Remembering World War I Yarmouth Connections

Rene Paul Gaudet

Rene Paul Gaudet 283566 Private 219th Battalion/ 85th Battalion February 17, 1896 Melbourne, Yarmouth Co., NS June 7, 1916 Aldershot Camp, NS 20 5 feet, 6½ inches Medium Black Brown 29th Battery, Canadian Field Artillery (Yarmouth, NS) Fisherman Single Roman Catholic Timothy Gaudet (Father) Melbourne, Yarmouth Co., NS March 30, 1919 (Halifax on demobilization) June 7, 1972 Our Lady of Lourdes Cemetery (Melbourne, Yarmouth Co., NS) One of sixteen children, Rene Paul Gaudet was the son of Timothy Olivier Gaudet (1856–1923) and Maria Vénérante (Comeau) Gaudet (1862 - 1903). Brothers Timothy Gaudet and Edward Joseph Gaudet (Gaudette) also served in World War I. Rene enlisted at Camp Aldershot on June 7, 1916 with the 219 Overseas Highland Battalion and was assigned to “C” Company. He trained from May 31, 1916 until October, 1916 with the Halifax Detachment of the Battalion. He went overseas on the SS Olympic embarking Halifax on October 10, 1916 and disembarking at Liverpool, England on October 18, 1916. At Bramshott Camp, Hampshire, England, Private Gaudet was taken on strength with the 17th Canadian Reserve Battalion on January 23, 1917. From Bramshott Camp, he proceeded overseas to France for service with the 85th Battalion on June 25, 1917, landing in France on June 27, 1917. Once in France, he left for the 85th in the field on July 14, 1917 and arrived at the front on July 17, 1917. On April 9, 1918 he was assigned as Batman to Lieutenant Archibald and attended the training course with the First Army School of Instruction between April 9, 1918 and April 15, 1918. [A batman is a soldier or assigned to a commissioned officer as a personal servant]. He returned to the Battalion in the field on completion of the course. Granted a ten day leave to Paris on July 8, 1918, he returned to the 85th Battalion in the field on July 21, 1918. On August 21, 1918 Private Gaudet was assigned as Batman to Lieutenant Archibald and atteneded the Canadian Corps School returning to the field on September 8, 1918. The battle towards Cambrai dealt a mortal blow to a weakened, but resistant, enemy in the course of the last 100 days of the Great War. The operation began on September 27, 1918, with a hair-raising rush across a dangerously narrow canal passage. It continued with harrowing counter attacks coming from enemy troops concealed in woods, firing from bridgeheads, and lurking around the corners of myriad small village roads. During the advance on September 27, 1918 Private Gaudet was wounded. He receiving a bullet wound to the head and was admitted to No 18 General Hospital at Camiers, France. On October 16, 1918, transferred to England, he was admitted to the Military Hospital at Eastbourne. On December 10, 1918 with the head wound healing, he was transferred to the Military Convalescence Hospital at Epsom. Discharged on Janaury 6, 1919 he returned to the Nova Scotia Regimental Depot at Bramshott Camp. In February 12 he was assigned to the 17th Reserve Battalion and on February 22, to Kimmel Park at Ripon in preparation for his return to Canada. Private Gaudet returned to Canada on the HMT Royal George, embarking Liverpool on March 13, 1919 and disembarking Halifax on March 25, 1919.

Name: Service No: Rank: Battalion: Date of Birth: Place of Birth: Date of Enlistment: Place of Enlistment: Address at Enlistment: Age at Enlistment: Height: Complexion: Hair: Eyes: Previous Military: Trade: Martial Status: Religion: Next of Kin: Date of Discharge: Date of Death: Cemetery:

Library and Archives Canada findagrave.com (Timothy Olivier Gaudet) findagrave.com (Maria Vénérante (Comeau) Gaudet (Godett) findagrave.com (Rene Paul Gaudet) Cambrai September 7, 1918 Photos: Lucie Leblanc (granddaughter)

HMT Royal George

Rene Paul Gaudet (center back)

Rene Paul Gaudet (standing right back)