Son of Fred and Edna Primeau, of 37 Kent St., Chatham, Ontario. He had a brother Gnr. Harold, then serving in France.  Joseph attended Blessed Sacrament School.   

Joseph enlisted in 1941 in London, ON. with the RR of C., he had been working in Toronto prior to enlisting. After training in Canada he was sent overseas two years ago later he went to Italy.  

The CDN 20/07/44 reported that Pte. Primeau had been WIA 19 July, 1944. There were No details as to the nature or extent of his wounds were received. 

On 26 July his parents were informed he had died from wounds received on 14 July. On 4 August  the parents received a letter from the regiment’s padre telling them where their son was buried. On 29 August they received a further telegram that Pte. Primeau was wounded and in hospital 

The CDN 26/07/44 reported that Mr. and Mrs. Primeau received the message all dread that there son had died of wounds 19 July, 1944.

The last telegram raised the parent’s hope that a mistake had been made. A following message shattered their hopes and in fact their son had died of wounds in the battle for Louvigny on 14 July.

 

In August of 1944 the parents of Pte. Primeau received news that their son had died of wounds on the 19^th of July while serving with the RCR. One month later Mrs. Primeau was informed by the Director of Records that Pte. Primeau was in hospital with a hip and abdominal wound.

These conflicting official reports must have caused his poor parents much anxiety as they waited for the Director of Records to investigate what really had happened to their son. This was compounded even more for the family they having two sons in the army, was the second report actually Gnr. Harold Primeau who was serving in the RCA.

It was difficult for the family to believe that Joseph was not dead in view of a letter they ad received from Hon. Captain H. F. Appleyard regimental padre which they had received in early August telling her where her son had been buried. According to the padre Joseph had been buried with others who fell in the battle in the grounds of the chateau at Louvigny.

The first news they had of Joseph came on 19 July saying he had been wounded on 14 July and that the nature of his wounds were not available at that time. On 26 July a telegram arrived to say that “Pte. Joseph Primeau had died from wounds on 19 July. On 4 August Mrs Primeau received a  consoling letter from Captain Appleyard stating that Pte. Primeau was well thought of by the regiment and that he would be missed.  The padre went on to say that Joseph was a brave man and died with other brave men that day at Loouvigny.

“Deeply regret to inform you that Pte. Prosper Joseph Primeau has now been officially reported died of wounds on 19^th July”. He was 21 years old. Surviving five other brothers and six sisters, Mrs. Beatrice (Heather), Mrs. Eileen (Decedar), Mrs. Frances (Symes) Stanley, Lillian and Dorothy, Alfred, Archie and Norman in Toronto and Lloyd in Nova Scotia.

The third telegram arrived on 29 August, with the same serial number as the other two but did not mention the second telegram saying he died of wounds?

Age: 21, DOW – Date of Death: 19/07/1944, at Louvigny, France.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead, Grave/Memorial Reference: XVI. H. 14.

 

                                                                                                                     Family Tribute:

 

Sunshine fades and Shadows fall

But sweet remembrance outlasts all.

 

Fred & Edna.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Supplemental Information

Age: 21, DOW - Date of Death: 19/07/1944, at Louvigny, France. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead, Grave/Memorial Reference: XVI. H. 14. Cemetery: BENY-SUR-MER CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY, REVIERS. Index of Overseas Deaths. The grave marker (2010) at the Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, located outside Reviers, about 4 kilometres from Juno Beach in Normandy, France. May he rest in peace. CVWM Photo Note: - The confusion may be a result of confusion between Joseph C102096 and Joseph Prosper also from C-K A28690? It is unclear from this photo what the inscription on the grave stone actually says. JRH 03/2012.

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