Philip was born 26/05/1914, at Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.  He was the son of William ‘Clyde’ and Loretta Mary ‘Laura’ (Smith) Carruthers. The brother of Vincent ‘Clyde’ (Cdn. Army), ‘Helen’ Laureen (Fowler), ‘George’ Christopher (RCAF), Irene ‘Marie’ (Sanderson / Hargreaves), Laura Lillian (‘Laureen’) Creighton), ‘William’ Gerald John, John ‘Lawrence’, and ‘Rosemary’ Catherine. Philip enlisted in The City of London Fusiliers (Militia) in February of 1937, and rose quickly from the rank of Private to Sergeant. He re-enlisted in 1939 upon mobilization when the Fusiliers transferred to ‘active’ duty.  Sergeant Carruthers was in Chatham while on a weekend leave from the camp at Niagara to visit Mrs. Carruthers CDN 18/05/42. He was enrolled in Officer training which took place in Gorden Head, British Columbia. In
October of 1942, Sgt. Carruthers was reported to have arrived in Chatham on a leave from Vancouver, BC. He was promoted Lieutenant upon completion of Officer training. He later rejoined the Regiment for more training in Calgary, AB. In 1943, he was transferred to the Prince Edward Island Highlanders who were also training in Calgary. (above picture LT. P.W. Carruthers PEI Highlanders) The CDN 15/02/44 reported that Lt. Carruthers had arrived home on leave to spend time with Betty and their son Bill. The family was in London, ON while he was home from the west. He then went east for training with the
PEI Highlanders. In early 1944, Lt. Carruthers had returned to New Brunswick where the accepted volunteer officers for CANLOAN were training in Sussex, NB. The British Army was terribly short of Junior Officers and the Canadian Army had excess. There were 673 Jr. Officers who became CANLOAN
Officers. The Canloan program allowed Canadian, a fast track to active service with British Units.  The CANLOAN program was 100% Canadian Officers.  

Lt. Carruthers’ choice of Regiments was The King’s Own Scottish Borderers and he headed overseas in the fall of 1944. He was assigned as a Lt. Platoon Commander in C Company, 4TH Battalion Kings Own Scottish Borderers. While fighting in the field he was promoted to Captain, “in recognition of the gallant and effective service in the fighting.”

Captain Carruthers returned home to Canada in 1945, joining the Kent Regiment, in Chatham, where he was promoted to Major. The Kent Regiment amalgamated with the Essex Scottish Regiment to become the Essex and Kent Scottish Regiment, in Oct of 1954. Major Carruthers was the Second in Command of the 2 nd Battalion of the E&K Scots. He retired from the Regiment in 1957. Both of his sons, William and Michael joined the E&K Scots and retired as Captains.

Philip was the husband of Catherine Elizabeth ‘Betty’ (nee Bevan), the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. L. Bevan of Chatham. Philip was the father of ‘William’ Bevan, ‘Catherine’ Louise (Macaulay), ‘Michael’ Clyde, Marie ‘Patricia’ (Brooksbank).

Major Philip William Carruthers CD, passed away 21 December, 1979 at the age of 65 years. Interment was in St. Anthony’s Cemetery, Chatham.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Sources

IODE(N), CDN, GOH-OS, M. Carruthers, Son

Birthplace	Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Religion	Roman Catholic
Marital Status	Married
When Enlisted	February 1942
Next of Kin	Wife- Mrs. Betty Carruthers

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