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.
Mervin excelled in his academic studies and enjoyed participating in sports activities. Mervin enjoyed track and field events and it is recorded that he often placed first in different running events.
Music was Mervin's passion. Joyce Brampton (Mervin's sister-in-law) clearly recalls his beautiful singing voice. While enlisted in the military, he was a member of the Regimental Band where he played the snare drums. In addition to the drums and singing, he played the violin and guitar and it was known that he used his musical talent to entertain his fellow troops.
Mervin enlisted in the Canadian forces soon after the commencement of the war. Like many servicemen at the time, Mervin
joined while he was underage. While stationed in England, Mervin spent time with fellow Drydenites Denver Pearson and John
Vost.
Mervin served with the Lake Superior Regiment, which was a part of the 4th Canadian Armoured Brigade. After the war, his personal effects were sent home to his family. Forty years later, Verna Tate offered to give Mervin's belongings to the Thunder Bay Military Museum. The Museum Curator at the time, Lieutenant Myles Penney served with Mervin and is quoted in the Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal (published Sunday March 31, 1996) as saying:
"It's always a momentous occasion when artifacts are returned to the home station, especially those of a soldier of the stature of Cpl. Brampton."
The newspapter article also quoted Lieutenant-Col. Dr. Ty Kaipio of the Thunder Bay Military Mueseum as saying:
"Cpl. Brampton, of the LSR, was known for his confident, quiet leadership, and fondly remembered by all those he served with. When speaking to officers who Cpl. Brampton worked with, they have only kind recollections of this fine soldier".
(The above Chronicle Journal Article was researched by Helen (Austin) Van Patter)
The Lake Superior Regiment landed on the European Continent approximately three weeks after the initial Normandy Landing. The LSR's contribution to the war effort came in the spring of 1945 with bitter fighting in the Netherlands and northern Germany. The casualty rate was very high. In the last letter to his sister-in-law, Joyce Brampton, Mervin wrote that "my friends on either side of me are killed and I feel that I am going to get it next".
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, the Germans had heavily defended the many bridges over the canals with machine guns and bazooka type artillary.
In Kouvorden, on April 5, 1945, barely a few days before the end of the war, Cpl. Brampton and Private M. Cliff were killed. The exact account of their deaths can be found in the book In the Face of Danger written by F.G. Stanley. On page 284, it is written:
The Dutch inhabitants raised funds and purchased caskets for the two men killed and the civilian undertaker assisted Captain Leng at the burial which was attended by members of "A" company.
Click here to read the last letter written to his sister Verna
Top to Bottom:
The 1939-1945 Star
The France and German Star
The Defence Medal
The Canadian Volunteer Service Medal
The 1939-1945 War Medal
Please see one last picture at bottom of page
