Pte
Armand Lafleur
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 30/03/1892 |
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Place of birth: Saint-André-Avellin, Quebec, Canada |
General information
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Last known residence: Saint-André-Avellin, Quebec, Canada |
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Profession: Lumberjack |
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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: 814482 |
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Enlistment date: 23/03/1916 |
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Enlistment place: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
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Units: — Canadian Infantry, 4th Bn. (Central Ontario) (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 06/11/1917 |
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Place of death: Bellevue, Passchendaele, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 25 |
Memorial
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Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel: 18L |
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
Armand Lafleur, a former Lumberjack, was born on 30 March 1892 in Saint-André-Avellin, Quebec, Canada. He was the son of Ferdinand Lafleur and Délia Fortier and was the first child out of eight. On 23 March 1916 he enlisted at Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Armand served as a private in the 4th Battalion Canadian Infantry, part of the 1st Canadian Brigade, of the 1st Canadian Division.
On 6 November 1917, the 1st Canadian Division took part in operations west of Passchendaele. The division attacked with the 1st Canadian Brigade at 6:00 a.m. The 1st and 2nd Battalion Canadian infantry were able to capture the Mosselmarkt area and started consolidation at about 7:45 a.m. On the other side of the bog created by the Paddebeek, the 3rd Battalion was held up by resistance at Vine Cottage. The 4th Battalion Canadian infantry was in support. At about 10:45 a.m. “A” Company and two platoons of “B” Company were moved forward and placed under command of the 3rd Battalion. “D” Company and the two remaining platoons of “B” Company were moved to Bellevue to replace them. “C” Company remained in brigade support near Bellevue and supplied carrying parties. Eventually the 3rd Battalion was able to capture their objective.
Throughout the day German artillery shelled the area. The commanding officer of the 4th Battalion notes that some casualties could have been prevented if more duckboard tracks were available. Since the Canadians were forced to use the Meetcheele-Mosselmarkt road, the Germans concentrated their artillery on it. They were relieved in the night between 7/8 November 1917. The 4th Battalion reported 2 officers and 26 men killed, 4 officers and 97 men wounded and 10 other ranks missing.
Armand Lafleur, aged 25, was killed in action on November 6th, 1917. He was killed by the explosion of an enemy shell. Private Lafleur was initially buried near Bellevue at 28.D.4.d.60.20. His remains were not recovered or identified after the war. Armand Lafleur has no known grave and is remembered on panel 18L of the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
On 6 November 1917, the 1st Canadian Division took part in operations west of Passchendaele. The division attacked with the 1st Canadian Brigade at 6:00 a.m. The 1st and 2nd Battalion Canadian infantry were able to capture the Mosselmarkt area and started consolidation at about 7:45 a.m. On the other side of the bog created by the Paddebeek, the 3rd Battalion was held up by resistance at Vine Cottage. The 4th Battalion Canadian infantry was in support. At about 10:45 a.m. “A” Company and two platoons of “B” Company were moved forward and placed under command of the 3rd Battalion. “D” Company and the two remaining platoons of “B” Company were moved to Bellevue to replace them. “C” Company remained in brigade support near Bellevue and supplied carrying parties. Eventually the 3rd Battalion was able to capture their objective.
Throughout the day German artillery shelled the area. The commanding officer of the 4th Battalion notes that some casualties could have been prevented if more duckboard tracks were available. Since the Canadians were forced to use the Meetcheele-Mosselmarkt road, the Germans concentrated their artillery on it. They were relieved in the night between 7/8 November 1917. The 4th Battalion reported 2 officers and 26 men killed, 4 officers and 97 men wounded and 10 other ranks missing.
Armand Lafleur, aged 25, was killed in action on November 6th, 1917. He was killed by the explosion of an enemy shell. Private Lafleur was initially buried near Bellevue at 28.D.4.d.60.20. His remains were not recovered or identified after the war. Armand Lafleur has no known grave and is remembered on panel 18L of the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
Sources 4
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4th Canadian Infantry Battalion (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG9-III-D-3, Volume number: 4915, Microfilm reel number: T-10707, File number: 360). https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/ 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 453 - 19). https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/ Sources used |
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War Graves Registers: Circumstances of Death (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG 150, 1992-93/314; Volume Number: 150). https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/ Sources used |
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War Graves Registry: Commonwealth War Graves (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC): RG150, 1992-1993/314, Box 39-244; Box: 43). https://www.bac-lac.gc.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/1593663 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=d79056ca-558c-4b3b-84b3-3c922e7a0911 |
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The Canadian Virtual War Memorial https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/1593663 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/5982158 |