13: My Lucky Number

Heroes Remember

13: My Lucky Number

Transcript

I must mention before I forget. Thirteen platoon, when I enlisted I was still thirteen platoon after they, they reorganized the battalion. I was still thirteen platoon, we went to France, thirteen platoon. I was wounded on November the 13th on a Friday. No kidding, number thirteen has been my lucky number. I say that...is a a... I was wounded but at the time I didn't know how severe it was but I was wounded.

Description

Mr. Champoux explains how his entire military experience (from his enrollment to his wounding) revolved around the number 13.

Robert Arthur Champoux

Mr. Champoux was born in Hull, Québec on March 21st, 1921. He lived there until the age of 8 when his father, a First World War Veteran, moved the family to Ottawa. Mr. Champoux had three brothers and four sisters; he was the third oldest child. When the war broke out he was attending Ottawa Technical High School. He left school, after his first year, to join the Army after failing to join the Navy and the Air Force (who were not yet recruiting). He left for Europe July 17th, 1940 and ended up stopping in Iceland where he remained for the next 10 months. Mr. Champoux’s wartime service saw him fighting on D-Day and in the Falaise Gap. He also fought in Calais and later on in Holland where he was wounded. Mr. Champoux got a job with the Mint upon returning to Canada. He joined the army again in 1948 retiring in 1965.

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