Sergeant Émile Lagacé

Baptized Paul Émile Lagacé. Son of Alphondor Lagacé and Rose Anna Lafrance of St-Pascal, Kamouraska, Quebec. Brother of Private Robert Lafrance of the Régiment de la Chaudière, who fought in Europe and survived the war.

He served with the Montmagny Regiment from August 1 to September 1, 1940, before enlisting in the Chaudière Regiment at Camp Valcartier near Quebec City. He embarked on July 20, 1941, and arrived in Gourock, Scotland, on the 28th. He disembarked on the 30th. On November 5, 1942, he returned to Canada to undergo training as an instructor. On March 8, 1943, he boarded a troop transport and sailed for Great Britain, where he arrived on the 18th. On June 29, 1943, after being assigned to Force M, he embarked for the Mediterranean to take part in Operation Husky. He landed on a beach in Sicily on July 11. On August 20, he was transferred to the 4th Battalion of the Royal 22nd Regiment, and on September 3, he set foot on the Italian mainland at Reggio di Calabria. By dusk on September 1, 1943, the Royal 22nd Regiment had captured all its objectives, including the most heavily defended one, Borgo Santa Maria. The regiment had lost thirty men, including six killed in action. Two were listed as missing. He was wounded in action by gunfire to the shoulder and back on September 1 and was transported to the 3rd Canadian Field Dressing Station, where he died that same day. He was buried near Mombaroccio in grave number 6 before being exhumed and reburied in Montecchio. He had served for 1,444 days, including 1,017 overseas.

Citation à l’Ordre du Jour (MID) : The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the award of mentions in Despatches, in recognition of gallant and distinguished services of Corporal (A/L/Sgt) Emile Lagace, London Gazette, 6 janvier 1945, page 76, numéro 36918 ; CARO numéro 5398.