Private Joseph Elphege Leon Benoit
Died of Illness in WW2
Date of Death:
Service Biography
Joseph Elphege Leon Benoit was born at St-Clothilde-de-Horton, Quebec, on 5 July 1922. Before the war he worked as a farm hand and factory labourer, including employment with Wabasso Cotton Company, Montreal Cottons and Defence Industries Limited at Valleyfield. He enlisted in the Canadian Army at Montreal South on 30 June 1943 as Private D-141265. After training at Sherbrooke, Farnham and Debert, he proceeded overseas in April 1944. He joined the Royal 22e Regiment in Italy on 6 June 1944. On 13 August he was transferred to No. 13 Canadian General Hospital, and he died in Italy on 31 August 1944 from infectious hepatitis. He was 22 years old. Benoit is buried in Rome Military Cemetery, Rome, Italy, Plot 1, Row F, Grave 35.
General Information
Conflict:
WW2
Regimental No.:
D141265
Cause of Death (in war):
Died of Illness
Branch:
Army
Regiment:
Royal 22e Regiment
Battalion:
Royal 22e Regiment
Company:
Date of Birth :
Place of Birth:
St-Clothilde-de-Horton, Quebec
Date of Enlistment:
Age at Enlistment:
20 years 11 months
Date of Discharge:
Age at Discharge:
22 years 1 month
Date of Death:
Age at Death:
21 years 10 months
Country Born:
Canada
Trade or Calling:
Labourer
Next of Kin:
Georges Benoit (father), 824 St. Angele Street, Three Rivers, Quebec
Address at Enlistment:
110 Ste-Cecile Street, Valleyfield, Quebec
Religion:
Roman Catholic
Place of Enlistment:
Montreal South, Quebec
Was a Prisoner of War:
No
Height:
5 ft 4.0 in / 163 cm
Weight:
131 lbs / 59 kg
Chest:
35.0 in / 89 cm
Expansion:
2.0 in / 5 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:
Died in Italy from infectious hepatitis, 31 August 1944
Length of Service:
428 days in service
Buried at:
Rome Military Cemetery, Rome, Italy
Links
Ranks
| Conflict |
Rank |
Regiment |
Branch |
Unit |
Company |
Date From |
Date To |
| WW2 |
Private |
Royal 22e Regiment |
Army |
Royal 22e Regiment |
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Private |
Canadian Infantry Corps |
Army |
No. 6 Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit / X-4 reinforcement stream |
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Private |
Canadian Infantry Corps |
Army |
No. 1 Training Brigade / Training Brigade Group, Debert |
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Private |
Canadian Infantry Corps |
Army |
A-12 Canadian Infantry Training Centre |
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Private |
Canadian Infantry Corps |
Army |
No. 4 District Depot / Training Centre No. 43 |
|
|
|
Awards
| Conflict |
Award |
Action |
Date of Award |
Date of Citation |
Source |
| WW2 |
1939-45 Star |
|
|
|
PDF p.17 — War Service Medal Verification Form |
| WW2 |
Italy Star |
|
|
|
PDF p.17 — War Service Medal Verification Form |
| WW2 |
War Medal 1939-1945 |
|
|
|
PDF p.17 — War Service Medal Verification Form |
| WW2 |
Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Clasp |
|
|
|
PDF p.17 — War Service Medal Verification Form |
Service Chronology
1922-07-05 — Born
1943-06-28 — Medical examination; Category A
1943-06-30 — Enlisted and taken on strength
1943-07-01 — Struck off strength to Training Centre No. 43
1943-07-16 — Posted and attached for all purposes
1943-09-16 — Struck off strength on transfer to A-12 Canadian Infantry Training Centre
1943-09-17 — Taken on strength
1943-10-30 — Granted daily rate of pay $1.40
1943-12-01 to 1944-01-06 — Granted furlough and special leave
1944-02-18 — Struck off strength to No. 1 Training Brigade
1944-02-19 — Taken on strength
1944-04-04 — Struck off strength for overseas service
1944-04-11 — Disembarked
1944-04-12 — Reported for duty
1944-05-03 — Struck off strength to X-4 reinforcement stream
1944-05-10 — Proceeded to Central Mediterranean Force
1944-05-29 — Taken on strength in Royal 22e Regiment reinforcement stream
1944-06-06 — Joined Royal 22e Regiment
1944-08-13 — Struck off strength to No. 13 Canadian General Hospital
1944-08-31 — Died from infectious hepatitis
1944-09-03 — Buried
Notes
Before enlistment Benoit completed Grade 5 in a French urban school in Quebec, leaving school at age 12 because he wanted to work. His employment history recorded two years as a farm hand, five years as a labourer with Wabasso Cotton Company, six months with Montreal Cottons, and about 30 months as a labourer with Defence Industries Limited at Valleyfield. French was his principal language. At enlistment he was single, Roman Catholic and employed as a labourer.
Additional Service Notes
Joseph Elphege Leon Benoit enlisted at Montreal South on 30 June 1943 as Private D-141265. He trained through No. 4 District Depot, Training Centre No. 43 at Sherbrooke and A-12 Canadian Infantry Training Centre at Farnham, where he completed advanced infantry training and was considered suitable for overseas service. He transferred through the training brigade at Debert in February 1944 and left Canada for overseas service in April. He disembarked in the United Kingdom on 11 April 1944 and reported to No. 6 Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit on 12 April. He was struck off strength into the X-4 reinforcement stream on 3 May, proceeded to the Central Mediterranean Force on 10 May, entered the Royal 22e Regiment reinforcement stream on 29 May and joined the Royal 22e Regiment on 6 June 1944. On 13 August 1944 he was struck off strength to No. 13 Canadian General Hospital. He died in Italy on 31 August 1944 from infectious hepatitis while still on the strength of the Canadian Army.
Additional Next of Kin Notes
Father Georges Benoit was recorded as next of kin. The family form also names his mother as Liliane Benoit (née Dutras), both at 824 St. Angele Street, Three Rivers, Quebec. His will, dated 30 June 1943, left his entire estate to his father. Estate papers record that he was unmarried and had no children.
Version: 4 Last modified: 2026-09-19 18:52:10
by: marc
