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In memory of:

Corporal Joseph Kaeble

Photo of Joseph Kaeble

Citation(s);

Military Medal (MM)
Victoria Cross (VC) United Kingdom
British War Medal
Victory Medal (Inter-Allied War Medal)

Military service

Service number: 889958
Age: 26
Rank: Corporal
Force: Army
Unit/Regiment: Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regiment)
Division: 22nd Bn.
Birth: May 5, 1892 St-Moïse, Matapédia, Québec
Enlistment: March 20, 1916 Sayabec, Matapédia, Québec
Death: June 9, 1918 Arras, Pas-de-Calais, France

Burial/memorial information

WANQUETIN COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
Grave reference: II. A. 8.
Additional information

Baptized Joseph-Thomas Kaeble. Son of Joseph Kaeble (deceased in 1900) and Marie Ducas, of St-Moïse. His mother remarried in St-Moïse in 1904, but the union failed and soon after, she decided to move to Sayabec with her four children.

He was family support and worked as a driver-mechanic with a forestry company before enlisting with the 189th Bataillon, in March 1916. He arrived in England in October 1916, and his unit was absorbed by the 69th Battalion. He was transferred in France and taken on strength by the 22e Battalion in November 1916. He was sent to the front lines on March 3, 1917, one month before the attack at Vimy Ridge. Aside from a six-week stay at the hospital to heal a shoulder wound, he served with the 22e Battalion.

Enlisted in the 189th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, he sailed for Great Britain on September 23, 1916, and landed in Liverpool, England, on October 6. Upon his arrival, he was assigned to the 69th Reserve Battalion. On November 12, he was transferred to the 22nd Battalion, and on the 13th, he departed from Folkestone for France, where he landed that same day in Boulogne, Pas-de-Calais. From December 6, 1916, to March 3, 1917, he was seconded to the 2nd Canadian Entrenchment Battalion. Upon returning to the 22nd Battalion, he immediately went to the front lines. On April 29, 1917, he was wounded by a bullet in the right shoulder during combat. He returned to his unit on June 12. On June 8, 1918, he valiantly repelled a fierce German attack directed at his trench at Neuville-Vitasse, Pas-de-Calais. Despite his injuries, he continued fighting until the 9th. He died that same day at the 1st London Field Ambulance in Arras, Pas-de-Calais. His courage during this battle earned him the Victoria Cross on September 16, 1918, and the Military Medal on October 7, 1918.  

A Canadian Coast Guard patrol vessel, « CCGS Caporal Kaeble V.C. », was named to honour him and entered service in 2013. This vessel is part of a group of 9 Hero-class patrol vessels.

Additional citations

The following extract is recorded in the London Gazette Supplement No. 30903, dated September 16, 1918:

“For most conspicuous bravery and extraordinary devotion to duty when in charge of a Lewis gun section in the front line trenches, on which a strong enemy raid was attempted.

During an intense bombardment Cpl. Kaeble remained at the parapet with his Lewis gun shouldered ready for action, the field of fire being very short. As soon as the barrage lifted from the front line, about fifty of the enemy advanced towards his post. By this time the whole of his section except one had become casualties. Cpl. Kaeble jumped over the parapet, and holding his Lewis gun at the hip, emptied one magazine after another into the advancing enemy, and, although wounded several times by fragments of shells and bombs, he continued to fire, and entirely blocked the enemy by his determined stand. Finally, firing all the time, he fell backwards into the trench, mortally wounded. While lying on his back in the trench he fired his last cartridges over the parapet at the retreating Germans, and before losing consciousness shouted to the wounded about him: ‘Keep it up boys; do not let them get through! We must stop them!” The complete repulse of the enemy attack at this point was due to the remarkable personal bravery and self-sacrifice of this gallant non-commissioned officer, who died of his wounds shortly afterwards.”

Related media

First World War (1914 – 1918)

In the Books of Remembrance

Commemorated on:

Page 439 of the First World War Book of Remembrance.
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WANQUETIN COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION Pas de Calais, France

Wanquetin is a village approximately 12 kilometres west of Arras and approximately 6 kilometres north of Beaumetz. WANQUETIN COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION lies to the north-east of the village on the road to Warlus (D.59).

For more information, visit Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

 

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