Private Narcisse Lafrance

Son of Isidore Lafrance (deceased in 1914) and Philomène Guilbault, of Montréal (Ste-Cunégonde), Québec. He stated being born in 1895 and he enlisted 5 times before being sent overseas.

He first enlisted on October 29, 1914, in the 24th Battalion, serial number 927, of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, and stated that he was born on May 7, 1896, in Montreal, Quebec. On December 3, he was discharged for misconduct. On January 20, 1915, he enlisted a second time in the 5th Engineer Company of the Royal Canadian Engineers, service number 189. He stated that he was born in 1894. On March 29, 1915, he was again discharged for misconduct. For the third time, on April 6, 1915, in Montreal, he enlisted in the 22nd Battalion, service number 61089. On May 15 of that year, he was declared a deserter and struck from the rolls. On May 14, 1915, for the fourth time, he enlisted in the 41st Battalion, service number 417161. He stated that he was born in 1894. Absent without leave since the 15th, he was declared a deserter on August 20 and struck from the rolls.

For the fifth time, he enlisted in Montreal on November 24, 1916, in the 150th Battalion, service number 2002058. He stated that he was born in Ogdensburg, New York, in 1895. Due to his poor discipline, he was transferred to the 178th Battalion on February 15, 1917. On March 3, he embarked for Great Britain, landing in England on the 15th. Upon his arrival, he was assigned to the 10th Reserve Battalion and, on April 4 of the same year, to the 150th Battalion. From February 1 to April 22, 1918, he was imprisoned for burglary. His sentence was commuted, and he was released on April 6. On April 7, he was transferred to the 22nd Battalion and crossed over to France on the 8th. Seriously wounded by a gunshot to the abdomen on August 27, 1918, during the fighting at the Battle of Chérisy, he was transported to the 42nd Casualty Clearing Station, where he died that same day.