Charles Nelson Roach

Charles Nelson Roach was born August 11, 1922, on a farm south of Uxbridge on the 4 th Concession. He attended Webb School as a child. His Father was Hezekiah Roach and Grandfather was Samual Roach. During the depression the farm was sold and the family moved to Toronto.  They lived on Harvey Avenue, just off St Clair Ave.

I am not sure when he went to war as my father never talked about it. He came back damaged, not physically but mentally. Approx a year after returning from England he spent approx. 1 year in Hospital with PTSD.

He was involved in the battles of Atlantic and was a gunner on the corvette HMCS Mimico. He was trained and sent out of Halifax. I am not sure what year. Mimico was assigned to Western Approaches Command out of Oban. She participated in Operation Neptune, the naval aspect of the invasion of Normandy. She arrived off the beaches one day after the invasion with the convoy she was escorting. She remained as a convoy escort in the English Channel after the invasion, transferring to Portsmouth Command in September 1944 and Nore Command in October.

He attended a reunion of the Mimico held in Vancouver in 1986. I know he had a book on it but I am unable to find it. After returning to Canada he worked in a mattress factory and lost part of the fingers on his right hand.  He received a small pension for that as he was still part of the navy and had not received his formal discharge at the time.

He met and married my mother in 1948. He then worked for the Canadian Postal service as Postman and retired in 1989. He moved to Uxbridge I think in 1981 and was active in the Uxbridge Legion until he moved to Oshawa around 1992. His family attend the annual Remembrance Day Service, and thank him every year for his service.

He passed away Jan 17, 2002, at the age of 79.

They had 4 children: Lynn Marie - 1949, Glenn Nelson - 1951 - 1967, Kimberley Ann - 1966 , Kelly Elizabeth  - 1966

He was a good man and a good father.

We thank him for his service.

Submitted by family