Letter to John Styffe from Ralph Purvis upon Roy Styffe’s death

Dear John Oscar,

Hobart, Oscar (father) Eddie and Roy

It is some considerable time since I told you that I would send you the picture of your father, taken at my house, when we were teenagers – in High School. Your father and I were good friends – through High School and in the Army.

You father and your Uncle Eddie, too, were very fond of your Summer place at Trout Lake .We used to go out there to sleep, although both your father & your Uncle Eddie used to work in the daytime ,either at the dock or out in the country wherever the pulpwood was at the time. Nevertheless it was always worthwhile to drive the 20 odd miles to Trout Lake, to have a swim & a good night’s sleep but we always had to get back to town in time to get to work!

After we were in the Army, there was a Batchelor Party for Bob Keane, there. Bob later became the Commander of the Lake Sup. Regiment (Motor) and at the time of the battle for the Falaise Gap, I was Adjutant & Bob sent me back to 2nd Echlon to spend the night with your Uncle Eddie, to keep him company & to try & disabuse him of the idea that he was going to be killed in the forthcoming battle for the Falaise Gap. Colonel Keane gave me a bottle of Scotch to take with me when I was visiting your Uncle Eddie. Of course, Eddie was killed – it was almost as if fated. He was wounded & was on a Jeep Ambulance, on his way back to a hospital when an Artillery shell made a direct hit on the Ambulance, killing everyone. In the action in Holland, your father came upon a Dutch Seaport where he saw a German destroyer tied up at a dock. Your father, observing everything from behind a dyke, called for his three inch mortars & began firing at the destroyer. The mortars were very accurate and later when we came to inspect the damage – we found the German commander on the deck, hands in the pockets of his leather coat. He was dead of course. There was warm food still, below on the destroyer, but the German soldiers had disappeared. The venture was so exceptional that the story appeared in the English newspapers the next day – something that didn’t usually happen.

After the war was over, we sent an officer to England to buy the War painting that was made to accompany the story in the Press.

In the photo in the newspaper, your father has a strong resemblance to his father, your grandfather. On re-reading the newspaper, it occurred to me that you may have a copy of this account. Perhaps then, you might send this on to Ingrid. I’m afraid I don’t have her address.

I think that the last time I saw Roy was the Anniversary of the Mobilization of the Regiment. One of the former officers, Archie Bell, gave a dinner for the surviving officers of the Regiment. Of course, I saw Roy on most occasions when he came back to Thunder Bay.

Goodness knows when we shall meet, John, but if you are in communication with Ingrid, please remember me to her.

All the best for 1998, John.

Yours, Aye,
Ralph Purves

23. Jan, 1998, Queen’s Quay,West, Toronto, Ontario