Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Military Service

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Additional Information

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Son of Alcide F. and Rose (née Rivest) Deschamps, of Windsor Ontario. The eighth child of fourteen children. His baptism is recorded at L'Annunciation in Stoney Point, 31 May 1919. At the time of his death he was engaged to a young woman named Ethel Pool. Apparently he was commonly called Lee.

He attended St. Joseph's School from 1926 - 1933, Walkerville Collegiate Institute, 1933 - 1938 (matriculation) and Windsor Vocational (1938-39) for Bookkeeping. He was the first of his family to complete high school. He then worked from 1937 - 39 as a stockman at Woolworths in Windsor and as a stockman at Ford Motor Company (1939 - May 41) when he joined the RCAF. Four of his brothers also served in the Armed Forces during WWII, Sam (US Navy), Marcel, Pierre-Paul, were in the Army and Rosaire was in the RCAF. Another younger brother, Bernard was in the US Air Force in the '50's.

Leo's hobbies were hockey, football, bowling, baseball, swimming and tennis. He enlisted 05 May 1941 in Windsor and transferred to the RCAF; training at Uplands Base, Ottawa, Ontario. He arrived overseas on 23 March 1942 and was assigned at "3 PRC" England, then to Hullavington Airfield, North Wiltshire, England. He was assigned to the 403 Squadron 20 Oct 1942 and served with that squadron until his death, 04 April 1943.

Commemorated on Page 153 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.