Name: Robert Francis Boudreau Rank: Private Regiment/Service: Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, R.C.I.C. Service No: F/8829 Date of Birth: February 27, 1923 Place of Birth: Yarmouth, NS Date of Enlistment: February 18, 1943 Place of Enlistment: Halifax, NS Age at Enlistment: 19 Height: 5 feet, 2 inches Complexion: Medium Eyes: Brown Hair: Dark Brown Trade: Truck Driver Marital Status: Single Religion: Roman Catholic Next of Kin: Elizabeth Boudreau (Stepmother) Wedgeport, NS Date of Death: August 12, 1944 Age at Death: 20 Cemetery: Beny-Sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, Reviers (Calvados, France) Grave Reference: IV. F. 14. The 16th name on the WWII list of the Yarmouth War Memorial Listed on the War Monument at Saint Michel Parish Church, Wedgeport, NS Commemorated on page 254 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on May 28 Robert was the stepson of Elizabeth M. Boudreau, and Charles M. Boudreau, of Upper Wedgeport, Yarmouth Co., NS. Robert left school at age sixteen and was employed as a general helper by Charles Boudreau in his boat building business in Upper Wedgeport for three years. In the ten months prior to his enlistment, he was employed as a truck driver with Thompson Construction Co. Yarmouth, NS. Attached to No 6 District Depot at Halifax, he completed training under the Militia, National Resources Mobilization Act of 1940 in Halifax, Debert, NS and Sussex, NB between February 18, 1943 and May 28, 1944 under the Service Number of F/602014 when he enlisted for Active Service. He was assigned a new Service Number, F/8829 at Sussex, NB with an enlistment/attestation date of May 28, 1944. He served in Canada between February 18,1943 and June 25, 1944. He arrived in the United Kingdom on July 3, 1944. and departed England for France on July 25 arriving in France on July 26,1944. While serving in France with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, Private Boudreau was severely wounded in action on August 12, 1944 died at 11:35 pm. The following day he was buried at St. Germains La Blanche Herbe and reburied in the Beny-Sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery after the end of the war.

Robert Francis Boudreau

Photo: Wartime Heritage - July 2009

Robert Francis Boudreau Honoured by Road Name WEDGEPORT: Argyle Municipal Council accepted a petition to change the Chemin Dirt Road to Chemin Robert Boudreau Crescent to honour Robert Francis Boudreau who lived on the road. The resolution to accept the petition was at the monthly council meeting on September 8, 2015. Robert Francis Boudreau was killed in action in Normandy, France on August 12, 1944 during the allied invasion and the liberation of France and Europe. He was 21 years old although a military record states he was 20 years old. He was born on February 27, 1923 and was the adopted son of Élizabeth and Charles Boudreau a Wedgeport boat builder. He was an army private in the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry. He is buried in the Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery in Reviers, Calvados, France not far from Juneau Beach where the Canadian Forces landed. 31 other soldiers of the same regiment died on the same day as Robert.

In July 2009, three members of the Wartime Heritage Association visited the grave of Robert Boudreau at the Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery and placed a Canadian flag at the grave marker.