Private Armand Berthiaume

Killed in Action in WW1

Date of Death:

Service Biography

Private Armand Berthiaume, was born in Hemmingford in 1895 the son of Mrs. Alvina (formerly Berthiaume) Robert. He enlisted in the CEF in Winnipeg in September, 1915, possibly while doing seasonal harvest work in western Canada. He was in France in early June 1916 and was killed in the early afternoon on September 26, 1916 while the 14th Battalion was attempting to capture the Kenora and Sudbury Trenches on the Somme. He was initially reported wounded and missing, and then several months later reported as Killed in Action. His body was not recovered and his name is listed on the Vimy Memorial with other Canadians who have no known grave. He was 21 years old.

General Information

Conflict:
WW1
Regimental No.:
441450
Cause of Death (in war):
Killed in Action
Branch:
Army
Regiment:
Canadian Infantry
Battalion:
14th Battalion
Company:
Date of Birth :
Place of Birth:
Hemmingford, Quebec
Date of Enlistment:
Age at Enlistment:
20 years 4 months
Date of Discharge:
Age at Discharge:
21 years 4 months
Date of Death:
Age at Death:
21 years 4 months
Country Born:
Canada
Trade or Calling:
Farmer
Next of Kin:
8693 Archdale Avenue, Detroit, Michigan
Address at Enlistment:
Religion:
Church of England
Place of Enlistment:
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Was a Prisoner of War:
No
Height:
5 ft 6.0 in / 168 cm
Weight:
127 lbs / 58 kg
Chest:
33.0 in / 84 cm
Expansion:
3.0 in / 8 cm
Marital Status:
Single
Prior Military Experience:
No
Saw Service in:
Europe
Place of Discharge:
Discharge Type:
Died in Service
Discharge Notes:
Battle Died/Wounded:
Kenora and Sudbury Trenchs, Somme Salient
Length of Service:
362 days in service
Buried at:
Vimy Memorial

Ranks

Conflict Rank Regiment Branch Unit Company Date From Date To
WW1 Private Canadian Infantry Army 14th Battalion
WW1 Private Canadian Infantry Army 53rd Battalion

Notes

Private Armand Berthiaume, the son of Mrs. Alvina Robert (formerly Berthiaume), of 8693 Archdale Avenue, Detroit, Michigan, formerly of Hemmingford, Quebec.enlisted in the CEF in September 1915, probably while doing seaonal harvest work in western Canada. He likely went to England for advanced training in late 1915 and was likely in France/Belgium in early 1916. He was killed in the early afternoon on 26 September, 1916 while the 14th Battalion was attempting to capture the Kenora and Sudbury Trenchs on the Somme Salient. The attack had all the markings of a disaster: it occurred just after noon on on a clear day, with good visibility, the Germans were warned of the attack by machine gun fire that started just before the attack, there was no successful followthrough with attacks on eother side, so both flanks were exposed, and the rolling barrage of mortar fire that was supposed to proceed the troops was slower than the actual advance. The result was that most officers and troops were killed by friendly fire, as they advanced into the barrage of morter fire that was supposed to protect them. 396 Canadians from the 14th Battalion were killed or wounded in this attack. Many of those killed by mortar fire were never identified. Their names are inscribed on the Vimy Memorial outside of Arras. Private Berthiaume was one of those never identified, whose remains still lie in unmarked graves in Flanders.

Additional Service Notes

Embarked Halifax 29 March 1916 Arrived in England 9 april 1916
Joined 14th Battalion in France 9 June 1919
Reported wounded and missing on 26 September 1916, officially reported KIA 2 April 1917