Private Marcel Lamarche

Baptized Joseph Charles Marcel Lamarche. Son of Joseph Lamarche and Philomène Boucher, of Québec, Québec. Husband of Georgette Fournier, of Québec. Father of Micheline Lamarche.

Enlisted with the Voltigeurs de Québec at Camp Valcartier, located north of Québec City, Québec, he reported that he had been serving with that unit—NPAM—under service number 482 since August 26, 1939. On November 8, he was assigned to the 57th Medium Battery of the Royal Canadian Artillery (RCA) and became an artilleryman. On June 9, 1940, he was assigned to the 2nd Medium Regiment of the RCA. On August 19, he was transferred to the Régiment de la Chaudière as a private. On March 1, 1941, he was court-martialed for desertion—a charge reduced to absence without leave—and sentenced to 42 days’ confinement. On July 20, he embarked for Great Britain and arrived in Gourock, Scotland, on the 28th. On December 1, 1942, he came under the authority of the Canadian Infantry Brigade headquarters until June 20, 1943, when he was placed under the command of the 1st Canadian Brigade Reinforcement Depot. On June 29, he embarked with Force M bound for the Mediterranean. On July 11, he landed at Pachino, Sicily, as part of Operation Husky. On July 24, he was transferred to the 4th Battalion of the Royal 22nd Regiment. On September 3, he set foot on the Italian mainland at Reggio di Calabria. On November 27, 1943, at Rocca Cinquemiglia, in the municipality of Castel di Sangro, on the slopes of Mount Calvario, his section came under enemy fire. Lamarche was mortally wounded while attempting to cross the railroad tracks when Private Fernand Foy, serial number D-11578, stepped on a mine.