Private Robert Vadeboncoeur

Private Robert Vadeboncoeur served during WW1 in the 14th battalion Royal Montreal Regiment Canadian Expeditionary Forces. He was entitled to the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. His enlistement number was 3162802

Although the 22nd battalion is known as the famous Vandoos, the French-Canadian unit, the 14^th was actually the first unit to employ French-Canadian as a group. The 14th battalion was the only bilingual unit of the Canadian Expeditionary Forces during WW1. “G” and “H” company were French-Canadian and it’s probably in one of those two companies in which Private Vadeboncoeur served in.

Born on March 18th, 1895 in La Baie, Yamaska County, Quebec

Religion : Roman Catholic       Status : Single        Height : 5′ 5″

Eyes : Blue   Hair : Pale     Weight :  142 lbs    Trade : Labourer

Name of his father : Omer Vadeboncoeur

Address : La Baie, Yamaska County, Quebec

Enlisted in Montreal on June 6th, 1918 in the 2nd Depot Battalion, 2nd Quebec Regiment. He was a conscript.

Sailed to England on June 26th on board HMS Oxfordshire. Arrived in England on July 15th.

Admitted at the 12th Canadian General Hospital for the flu from October 7th to the 22nd.

Transferred with the 14th battalion on November 7th. Sent to France on November 8th, just 3 days before the end of the war.

Admitted at the 1st Canadian Field Ambulance for contusion at the foot from December 13th to the 15th, 1918

Transferred in England on January 3rd 1919.

Embarked in Liverpool, England on the SS Belgic on February 23rd, 1919. Arrived in Halifax on March 2nd. He was on the same ship as Jack Wilson.

Demobilised in Montreal on March 25th.

In 1973 he was still alive, he made a request to Veterans affairs, probably to get have access to some medical services.

If you know more information on this gentleman, please leave me message so I can add it to his small biography.

Sergeant Arthur Cecil Vaughan

Sergeant Arthur Cecil Vaughan served in the Canadian Army Medical Corps during WW1 and the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps during WW2. He is entitled to the 1914-15 Star, the British War medal, Victory Medal, the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal (no clasp) and the War Medal 1939-1945.

Born on February 27th 1891 in Portsmouth, England

Religion : Church of England    Status : Single      Hair: Light Brown

Eyes : Brown               Weight : 111 lbs          Height : 5′ 3″

Name of his mother : E. M. Hill Address : Great Yarmouth, England

March 31st 1901 United Kingdom census

He was living with his parent on Cornery Lane in Enderby, Leicester, England

FIRST WORLD WAR -

Enlisted on March 6th, 1915 in Montreal, with the 3rd Canadian General Hospital – Canadian Army Medical Corps.  His enlistment number is 467

May 6th : Unit paraded outside the barrack and embarked on SS Metagama. They anchored in front of Quebec city that night

May 15th : Ship docked at Devonport and they reached Moore’s Barracks the next day

June 14th : Unit started loaded the train and they arrived in Southampton the next day. They embarked on the ship Huanchoco and arrived in Boulogne, France on June 18th

June 18th : Unit arrived in Dannes-Camiers

August 7th : Hospital became operational and they received their first patient at 6:00 p.m.

November 15th : Proceeded on leave. Returned on November 28th

January 11th, 1916 : The hospital moved to Jesuit’s college in Boulogne, France

May 30th : Appointed lance/corporal

October 31st : Reverted to the rank of private when on active service neglect of duty

March 3rd, 1917 : Granted Good conduct badge

November 11th : Transferred to the Canadian Army Dental Corps

January 1st, 1918 : Promoted sergeant

May 5th, 1919 : Proceeded to England. The 3 C.G.H. left France on May 23rd

June 25th : Unit embarked on SS Caronia in Liverpool. Arriving in Halifax on July 2nd, entrained and reached Montreal on July 4th

August 19th : Demobilized in Montreal, Quebec

Pictures of Serjeant Arthur Cecil Vaughan WW1

1920 : Married Annie May Michael in Montreal

Serjeant Arthur Cecil Vaughan wedding paper

SECOND WORLD WAR

February 5th, 1940 : Enlisted in the 4th Coy Canadian Dental Corps (probably in Montreal) – Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps. His enlistment number was D 105060

February 12th : Promoted acting corporal

February 19th : Promoted sergeant

June 16th : Taken on strength with the 14th General Hospital in Montreal

May 7th, 1941 : Transfer to CDC Sun Life building, Montreal, Quebec

September 6th : Awarded the ribbon for the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal

June 26th, 1945 : Discharged

Picture of a WW2 Canadian Army Dental Corps Armband

From 1946 until 1951 he is listed in Lovell’s Montreal directory as a dental technician living at 2273 Souvenir avenue

March 20th, 1957 : He requested a certificate of service and he was living at 25 Castor street, Ottawa, Ontario

If you know more information on this gentleman, please leave me message so I can add it to his small biography

Nursing Sister Beatrice Vidal

She served in the Canadian Army Medical Corps during WW1.

Born in Quebec, Quebec on August 6^th, 1874

Height : 5′ 1″             Weight : 110 lbs.       Religion : Roman Catholic

eyes : blue                  hair : fair

Married to Brig. General B. H. Vidal, Inspector General Canadian Forces

To be home Sister on February 9^th, 1916

Enlisted on April 16^th, 1916 in Taplow, England

Son : Maurice Vidal lieut. Canadian Army Service Corps

Daughter : Madame J. A. LeRoyer, 78 Malborough, Ottawa, Ontario

marital status : widow

Proceeded to France on March 3^rd, 1917

Posted with the 6^th Canadian General Hospital on March 6^th.

Admitted at the 2 Canadian Stationary Hospital (neurasthenia) in Abbeville on May 9^th

Transferred to the 14 General Hospital on May 10^th.

Returned to England May 18^th

Admitted at the Q.A.I.M.N.S. Hospital (debility) 71 Vincent Square on May 19^th. Discharged from hospital on May 26^th.

Her son Maurice Henry Vidal was killed on July 29^th

Sailed from England on HMTS Justicia on September 13^th. Disembarked on September 25^th.

Discharged on January 31^st, 1918 (Medically unfit). Her medical report from that period reveal that she was underweight and was not able to get back to her normal weight.

Died on September 15^th, 1923

Medals (British War Medal and Victory Medal), Memorial Plaque and Scroll were sent to her daughter. No one entitled to the Memorial Cross

This is possibly the only situation where mother and son were both WW1 casualties for all Commenwealth Forces

Memorial Plaque to Beatrice H Vidal

Memorial Plaque to Maurice Vidal