Joseph Jadus Fidèle Léger (1917 - 1944)

Born 20 Apr 1917 in Port Elgin, Westmorland, New Brunswick, Canada

Ancestors

Husband of Jean Beatrice Southall — married 7 Jan 1944 in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada

Died 13 Aug 1944 at age 27 in France

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Douglas Legere [send private message]

Biography

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

Joseph was born in 1917. He was the son of François Légère and Phélonise Donelle.^[1]

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

1. ↑ 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
2. ↑ 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
3. ↑ 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
4. ↑ 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.

• https://famille.genacadie.ca/g1/p7.htm#i169
• Canadian Virtual War Memorial, Private Joseph Frank Legere, Service Number: G/32723, https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/2333746?Joseph%20Frank%20Legere

  Son of Frank Joseph and Elizabeth Legere;

• Second World War Service Files – War Dead, 1939 to 1947, LEGERE, JOSEPH FRANK, Library and Archives Canada, RG 24, Volume 26344, Item ID number: 20194, http://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.redirect?app=kia&id=20194&lang=eng
• South Saskatchewan Regiment https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/services/military-history/history-heritage/official-military-history-lineages/lineages/infantry-regiments/south-saskatchewan.html