Military service
Burial/memorial information
Baptised Joseph Claude Lafortune, Son of Ludger Lafortune and Odile Brasseur of Montréal, Québec. Brother of Private Léopold Lafortune, D-488315, and Private Jacqueline Lafortune, W-4010 with CWAC. Both survived the war.
Enlisted in Company B of the Royal 22nd Regiment, he sailed for Great Britain on December 9, 1939, and landed in Greenock, Scotland, on the 18th. He spent most of his time shuttling between the hospital and disciplinary actions for insubordination. On June 15, 1943, he sailed for Sicily to take part in the Allied landing on July 10 as part of Operation Husky. He landed at Pachino with the second assault wave. On September 3, the Canadians landed at Reggio di Calabria on the Italian mainland. That same day, he was admitted to the 9th Canadian Field Ambulance and transferred to the 2nd Canadian Field Dressing Station, where he died of acute gastroenteritis on the 4th at 1:30 p.m. He was buried in Archi on the 5th. On May 4, 1944, his body was exhumed and reburied in Bari.
Digital gallery of Corporal Claude Lafortune
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Cross of Sacrifice
Memorial cross awarded to his mother -
Grave marker
Digital gallery of
Corporal Claude Lafortune
Digital gallery of
Corporal Claude Lafortune
In the Books of Remembrance
Commemorated on:
Page 178 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance.
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BARI WAR CEMETERY Italy
The BARI WAR CEMETERY lies south of Bari, in the rural locality of Carbonara in the Commune and Province of Bari.
It is reached from the town by proceeding south along the Taranto road (Route No.100) for about 8.5 kilometres. The turning to the right, leading to Carbonara di Bari, is taken and the Cemetery lies on the right about 1.5 kilometres further on.
From the North, take the exit to Bari North and continue on the Tangenziale in the direction of Brindisi. Take Exit No.12, Bari Carbonara, and continue into town. Proceed around the square in the direction of Triggiano. Follow this road across the traffic lights and the BARI WAR CEMETERY can be found on the left hand side.
From the South, follow the Tangenziale (main road) and exit at Carbonara Bari, then proceed as above.
For more information, visit Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
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