Mervin Brampton moved to Dryden with his family (older brother Gordon, sister Verna and his father) in the mid 1920s.
He attended both elementary and secondary school in Dryden.
At the time that Cpl. Brampton was killed, the Canadians were in a bloody battle to liberate the Netherlands from Nazi occupation.
In the town of Kouvorden on April 5, 1945, Cpl. Brampton and another soldier were killed.
The Battle Diary of his unit reported “Lt. Reilly’s troops approached the occupied city with eight gun carriers and two tanks, according to accounts. The lead carrier was hit by the enemy while entering the town and two Canadians were killed.”
The Dutch inhabitants of the town raised funds and purchased caskets for the two men killed and the civilian undertaker assisted at the burial which was attended by members of “A” company.
Mervin was later moved to the Holton Canadian War Cemetery after the war ended.
This cemetery is the final resting place of some 1300 Canadians.
Mervin, sister Verna and brother Gordon
Universal Carrier – Mervin and another soldier were killed while driving one of these….
Letter home to his sister…he talks about Johnny Voth being killed and how hard it hit him. Goes on to say he’s homesick at times….
Mervin’s resting place in Holland…
All images and information courtesy of Spuro Sourtzis, supplied by Verna (Brampton) Tate.
