Ralph Elliott was born on October 26, 1924, the son of Thomas Fleming Elliott and Mary Christina Elliott, of Woodrowe Road, Sarnia. He had one brother, Douglas A. Elliott, who at the time of Ralph’s death, resided in Moore Township. Ralph had attended Sarnia Collegiate, and prior to enlisting, was employed by the Canadian Kellogg Company on the construction of the synthetic rubber plant. At enlistment, Ralph listed his address as R.R. #1, Corunna. Ralph enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force on July 26, 1943, and went overseas in June 1944, as a member of RCAF #1 Advanced Flying Unit, attaining the rank of Flying Officer-Bomb Aimer.

Less than six months after arriving overseas, on December 6, 1944,  Ralph Elliott would lose his life in an accident at RAF Station, Wigtown, Wigtownshire, Scotland. On December 11, 1944, Thomas and Mary in Sarnia would receive a telegram from the R.C.A.F. Casualty Officer in Ottawa informing them that their son, Pilot Officer Ralph Leslie Elliott has died of injuries received while on active service overseas on December 7. The telegram also informed them that, his burial was taking place at Newton Stewart cemetery, Wigtownshire, Scotland today. There were no details of the injuries, but the telegram did state that a letter would follow.

Three days later, Thomas and Mary Elliott would receive a letter from the R.C.A.F. Casualty Office overseas informing them of the circumstances of their son Ralph’s death. The letter stated that, Pilot Officer Ralph Elliott was injured while on duty. He was accidently knocked down by a Royal Air Force motor transport vehicle on the main camp road at Wigtown, Wigtownshire, Scotland. He was admitted to the E.M.S. Hospital Galliway House near Garliestown, Wigtownshire, suffering from shock, a fractured skull and fractures of both legs. He died on December 7 as a result of these injuries.

Ralph Elliott would later be officially listed as, Died of injuries sustained when knocked down accidently by RAF motor vehicle. Fracture to skull, both legs, and shock, overseas (England).  Twenty year-old Ralph Elliott is buried at Newton Stewart Cemetery, Wigtownshire, United Kingdom, Section M, Grave 2.

SOURCES: C, D, E, F, G, L, M, N, 2C, 2D