A dean of the Canadian army dies

A resident of the Laurentians, who was undoubtedly the oldest Canadian veteran of the Second World War, has just died at the age of 106.

“He was a very optimistic, very happy man, who loved life. It surely helped to get to 106 years old, ”says his daughter Marilyn-Ann Ranco.

In 1942, Joseph-Antoine Ranco voluntarily enlisted in the army. He soon after joined the ranks of the Corps Provost, which comprised all of the Canadian Military Police during the war.

Corporal Ranco was stationed in Montreal, where he had the task of patrolling the streets of the metropolis and investigating in order to find the deserters and try to bring them back into the fold of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).

“He enjoyed his time in the military very much. He was not a pro-war man, but he saw it as his duty. He was a man of peace,” says Mr.^me Ranco.

If some of his colleagues from the Provost Corps were deployed in England, then in Italy and France, Joseph-Antoine Ranco did not leave Canadian soil since he wore glasses.

“Obviously a soldier who had lost his glasses could not have continued on his way,” laughs his daughter.

After the war

Joseph-Antoine Ranco, nicknamed “Peppy”, completed his military service after the war and pursued a career as a chemist in Montreal.

In the last years of his life, his friendship with his colleagues in the CAF was very important. They have met on many occasions, including at honorary ceremonies.

“He was a very generous, honest guy. He didn’t show off, even if he had been right to do so. He had nevertheless been in the Second World War, ”says retired Major Jean-Guy Plante, who met him several times at events.

The last survivor of the Provost Corps was indeed awarded the National Assembly’s Medal of Honor in 2019. A platoon of military police also bears his name.

At 105, the resident of Estérel, in the Laurentians, had even gone to meet the members of this platoon as a mentor, during an exercise at the Royal Military College of Saint-Jean.

Fitness

A fierce hockey and baseball player, Corporal Ranco participated in numerous military competitions.

“When the opposing team knew that Peppy was in the competition, they knew that they were going to lose”, launches M^me Ranco.

Joseph-Antoine Ranco maintained this physical form until the very end of his life. He drove his car until he was 103 and was still riding a stationary bike days before his death.