Military service
Burial/memorial information
Son of Philippe and Albertine Derasp, of St. Etienne de Restigouche, Province of Quebec.
Brother of Private Leopold Derasp, who died on October 29, 1942, while serving with the Canadian Forestry Corps.
He arrived in Glasgow, Scotland, on August 1, 1940, and landed in Sicily on July 10, 1943, during Operation Husky. A member of Platoon 9, he was killed in action at around 4 p.m. by shrapnel during an assault on Mount Santa Maria near Catanenova, Sicily, during a German counterattack.
"Depaspe fought fiercely... and quickly discovered two machine gun nests. He wiped out the German detachment hiding there and occupied the position, which he quickly used to his advantage... He attempted to have his lieutenant (Robitaille) transported to the aid station... The planned counterattack came at around 4 p.m.; Sergeant Deraspe continued to lead his men with the energy and clarity that everyone knew him for... Soon hit by shrapnel, he fell and did not get up again, along with his great friend, Sergeant J.P. Tougas from Quebec City. History of the Royal 22nd Regiment, Volume II, pages 142-143.
He was buried on August 1, 1943, at the Mount Santa Maria cemetery in Catanenova, Sicily. He was exhumed and reburied in Agira around October 14, 1944.
Digital gallery of Sergeant Edmond Derasp
Digital gallery of
Sergeant Edmond Derasp
Digital gallery of
Sergeant Edmond Derasp
Digital gallery of
Sergeant Edmond Derasp
Digital gallery of
Sergeant Edmond Derasp
Digital gallery of
Sergeant Edmond Derasp
Digital gallery of
Sergeant Edmond Derasp
Image gallery
In the Books of Remembrance
Commemorated on:
Page 152 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance.
Request this page
Download this page
AGIRA CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY Italy
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.
For more information, visit Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
The Poppy Design is a trademark of The Royal Canadian Legion (Dominion Command) and is used with permission. Click here to learn more about the poppy.
Did we miss something?
Contribute information to this commemorative page
Do you have photographs, information or a correction relating to this individual’s virtual memorial? Learn more about the CVWM and the information we collect.