Military service
Burial/memorial information
Baptized Joseph-Expédié-Gustave-Gaston-Irénée Comte. Son of Joseph Comte (deceased in 1919) and Clara-Ada Marcotte, of Outremont (Montréal), Québec. He stated being born on 24 February 1895 when he enlisted.
Enlisted in the 57th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, he embarked with that unit for Great Britain, arriving in Liverpool on 8 June 1916. Assigned to the 69th Reserve Battalion, he was transferred to the 22nd Battalion on 27 August. Disembarking in France on the 28th, he took part in the Battle of Courcelette. From 6 April 1917 to 8 May 1917, he was illegally absent from duty and considered a deserter. Arrested on the 8th, he was court-martialed on 6 June 1917 and sentenced to death. He was shot on 3 July 1917 at Souchez, Pas-de-Calais.
His military file is very incomplete. It was cleaned before being digitised and put online.
On 11 December 2001, the Government of Canada apologised to the 23 families who lost a relative executed for desertion in the First World War.
The British government has erected a monument near Alrewas, Lichfield, the Shot at Dawn Memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum to honour the memory of executed soldiers, including Canadians. There are 307 wooden posts adorning the statue, each bearing the name of an executed soldier
Digital gallery of Private Gustave Comte
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Digital gallery of
Private Gustave Comte
Digital gallery of
Private Gustave Comte
Statement by Hon. Ronald Duhamel (Minister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State (Western Economic Diversification) (Francophonie), Lib.) about the 23 soldiers of the Canadian Expeditionary Force who ¿were lawfully executed for military offences such as desertion and, in one case, cowardice¿ announcing that ¿the names of these 23 volunteers will be entered into The First World War Book of Remembrance along with those of their colleagues. Adding the names of these citizen soldiers to the pages of this sacred book, which lies in the Memorial Chamber not far from here, will be a fair and just testament to their service, their sacrifice and our gratitude forevermore.¿ Part 1
Digital gallery of
Private Gustave Comte
Digital gallery of
Private Gustave Comte
Statement by Mr. Roy Bailey (Souris-Moose Mountain, Canadian Alliance). Source: CANADA. House of Commons Debates. VOLUME 137 NUMBER 129 1st SESSION 37th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Tuesday, December 11, 2001
Digital gallery of
Private Gustave Comte
Digital gallery of
Private Gustave Comte
Statement by Mr. Peter Stoffer (Sackville-Musquodoboit Valley¿Eastern Shore, NDP) Source: CANADA. House of Commons Debates. VOLUME 137 NUMBER 129 1st SESSION 37th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Tuesday, December 11, 2001
Digital gallery of
Private Gustave Comte
Digital gallery of
Private Gustave Comte
Source: Library and Archives Canada.
Digital gallery of
Private Gustave Comte
Digital gallery of
Private Gustave Comte
Digital gallery of
Private Gustave Comte
Digital gallery of
Private Gustave Comte
Source: Library and Archives Canada. CIRCUMSTANCES OF DEATH REGISTERS, FIRST WORLD WAR Surnames: CLEAL TO CONNOLLY. Microform Sequence 21; Volume Number 31829_B016730. Reference RG150, 1992-93/314, 165. Page 1211 of 1384.
Digital gallery of
Private Gustave Comte
Digital gallery of
Private Gustave Comte
Digital gallery of
Private Gustave Comte
Digital gallery of
Private Gustave Comte
Image gallery
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Statement by Hon. Ronald Duhamel (Minister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State (Western Economic Diversification) (Francophonie), Lib.) about the 23 soldiers of the Canadian Expeditionary Force who ¿were lawfully executed for military offences such as desertion and, in one case, cowardice¿ announcing that ¿the names of these 23 volunteers will be entered into The First World War Book of Remembrance along with those of their colleagues. Adding the names of these citizen soldiers to the pages of this sacred book, which lies in the Memorial Chamber not far from here, will be a fair and just testament to their service, their sacrifice and our gratitude forevermore.¿ Part 1
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Statement by Mr. Roy Bailey (Souris-Moose Mountain, Canadian Alliance). Source: CANADA. House of Commons Debates. VOLUME 137 NUMBER 129 1st SESSION 37th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Tuesday, December 11, 2001
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Statement by Mr. Peter Stoffer (Sackville-Musquodoboit Valley¿Eastern Shore, NDP) Source: CANADA. House of Commons Debates. VOLUME 137 NUMBER 129 1st SESSION 37th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Tuesday, December 11, 2001
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Source: Library and Archives Canada.
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Source: Library and Archives Canada. CIRCUMSTANCES OF DEATH REGISTERS, FIRST WORLD WAR Surnames: CLEAL TO CONNOLLY. Microform Sequence 21; Volume Number 31829_B016730. Reference RG150, 1992-93/314, 165. Page 1211 of 1384.
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In the Books of Remembrance
Commemorated on:
Page 603 of the First World War Book of Remembrance.
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AIX-NOULETTE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION Pas de Calais, France
Aix-Noulette is a village in the Department of the Pas-de-Calais, about 13 kilometres south of Bethune on the main road to Arras. From Arras take the D937 towards Bethune. At Aix-Noulette, turn right at the church. The Communal Cemetery and Extension are a few hundred metres on the left side of the road to Bully-Grenay.
For more information, visit Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
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