Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Military Service

Additional Information

Son of Gilbert Gervais (deceased in 1922) and Henriette Bertrand, of La Passe, Renfrew, Ontario. He stated being born in 1885 when he enlisted but this was in fact his baptism year.

He was baptized “William-Napoléon” and named “Napoléon” until after the 1901 census. Then, the first name “Lemoyne” was used in the 1911 census. The priest who baptized him was named “Napoléon Le Moyne” and died in 1910.

This coincidence might explain why his first name changed to “Lemoyne” ; resulting from an old tradition in some families, which aims to perpetuate the memory of a father, a godfather or a loved one, by adopting their first or last name upon their death.

Lemoyne was severely wounded on 15 September 1916 at Courcelette and he died of wounds the following day at No. 15 Main Dressing Station located near Albert.

Commemorated on Page 91 of the First World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.