Military service
Burial/memorial information
Baptized Joseph Sévère André Gosselin. Son of Sévère Gosselin and Corine Grave of Carleton County, Ontariol. Husband of Cécile de Haître, from Cumberland, Russell, Ontario. Father of André.
He first enlisted on September 8, 1939, in Ottawa, Ontario, with the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa Machine Gun – NPAM – service number C-20705. He was discharged on February 13, 1940. On August 2, he enlisted a second time in Hull, Quebec, with the Hull Regiment, service number C-421223. While still serving with this unit, he enlisted a third time on February 20, 1941, at the 3rd Military District Depot A in Ottawa, service number G-70569. He was discharged from the army on the 21st to join the 4th Princess Louise Dragoon Guards Reconnaissance Battalion with the same service number. On June 20, 1941, he tried his luck with the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR), registration number V-6929. On November 4, he was dismissed because of his previous commitment. His file does not indicate when he left for Great Britain or when he was transferred to the Royal 22nd Regiment with service number C-20705. He embarked with this unit on June 15, 1943, to take part in the Allied landing in Sicily on July 10, Operation Husky. He landed on Pachino beach with the second wave. He was killed in action by a bullet near his heart during a German ambush on the Monte delle Forme plateau. He was buried the same day.
Digital gallery of Private Sévère André Gosselin
Digital gallery of
Private Sévère André Gosselin
(courtesy of his relatives)
Digital gallery of
Private Sévère André Gosselin
Remembered on the pages of the Ottawa Journal. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Private Sévère André Gosselin
Remembered on the pages of the Ottawa Journal. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Private Sévère André Gosselin
From the Toronto Star August 1943. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Private Sévère André Gosselin
Agira Canadian War Cemetery - 2013
Photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
Digital gallery of
Private Sévère André Gosselin
Agira Canadian War Cemetery - 2013
Photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
Digital gallery of
Private Sévère André Gosselin
Cross of Sacrifice - Agira Canadian War Cemetery - 2013 Photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
Digital gallery of
Private Sévère André Gosselin
Agira Canadian War Cemetery - 2013
Photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
Digital gallery of
Private Sévère André Gosselin
Digital gallery of
Private Sévère André Gosselin
Digital gallery of
Private Sévère André Gosselin
Digital gallery of
Private Sévère André Gosselin
Digital gallery of
Private Sévère André Gosselin
Grave marker from Severe Gosselin's grave at Agira Canadian War Cemetery.
Image gallery
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(courtesy of his relatives)
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Remembered on the pages of the Ottawa Journal. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
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Remembered on the pages of the Ottawa Journal. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
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From the Toronto Star August 1943. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
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Agira Canadian War Cemetery - 2013 Photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
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Agira Canadian War Cemetery - 2013 Photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
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Cross of Sacrifice - Agira Canadian War Cemetery - 2013 Photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
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Agira Canadian War Cemetery - 2013 Photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
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Grave marker from Severe Gosselin's grave at Agira Canadian War Cemetery.
In the Books of Remembrance
Commemorated on:
Page 164 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance.
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AGIRA CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY Italy
Agira Canadian War Cemetery lies in the Commune of Agira, Province of Enna, in the centre of Sicily. From the autostrada A19, Catania-Palermo, take the exit to Catenanuova. Follow signposts to Regalbuto, then pass Regalbuto, going in the direction of Agira. The Cemetery is then signposted about 12 kilometres from Regalbuto.
On 10 July 1943, following the successful conclusion of the north African campaign in mid May, a combined allied force of 160,000 Commonwealth and American troops invaded Sicily as a prelude to the assault on mainland Italy. The Italians, who would shortly make peace with the Allies and re-enter the war on their side, offered little determined resistance but German opposition was vigorous and stubborn. The campaign in Sicily came to an end on 17 August when the two allied forces came together at Messina, but failed to cut off the retreating Axis lines. Agira was taken by the 1st Canadian Division of 28 July and the site for the war cemetery was chosen in September for the burial of all Canadians who had been killed in the Sicily campaign. Agira Canadian War Cemetery contains 491 Commonwealth burials of the Second World War.
For more information, visit Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
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