Pte
Urbain Bellefontaine
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 23/08/1892 |
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Place of birth: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada |
General information
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Profession: Farmer |
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: 291649 |
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Enlistment date: 11/11/1915 |
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Enlistment place: Saint Boniface, Manitoba, Canada |
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Units: — Canadian Infantry, 22nd Bn. (Canadien Francais) (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 09/11/1914 |
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Place of death: Abraham Heights, Zonnebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 22 |
Memorial
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Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel: 26D |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Private Urbain Bellefontaine served in the 22nd Battalion, an all French-speaking unit. Out of this unit the 22nd Regiment (“Van Doos”) originated. Until this day, it is the only French-speaking unit in Canada. They were part of the 5th Infantry Brigade, of the 2nd Canadian Division.
His unit fought in the final stage of the Third Battle of Ypres, namely the Second Battle of Passchendaele. On one of the final days of the battle, on November 9 1917, the 22nd took position in a resting area at Abraham Heights. But the German artillery didn’t grant them much rest. The soldiers of the 22nd were continuously shelled, while performing resupply and evacuation missions to and from the frontline. During the heavy bombardments private Bellefontaine went missing. His remains were never identified. He is remembered on the (Ypres) Menin Gate Memorial.
His unit fought in the final stage of the Third Battle of Ypres, namely the Second Battle of Passchendaele. On one of the final days of the battle, on November 9 1917, the 22nd took position in a resting area at Abraham Heights. But the German artillery didn’t grant them much rest. The soldiers of the 22nd were continuously shelled, while performing resupply and evacuation missions to and from the frontline. During the heavy bombardments private Bellefontaine went missing. His remains were never identified. He is remembered on the (Ypres) Menin Gate Memorial.
Sources 8
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" The Third Ypres Passchendaele. The Day-by-Day Account ", McCarthy C., London, Arms & Armour Press, 1995, pg. 138-9. Sources used |
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"Histoire du 22e Bataillon canadien-français, 1914-1919 ", Joseph Chaballe, Les Editions Chantecler Ltée., 1952, 314-5. Sources used |
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Ancestry http://www.ancestry.co.uk/ Further reference |
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Circumstances of Death https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/mass-digitized-archives/circumstances-death-registers/Pages/circumstances-death-registers.aspx Sources used |
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CWGC http://www.cwgc.org/ Sources used |
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Service Record https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/personnel-records/Pages/personnel-records.aspx Sources used |
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The Long, Long Trail http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/ Sources used |
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War Diary Canadian Infantry, 22nd Bn. https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/Pages/war-diaries.aspx Sources used |