Image: an excerpt from Joseph’s military service file (Library & Archives Canada)
Regimental Number: 624480
Rank: Private
Branch: 22nd Battalion (French Canadian)
Joseph was born in Granby, Quebec on March 19, 1896. It is unknown when he first came to the South Peace. Joseph enlisted in the Canadian Army in Wainwright in January of 1916. On July 16, 1918 at 2:40pm, Joseph was accidentally shot in the back by a man from his battalion. Pages 17, 21, 23, and 27 of Joseph’s service file contain notes from the resulting court case, including testimonies of the witnesses and the man who shot him. His medical records also note that in November of 1918, Joseph had a tumor on his lower lip. As a veteran of World War I, Joseph served with the Eaglesham & District Veterans Volunteer Reserve during World War II.
Soldier Spotlight highlights veterans from the Archives’ online Soldiers’ Memorial. Each week, our volunteers select a remarkable individual to showcase in this blog series. The Soldiers’ Memorial commemorates more than 1,100 WWI veterans and 2,300 WWII veterans from our region. Three dedicated volunteers have contributed over 1,200 hours to this project by researching and writing biographies. Our goal is to have all South Peace soldiers acknowledged for their service. If you know of someone who lived in the South Peace and should be listed on the Memorial, or would like to get involved by researching a local veteran, please contact the Archives.