honour his memory. This trophy is awarded annually for excellence to the unit’s most distinguished Senior Non-Commissioned Officer.
Interment of ashes will be held in the Spring of 2021. In lieu of flowers, donations in remembrance of Bill can be made to the Black Watch Veteran's Association or the Ste Anne's Veterans Resident Committee. Online condolences can be sent to the funeral home.
