Private Joseph Viau
Survivor of WW1
Service Biography
Joseph Viau was born at Beauharnois, Quebec, on 22 March 1893. A farmer, he was drafted under the Military Service Act and joined at Regina, Saskatchewan, on 16 April 1918 as Private 259168. He served in England with the 15th Canadian Reserve Battalion before proceeding to France with the 46th Battalion at the end of October 1918. After the Armistice he returned to England and embarked for Canada aboard H.M.T.S. Mauretania on 31 May 1919. He was discharged at Montreal on 9 June 1919 on demobilization.
General Information
Conflict:
WW1
Regimental No.:
259168
Cause of Death (in war):
Survived
Branch:
Canadian Expeditionary Force
Regiment:
Canadian Infantry
Battalion:
46th Battalion
Company:
Date of Birth :
Place of Birth:
Beauharnois, Quebec
Date of Enlistment:
Age at Enlistment:
25 years
Date of Discharge:
Age at Discharge:
26 years 2 months
Date of Death:
Age at Death:
Country Born:
Canada
Trade or Calling:
Farmer
Next of Kin:
Joseph Viau (father), Le Pas P.O., Manitoba
Address at Enlistment:
Kelley's P.O., Saskatchewan
Religion:
Roman Catholic
Place of Enlistment:
Regina, Saskatchewan
Was a Prisoner of War:
No
Height:
5 ft 4.0 in / 163 cm
Weight:
135 lbs / 61 kg
Chest:
35.5 in / 90 cm
Expansion:
2.5 in / 6 cm
Marital Status:
Single
Prior Military Experience:
No
Saw Service in:
Europe
Place of Discharge:
Montreal, Quebec
Discharge Type:
Regular/End of Service
Discharge Notes:
Battle Died/Wounded:
Length of Service:
419 days in service
Buried at:
Links
Ranks
| Conflict |
Rank |
Regiment |
Branch |
Unit |
Company |
Date From |
Date To |
| WW1 |
Private |
Canadian Infantry |
Canadian Expeditionary Force |
46th Battalion |
|
|
|
| WW1 |
Private |
Canadian Infantry |
Canadian Expeditionary Force |
15th Canadian Reserve Battalion |
|
|
|
| WW1 |
Private |
1st Depot Battalion, Saskatchewan Regiment |
Canadian Expeditionary Force |
1st Depot Battalion, Saskatchewan Regiment |
|
|
|
Service Chronology
1893-03-22 — Born
1917-10-16 — Examined under Military Service Act; Category A2
1918-04-16 — Joined under Military Service Act
1918-07-16 — Embarked
1918-07-22 — Arrived in England aboard S.S. Tunisian
1918-07-25 — Taken on strength from Canada
1918-10-30 — Proceeded overseas for service with 46th Battalion
1918-10-31 — Struck off strength to 46th Battalion; proceeded to France
1918-11-08 — 'To block'
1918-11-10 — Joined
1918-11-10 — 'To line'
1918-11-16 — Joined
1919-01-29 — Stoppage of $3.13 to make good government property lost by neglect; four days' pay forfeited
1919-02-08 — Proceeded to England
1919-05-31 — Embarked for Canada aboard H.M.T.S. Mauretania
1919-06-09 — Discharged on demobilization
Notes
Viau was born at Beauharnois, Quebec, on 22 March 1893. At call-up he was a farmer, single and Roman Catholic, with a present address at Kelley's P.O., Saskatchewan. His father, Joseph Viau, of Le Pas P.O., Manitoba, was named as next of kin. He reported no previous military or naval service. The Military Service Act medical sheet records height 5 ft 4 in, weight 135 lb, chest 33–35½ in, medium complexion, brown eyes and brown hair, with good physical development.
Additional Service Notes
Joseph Viau was drafted under the Military Service Act, 1917, Class One, and joined at Regina, Saskatchewan, on 16 April 1918 as Private 259168. He initially served with the 1st Depot Battalion, Saskatchewan Regiment. He embarked from Montreal on 16 July 1918 and arrived in England aboard S.S. Tunisian on 22 July. He was taken on strength of the 15th Canadian Reserve Battalion and proceeded overseas for service with the 46th Battalion on 30 October 1918. On 31 October he was struck off strength to the 46th Battalion and proceeded to France. The field casualty form records movements on 8, 10 and 16 November, including two entries that read 'to block' and 'to line'; these are retained literally rather than expanded. On 29 January 1919 he was placed under a stoppage of $3.13 to make good government property lost through neglect and forfeited four days' pay. He later proceeded to England and entered return-to-Canada processing. He embarked for Canada aboard H.M.T.S. Mauretania on 31 May 1919 and was discharged at Montreal on 9 June 1919 on demobilization.
Additional Next of Kin Notes
Father Joseph Viau of Le Pas P.O., Manitoba, was named as next of kin. His military will later left his personal property to his sister, Miss Rose Viau of Verdun, Montreal.
Version: 3 Last modified: 2026-09-30 14:54:38
by: marc
