Military service
Burial/memorial information
From May 16, 1932, to December 21, 1935, he served with the Sherbrooke Carabiniers & Sherbrooke Fusiliers – NPAM – with the rank of sergeant. On the 22nd, he renewed his enlistment for three years with the Royal 22nd Regiment. On September 9, 1939, he enlisted in the regular forces of the Hull Regiment, registration number P-48789. On November 16, he sailed for England, arriving in Liverpool on the 25th. From April 16 to 21, 1940, he served with the Grenadier Guards battalion in London. Upon his return to Canada, he left for Vancouver, British Columbia, to serve with the Kiska Force in the recapture of the island from the Japanese. He returned to Canada on January 18, 1944. Returning to England on June 2, 1944, he was incorporated into Force M and on September 4, 1944, he landed in Italy. Transferred to the 4th Battalion of the Royal 22nd Regiment on October 9, he was hit by shrapnel on December 13, 1944.
''From the banks of the Vecchio, you could see the Naviglio canal, whose embankments rise to a height of about 20 feet... Trapped between two German divisions, the Regiment fought deep within enemy lines at the bottom of a pincer... The division commander decided to bypass the town [Bagnacavallo] on both sides... This was followed by a series of attacks, counterattacks, and reconnaissance missions... On December 13, Lieutenant L. Descôteaux fell under fire from an enemy detachment that captured six of his men." Histoire du Royal 22e Régiment, page 337.
He was buried on December 14 northwest of Russi along a road leading to Ravenna, in grave number 19. After the war, his body was exhumed and reburied in the British Empire Cemetery in Ravenna. He had served 1,922 days, including 1,518 overseas.
1939-1945 Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal, 1939-1945 War Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with bar
Digital gallery of Lieutenant Lionel Descôteaux
-
Memorial
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
Document
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
Correspondence
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
Circumstances of death
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
Id Card
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
Photo of LIONEL DESCOTEAUX
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
Document
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
Document
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
Telegram
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
Telegram
Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Lieutenant Lionel Descôteaux
Digital gallery of
Lieutenant Lionel Descôteaux
Digital gallery of
Lieutenant Lionel Descôteaux
Digital gallery of
Lieutenant Lionel Descôteaux
Digital gallery of
Lieutenant Lionel Descôteaux
Digital gallery of
Lieutenant Lionel Descôteaux
Digital gallery of
Lieutenant Lionel Descôteaux
Digital gallery of
Lieutenant Lionel Descôteaux
Digital gallery of
Lieutenant Lionel Descôteaux
In the Books of Remembrance
Commemorated on:
Page 289 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance.
Request this page
Download this page
The Poppy Design is a trademark of The Royal Canadian Legion (Dominion Command) and is used with permission. Click here to learn more about the poppy.
Did we miss something?
Contribute information to this commemorative page
Do you have photographs, information or a correction relating to this individual’s virtual memorial? Learn more about the CVWM and the information we collect.