Pte
Gedeon Grenier
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 22/06/1897 |
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Place of birth: Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce, Quebec, Canada |
General information
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Last known residence: Saint-Frédéric, Quebec, Canada |
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Profession: Labourer |
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Religion: Roman Catholic |
Army information
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Country: Canada |
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Force: Canadian Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 748539 |
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Enlistment date: 26/01/1916 |
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Enlistment place: Coaticook, Quebec, Canada |
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Units: — Canadian Mounted Rifles, 5th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 30/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Wallemolen, Passendale, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 20 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: XXVIII Row: G Grave: 18 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Gedeon Grenier was born in June 1897 in the predominantly French-speaking community of Saint-Joseph-de-Beauce, Quebec.
In early 1916, barely 18 years old, Gedeon enlisted in the Canadian Army. After basic training he embarked for Europe, where he was assigned to the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles, part of the 8th Brigade of the 3rd Canadian Division. The Mounted Rifles — mounted infantry — were by then fighting entirely dismounted in the trenches of Europe.
At the end of October 1917, the 3rd Canadian Division was again deployed in Flanders, where the Allied offensive — intended to break through towards the coast — had bogged down into a war of attrition over the heights east of Ypres. With winter approaching, a breakthrough seemed impossible, and although the French and Belgian allies openly doubted the continuation of the offensive by mid-October, this realisation had not yet reached the British high command. The Canadians were tasked with capturing the heights around the shattered village of Passendale. In the first two phases, on 26 and 30 October, the troops had to fight their way out of the mud by reaching higher ground. Once that slope was secured, Passendale could be taken.
The Ravebeek cut through the front; the shallow ditch had been turned into a kilometre-wide swamp by the relentless bombardments. Advancing through the marshy valley was nearly impossible. In many places only one battalion could attack due to the lack of firm ground.
The Canadians not only had to contend with the swampy terrain at the foot of the ridge, but also faced a well-organised German defence. Despite heavy losses and harsh conditions, the German position at Bellevue — the strongpoint of the German defence on a spur of the ridge west of Passendale — fell on 26 October 1917. The Canadians thus managed to establish themselves on the hillside.
On 30 October 1917 the advance was renewed. At first light the Allied artillery unleashed its deadly barrage. At ten to six the 3rd and 4th Canadian Divisions went forward again. The 3rd Division attacked with the 8th Brigade on the left and the 7th Brigade on the right. From Bellevue they advanced further along the spur towards the Goudberg, north of Passendale.
The 8th Brigade attacked with the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles. Their objective was the Goudberg. However, in front of that height lay an almost impossible obstacle: Woodland Plantation, a shattered copse through which the overflowing Paddebeek ran. The terrain had been transformed into an impassable swamp. At the last moment it was decided to advance via the slightly drier ground around the stinking marsh. “A” and “B” Companies on the right, “C” and “D” on the left.
But even this flanking advance was extremely difficult. Without adequate artillery support, struggling through the mud, the mounted infantry became easy targets. Source Farm, Vapour Farm, and Vanity House at the foot of the Goudberg were captured despite heavy casualties. The survivors dug in. The 5th Mounted Rifles had begun the attack with about 600 men; by ten o’clock half were dead or wounded. German counterattacks threatened to overwhelm the 5th in the afternoon. The 2nd Mounted Rifles rushed to assist. Although Vanity House had to be abandoned, the positions were ultimately held with the greatest difficulty. The losses were terrible. Many never returned from the Goudberg.
At the farm on the Bornstraat, just before Woodland Plantation, there was a German bunker in 1917. During the attack on 30 October the Canadian Army Medical Corps set up a dressing station there. The bunker soon became full, and the wounded had to be treated outside. To make matters worse, a shell hit, instantly killing many wounded and medical staff. When the battalion was relieved the next day, it had suffered some 400 casualties in just a few days.
Gedeon Grenier, only 20 years old, was killed on 30 October 1917. He was initially buried in a field near the hamlet of Wallemolen, just in front of the German Flandern I defensive line. After the war he received his final resting place at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot XXVIII, Row G, Grave 18.
In early 1916, barely 18 years old, Gedeon enlisted in the Canadian Army. After basic training he embarked for Europe, where he was assigned to the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles, part of the 8th Brigade of the 3rd Canadian Division. The Mounted Rifles — mounted infantry — were by then fighting entirely dismounted in the trenches of Europe.
At the end of October 1917, the 3rd Canadian Division was again deployed in Flanders, where the Allied offensive — intended to break through towards the coast — had bogged down into a war of attrition over the heights east of Ypres. With winter approaching, a breakthrough seemed impossible, and although the French and Belgian allies openly doubted the continuation of the offensive by mid-October, this realisation had not yet reached the British high command. The Canadians were tasked with capturing the heights around the shattered village of Passendale. In the first two phases, on 26 and 30 October, the troops had to fight their way out of the mud by reaching higher ground. Once that slope was secured, Passendale could be taken.
The Ravebeek cut through the front; the shallow ditch had been turned into a kilometre-wide swamp by the relentless bombardments. Advancing through the marshy valley was nearly impossible. In many places only one battalion could attack due to the lack of firm ground.
The Canadians not only had to contend with the swampy terrain at the foot of the ridge, but also faced a well-organised German defence. Despite heavy losses and harsh conditions, the German position at Bellevue — the strongpoint of the German defence on a spur of the ridge west of Passendale — fell on 26 October 1917. The Canadians thus managed to establish themselves on the hillside.
On 30 October 1917 the advance was renewed. At first light the Allied artillery unleashed its deadly barrage. At ten to six the 3rd and 4th Canadian Divisions went forward again. The 3rd Division attacked with the 8th Brigade on the left and the 7th Brigade on the right. From Bellevue they advanced further along the spur towards the Goudberg, north of Passendale.
The 8th Brigade attacked with the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles. Their objective was the Goudberg. However, in front of that height lay an almost impossible obstacle: Woodland Plantation, a shattered copse through which the overflowing Paddebeek ran. The terrain had been transformed into an impassable swamp. At the last moment it was decided to advance via the slightly drier ground around the stinking marsh. “A” and “B” Companies on the right, “C” and “D” on the left.
But even this flanking advance was extremely difficult. Without adequate artillery support, struggling through the mud, the mounted infantry became easy targets. Source Farm, Vapour Farm, and Vanity House at the foot of the Goudberg were captured despite heavy casualties. The survivors dug in. The 5th Mounted Rifles had begun the attack with about 600 men; by ten o’clock half were dead or wounded. German counterattacks threatened to overwhelm the 5th in the afternoon. The 2nd Mounted Rifles rushed to assist. Although Vanity House had to be abandoned, the positions were ultimately held with the greatest difficulty. The losses were terrible. Many never returned from the Goudberg.
At the farm on the Bornstraat, just before Woodland Plantation, there was a German bunker in 1917. During the attack on 30 October the Canadian Army Medical Corps set up a dressing station there. The bunker soon became full, and the wounded had to be treated outside. To make matters worse, a shell hit, instantly killing many wounded and medical staff. When the battalion was relieved the next day, it had suffered some 400 casualties in just a few days.
Gedeon Grenier, only 20 years old, was killed on 30 October 1917. He was initially buried in a field near the hamlet of Wallemolen, just in front of the German Flandern I defensive line. After the war he received his final resting place at Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot XXVIII, Row G, Grave 18.
Sources 5
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Col. Nicholson G.W.L., Canadian Expedition Force 1914-1919 - Official History of the Canadian Army in the First World War, (Ottawa, Queen's Printer, 1962), pg. 320-323. Sources used |
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Cook T., Shock Troops: Canadians fighting the Great War 1917-1918. Volume II (Toronto, Penguin Canada, 2008) 345-355. Sources used |
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McCarthy C., Passchendaele: The Day-By-Day Account (Londen, Arms & Armour, 2018) 153-154. Sources used |
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Personnel Records of the First World War (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC) RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 3817 - 4). https://library-archives.canada.ca/ Sources used |
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War Diaries: 5th Battalion Canadian Mounted Rifles (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG9-III-D-3, Volume number: 4949, Microfilm reel number: T-10760, File 473). https://library-archives.canada.ca/ Sources used |
More information 4
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/462976 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=210baaff-7692-42a0-802d-e1dd1b73a18c |
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The Canadian Virtual War Memorial https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/598158 |
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A Street Near You https://astreetnearyou.org/person/462976/ |