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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Ralph Marston Crowe

In memory of:

Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Marston Crowe

July 24, 1943

Military Service


Age:

31

Force:

Army

Unit:

The Royal Canadian Regiment

Additional Information


Born:

October 2, 1911
Guelph, Ontario

Enlistment:

September 10, 1939
Kingston, Ontario

Son of Charles Robert and Edith Bowden Crowe. Husband of Rosalind Crowe (nee Brewin), of Montreal, Quebec.

Commemorated at Crowe Avenue.

Commemorated on Page 150 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information


Cemetery:
Grave Reference:

B, A, 130.

Location:

Agira Canadian War Cemetery lies in the Commune of Agira, Province of Enna, in the centre of Sicily. From the autostrada A19, Catania-Palermo, take the exit to Catenanuova. Follow signposts to Regalbuto, then pass Regalbuto, going in the direction of Agira. The Cemetery is then signposted about 12 kilometres from Regalbuto. On 10 July 1943, following the successful conclusion of the north African campaign in mid May, a combined allied force of 160,000 Commonwealth and American troops invaded Sicily as a prelude to the assault on mainland Italy. The Italians, who would shortly make peace with the Allies and re-enter the war on their side, offered little determined resistance but German opposition was vigorous and stubborn. The campaign in Sicily came to an end on 17 August when the two allied forces came together at Messina, but failed to cut off the retreating Axis lines. Agira was taken by the 1st Canadian Division of 28 July and the site for the war cemetery was chosen in September for the burial of all Canadians who had been killed in the Sicily campaign. Agira Canadian War Cemetery contains 491 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

Send us your images

  • Newspaper Clipping– In memory of the men and women memorialized on the pages of the Winnipeg Evening Tribune. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
  • Newspaper Clipping– Memorialized on the pages of the Globe and Mail. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Grave marker– Grave marker from Ralph Crowe's grave at Agira Canadian War Cemetery.
  • Photo of Ralph Crowe
  • Newspaper clipping– From the North Bay Nugget. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Victoria Daily Times. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Montreal Star. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From a World War 2 issue of the Vancouver Province c.1943. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Grave Marker
  • Entrance
  • Agira Canadian War Cemetery
  • Agira Canadian War Cemetery
  • View of Mt. Enna
  • Newspaper Clipping– Source:  Globe and Mail August 11, 1943
  • Newspaper Clipping 2– Source: Globe and Mail August 11, 1943
  • Newspaper Clipping– Source:  Globe and Mail August 11, 1943
  • Newspaper Clipping– Source:  Globe and Mail September 23, 1943
  • Newspaper Clipping– Source:  Hamilton Spectator October 5, 1943
  • Stained Glass Window– Ex-cadets are named on the Memorial Arch at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario and in memorial stained glass windows to fallen comrades.

2081 Lt Col Ralph Marston Crowe (RMC 1929) was the son of Charles Robert and Edith Bowden Crowe. He was the husband of Rosalind Crowe (nee Brewin), of Montreal, Quebec. He served with the Royal Canadian Regiment. He took over command of the 1st Division a few months before sainling from Britain for the Sicile invasion. He died leading the Sicile advance on Jul 24, 1943  at 31 years of age. He was buried in the Agira Canadian War Cemetery in Agira, Enna, Italy B, A, 130.
  • Plaque– Ex-cadets are named on the Memorial Arch at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario and in memorial stained glass windows to fallen comrades.

2081 Lt Col Ralph Marston Crowe (RMC 1929) was the son of Charles Robert and Edith Bowden Crowe. He was the husband of Rosalind Crowe (nee Brewin), of Montreal, Quebec. He served with the Royal Canadian Regiment. He took over command of the 1st Division a few months before sainling from Britain for the Sicile invasion. He died leading the Sicile advance on Jul 24, 1943  at 31 years of age. He was buried in the Agira Canadian War Cemetery in Agira, Enna, Italy B, A, 130.
  • Memorial– Ex-cadets are named on the Memorial Arch at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario and in memorial stained glass windows to fallen comrades.

2081 Lt Col Ralph Marston Crowe (RMC 1929) was the son of Charles Robert and Edith Bowden Crowe. He was the husband of Rosalind Crowe (nee Brewin), of Montreal, Quebec. He served with the Royal Canadian Regiment. He took over command of the 1st Division a few months before sainling from Britain for the Sicile invasion. He died leading the Sicile advance on Jul 24, 1943  at 31 years of age. He was buried in the Agira Canadian War Cemetery in Agira, Enna, Italy B, A, 130.
  • Map– 2081 Lt Col Ralph Marston Crowe (RMC 1929-33) was the son of Charles Robert and Edith Bowden Crowe. He was the husband of Rosalind Crowe (nee Brewin), of Montreal, Quebec. Several relatives graduated from RMC: 2831 Cameron Crowe (RMC 52); 2872 Charles Crowe (RMC ’52), 1542 Ernest Watson Crowe (RMC 24), and 1385 George Kenneth Crowe(RMC 21). He served with the Royal Canadian Regiment, RCIC. He took over command of the 1st Division a few months before sailing from Britain for the Sicile invasion. He died leading the Sicile advance on Jul 24, 1943 at 31 years of age. He was buried in the Agira Canadian War Cemetery in Sicily, Italy B, A, 130. He is commemorated by Crowe Lake in the Northwest Territories. Lat 612000 Long 1042200.
  • Newspaper Clippling– From the Calgary Herald.
  • Newspaper Clippling– From the Montreal Gazette. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
  • Newspaper Clipping– From the Ottawa Citizen. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
  • Group Photo– Lt.Col. Crowe and Major Pope checking a map outside Piazza Armerina. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me

Learn more about the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

To learn more please visit our help page. If you have questions or comments regarding the information contained in this registry, email or call us. For inquiries regarding the names and information found in the RCMP Honour Roll, please email the RCMP.

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