Loyola College - Review Yearbook (Montreal, Quebec Canada)

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28 LOYOLA COLLEGE REVIEW LIEUTENANT RODOLPHE LEMIEUX Lieut. “Роаау” Lemieux, only son of the Hon. Rodolphe Lemieux, M.P., ex-Post- master General, died of wounds on August 29th, 1918. Roddy was born in Montreal on the 27th of April, 1898, came to Loyola in 1906, where he remained for three years. He was a successful pupil, passing many of his examin- ations with honours. After matriculating from Bishop’s College, Lennoxville, he ob- tained a Lieutenancy in the Governor General's Footguards. Though only 18 years of age he was anxious to fight for his country voluntarily and went to Quebec, where he joined the Officers! Training Corps under Col. Fages. Later he joined the 258th regiment, but after repeated requests . from the 22nd he was finally transferred to this famous French Canadian Regiment. FROM W. A. CURRIE Headquarters, Canadian Corps, 22nd September, 1918. Canadian Section, G.H.Q. I am attaching herewith a report from the G.O.C., 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade, with reference to the death of the late Lieut. Rodolphe Lemieux. The loss of this young and gallant Officer is most keenly felt by his Battalion, his Brigade, and the corps generally. I did not know him well personally, but I know that he was always most highly regarded by his fellow Officers and dearly loved by his men. The last time I saw him was marching proudly at the head of his Platoon, and it is peculiarly sad that he should have been struck down on the very day which must have been the proudest day of his life, namely, the day on which he first commanded a Company in battle. I may say that the fighting in the Arras battle was : very severe, the enemy being determined to stay by every means possible, the advance of the Canadians. He fought up every inch of the way because the de- fence, which we were attacking formed the very hinges of his position. It was largely due to the gallant leadership of such splendid young Officers as Lemieux that the success of the Canadians was so pronounced. (Sgd.) A. W. CURRIE, Lieut.-General, Commanding Canadian Corps. He was offered the post of Inspector at Camp Whitley, in England, but, to quote his own words: “I wish to be on the firing line in France.” Roddy was not only a hero but a fervent Catholic and a daily communicant. His last words to the Chaplain of the 22nd, Capt. the Rev. J. J. Desjardins, are worthy of a Crusader of old. ‘“‘You will return this crucifix to my fond parents. Tell them I did my duty. Loyola, whose privilege it was to have him as a pupil, will ever cherish the memory of this young Catholic hero, who as his Hon. father tells us, always looked back with fond remembrance to the days he had spent there. Roddy was recommended for the M.C. but the Divine Master had a much greater reward in store for him, who had been so loyal to his king, his country and his God. FROM F. L. TREMBLAY 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade, A.Q., 11, 178. Headquarters, 2nd Canadian Division “А”, Reference your A (b) 44-1 of the 10th instant. The late Lieutenant Rodolphe Lemieux was a Platoon Commander in “А” Company, 22nd Battalion, prior to the attack of the 27th August. On that day, he went forward with his Company. The enemy offered a very stiff opposition, and our casualties were heavy. A few hours after the attack was launched, a re- organization had to be made. “В” Company having lost all its officers, Lieutenant Lemieux was placed in command of the remnants of that Company, which he led forward with skill and great dash. On the 28th of August, he again led the same Com- pany into a second attack. The opposition met with, from the start, was very heavy; especially the Machine Gun fire, which was intense. Lieutenant Lemieux was wounded in the abdomen by a machine gun bullet shortly after the kick-off. He was immediately conducted from the field, but died from his wounds in the hospital at 10 p.m., the 29th of August. He had been with the Battalion only for a short time, but his loss is greatly felt by all ranks. During that short period, he had become exceedingly popular with the officers and men. The gallantry, the cheer- fulness, and the splendid qualities of leadership he showed on the 27th and 28th of August, under most trying conditions, have classed him amongst the best officers who have served with the 22nd Battalion. (Sgd.) F. L. TREMBLAY, Brigadier-General, Cmdg. 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade.

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R.I.P. LIEUT, R. B. HINGSTON Killed in Action near Amiens August 8, 1918

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RIP. LIEUT. RODDY LEMIEUX Killed in Action, Aug. 29, 1918 Old Loyola, 1906