Every veteran’s story is important as it allows us to hear about the events of those times from those who personally experienced them. One of Ottawa’s legends is Roly Armitage, who enlisted at the age of 17. Learn more about the history of this World War II veteran on Ottawa Yes.
Ottawa Veterans’ Residence
The organization was established through the merger of three institutions: Perley Hospital, Rideau Veterans Home, and the National Defence Medical Centre. Today, this long-term care facility has 450 beds, offering 200 beds for seniors from the community and over 200 beds for veterans of World War II and the Korean War.
Since 1992, the Ottawa Veterans’ Residence has been collaborating with federal and provincial governments to support veterans. For example, in 2016, nearly $9 million was allocated for special programs and service improvements. The care services for veterans include enhanced care, dental services, and other medical assistance.
This is where Roly Armitage lived—a veteran whose story deserves to be told. Among the World War II veterans residing in Ottawa, he was considered a living local legend.
World War II
Roland Montgomery Armitage grew up on a farm on March Road, about 20 kilometers from downtown Ottawa. In March 1942, he was studying at Ottawa Technical School when he and a friend saw a line of men outside a recruitment office and decided to join them.
The young man lied about his age and passed the medical examination, after which his parents were informed. His older brother was a pilot who had died overseas, so the news was difficult for his parents to accept. Armitage’s father, a wounded veteran of World War I, urged him to choose the artillery.
Roly joined the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion, but underage recruits were sent home. However, this did not stop him—he enrolled in training as a motorcycle dispatch rider. During training, an officer suggested he go overseas to serve as a cavalryman in a regiment.
Later, he was involved in a motorcycle accident and hospitalized. When reviewing his medical records, an officer noticed that Armitage had excellent vision, particularly at night. At 18, he was assigned to the Royal Canadian Artillery as a gunner. After an eight-month training course, he joined the 5th Battery of the 3rd Medium Regiment of the Royal Canadian Artillery.
His life was constantly at risk. During one battle, his unit was pinned down by enemy fire, and he witnessed an officer being killed. A nearby explosion damaged his hearing, but he survived.
Roly Armitage’s Life After the War: Key Facts
- Roly Armitage managed the Carp Airport and the Rideau Carleton Raceway.
- He bred and trained horses, serving as the president of the Canadian Trotting Association (1974–1980) and the Canadian Standardbred Horse Society (1972–1974). He played a key role in modernizing Canada’s trotting industry during the 1981 Trotting Conference.
- Armitage had a successful and diverse veterinary career spanning five decades. He was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame for his contributions to improving safety on racetracks. Throughout his career, he worked as a veterinarian, breeder, owner, track administrator, and racetrack manager.
- He was awarded the Key to the City of Ottawa, the highest and most prestigious municipal honor, given only to outstanding and distinguished guests of the city.
- Armitage was honored with the Order of Ontario, the province’s highest award.
- He served as the mayor of West Carleton Township (which merged with Ottawa in 2001). He was elected for a three-year term from 1991 to 1994.
- He was a member of the former regional council and ran for office as a Liberal Party candidate.
Personal Life
In 1947, Roly Armitage married a woman he had known before World War II. After marrying Mary Spearman, he enrolled at the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph, graduating in 1951. They remained together until Mary’s passing in 1985.
He remarried in 1990 to Karen Flaven, who passed away in 2013. From his two marriages, he had four children and authored three books.
Armitage passed away on June 19, 2024, and was buried at Highland Park Cemetery. His obituary also mentioned a touching reunion with a girl he had saved in the Netherlands during World War II. At the time, Sonia Jobs was just three years old, but thanks to Roly Armitage, she survived. Decades later, she traveled from Minnesota to Ottawa to meet him, and her story gained attention in Dutch media. In 1944, Armitage had found two children in a ditch, rescued them, and brought them to a field kitchen where they were fed and warmed.
This is the story of Roland “Roly” Armitage from Ottawa—a veteran of World War II, veterinarian, and writer who received numerous awards and honors. His story, like that of many others, deserves to be remembered. Though he never enjoyed speaking about the war, he always warmly recalled the friends who were no longer with him—those who saved their country by giving the most precious thing they had—their lives.
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