Charles Cecil Ingersoll Merritt
| Charles Cecil Ingersoll Merritt | |
|---|---|
Photo of Charles Merritt from The Times
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| Member of the Canadian Parliament for Vancouver—Burrard |
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In office 1945–1949 |
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| Preceded by | Gerry McGeer |
| Succeeded by | Lorne MacDougall |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
10 November 1908 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| Died | 12 July 2000 (aged 91) Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada |
| Political party | Progressive Conservative |
| Awards |
Victoria Cross Mentioned in Despatches Efficiency Decoration |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Canada |
| Service/branch | Canadian Army |
| Years of service | 1929 - 1945 |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Commands | The South Saskatchewan Regiment |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Charles Cecil Ingersoll Merritt VC, ED (10 November 1908 – 12 July 2000) was a Canadian recipient of the Victoria Cross and Member of Parliament.
Merritt was born in Vancouver, British Columbia on 10 November 1908, the son of Captain Cecil Mack Merritt, who was killed at Ypres in the First World War. He entered the Royal Military College of Canada, H1866 in 1925 at the age of 16 and graduated with honors.
He was commissioned into the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada (a Militia regiment) in 1929. Merritt read for the Bar and became a barrister in 1932. He practiced law in Vancouver until mobilized at the outbreak of World War II.
Merritt served as an officer in the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada. At the outbreak of war, Merritt was promoted to the rank of major and in December sailed for England. In the next two years he held a variety of staff and regimental appointments and attended the War Staff Course at Camberley in June 1941. From GSO2 of the 3rd Canadian Division, in March 1942, he was promoted to command The South Saskatchewan Regiment, Canadian Army, (Canadian Infantry Corps). Two months later, they moved to the Isle of Wight to train for the Dieppe raid.
In March 1942, Merritt assumed command the South Saskatchewan Regiment, which he led in the Dieppe raid on 19 August 1942. Before being taken as a prisoner of war, Merritt was wounded twice. For his bravery and leadership under fire, Merritt was awarded the Victoria Cross.
Two experienced British Commando units (Numbers 3 and 4) were assigned to land before dawn to destroy German heavy gun batteries on promontories east and west of the port, a task in which they were largely successful. Two Canadian battalions were scheduled to land at the same time to the immediate east and west of Dieppe to give land ward support to the attacks on the guns and form a secure perimeter for the main force to land.
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