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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Robert Michel Joseph Girouard

In memory of:

Chief Warrant Officer Robert Michel Joseph Girouard

November 27, 2006
Kandahar City, Afghanistan

Military Service


Age:

46

Force:

Army

Unit:

The Royal Canadian Regiment

Division:

1st Battalion

Citation(s):

Meritorious Service Cross (Posthumous), Canadian Forces Decoration, Sacrifice Medal (Posthumous)

Additional Information


Born:

November 25, 1960

Son of Mabel Girouard (2010 National Memorial (Silver) Cross Mother).

Chief Warrant Officer Robert Michel Girouard was killed by a suicide car bomber while on duty near Kandahar, Afghanistan, on November 27, 2006. He was serving as the regimental sergeant major for the 1st Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group that was serving there at the time. He was 46 years old and a 29-year veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces. He was awarded the Meritorious Service Cross posthumously.

He left behind his wife of 26 years, Jacqueline, and three children, Robert Jr., Jocelyne and Michael. He was originally from Bathurst, New Brunswick.

Commemorated on Page 222 of the In the Service of Canada (1947 - 2014) Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information


Cemetery:

OTTAWA (BEECHWOOD) CEMETERY
Ontario, Canada

Grave Reference:

N/A

Location:

OTTAWA (BEECHWOOD) CEMETERY contains 98 Commonwealth burials of the First World War and 113 from the Second World War. Many of the graves are in the two veterans plots, where there is also a Cross of Sacrifice dedicated to all service casualties buried in the cemetery. The OTTAWA CREMATION MEMORIAL is in a shelter adjoining the newer of the veterans plots in the cemetery and commemorates 26 Second World War servicemen whose remains were cremated elsewhere in Canada and the U.S.A.

Digital Collection

Send us your images

  • Plaque– This was the laser engraved granite plaque that we designed to mark the unfortunate passing of CWO Girouard.  

It was originally displayed at the Kandahar Cenotaph from the date of his passing - and was repatriated to Canada in 2014.  

Today, it can be seen at the Afghanistan War Memorial located at National Defence Headquarters in Kanata, On.  

Rod McLeod, Designer
  • Cenotaph– Robert Girouard's name is engraved on the Bouctouche Cenotaph in Bouctouche NB, Canada. (Photo credit: Captain (Ret'd) E.L.L. Gaudet, CD)
  • Newspaper clipping– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of Robert Michel Joseph Girouard– Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Grave marker– Tomb stone at the Beechwood cemetery in Ottawa
  • Photo of Robert Girouard– Chief Warrant Officer Robert Girouard, Regimental Sergeant Major of 1st Battalion Royal Canadian Regiment (1 RCR) Battle Group, based out of Petawawa, Ontario, was killed on 27 November 2006, when a suicide bomber drove an explosive laden vehicle into a Canadian Convoy. The resulting explosion killed Chief Warrant Officer Robert Girouard and Corporal Albert Storm of 1 RCR. At the time of the incident the convoy was travelling along Hwy 4, toward Kandahar city on its way to Panjwayi.  Photo: Canadian Forces Image Gallery
  • Medal– On April 20, 2012 the auditorium at the Non-Commissioned Members Professional Development Centre (NCMPDC) on the grounds of the Royal Military College Saint Jean in Saint-Jean, Quebec was named after Chief Warrant Officer Robert Girouard. He was was the first Regimental Sergeant Major in the battalion's 123-year history to be killed by enemy action; He was previously stationed in Germany, Kosovo, Bosnia and Afghanistan.

Learn more about the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

To learn more please visit our help page. If you have questions or comments regarding the information contained in this registry, email or call us. For inquiries regarding the names and information found in the RCMP Honour Roll, please email the RCMP.

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