Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Military Service

Additional Information

Son of Jean-Baptiste « Lotice or Lotisse » Desormeaux (deceased in 1916) and Édesse Gascon (deceased in 1914). Widower of Nélida Matte (deceased in 1909), he remarried in 1910 to Adélina Benoit, of Montréal, Québec.

When Ovila enrolled at 39 years old, he was remarried and father of two from his first wedding. He joined the 22nd Battalion at the front on 16 October 1916 and was killed in action in December, on Christmas Day. Two and half months later, his son Jean (Jean-Magloire-Ovila) lied about his age and was able to enlist at 15 and a half years old, under the first name “Ovila” (service number 1054833). Maybe he wanted to avenge the death of his father?

In less than three weeks, he was already overseas. After his basic training in England, he ended up in France. He arrived to the 22nd Battalion on 24 November 1917, but less than a month later, he was identified as underage and returned in England, to be repatriated and released. While impossible to confirm that he served on the front lines, his service made him eligible to be buried at the National Field of Honour in Pointe-Claire, in 1992.

Commemorated on Page 77 of the First World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.