Charles Monteith was born in Petrolia on June 27, 1915, the son of Bert Monteith (born in Delaware, Ontario) and Gerturde May (nee Finch) Monteith, of Petrolia. Charles had four brothers and one sister, who at the time of his death were Lorne Nelson (born 1923) and Walter, both in Petrolia; Morley, who had been overseas with the Governor-General’s Foot Guards for three years and was in Germany at the time; Melvin Bertram, was born in June 1914, but died a month later; his only sister, Leatta Viola (later Mrs. Alfred Hall) who was living in Petrolia. Prior to enlisting, Charles was employed as a mechanic at Lambton Motors and then worked at Dow Chemical of Canada Limited. Charles married Edith Helen Ferguson, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. D.L. Ferguson at the Wyoming Parsonage on April 24, 1937. Miss Leta Monteith served as bridesmaid and Alfred Hall served as the best man. Following the wedding ceremony, a wedding dinner was served at the home of the bride’s sister, Mrs. J.M. Gillatly. After the ceremony, Charles and Edith Monteith left for a wedding trip to Detroit. On their return, they resided in Thamesville. Charles and Edith would have three children together–sons Robert and Reggie and daughter Edna. At the time of his enlistment, the couple resided at 422 George Street, Sarnia.

Charles enlisted in the Canadian Army, becoming an instructor with a Canadian Armoured Corps at Camp Borden before going overseas. He arrived overseas on March 28, 1945, a member of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps with the rank of Trooper. Less than three weeks later, on April 14, 1945, Charles Monteith would lose his life in an English hospital. Only days later, wife Edith Monteith in Sarnia would receive a telegram from the Department of National Defence informing her that her husband, Pte. Charles Monteith has died in an English hospital after a brain hemorrhage. She had received previous telegrams informing her that he was seriously and dangerously ill. Charles Monteith would later be officially listed as, Overseas casualty, died as result of brain haemorrhage, England. Less than one month after Charles’ death, VE Day was declared, ending the war in Europe. He would leave behind his wife Edith and their three children, sons Robert and Reggie and daughter Edna. Twenty-nine year old Charles Monteith is buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey, United Kingdom, Grave 51.C.1.

SOURCES: A, B, C, D, E, F, L, N, 2C, 2D