Military service
Burial/memorial information
Baptzed Joseph Alfred Fortunat Francoeur. Son of Napoléon Francoeur and Philomène Beaupré of Ormstown, Châteauguay, Québec,
Enlisted in the Royal 22nd Regiment, he sailed for Great Britain on December 9, 1939, and landed in Greenock, Scotland, on the 18th. Often ill and undisciplined, he returned to sea on June 15, 1943, to take part in the Allied invasion of Sicily, Operation Husky, with Force M. He landed at Pacchino on July 10 with the second wave of the assault. Once again ill and hospitalized, he was discharged by doctors on December 13, 1944. He was wounded by shrapnel on the left side of his head on January 4, 1945, during fighting near the Gothic Line in the Rimini sector. He died of his wounds on January 7, 1945, at the 66th British General Hospital. He was temporarily buried on the 8th in the British Empire Cemetery in Miramare di Romagna (now Miramare di Rimini) in grave D.1. Before January 21, 1945, his body was exhumed and reburied in the Cresta di Coriano Cemetery in Rimini.
Digital gallery of Private Fortunat Francoeur
Digital gallery of
Private Fortunat Francoeur
Digital gallery of
Private Fortunat Francoeur
Digital gallery of
Private Fortunat Francoeur
Digital gallery of
Private Fortunat Francoeur
Digital gallery of
Private Fortunat Francoeur
Digital gallery of
Private Fortunat Francoeur
Digital gallery of
Private Fortunat Francoeur
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In the Books of Remembrance
Commemorated on:
Page 515 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance.
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CORIANO RIDGE WAR CEMETERY Italy
CORIANO RIDGE WAR CEMETERY is 3.5 kilometres west of Riccione, a seaside resort on the Adriatic coast, and is reached by turning west off the main Rimini/Riccione road about 1 kilometre north-west of Riccione. In the town of Riccione is a sign leading to the Coriano Ridge War Cemetery. Carry on in the direction of Coriano until a 'T' junction is reached. Turn left and after a short distance the Cemetery will be found on the right-hand side.
The cemetery is permanently open and may be visited outside the working hours of the local gardening staff, but will be unmanned.
For more information, visit Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
The Poppy Design is a trademark of The Royal Canadian Legion (Dominion Command) and is used with permission. Click here to learn more about the poppy.
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