Merritt Avenue
Municipality/Province: Mississauga, ON
Memorial number: 35048-008
Type: Street
Address: Merritt Avenue
GPS coordinates: Lat: 43.7078586 Long: -79.6433852
Submitted by: Victoria Edwards
Charles Cecil Ingersoll Merritt was born in Vancouver, British Columbia on 10 November 1908. In 1929, he graduated from the Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario, and eventually enrolled in the Militia. When the Second World War began, Merritt was serving as an officer in the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada. In 1942, he became the commanding officer of the South Saskatchewan Regiment.
On 19 August 1942, the South Saskatchewan Regiment was one of the infantry battalions from the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division that participated in the raid on the French port of Dieppe. The battalion landed on Green Beach immediately in front of Pourville, a village just to the west of Dieppe. In order to reach its objectives east of the village, the Canadians were obliged to cross a bridge over the River Scie, which flowed through Pourville to the sea. The bridge and its approaches were swept by German artillery, machine gun and mortar fire coming from the heights dominating the eastern bank of the Scie, which brought the progress of the South Saskatchewan Regiment to a halt.
At this point, Lieutenant-Colonel Merritt came forward and took charge, walking calmly across the bridge at least four times under a storm of fire to conduct parties of his men to the eastern side. He then organized and led uphill assaults on several of the concrete “pillboxes” and other enemy positions that looked down on the bridge and the village, and succeeded in clearing them. Throughout the morning, Merritt energetically led his men, exposing himself recklessly to German fire. Although twice wounded, he organized the withdrawal of his battalion from the Pourville beaches, and mounted a rear guard that ensured that the greater part of the South Saskatchewan Regiment and Queen’s Own The Cameron Highlanders of Canada were re-embarked for England. Merritt and the men of the rear guard could not be brought off, and were compelled to surrender.
For his exemplary leadership and valour, Lieutenant-Colonel Merritt was awarded the Victoria Cross. Merritt died in Vancouver, British Columbia on 12 July 2000. Merritt Avenue was named in his honour in 1952.
Inscription found on memorial
MERRITT AVE
Street view
Note
This information is provided by contributors and Veterans Affairs Canada makes it available as a service to the public. Veterans Affairs Canada is not responsible for the accuracy, currency or reliability of the information.
- Date modified: