Son of William and Corrine “Carrie” Kett of 392 Park St., Chatham, ON. William a veteran of the Great War was serving in the Veteran’s Guard. He had a younger brother George who was serving in the Navy at sea and a younger brother Douglas training at Camp Borden, ON.

Roy enlisted in the Essex Scottish in Windsor, ON. in August of 1940 at the age of 22 years. CDN 16/09/42.

Reported as MIA on the Dieppe Raid in the Windsor Star of 16 September, 1942. 

At the time Roy was 18 years old. Roy was one of the first group to leave Chatham to enlist with the Essex Scottish Regt.

Trained and served in Canada two years. Went overseas and served in England and was in the Dieppe Raid where he was taken prisoner. Was seriously wounded and hospitalized one year.

In a letter to his mother on 8 August he told how he was looking forward to an October leave, sadly his October and the remainder of the war would be spent in a German POW camp. CDN 16/09/42. A photo of Roy and Bill Murphy of Windsor appeared in the CND 19/09/42, the photo taken before leaving for Dieppe.   

The CDN 25/05/44 reported that three men from SW. Ontario, part of a large group of repatriated POW’s which included Pte. Kett of Chatham, the other two were from Windsor. A large group of Dieppe men arrived aboard the S.S. Gripsholm. 

A huge “Welcome Home” awaited Roy and fellow POW William Barnes of Wallaceburg the first two repatriated from German POW camps to arrive home. The men were swept into strong embraces of loved ones. Representatives of Chatham civic bodies and the Canadian Legion and officials from Wallaceburg. Both men were “walking casualties “and both looked well fed and hearty.

It was obvious that four years away from home and behind wire in a German prison camp have changed the two men. Friends said hello and almost had to introduce themselves before they were recognized.

Before the soldiers got away officers from No. 12 BTC were present and informed the two men the summer issue would be awaiting them at the camp as soon as they felt like dropping in. Both men had high praise for the Red Cross, the food parcels to the men in German internment camps kept men alive and in good spirits.

Pte. Kett before going home wanted a tour of the city. “I just wanted to see if it looked as I always thought it would be, and it does.” Roy declined talking about what part he played at Dieppe or where he was on the beach when wounded. His mother, once the first excitement and first emotions were passed , looked tired but very happy. 

Discharged January 9th, 1946.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Sources

CDN (23/06/45), WS (19/08/42), IODE(P)

Birthplace	Chatham, Ontario
Religion	Baptist
When Enlisted	August 1940
Next of Kin	Mother- Mrs. Corinne Kett

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