I was updating my POW spreadsheet today after finding out an additional tidbit of information about a couple of the men listed in my great grandfather's POW Logbook. One of the lists archived on Find My Past looks like it was compiled by a Man of Confidence as the men are listed by room rather than the More familiar War Office alphabetical list. Anyway I realised that a couple of the names on this list were also in the logbook and this is where I'm looking to see if I can turn up a little more... Our man is called Corporal Marcel Jolicoeur, army number D61505, served with Regiment de Quebec in Le Fuislier Mont Royal, POW number 26220. He was registered at Stalag VIIIB Lamsdorf. I found a casualty list published in a newspaper which indicated he was captured at Dieppe. His home address was 4640C Colonial Street, Montreal, Province of Quebec. There were a couple of more articles - one was from the Winnipeg Free Press and another from the Winnipeg Tribune but both are behind a paywalls. It may have just been another casualty list but I wondered if any of or Canadian forum members might have subscriptions or know anything more about this man? The Winnipeg Tribune from Winnipeg, on September 19, 1942 · Page 13 Winnipeg Free Press Newspaper Archives, Sep 19, 1942, p. 3| NewspaperArchive®
UK, British Prisoners of War, 1939-1945 Name: M Jolicoeur Rank: Pte Army Number: D61505 Regiment: F.M.R. POW Number: 26220 Camp Type: Stalag Camp Number: 344 Camp Location: Lamsdorf, Poland Section: Canadian Army: Officers and Other Ranks Hmmmmm - wonder who this is then: Name: M Jolicoeur Rank: A/Cpl. Army Number: D51107 Regiment: F.M.R. POW Number: 25428 Camp Type: Stalag Camp Number: 2D Camp Location: Stargard, Poland Section: Canadian Army: Officers and Other Ranks From family trees again there are 2 possibles: Marcel Jolicoeur Birth: 13 Janvier 1921 (13 Jan 1921) - Canada Death: 20 Décembre 1991 (20 Dec 1991) - Montréal, Quebec, Canada Marcel Jolicoeur Birth: 28 Juin 1921 (28 Jun 1921) Quebec Death: 22 Février 1989 (22 Feb 1989) TD
I did notice a Maurice Jolicoeur also listed as captured at Dieppe on another casualty list. Possibly brothers? The POW list I have has Marcel as Corporal but I notice the missing report has him down as a private.
Here is Maurice http://collections.museedelaguerre.ca/warclip/objects/common/webmedia.php?irn=5026106
Think we have our man... Les décès de la famille Jolicoeur Marcel is the son of Valentine Domery and Ovila Jolicoeur family of 7 childrens (4 girls and 3 boys). Marcel at age of 24 and 7 month enrolled himself in the Canadian army with the Fusiliers Mont-Roya on September 18, 1939. He did complete his 7th grade and part of grade 8th, he served in Canada in the North Atlantic Zone, United-Kingdom and the European country. When he enrolled in the army, he was a daily worker (he did worked for 2 1/2 year as a delivery boy for a grocery store and 1 year in a butcher shop (chicken), he was living at 4431 De Bullion in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. His father was living at 4640C Colonial also in Montreal. Marcel did get a 10 month training in Canada before going to Iceland, the boat left Halifat October 26, 1940 and arrive in Iceland July 7th 1940. He was on training for 18 months in the United-Kingdom. The on October 26th 1940 he left Iceland for Scotland, he arrive November 2nd 1940. From November 16 to December 20, 1940 he was in hospital for health problems. Also from February 12 to April 26 1941. May 13 1941, he was transfer to Dunblane, Witley at United Kingdom to be prepare for the Dieppe Raid. In August 1942 he was promoted as Caporal. August 18, 1942, he took the boat that was going for the Jubilee operation in Dieppe. Then, October 10, 1942 the canadian army report him as per war prisoner in Germany. He stay in German prison for 32 months, he lost a lot of weight. He was free and arrived at United Kingdom on April 23, 1945 and then arrive in Canada in July 1945. Ounce he was in Canada, he was looking for a job as a fireman if accepted or else he would like a job as a plumber. He want to get married and get childrens. The credits that he get from the army he want to buy furnitures with it. July 26, 1947 Marcel got married with Jacqueline Laurin, they had 11 childrens (5 girls and 6 boys). They divorced in 1973. Read more at Les décès de la famille Jolicoeur
Interesting as that means 2 different people have errors in their family trees: Marcel Jolicoeur Birth: 13 Janvier 1921 Marcel Jolicoeur Birth: 28 Juin 1921 Obviously not brothers, different families. TD
A little more clarity perhaps: Jolicoeur No1 Marcel Jolicoeur Birth: 13 Janvier 1921 (13 Jan 1921) - Canada Death: 20 Décembre 1991 (20 Dec 1991) - Montréal, Quebec, Canada Father: Ovilla Jolicoeur Mother: Valentine Doméry Jolicoeur No2 Marcel Jolicoeur Birth: 28 Juin 1921 (28 Jun 1921) Death: 22 Février 1989 (22 Feb 1989) Father: Placide Jolicoeur Mother: Irma Breton TD
I believe Marcel #1 is the man for me based on the story I posted above. I have contacted the family via my Ancestry account.
Cpl R E Jolicoeur from the Fuslieurs Mont Royal is listed as having completed an SPG Liberation Report (SPG Lib 1323) which is consistent with him having been a Man of Confidence or similar in a POW camp. Sadly that report is one of the many from this series which is missing
R.E. Jocileour? Are we certain it's the same man? Damn shame the liberation report is missing - misfiled or gone for good you think? The page on Find My Past is handwritten and doesn't indicate which camp it was sent from - perhaps it is in the transcript but I haven't viewed that as my credits ran out. I have a full Ancestry subscription but only dipped into FMP when it was announced they had the POW files. Another prisoner from the same room - Cpl Peter Tohiariki from New Zealand was also in my great grandad's book.
Last man on list - so late 1944/1945 he was in 344 UK, British Prisoners of War, 1939-1945 Name: A E T Cotter Rank: Ordinary Signalman Army Number: D/JX263002 Regiment: Naval Forces : Officers & Ratings POW Number: 19001 Camp Type: Stalag Camp Number: 344 Camp Location: Lamsdorf (Oberschkesein), Poland Section: Naval Forces : Officers & Ratings TD
Found this archive clip online after a bit of searching. Marcel appears for a brief interview at around 13.10 and then can be seen marching in a parade at around 13.50. Unfortunately I do not speak French so have no idea what he is saying. Anyone on the forum able to translate? (Edit - would help if I included URL for clip!) http://www.ina.fr/video/CAF94005727
I'm wearing out the tape trying to take on board the last phrase of the interview. You need a French Canadian or a just a speaker of French.The interviewee has a sore throat but is trying to answer. The questions are along the lines of: (1) Is it exact that certain Canadian prisoners were put in chains by the Germans ? Answer: "Absolutely I myself was chained-up because of the ...." (2) After twenty-five years since you were here on the beach can you tell me exactly where you disembarked ? Answer: " Oh well I've got a sore throat ( indicates) which prevents me from speaking but " ils... encaisse dans les livres", which could be idiomatic for taking a beating and livre means a pound weight or a book, and se livrer means to surrender, so could be several meanings. Anyway, he's definitely got a sore throat, he wasn't chained up by neck twenty-five years previously. Now, where is my Aunt's pen ?
Thanks for that Papiermache. Gives me some kind of idea what he was talking about. I'm in touch with his family via Ancestry and sent them the link. Maybe they will add to the translation.
