Military service
Burial/memorial information
Baptized Joseph Réal Lucien Fortier, Son of Alfred Freddy Fortier and Éva Fournier of Montmagny, Québec. His brother, Private Roland Fortier, serial number E-14996, was also wounded in combat in Italy while serving with the Royal 22nd Regiment.
He served with the Voltigeurs de Québec-NPAM from June 27 to July 8, 1937, serial number 809, at Camp Valcartier north of Quebec City, Quebec. On August 26, 1939, he transferred to the regular forces of the same unit, serial number E-23385. On July 21, 1943, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, he embarked for Great Britain and landed in Greenock, Scotland, on the 28th. Incorporated into Force M, he embarked for the Mediterranean on September 13, 1943, and was transferred the same day to the 4th Battalion of the Royal 22nd Regiment. He landed in Italy on the 24th. He was fatally wounded on January 5, 1944, by a bullet to the chest while on patrol along the Senio dikes between Lugo and Bologna. Despite his injuries, he managed to rejoin his company and report on the enemy situation before passing away on the 7th. He was buried on the 8th in San Vito. On August 6, 1944, his body was exhumed and reburied in the Moro River cemetery near Ortona. He had served 1,581 days, including 170 overseas.
Digital gallery of Sergeant Réal Fortier
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Entrance
Entrance - Moro River Canadian War Cemetery - May 2013 … Photo courtesy of Marg Liessens -
Cemetery
Moro River Canadian War Cemetery - May 2013 … Photo courtesy of Marg Liessens -
Grave Marker
Grave marker - Moro River Canadian War Cemetery - May 2013 … Photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
Digital gallery of
Sergeant Réal Fortier
Digital gallery of
Sergeant Réal Fortier
Digital gallery of
Sergeant Réal Fortier
In the Books of Remembrance
Commemorated on:
Page 307 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance.
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