Military service
Burial/memorial information
The above date and place of birth are as reported at enrolment and a corresponding birth record could not be found. The Ontario birth register, however, indicates that it is plausible that his given name at birth was 'Henry', like his father, and that he was born on September 11th 1892, in Woodstock, Ontario. His parents were married in London but lived in Woodstock. Orphaned at a very young age, it is understandable that he should have been mixed up in the family details.
Finally, in order to curb a recurring problem of illegal absences and desertions the authorities had decided to apply drastic measures and, despite several warnings, some did not take it seriously and defied the system anyway. As the 22nd prepared for the assault on Vimy Ridge, two individuals, whose record of conduct was already tainted by several absences, left their posts and ran away: Joseph Lalancette and Gustave Comte. Both were absent for more than a month before being captured and therefore had no intention of returning. Court-martialed for desertion in the face of the enemy, they were found guilty and sentenced to death. They were shot together on July 3rd 1917 and lie side by side in Aix-Noulette cemetery.
Digital gallery of Private Joseph Lalancette
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Statement by Hon. Ronald Duhamel
Statement by Hon. Ronald Duhamel (Minister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State (Western Economic Diversification) (Francophonie), Lib.) about the 23 soldiers of the Canadian Expeditionary Force who ¿were lawfully executed for military offences such as desertion and, in one case, cowardice¿ announcing that ¿the names of these 23 volunteers will be entered into The First World War Book of Remembrance along with those of their colleagues. Adding the names of these citizen soldiers to the pages of this sacred book, which lies in the Memorial Chamber not far from here, will be a fair and just testament to their service, their sacrifice and our gratitude forevermore.¿ Part 1 -
Statement by Hon. Ronald Duhamel
Statement by Hon. Ronald Duhamel (Minister of Veterans Affairs and Secretary of State (Western Economic Diversification) (Francophonie), Lib.) Part 2. Source: CANADA. House of Commons Debates. VOLUME 137 NUMBER 129 1st SESSION 37th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Tuesday, December 11, 2001 -
Statement by Mr. Roy Bailey
Statement by Mr. Roy Bailey (Souris-Moose Mountain, Canadian Alliance). Source: CANADA. House of Commons Debates. VOLUME 137 NUMBER 129 1st SESSION 37th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Tuesday, December 11, 2001 -
Statement by Mr. Louis Plamondon
Statement by Mr. Louis Plamondon (Bas-Richelieu-Nicolet-Bécancour, BQ) Source: CANADA. House of Commons Debates. VOLUME 137 NUMBER 129 1st SESSION 37th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Tuesday, December 11, 2001 -
Statement by Mr. Peter Stoffer
Statement by Mr. Peter Stoffer (Sackville-Musquodoboit Valley-Eastern Shore, NDP) Source: CANADA. House of Commons Debates. VOLUME 137 NUMBER 129 1st SESSION 37th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Tuesday, December 11, 2001 -
Statement by Mrs. Elsie Wayne
Statement by Mrs. Elsie Wayne (Saint John, PC/DR) Source: CANADA. House of Commons Debates. VOLUME 137 NUMBER 129 1st SESSION 37th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Tuesday, December 11, 2001 -
Attestation Papers
Source: Library and Archives Canada. -
Attestation Papers
Source: Library and Archives Canada. -
Memorial
Private Joseph LaLancette is also commemorated at the Shot at Dawn Memorial, located at the National Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire, UK - May 2019 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens -
Memorial
Private Joseph LaLancette is also commemorated at the Shot at Dawn Memorial, located at the National Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire, UK - May 2019 … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens -
Grave marker
24 April 2015, CEFRG (Canadian Expeditionary Force Research Group) -
Circumstances of death registers
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Grave marker
Digital gallery of
Private Joseph Lalancette
Digital gallery of
Private Joseph Lalancette
Digital gallery of
Private Joseph Lalancette
Digital gallery of
Private Joseph Lalancette
In the Books of Remembrance
Commemorated on:
Page 603 of the First World War Book of Remembrance.
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AIX-NOULETTE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION Pas de Calais, France
Aix-Noulette is a village in the Department of the Pas-de-Calais, about 13 kilometres south of Bethune on the main road to Arras. From Arras take the D937 towards Bethune. At Aix-Noulette, turn right at the church. The Communal Cemetery and Extension are a few hundred metres on the left side of the road to Bully-Grenay.
For more information, visit Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
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