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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Emile Banville

In memory of:

Private Emile Banville

July 27, 1943
Mount Santa Maria, Sicily, Italy

Military Service


Service Number:

E/109503

Age:

23

Force:

Army

Unit:

Royal 22e Régiment, R.C.I.C.

Citation(s):

1939-1945 Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal, War 1939-1945 Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with bar.

Additional Information


Born:

January 26, 1920
St. Narcisse, Quebec

Enlistment:

May 1, 1942
Halifax, Nova Scotia

Son of Germain Banville and Marcelline Lepage, of St. Narcisse, Rimouski Co., Province of Quebec.

He enlisted on 21 March 1941 in Rimouski, Quebec, regimental number E-620148. On 1 May 1942, he enlisted again with the Fusiliers du Saint-Laurent in Halifax, Nova Scotia, service number E-109503. A deserter, he enlisted a third time on 18 June 1942 at Camp Valcartier, Quebec, regimental number E-57850. On 22 April 1943, he joined the Royal 22e Régiment and left for England on the 23rd.

On 10 July 1943, he took part in the Allied landing in Sicily, Operation Husky. He was killed in action on the 27th during the assault on Mount Santa Maria near Catanenova, where he was temporarily buried. He had 449 days' service, including 306 overseas.

Commemorated on Page 134 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information


Cemetery:
Grave Reference:

A, D, 54.

Location:

Agira Canadian War Cemetery lies in the Commune of Agira, Province of Enna, in the centre of Sicily. From the autostrada A19, Catania-Palermo, take the exit to Catenanuova. Follow signposts to Regalbuto, then pass Regalbuto, going in the direction of Agira. The Cemetery is then signposted about 12 kilometres from Regalbuto. On 10 July 1943, following the successful conclusion of the north African campaign in mid May, a combined allied force of 160,000 Commonwealth and American troops invaded Sicily as a prelude to the assault on mainland Italy. The Italians, who would shortly make peace with the Allies and re-enter the war on their side, offered little determined resistance but German opposition was vigorous and stubborn. The campaign in Sicily came to an end on 17 August when the two allied forces came together at Messina, but failed to cut off the retreating Axis lines. Agira was taken by the 1st Canadian Division of 28 July and the site for the war cemetery was chosen in September for the burial of all Canadians who had been killed in the Sicily campaign. Agira Canadian War Cemetery contains 491 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

Send us your images

  • Group Photo– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Grave marker– Grave marker from Emile Banville's grave at Agira Canadian War Cemetery.
  • Photo of Emile Banville– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Entrance
  • Cemetery– Entrance - Agira Canadian War Cemetery - 2013
Photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Agira Canadian War Cemetery
  • Photo 2 of Agira Canadian War Cemetery
  • View of Mt. Enna
  • Cemetery– Agira Canadian War Cemetery - 2013
Photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Cemetery– Cross of Sacrifice - Agira Canadian War Cemetery - 2013
  • Grave Marker– Grave marker - Agira Canadian War Cemetery - 2013
Photo courtesy of Marg Liessens

Learn more about the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

To learn more please visit our help page. If you have questions or comments regarding the information contained in this registry, email or call us. For inquiries regarding the names and information found in the RCMP Honour Roll, please email the RCMP.

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