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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Francis Sam Brassard

In memory of:

Private Francis Sam Brassard

November 6, 1917

Military Service


Service Number:

472336

Force:

Army

Unit:

Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment)

Division:

15th Bn.

Additional Information


Commemorated on Page 206 of the First World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information


Cemetery:
Grave Reference:

Panel 18 - 24 - 26 - 30

Location:


The Menin Gate Memorial is situated at the eastern side of the town of Ypres (now Ieper) in the Province of West Flanders, on the road to Menin and Courtrai. It bears the names of 55,000 men who were lost without trace during the defence of the Ypres Salient in the First World War. Designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield and erected by the Imperial (now Commonwealth) War Graves Commission, it consists of a Hall of Memory", 36.6 metres long by 20.1 metres wide. In the centre are broad staircases leading to the ramparts which overlook the moat, and to pillared loggias which run the whole length of the structure. On the inner walls of the Hall, on the side of the staircases and on the walls of the loggias, panels of Portland stone bear the names of the dead, inscribed by regiment and corps. Carved in stone above the central arch are the words:


TO THE ARMIES OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE WHO STOOD HERE FROM 1914 TO 1918 AND TO THOSE OF THEIR DEAD WHO HAVE NO KNOWN GRAVE.

Over the two staircases leading from the main Hall is the inscription:

HERE ARE RECORDED NAMES OF OFFICERS AND MEN WHO FELL IN YPRES SALIENT BUT TO WHOM THE FORTUNE OF WAR DENIED THE KNOWN AND HONOURED BURIAL GIVEN TO THEIR COMRADES IN DEATH.

The dead are remembered to this day in a simple ceremony that takes place every evening at 8:00 p.m. All traffic through the gateway in either direction is halted, and two buglers (on special occasions four) move to the centre of the Hall and sound the Last Post. Two silver trumpets for use in the ceremony are a gift to the Ypres Last Post Committee by an officer of the Royal Canadian Artillery, who served with the 10th Battery, of St. Catharines, Ontario, in Ypres in April 1915."

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

Send us your images

  • Circumstances of Death Registers, First World War– Source: Library and Archives Canada.  CIRCUMSTANCES OF DEATH REGISTERS FIRST WORLD WAR Surnames: Brabant to Britton. Mircoform Sequence 13; Volume Number 131829_B016722; Reference RG150, 1992-93/314, 157 Page 307 of 906
  • Memorial– Inscription on the Menin Gate … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens
  • Menin Gate– Menin Gate panel where Private Francis Brassard is commemorated.  Photo by BGen Young (ret) and submitted by Capt (ret) V Goldman of the 15th Bn Memorial Project.  DILEAS GU BRATH
  • Cap Badge– Cap Badge 15th Bn(48th Highlanders of Canada). Submitted by Capt (ret'd) V. Goldman 15th Bn Memorial Project.  DILEAS GU BRATH
  • Shoulder Patch– Shoulder Patch 15th Bn(48th Highlanders of Canada). Submitted by Capt (ret'd) V. Goldman 15th Bn Memorial Project.  DILEAS GU BRATH
  • Cap Badge 17th Bn– Cap Badge 17th Bn. Pte Brassard enlisted with this unit then had a transfer to the 15th Bn(48th Highlanders of Canada)as a reinforcement. Submitted by Capt (ret'd) V. Goldman 15th Bn Memorial Project.  DILEAS GU BRATH
  • Record of Service– Record of Service Card (front side). Courtesy 48th Highlanders of Canada Regimental Museum.  Submitted by 15th Bn Memorial Project Team.  DILEAS GU BRATH
  • Record of Service– Record of Service Card (reverse side). Courtesy 48th Highlanders of Canada Regimental Museum.  Submitted by 15th Bn Memorial Project Team.  DILEAS GU BRATH
  • Cap Badge 96th Bn– Cap Badge 96th Bn (Canadian Highlanders - Saskatoon). Private Brassard originally enlisted in the 96th Bn but was sent to the 15th Bn as a reinforcement.  Submitted by Capt (ret'd) Victor Goldman, 15th Bn Memorial Project Team.  DILEAS GU BRATH

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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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