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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Vincent Joseph Legassey

In memory of:

Rifleman Vincent Joseph Legassey

August 16, 1944

Military Service

Service Number:

B/117303

Age:

19

Force:

Army

Unit:

Regina Rifle Regiment

Additional Information

Born:

December 30, 1924
Timmins, Ontario

Enlistment:

September 28, 1943
Toronto, Ontario

Son of Joseph and May Legassey, of Timmins, Ontario.

Brother of Marie May, Pauline, Gladys, Elmer and Marie Rose.

Commemorated on Page 363 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information

Cemetery:

BRETTEVILLE-SUR-LAIZE CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY
Calvados, France

Grave Reference:

XXIV. A. 7.

Location:

This cemetery lies on the west side of the main road from Caen to Falaise (route N158) and just north of the village of Cintheaux. Bretteville-sur-Laize is a village and commune in the department of the Calvados, some 16 kilometres south of Caen. The village of Bretteville lies 3 kilometres south-west of the Cemetery. Buried here are those who died during the later stages of the battle of Normandy, the capture of Caen and the thrust southwards (led initially by the 4th Canadian and 1st Polish Armoured Divisions), to close the Falaise Gap, and thus seal off the German divisions fighting desperately to escape being trapped west of the Seine. Almost every unit of Canadian 2nd Corps is represented in the Cemetery. There are about 3,000 allied forces casualties of the Second World War commemorated in this site.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

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  • Post Card– Upon arrival in England, Vincent immediately wrote to his mom and dad, and of course his “beloved”. In prior letters he had written to his parents, he expressed the hope in his heart that he would build a home and marry his fiancé. Every mile that Vincent travelled, ever hour that passed, would bring him closer to that fateful day in August.

    Details

    Post Card
    Post Card – Upon arrival in England, Vincent immediately wrote to his mom and dad, and of course his “beloved”. In prior letters he had written to his parents, he expressed the hope in his heart that he would build a home and marry his fiancé. Every mile that Vincent travelled, ever hour that passed, would bring him closer to that fateful day in August.
  • Reverse side of Memorial Cross– No medal can compensate for the loss of a child.

    Details

    Reverse side of Memorial Cross
    Reverse side of Memorial Cross – No medal can compensate for the loss of a child.
  • Letter

    Details

    Letter
    Letter
  • Journal– Vincent’s mother kept a small journal. With as much sorrow as that seen since Golgotha, she wrote: “my honey got killed in France August 16 1944. I will never forget you Vincent as long as I live. Hope to see you soon. I miss your letters so much and every one of us miss you so very very much. XX

    Details

    Journal
    Journal – Vincent’s mother kept a small journal. With as much sorrow as that seen since Golgotha, she wrote: “my honey got killed in France August 16 1944. I will never forget you Vincent as long as I live. Hope to see you soon. I miss your letters so much and every one of us miss you so very very much. XX
  • Journal– “I send you some pictures darling but they all came back. Oh why did it had to be you. Darling son I always think of you. Miss you so very much. 0ur life is so spoiled without you. XXXXXX Oh Vincent, Vincent, Vincent, Vincent, Vincent, Vincent I want you back. Oh god.”

    Details

    Journal
    Journal – “I send you some pictures darling but they all came back. Oh why did it had to be you. Darling son I always think of you. Miss you so very much. 0ur life is so spoiled without you. XXXXXX Oh Vincent, Vincent, Vincent, Vincent, Vincent, Vincent I want you back. Oh god.”
  • Biography

    Details

    Biography
    Biography
  • Biography

    Details

    Biography
    Biography
  • Grave marker– Close family friend Sharon C. paid homage to Vincent in June 2022 by visiting his grave at Bretteville-Sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery and reverently placing a Canadian flag at his plot

    Details

    Grave marker
    Grave marker – Close family friend Sharon C. paid homage to Vincent in June 2022 by visiting his grave at Bretteville-Sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery and reverently placing a Canadian flag at his plot
  • Cathedral St. Vincent, St. Malo, France– At the Cathedral Saint-Vincent in St. Malo, France, a candle was lit by close family friend Sharon C at the statue of the Blessed Virgin in memory of Vincent

    Details

    Cathedral St. Vincent, St. Malo, France
    Cathedral St. Vincent, St. Malo, France – At the Cathedral Saint-Vincent in St. Malo, France, a candle was lit by close family friend Sharon C at the statue of the Blessed Virgin in memory of Vincent
  • Photo of Vincent Joseph Legassey– Vincent at First Rock, Timmins, ON.

    Details

    Photo of Vincent Joseph Legassey
    Photo of Vincent Joseph Legassey – Vincent at First Rock, Timmins, ON.
  • Photo of Vincent Joseph Legassey– Vincent at home on his embarkation leave May 1944.

    Details

    Photo of Vincent Joseph Legassey
    Photo of Vincent Joseph Legassey – Vincent at home on his embarkation leave May 1944.
  • Class photo– École catholique St-Charles circa 1932. Vincent is seated in the second row (from the right), second student (from front). St Charles, 120 Kent Avenue, Timmins, ON was built in 1922 and by the 1930’s had 16 classrooms. The building was demolished in 2022 to make room for a new health centre. Vincent’s soul now finds its home of rest in communion with God.

    Details

    Class photo
    Class photo – École catholique St-Charles circa 1932. Vincent is seated in the second row (from the right), second student (from front). St Charles, 120 Kent Avenue, Timmins, ON was built in 1922 and by the 1930’s had 16 classrooms. The building was demolished in 2022 to make room for a new health centre. Vincent’s soul now finds its home of rest in communion with God.
  • Photo of Vincent Joseph Legassey– Getting ready for Spring planting: Vincent turning the soil over in his parents vegetable garden May 1944

    Details

    Photo of Vincent Joseph Legassey
    Photo of Vincent Joseph Legassey – Getting ready for Spring planting: Vincent turning the soil over in his parents vegetable garden May 1944
  • Photo of Vincent Joseph Legassey– Vincent when your parents held you tight in their arms and gazed into your eyes, your future was unknown to them. Never, did they think they would lose you this way

    Details

    Photo of Vincent Joseph Legassey
    Photo of Vincent Joseph Legassey – Vincent when your parents held you tight in their arms and gazed into your eyes, your future was unknown to them. Never, did they think they would lose you this way
  • Photo of Vincent Joseph Legassey– Vincent, you grew up during the Great Depression. Falling on the heels of that was WWII

    Details

    Photo of Vincent Joseph Legassey
    Photo of Vincent Joseph Legassey – Vincent, you grew up during the Great Depression. Falling on the heels of that was WWII
  • Photo of Vincent Joseph Legassey– Vincent your precious life’s blood was shed on foreign soil so many miles away from the bosom of your family

    Details

    Photo of Vincent Joseph Legassey
    Photo of Vincent Joseph Legassey – Vincent your precious life’s blood was shed on foreign soil so many miles away from the bosom of your family
  • Photo of Vincent Joseph Legassey– Vincent your future was forged in the stars millennia before you were born

    Details

    Photo of Vincent Joseph Legassey
    Photo of Vincent Joseph Legassey – Vincent your future was forged in the stars millennia before you were born
  • Photo of Vincent Joseph Legassey– Vincent as a youth. He was so much more than a soldier. He was a son, brother and fiancé. An uncle whom we would never meet nor be able to hug or kiss. Vincent, you once lived, breathed, loved and were loved. Your parents and siblings spoke of you often, keeping your spirit and divine essence alive which will forever enkindle our hearts. To this very day, the young grandchildren of your nieces and nephews bring a photograph of you to their schools on Remembrance Day and tell of your sacrifice. Vincent, tu étais un parfait enfant de Dieu. With love, Jenne, Pineault, Morin, and Legasy families

    Details

    Photo of Vincent Joseph Legassey
    Photo of Vincent Joseph Legassey – Vincent as a youth. He was so much more than a soldier. He was a son, brother and fiancé. An uncle whom we would never meet nor be able to hug or kiss. Vincent, you once lived, breathed, loved and were loved. Your parents and siblings spoke of you often, keeping your spirit and divine essence alive which will forever enkindle our hearts. To this very day, the young grandchildren of your nieces and nephews bring a photograph of you to their schools on Remembrance Day and tell of your sacrifice. Vincent, tu étais un parfait enfant de Dieu. With love, Jenne, Pineault, Morin, and Legasy families
  • Photo of Vincent Joseph Legassey– Photo taken at his home in Timmins, Ontario

    Details

    Photo of Vincent Joseph Legassey
    Photo of Vincent Joseph Legassey – Photo taken at his home in Timmins, Ontario
  • Photo of Vincent Joseph Legassey– Rifleman Vincent Joseph Legassey. He loved his family so much that he sacrificed his life for them.

    Details

    Photo of Vincent Joseph Legassey
    Photo of Vincent Joseph Legassey – Rifleman Vincent Joseph Legassey. He loved his family so much that he sacrificed his life for them.
  • Group Photo– Vincent with his fiancé, Thérèse Levasseur

    Details

    Group Photo
    Group Photo – Vincent with his fiancé, Thérèse Levasseur
  • Group Photo– Vincent (on left) with best friend Armand Babin. Photo most likely taken at the Timmins Armoury.

    Details

    Group Photo
    Group Photo – Vincent (on left) with best friend Armand Babin. Photo most likely taken at the Timmins Armoury.
  • Group Photo– Vincent: middle row, last one on right (wearing helmet) World War II photo of Army Platoon IATC (Infantry Advanced Training Centre) Camp Borden December 1943 No. 2 Coy R.C.A.S.C.T.C. (Royal Canadian Army Service Corps Training Centre)

    Details

    Group Photo
    Group Photo – Vincent: middle row, last one on right (wearing helmet) World War II photo of Army Platoon IATC (Infantry Advanced Training Centre) Camp Borden December 1943 No. 2 Coy R.C.A.S.C.T.C. (Royal Canadian Army Service Corps Training Centre)
  • Letter– The last letter that Vincent would ever pen. He would be killed just 12 days later by machine gun fire from enemy tanks in the Village of Versainville near Falaise, France.

    Details

    Letter
    Letter – The last letter that Vincent would ever pen. He would be killed just 12 days later by machine gun fire from enemy tanks in the Village of Versainville near Falaise, France.
  • Newspaper clipping– Porcupine Advance, page 1, Thursday 12 October 1944

    Details

    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – Porcupine Advance, page 1, Thursday 12 October 1944
  • Letter

    Details

    Letter
    Letter
  • Medal– France-Germany Star

    Details

    Medal
    Medal – France-Germany Star
  • War Medal 1939-45

    Details

    War Medal 1939-45
    War Medal 1939-45
  • Canadian Volunteer Service Medal

    Details

    Canadian Volunteer Service Medal
    Canadian Volunteer Service Medal
  • 1939-45 Star

    Details

    1939-45 Star
    1939-45 Star
  • Memorial Cross– A memento of personal loss and sacrifice given to Vincent's mother

    Details

    Memorial Cross
    Memorial Cross – A memento of personal loss and sacrifice given to Vincent's mother
  • Grave marker– Bretteville-Sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery, France

    Details

    Grave marker
    Grave marker – Bretteville-Sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery, France

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