They made the Ultimate Sacrifice
GAUTHIER, Joseph Andrew Richard Robert, AB, V43226, RCNVR, killed - 14 Feb 1945, 29TH MTB FLOTILLA - Son of Henri and Margaret Gauthier, of Winnipeg, MB.
Born in Winnipeg on 01 Aug 1924 to Henri and Margaret Gauthier. A former Free Press newspaper carrier, he attended Sacred Heart School and St. Paul's College High School. Prior to enlistment, he was employed by Kummen-Shipman Electric Company. He joined the RCNVR on 01 Aug 1942 and then volunteered for Combined Operations in Oct 1943. AB Gauthier was killed in an accidental explosion on a MTB at Ostend, Belgium in which his vessel, MTB 459 was destroyed by the ensuing fire on 14 Feb 1945. His body was recovered and he is buried at the Adegem Canadian War Cemetery, Belgium.
Ships served in: HMCS CHIPPAWA - Enlisted 22 Jul 1943. Commenced Active Service 31 Jan 1943 RCN COLLEGE - Served at the RCN COLLEGE 05 Aug 1943 - 08 Nov 1943 as an OS, RCNVR HMCS GIVENCHY - Served in GIVENCHY 10 Nov 1943 - 26 Nov 1943 as on OS, RCNVR HMCS GIVENCHY III - Served in GIVENCHY III 27 Nov 1943 - 03 Apr 1944 as an OS and A/AB, RCNVR. Rated A/AB 31 Jan 1944 29TH MTB FLOTILLA - Drafted to the 29th MTB Flotilla 07 Aug 1944 as an A/AB, RCNVR MTB-459 - date drafted to MTB-459 unknown
(JG01-JG02) Certificate of Service - pages 1 and 2 (JG03) Report of Death (JG04) Headstone for AB Gauthier in the Adegem Canadian War Cemetery, Belgium
Press release on the destruction of 5 MTBs of the 29th MTB Flotilla and Casualty List
Second World War Casualty Index
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