Private Joe Léger served in the Canadian Army in World War II Service started: 17 July 1940 Unit(s): South Saskatchewan Regiment; Essex Scotish Regiment Service ended: 13 August 1944
In the 1921 census Joseph (age 4) was the son of Frank Legere at 54 Botsford, Westmorland, New Brunswick, Canada.[2]
In the 1931 census Joseph (age 14), a student, was the son of Frank Legere on Main St, Port Elgin, New Brunswick, Canada.[3]
Military Experience
At the time of his enlistment in the Canadian Active Service Force in Moncton on July 17 1940, Joseph Frank was 22 years of age, single, had graduated from high school and had worked as a newspaper reporter for one year for a publisher in Sackville, N.B. He had enlisted in a wireless course that year, learning signaling.
His certificate of medical examination shows that he stood 5 feet 3½ inches tall, weighed 128 pounds, had a medium complexion, with hazel eyes, and dark hair. He had three brothers in the army, and three sisters, and declared that he got along well with the rest of the family. He liked sports such as hockey and baseball.
He trained and served in Canada from 19 July 1940 to 25 May 1944
Two days after enlisting in the army, he joined the St. John’s Fusiliers (Machine Gun). He was trained as a signaller in British Columbia (Nanaimo and Vancouver). He qualified as a W.T. operator in June 1942. Documents show that in 1942 he was presented as a suitable candidate for parachute training, but was rejected by the medical board because of a hernia. Joseph Frank was appointed to the rank of lance corporal in March 1943, in Nanaimo.
He married 19-year-old Jean Beatrice Southall, a stenographer of New Westminster, B.C. on 7 January 1944 at the Holy Trinity Cathedral in New Westminster, BC. At his own request, he ceased to hold the appointment of lance corporal in April 1944.
Served in UK from 26 May 1944 to 24 July 1944
Private Legere joined the South Saskatchewan Regiment on 20 July 1944. Four days later, they headed for France.
Served in Northwest Europe from 25 July 1944 to 13 August 1944
The Regiment disembarked in France on 25 July 1944.
Medals awarded
1939 - 45 star
France-Germany star
War Medal 1939-1945
Canadian Volunteer Service Medal
Death
Pvt Joseph Frank Legere was wounded in action in France on 13 August 1944 and died of his wounds the same day. He was buried in Bretteville-Sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery, Cintheaux, Departement du Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France.[4]
He had 4 brothers who served in the Canadian army, 3 overseas: Ernest, Albert, Roy, and Omer.
Research Notes
The date of birth given in his WWII service file varies: sometimes it is 18 March 1918, also 18 April 1918, and 17 March 1918, and mother is Elizabeth Légère. The location of birth is always Port Elgin.
Could not find a birth record in 1918 for him.
Sources
↑Birth: Provincial Archives of New Brunswick, Name LÉGER, JOSEPH JADUS FIDÈLE
Sex M
Date 1917-04-20
Place PORT ELGIN
County WESTMORLAND
Father LÉGER, FRANÇOIS
Mother DONELLE, PHÉLONISE
Number 4649
Code A5/1917
Microfilm F24967 Birth Certificate
↑1921 Census:
"1921 Census of Canada"
Reference Number: RG 31; Folder Number: 38; Census Place: 38, Westmorland, New Brunswick; Page Number: 7; Line Number: 4 Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8991 #8286637 (accessed 22 December 2023)
Joseph Legere (4), single son, in household of Frank Legere (32) at 54 Botsford, Westmorland, New Brunswick, Canada. Born in New Brunswick.
Frank Legere M 32 Head Married New Brunswick
Lizzie Legere F 32 Wife Married New Brunswick
Cecil Legere M 11 Son Single New Brunswick
Catherine Legere F 11 Daughter Single New Brunswick
Sarrah Legere F 9 Daughter Single New Brunswick
Dora Legere F 7 Daughter Single New Brunswick
Ernest Legere M 5 Son Single New Brunswick
Joseph Legere M 4 Son Single New Brunswick
Albert Legere M 2 Son Single New Brunswick
↑1931 Census:
"1931 Census of Canada"
Library and Archives Canada; Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; Seventh Census of Canada, 1931; Folder Number: T-27203; Census Place: Westmorland, New Brunswick, Canada; Page Number: 13 Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 62640 #7320134 (accessed 22 December 2023)
Joseph Legere (14), single son, Student, in household of Frank Legere (43) on Main St, Port Elgin, New Brunswick, Canada. Born in New Bruswick.
Frank Legere M 43 Head Married New Bruswick Can maker
Elizabeth Legere F 42 Wife Married New Bruswick Homemaker
Cecil Legere M 21 Son Single New Bruswick Laborer
Ernest Legere M 16 Son Single New Brunswick
Joseph Legere M 14 Son Single New Bruswick Student
Albert Legere M 11 Son Single New Bruswick Student
Roy Legere M 10 Son Single New Bruswick Student
Omar Legere M 6 Son Single New Bruswick
Leonard Legere M 2 Son Single New Bruswick
Sarrah Legere F 19 Daughter Single New Brunswick Can Gaster
Doris Legere F 17 Daughter Single New Brunswick Maid
↑Burial:
"Global, Find a Grave® Index for Burials at Sea and other Select Burial Locations, 1300s-Current"
Original data: Find a Grave. Find a Grave®. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi; URL: Find A Grave: Memorial #56156875 Ancestry ca Record 60541 #3813065 (accessed 22 December 2023)
Name: Pvt Joseph Frank Legere; Death Date: 13 Aug 1944; Cemetery: Bretteville-Sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery; Burial or Cremation Place: Cintheaux, Departement du Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France; Has Bio?: N.
Is Joe your ancestor? Please don't go away! Login to collaborate or comment, or contact
the profile manager, or ask our community of genealogists a question.
Sponsored Search by Ancestry.com
DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships.
Paternal line Y-chromosome DNA test-takers:
This week's featured connections are
Redheads:
Joe is
20 degrees from Catherine of Aragón, 21 degrees from Clara Bow, 30 degrees from Julia Gillard, 17 degrees from Nancy Hart, 15 degrees from Rutherford Hayes, 21 degrees from Rita Hayworth, 20 degrees from Leonard Kelly, 22 degrees from Rose Leslie, 21 degrees from Damian Lewis, 20 degrees from Maureen O'Hara, 21 degrees from Jopie Schaft and 36 degrees from Eirik Thorvaldsson
on our single family tree.
Login to see how you relate to 33 million family members.