Lieutenant Aimé Louis René Des Rosiers

On May 16, 1944, near Pignataro (Italy), two companies were deployed on the side of a hill. At 6:15 a.m., the preparatory bombardment began... On the right, Lieutenant Dussault's platoon occupied such a wide front that it risked spreading its forces too thin. As a result, the company commander ordered Lieutenant Louis DesRosiers to launch an attack. DesRosiers encountered an enemy patrol fiercely defending a crossroads. In turn, the men of this second platoon had to fight a furious battle. Soon the Germans retreated. DesRosiers and his men entered the farm; the occupants were taken prisoner... A nest of mortars and machine guns, hidden in a camouflaged and armored shelter, allowed the enemy to fire safely on the attackers... Lieutenant DesRosiers and Sergeant Fernand Blanchette took charge. Flat on their stomachs or leaping, they covered the distance separating them from the entrenchment. Along the way, DesRosiers and Blanchette flushed out two machine gunners in a trench and took them prisoner. When he reached the edge of the redoubt, DesRosiers, protected by fire from section leader Corporal Fortunat Appleby, managed to blow it up. Proud of his success, Lieutenant DesRosiers positioned his men in the newly conquered German positions," Histoire du Royal 22e Régiment, page 248.

He was wounded for the first time in combat on October 21, 1944, by shrapnel to the head and was transported to the 5th Canadian CCS, then to the 5th CLFA on the same day and to the 83rd CGH. On the 23rd, he was transferred to the 3rd CGH, then to the 1st CGH, where he remained until November 16, 1944. He continued his convalescence at the 1st CCDB until December 11, 1944. He was wounded a second time on December 23, 1944, by shrapnel in his right leg, an injury that did not require evacuation.

At noon on January 3, [1945], two platoons from Major Tellier's company reached the top of a dike. Flamethrowers contributed greatly to the success of this breakthrough. As soon as the powerful jets appeared, the enemy retreated. Around 3 p.m., despite enemy mortar fire and snipers, the platoon in the center of Company A began to climb the embankment. Of the twelve men in the platoon, only one reached the top; the others were killed or wounded [including DesRosiers], Histoire du Royal 22e Régiment, pages 345-346.

He was first reported missing on January 3, 1945. Then, for official service purposes, he was declared killed in action on January 3, 1945, by an anti-tank rocket on the dikes of the Di Bonifica Canal (Italy) on June 11, 1945.

Mention in Despatches : ‘’The King has been graciously pleased to approve the award of Mentions in Despatches, in recognition of gallant and distinguished services to Aimé Louis René Des Rosiers, lieutenant to R22eR, The London Gazette 38, 22-9-45, and -38425, 8-1-46. ‘’