Le Régiment de la Chaudière

On The War Memorial Trail….. The WWII Lumberjack From Belledune Killed By Stray Mortar Fire In The Nijmegen Salient

/ On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 4 Comments

June 24, 2024.  It’s surprising how often a chance meeting will lead to a photo.  In September 2023, while staying at a hotel in Ottawa, Ontario, we were approached by a fellow guest, Victor Richard, who had seen us coming out of our car the day before and had noticed the Prince Edward Island licence plate.  The following day, when he saw us in the lobby, he explained that he was from New Brunswick, the province next to ours. 

….The road to a soldier’s photo can be circuitous….

Victor showed an interest in the On The War Memorial Trail research project.  Pieter asked for his help in finding a photo of a particular soldier, and after we all returned back home, Victor put us in contact with Jean Gaudet.  In the meantime, Pieter had found a photo of the soldier online, as it had recently been posted on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial by Captain (Retired) Etienne L.L. Gaudet. 

Jean knew Captain Gaudet well and very quickly Pieter was put in contact with Etienne, who works diligently in ‘…promoting the memory of soldiers in New Brunswick…’ – as Jean put it.  During the Covid period, Etienne had visited 244 cemeteries, documenting the graves of soldiers across New Brunswick. (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/nb-veteran-journey-cemeteries-1.6237590)

After learning about the On The War Memorial Trail research project, Etienne emailed Pieter. “…God bless you for the work you are doing. I certainly share your passion in ensuring none of these heroes are ever forgotten. I have worked very hard to build the Canadian Virtual War Memorial especially for those soldiers buried in New Brunswick who lacked pictures on the site.

I am now the person responsible for Veterans in Memramcook, which involves organizing our Remembrance Day ceremony and all other things related to honouring those that have served from …Memramcook….”

Etienne ended by making an offer to help.  “…Please don’t hesitate to write if I can assist you in any way…”

Etienne and Pieter 2

Pieter with Etienne Gaudet.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

….An offer to help led to a photo….

Pieter soon asked for Etienne’s assistance with a photo search, asking if he would be willing to contact the family of an Acadian soldier, Edgar M. GUITARD.  “….He lost his life in The Netherlands on the 15th of January 1945. He had 6 brothers and 4 sisters. This morning I called the daughter of his youngest sister Emelia, Nicole Lagace, but she said that she had never heard of Nicole Lagace or Emelia Guitard. I have a feeling that she thought that I was a scammer and did not trust me….. Would you be able to help?….”

Pieter hoped that a French-speaking voice on the phone might reassure Nicole Lagace, but Etienne decided to pay a visit in person the following morning.  That evening he reported back. “…I was able to speak with Nicole in person. She has a photo of Edgar in her albums, but didn’t have time today to go through them. She apologized for her reaction to your phone call and stated that she has been scammed before and is incredibly careful now….” 

A few days later…success!  Etienne reported that he’d “…received the photo from Nicole Guitard Lagace, who confirms that the gentleman in the photo is her uncle, Edgar M. Guitard.…I do hope his memory can live forever although he died way too young. It was an honour to assist you and help preserve his memory in perpetuity. We will remember them….”

Nicole also contacted Pieter, explaining that “…the photo donated by me belonged to my mom.  Thank you very much….” 

….Edgar was born in Belledune….

Screenshot 2024-06-21 at 12-03-44 belledune new brunswick - Google Search

Map shows location of Belledune, New Brunswick, located on Chaleur Bay.  (Map source: Google maps)

Edgar was born on September 17, 1917 in Belledune, New Brunswick, a port village on Chaleur Bay, the son of Jean ‘Mickey’ and Bridgitte Guitard.  One of 11 children, Edgar grew up on his parents’ farm. 

When he enlisted at District Depot No. 5 in Rimouski, Quebec on April 8, 1941, he stated that he had served in the Active Militia since January 1941 – with No. 71 Centre Militaire out of Edmundston, New Brunswick.  He also stated that he was a fisherman during the spring and summer, and had worked as a lumberjack since 1930 for Fraser Brothers, out of Causapscal, Quebec.  Edgar enjoyed snowshoeing and fishing.

His Soldiers Qualification Card noted that he was illiterate, due to not having attended school, and was French speaking.

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Edgar M. Guitard. (Photo courtesy of Nicole Lagace.  Photo colourization by Pieter Valkenburg)

Based on his extensive experience as a lumberjack with Fraser Brothers, Edgar was transferred to No. 12 Company of the Canadian Forestry Corps (CFC) in Valcartier, Quebec on April 12, 1941.

Unlike other members of the Canadian Army, members of the Canadian Forestry Corps were not expected to be in combat.  Their role was to help the British with their need for timber.  As stated in an article on http://www.canadiansoldiers.com/corpsbranches/forestrycorps.htm  “…wood was needed for living quarters, messes, and recreation facilities, as well as crates for vital supplies such as food, ammunition and even vehicles, and for the creation of explosives, stocks for weapons, the construction of ships, aircraft and factory facilities….”

Canada agreed to send workers and equipment to Great Britain, with the Corps Headquarters based in Scotland.  The British designated the areas of work, and the final disposal of the lumber created, but all military operations were under the control of Canadian Military Headquarters in London, England.

Although the men serving in the Canadian Forestry Corps were not in a combat role, they were provided with very rudimentary basic training in using firearms, only because of the impending threat of German invasion.

….Edgar left Canada for overseas service….

After about 6 weeks of basic training, Edgar left Halifax, Nova Scotia for the United Kingdom on June 18, 1941, arriving in Gourock, Scotland on July 2, 1941. He remained with No. 12 Company until September 29, 1943, when he was transferred to No. 11 Company, and then on March 19, 1944 to No. 5 Company. 

The work done by the Canadian Forestry Corps (CFC) included building barracks, roads, bridges, and setting up power plants. They also helped with snow clearance on the highland roads in Scotland. Each company of the CFC had two sections, one cutting in the bush and bringing out the timber, and the other sawing it into lumber at the company mill.

For an idea of the hard work done by the Corps, take a look at this very short British Pathé video Canadian Forestry Corps In Britain (1941)….

It was work that Edgar thrived at, but things were about to change.  By the spring of 1943, a desperate need for more soldiers in the Canadian Army caused several hundred soldiers to be redeployed.  Edgar was able to remain in the United Kingdom until after D-Day on June 6, 1944.

….Edgar was sent to France….

The above referenced Canadian Soldiers article explained that “…..after the landings in Normandy in June 1944, ten companies eventually moved to the Continent to continue operations there; 77 square timber rafts and 54 round timber rafts had been created in Southampton to move timber across the English Channel with them. By the end of August 1944, operations had commenced on the continent….”

No. 5 Company was one of these ten companies, now part of the 21st Army Group.  On July 26, 1944, Edgar left for France with No. 5 Company, arriving a day later.

Edgar remained with the No. 5 Company until November 25, 1944, when he was transferred to the X-4 Reinforcement List of the 10th Battalion of the Canadian Infantry Corps.  The lumberjack was now a soldier, even though his training had not prepared him for combat.

….Edgar’s transfer to Le Régiment de la Chaudière was his last….

On January 13, 1945, Edgar was transferred to Le Régiment de la Chaudière and allotted to ‘A’ Company.  The Regiment had wintered in the Nijmegen Salient, while preparing for the upcoming fight in the Rhineland in February 1945.  They were based on the Holthurnsche estate in The Netherlands, near the German border, between the cities of Berg en Dal and Nijmegen.

While on the estate, Edgar was one of two casualties hit by stray mortar fire.  The Regiment’s War diary entry for January 14, 1945, written at 10:30 am….  “…La cie A:  2 casualties par l’action des mortiers allemands….” (English translation: ‘A’ Company: 2 casualties by the action of German mortars.)  He died the following day, aged 27.

Map Jan 14 1945 position of Regt

Location of Le Régiment de la Chaudière on January 14, 1945, near the Dutch/German border. (Map source: Project ’44)

Today the area where the Regiment overwintered is the Hotel Holthurnsche Hof.

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Hotel Holthurnsche Hof is now where Le Régiment de la Chaudière was located in mid-January 1945. (Photo source:  http://realhealth.nl/hotel-holthurnsche-hof/)

..…Edgar is buried in Groesbeek …..

Edgar was initially buried in a temporary Canadian cemetery in Nijmegen on January 16, 1945, before being reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands on August 7, 1945.

grave stone Edward Guitard from Find A Grave

Grave of Edgar M. Guitard in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands.  (Photo source: Find A Grave)

Thank you to Etienne Gaudet for going above and beyond to meet a family member of Edgar Guitard, and to Nicole Lagace for submitting a photo of her uncle. Many thanks also to Victor Richard and Jean Gaudet for connecting the dots that led to us meeting Etienne! Do you have photos or information to share? Email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or tweet to @researchmemori1.

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?….

If you are reading this posting, but aren’t following our research, you are welcome to do so.  Our blog address: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/

Front cover OnTheWarMememorialTrailinEurope4 countries, 6 weeks, 7,000 km – an unforgettable war memorial journey in Europe…. Daria’s book ‘No Soldier Buried Overseas Should Ever Be Forgotten‘ is available in print and e-book formats.  Net proceeds of book sales help support research costs and the cost of maintaining this blog. For more information see https://nosoldierforgotten.com/ 

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On The War Memorial Trail….. Atlantic Canada Remembers – Part 9

/ On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 5 Comments

April 15, 2021. More of the photos submitted by Atlantic Canadians of soldiers buried overseas are featured in Part 9. Pieter is ensuring that every email is acknowledged, and that the photos of soldiers buried in The Netherlands are forwarded to the appropriate cemetery for their digital archives.

Soldiers buried at the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands

Alexis Daigle (Photo submitted by Gilberte Manuel)

After being contacted by Marc Comeau, President of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 45 in Tracadie, New Brunswick, Gilberte Manuel submitted a photo of Alexis D.  DAIGLE on behalf of “…Alfrida Richard, the niece of Alexis Daigle of Pointe-Sapin….”

Born March 2, 1920 in Lower Spain, New Brunswick, the son of Dominique Daigle and Exelda Mazerolle, Alexis was a fisherman before enlisting in Fredericton on August 28, 1941.  After completing basic training, he was attached to the Canadian Army (Basic) Training Centre in Montmagny, Quebec on a Home War Established (HWE) basis as an engineer’s helper.

His service file noted that he was a “…jack of all trades…” and could speak both French and English.  He was described as a “…quiet and non-talkative single young man of above average intelligence...”

In January 1945 he arrived in the United Kingdom and assigned to the Canadian Infantry Training Regiment (CITR).  A month later, on February 24, 1945, he was sent to continental Europe, and on March 1, 1945 transferred to Le Régiment de la Chaudière.

On April 6, 1945, while serving with Le Régiment de la Chaudière in The Netherlands, Alexis was killed in action (‘mort au champ d’honneur‘) near Zutphen, during the Battle of Zutphen.  (For more information on this battle, see https://www.canadiansoldiers.com/history/battlehonours/northwesteurope/zutphen.htm)

According to the Regiment’s war diary for April 1945, the Battalion had “…proceeded on foot to a concentrated area just past Almen, approximately 3 miles short of Zutphen…..”  where they rested until the start of an operation which began “…on the night 5-6 April…”

The attack started at 4:30 am. “… Only slight opposition was encountered up to the outskirts of the town of Zutphen. The objective was C and D companies to seize the ground in between the main highway leading to town and the first row of houses….”

Alexis was in D Company and it’s likely that he lost his life in what happened next.  “…. Between the starting line and the objective there was a canal on which both leading companies were stopped for almost two hours.  First opposition was then encountered from well-sited snipers, machine gun nests, and bazookas...”

Alexis was one of 4 soldiers in the Regiment killed in that operation.  The others were:

  • V. PARE (D Company)
  • S. BOUCHARD (D Company)
  • E. PARADIS (C Company)

Alexis was temporarily buried in Almen, and later reburied in in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten.

Mathieu Michaud. (Photo submitted by the Grand Falls branch of the Royal Canadian Legion)

Patrick Côté of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 21 in Grand Falls, New Brunswick, submitted a photo of Mathieu MICHAUD. Born November 11, 1921 in Drummond, New Brunswick, he was the son of Achille Michaud and Fébronie Laforest.

Patrick provided a translated excerpt from a book, ‘Military Heritage – The Greater Grand Falls Region’, by Jean-Guy Plourde, which explained that “….wanting to emulate his older brother Laurent, he enrolled in the army on December 3, 1942, and received training in Fredericton. From March 10 to July 24, 1943, he was in Valcartier, Quebec before becoming a gunner. The authorities assigned him to Goose Bay, Labrador from August 1, 1943 to June 30, 1944. From November 30, 1944, he made a two week stay in Sorel, Quebec before embarking for the great adventure. On January 10, 1945, he made the crossing to the United Kingdom where he was stationed until March 1, 1945….”

In the UK he was assigned to the Canadian Infantry Training Regiment (CITR).  On March 2, 1945 he left for Northwest Europe, and then transferred to Le Régiment De La Chaudière on March 21, 1945.

He was killed in action (‘mort au champ d’honneur‘) in The Netherlands while part of the Regiment’s Company C and died on April 8, 1945.  According to the Regiment’s war diary, the Battle of Zutphen had ended on April 7 but continued to encounter sniper fire.  Mathieu was one of two soldiers from Company C that died that day.  The other soldier was H. A. MARCHAND.

Like Alexis Daigle, Mathieu was temporarily buried in Almen, before being reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten.

Soldiers buried at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands

Elbridge Wellington Miller. (Photo courtesy of Elbridge Wellington Miller Family)

Wilmot Tompkins submitted a photo, explaining that “…This is Elbridge Wellington Miller, my great-uncle, buried in Groesbeek. My wife found your interview and your blog while searching for the place my great-uncle lost his life…” Wilmot had seen a list of 28 men listed as having lost their lives in Keppeln, in a posting about a video plea for a photo of Frank MCGOVERN.  (See https://bordencarletonresearchproject.wordpress.com/2020/12/09/the-search-for-a-photo-of-frank-edward-mcgovern-moves-to-youtube/)

Elbridge Wellington MILLER was born in Deerville, New Brunswick, the son of David W and Elizabeth Miller, and was a labourer before enlisting on December 3, 1942 in Fredericton.  By April 4, 1943 he was in the United Kingdom. On August 19, 1943 he was transferred to the North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment.

Serving with the North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment, he landed in France on D-Day (June 6, 1944) and was wounded by shrapnel in the left thigh and right ankle during the Battle of the Scheldt on October 13, 1944, resulting in a recovery period in England before rejoining his unit a month later.

He lost his life on February 26, 1945 in Germany during the Battle of Keppeln, during Operation Blockbuster, the last part of Operation Veritable. (For more information, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Blockbuster and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Veritable)

Eldridge was one of 28 men killed in action that day, as was explained in the posting about Frank McGovern. Another of these soldiers was Barney MCGUIGAN. (For his story, please see https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2020/08/07/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-search-for-barney-reuben-mcguigan/)

Like Frank McGovern and Barney McGuigan, Eldridge was temporarily buried in the Bedburg Military Cemetery, and then later reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek.

Alphonse Robert.  (Photo courtesy of the Robert Family)

Armel ‘Mel’ Lanteigne, President of the Caraquet branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, submitted a photo of Alphonse ROBERT on behalf of the Robert family.  Alphonse came from a family of “…9 children…” Mel wrote, “…one died at an early age.  His father Amédée was a veteran of WW1 and after returning to Caraquet, his job was lighthouse keeper on Caraquet’s island, where he lived with his family….”

Born October 23, 1923 in Caraquet, Alphonse was the son of Amédée and Alma Robert, and was a fisherman before enlisting on August 23, 1943.

In January 1945 he was in the United Kingdom, assigned to the Canadian Infantry Training Regiment (CITR).  On March 28, 1945 he was transferred to North West Europe and was serving with Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal when he lost his life on March 30, 1945 in Germany.

Alphonse was temporarily buried in Germany, and later reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek.  NOTE:  For an update to this story, please see: https://bordencarletonresearchproject.wordpress.com/2021/10/12/on-the-war-memorial-trail-an-update-on-the-story-of-ww2-soldier-alphonse-robert/

Thank you to Marc Comeau, Patrick Côté, Armel ‘Mel’ Lanteigne, Gilberte Manuel, Alfrida Richard, and Wilmot Tompkins for sharing photos and anecdotes.  Atlantic Canadians remember their loved ones who are buried overseas.

More photos and stories in Atlantic Canada Remembers – Part 10! To share photos or information, please email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or tweet to @researchmemori1.

© Daria Valkenburg

…..Previous postings in the Atlantic Canada Remembers series….

Missed the previous postings in this series? See:

…..Want to follow our research?….

If you are reading this posting, but aren’t following the blog, you are welcome to do so. Our blog address: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/

Front cover OnTheWarMememorialTrailinEurope4 countries, 6 weeks, 7,000 km – an unforgettable war memorial journey in Europe…. Daria’s book ‘No Soldier Buried Overseas Should Ever Be Forgotten‘ is available in print and e-book formats.  Net proceeds of book sales help support research costs and the cost of maintaining this blog. For more information see https://nosoldierforgotten.com/

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