Lieutenant Grégoire Laviolette

Baptized Joseph Grégoire André Laviolette. Son of Édouard Laviolette and Bibiane Bastien. Husband of Fernande Germaine Desrochers, of Montreal, Quebec. Brother of aviator Lucien Laviolette, of the Royal Canadian Air Force. He survived the war.

Under the National Resources Mobilization Act of 1940, he enlisted in the Régiment de Maisonneuve (NPAM) with service number D-506203. On July 13, 1942, he transferred to the regular forces with service number D-136300. Promoted to lieutenant on January 15, 1943, he sailed for Great Britain on July 20 and arrived on the 28th. On November 7, he was assigned to the 1st Battalion of the Royal Highlanders (Black Watch) of Canada, and on January 10, 1944, to the Régiment de Maisonneuve. As part of Force M, he sailed for the Mediterranean on the 26th and set foot on the Italian mainland on April 9. On May 29, 1944, he was transferred to the 4th Battalion of the Royal 22e Régiment. He took part in the capture of San Fortunato. He was wounded in action by shrapnel in his left leg on September 18 during the fighting at San Fortunato. On the night of October 18–19, 1944, his regiment relieved the Royal Canadian Regiment on the outskirts of Cesena. Along with Company A, he was tasked with leading a column on the right flank toward the Savio River. The objective was achieved, but he was killed during the engagement, along with two other officers and several men.