Tuesday 21 April 2009

Private Arsène Denault

Born on 2 January 1884 in Bellechasse, Quebec - son of Pierre Denault and Archange Guillemotte, St. Raphael, Bellechasse Co., Quebec - at the time of his enlistment in 1915: trade as labourer, single, no current or previous military service, Roman Catholic, height of 5 feet 3.5 inches, chest of 36 inches fully expanded, dark complexion, brown eyes, brown hair.

Joined the 77th Battalion, CEF, in Ottawa, Ontario, on 21 July 1915 (number 144171) - taken on the strength of the 38th Battalion, CEF, in Bermuda on 6 December 1915 - landed in France with the 38th Battalion on 13 August 1916 - invalided sick to England on 9 November 1916 - rejoined the 38th Battalion on 17 February 1917 - killed in action on 9 April 1917 - buried in Givenchy-en-Gohelle Canadian Cemetery (grave F.11), France.

(sources: Library and Archives Canada (www.collectionscanada.gc.ca), online attestation papers; Canadian War Museum, 19740281-001, Manu 58F 2 3, 207th Canadian Infantry Battalion and 38th Canadian Infantry Battalion, Nominal Roll; The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa Regimental Museum, A400-0007, Master Personnel List for the 38th Canadian Infantry Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force; Commonwealth War Graves Commission, "Debt of Honour" register, www.cwgc.org; Anonymous, An Historical Sketch of the Seventy-Seventh Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force (Ottawa: War Publications Limited, 1926), p.178; photo of headstone by Ken Reynolds)

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