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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

John Blais

In memory of:

Private John Blais

October 2, 1918
Tilloy, Cambrai, France

Military Service

Service Number:

889823

Age:

27

Force:

Army

Unit:

Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regiment)

Division:

22nd Bn.

Citation(s):

British War Medal, Victory Medal

Additional Information

Born:

March 25, 1891
Newport, Gaspésie, Quebec

Enlistment:

December 24, 1915
L’Anse-du-Cap-d’Espoir, Quebec

Baptized Joseph-Delphis Blais, he enrolled as « John » Blais. Son of Aimé Blais and Catherine Grenier-Colin/Collin, of Newport, Gaspésie. He stated being born in 1889 when he enlisted. He named his brother-in-law Albert Grenier (husband of his sister Élizabeth), of Chandler, as his heir.

From the 10th Reserve Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force, he was transferred to the 22nd Battalion on 20 April 1917. He fought in the trenches in the Lens sector, Pas-de-Calais, France, where he was wounded in the face on 23 July. In September 1917, he came under fire in the Caëstre sector, Pas-de-Calais, then in February 1918 at Liévin-Lens, and in April at Neuville-Vitasse, also in Pas-de-Calais. He was killed in action on 2 October 1918 in the Cambrai sector.

Commemorated on Page 370 of the First World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information

Cemetery:

CANADA CEMETERY (Tilloy-les-Cambrai)
Nord, France

Grave Reference:

II. B. 12.

Location:

Tilloy-les-Cambrai is a village on the north-western outskirts of the town of Cambrai and a little east of the road to Douai. Follow the N30 (Cambrai Ring Road) from Cambrai to its junction with the Tilloy-les-Cambrai road, the D49, just after the junction of the N30 and the N43 (Douai road). Follow the D49 for approximately 2.2 kilometres, crossing the bridge over the motorway, to a side road on the west-south-west (left) side. The Canada Cemetery lies 200 metres away at the end of the side road. Tilloy was captured by the Canadian Corps about the 1st October, 1918, in the face of strong opposition, and the cemetery was made by their Burial Officer on the 13th October. It is enclosed by a brick wall, and sheltered from the road by a row of willows; and a maple tree is planted at the South-East corner.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

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  • Circumstances of Death Registers– Source: Library and Archives Canada. CIRCUMSTANCES OF DEATH REGISTERS FIRST WORLD WAR Surnames: Birch to Blakstad. Mircoform Sequence 10; Volume Number 31829_B034746; Reference RG150, 1992-93/314, 154 Page 643 of 734

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    Circumstances of Death Registers
    Circumstances of Death Registers – Source: Library and Archives Canada. CIRCUMSTANCES OF DEATH REGISTERS FIRST WORLD WAR Surnames: Birch to Blakstad. Mircoform Sequence 10; Volume Number 31829_B034746; Reference RG150, 1992-93/314, 154 Page 643 of 734
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