Shot at Dawn
Private Joseph Lalancette 672604 enlistment 10 June 1916 in Québec, Quebec with the 167th Battalion, CEF. He stood 5′ 7″ tall, 137 pounds.
Son of Henri Lalancette “Henry Lancette” (deceased in 1902) and Sarah Palmby (deceased in 1900), of Woodstock, Ontario, and Chicoutimi, Québec. Joseph Lalancette born 1 September 1895 in London, Ontario. He named his sister Marie-Jeanne Robitaille of St Sauveur, Quebec as his next of kin. She married François Jean in 1908 and became a resident of St-Henri-de-Taillon, Lac St-Jean. Marie-Jeanne died in 1918.
167th Battalion
Organized in December 1915 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Onesime Readman. Mobilized at Quebec City and recruited in Quebec Province (Lévis, North Shore, Shawinigan Falls, La Tuque, Chicoutimi). Allowed to recruit Belgians anywhere in Canada (Private Henri Fontaine 672709 of Brussels enlisted 4 September 1916). Drafts to 22nd, 24th Battalions and to 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles. Left Halifax 27 November 1916 aboard METAGAMA. Arrived in England 6 December 1916. Converted into Quebec Recruiting Depot 14 December 1916.
Pte Lalancette transferred to the 189th Battalion in September 1916, at Valcartier, and immediately AWOL on 14 September 1916.
189th Battalion
Organized in January 1916 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Philippe Auguste Piuze. Mobilized at Fraserville. Recruited in eastern Quebec. Pte Lalancette and the 189th embarked from Halifax 27 September 1916 aboard SS LAPLAND.
The 189th disembarked in England on 6 October 1916 with a strength of 595 other ranks. Draft of 560, including Pte Joseph Lalancette transferred to 69th Battalion on 6 October 1916 at Dibgate. Joseph drafted by the 22nd Battalion shortly prior to proceeding overseas.
22nd Battalion
The 22nd Battalion (French Canadian) also known as Royal 22e Régiment, or more familiarly, The Van Doos (English translation of vingt-deux). Organized in October 1914 under the command of Colonel Frédéric-Mondelet Gaudet, CMG. Mobilized at St-Jean, Québec. Recruited throughout the province of Québec.
France
Forfeits two days pay for when on Active Service Absent from draft arriving 12:25 pm 21 November 1916 until 3 pm 22 November 1916. Private Joseph Lalancette arrived at an Entrenching Battalion on 1 December 1916.
Pte Lalancette sentenced to 14 Days FP No 1 for when on active service absent from trenches from 4 pm 23 December 1916 to 8 pm same date, causing another man to take his place. He forfeits 1 days pay.
Lieutenant-Colonel Philippe Auguste Piuze proceeded to France on instruction tour and attached to the 22nd Battalion from 24 December to 6 January 1917.
PUO
Pte Lalancette – PUO (trench fever), admitted to No. 5 CFA on 20 January 1917, transferred to No 6 CCS on 19 January 1917.
Private Joseph Lalancette returned to duty on 26 January 1917.
Vimy Ridge
As the 22nd Battalion prepared for the assault on Vimy Ridge, two individuals, whose record of conduct already tainted by several absences, left their posts and ran away: Joseph Lalancette and Gustave Comte 448160. Pte Lalancette sentenced to death (desertion) on 5 April 1917 prior to the attack on Vimy Ridge.
Private Eugene Perry
On 11 April 1917, Pte Eugene Perry shot at 5:30 am for desertion. Perry the first of five men in the 22nd Battalion executed at dawn during the Great War. Perry buried at Ecoivres Military Cemetery, Mont-St. Eloi.
Both Lalancette and Comte absent for more than a month before captured. Court-martialed for desertion in the face of the enemy, found guilty and sentenced to death. Shot together on 3 July 1917 and buried side by side in Aix-Noulette Communal Cemetery Extension.
The Cemetery Extension begun by French troops early in 1915, with two French plots next to the Communal Cemetery. Taken over by the 1st and 2nd Divisions in February, 1916, and used by fighting units and Field Ambulances until October, 1918.
Lens
At the time (3 July 1917), D Company in the trenches opposite Lens relieving the Sherwood Foresters. Casualties Captain Helmer Joseph Jolicoeur and Lt Donat Lecompte wounded, 3 other OR wounded.
Apology
“Those who go to war at the request of their nation do not know the fate that lies in store for them. This was a war of such overwhelming sound, fury and unrelenting horror that few combatants could remain unaffected. While we cannot relive those awful years of a nation at peril in total war, and although the culture of that time is subsequently too distant for us to comprehend fully, we can give these 23 soldiers a dignity that is their due, and provide closure to their families.”
The Honourable Ron J. Duhamel, Minister of Veterans Affairs 11 December 2001
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