Brigadier Herve Charlebois: Born in Valleyfield, Quebec, on 14 February 1912, the youngest of the 13 children of Eustache Charlebois and Lydia Vallee. He completed his primary and secondary education in his Valleyfield, Quebec and then the University de Montreal, graduating in 1936 with a degree in arts, philosophy and theology. Ordained a priest on 7 June 1936, he first taught at the Collège de Valleyfield for one year, then served as curate in Huntingdon, from where he left in September 1940 to enlist in the chaplaincy of the Active Force at the age of 38 with the rank of Honorary Captain.
He was initially responsible for troops quartered on the islands of Montreal and Sainte-Hélène. In the spring of 1940 he was ready to go overseas when it was discovered Army Regulations stating that “no chaplain will be permitted to serve overseas who is under 30 years of age.”. Charlebois wished to go overseas with the 14th General Field Hospital and successfully petitioned for a change to the regulations. He left for England in the fall of 1940.
In 1943 he went to serve in Italy attached to the 13th Field Dressing Station, then in February 1945 he was with combat troops in France, the Netherlands and Germany. After VE day, he was selected to travel to the Pacific region, but the Japanese surrendered prior to his departure.
In September 1945 Father Charlebois was posted to the camp at Farnham, Quebec, and then sent to Huntingdon to close the training camp there. Rather than leaving the military after the war, Charlebois continued in the postwar Regular Force, one of the 8 Roman Catholic clergy selected, and held appointments in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Oakville, Ontario, Montreal, Quebec, and finally in Ottawa, Ontario. Where he filled the appointment of Deputy Director. In July 1957 he was promoted to the rank of Colonel and appointed Director of Army Chaplain Services (RC) and Vicar Delegate of the Roman Catholic Canadian Military Vicariate. In May 1963 when he was promoted to Brigadier and appointed Chaplain General (RC) of the Armed Forces.
In 1967 he retired from the Armed Service where he had served for 27 years, having reached mandatory retirement age. His decorations included the 1939-45 Star, Italy Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, War Medal 1939-45, Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal 1953, and the Canadian Forces' Decoration with 1st Clasp.
Monseigneur/Brigadier Charles Rodrigue Hervé Charlebois died in Ottawa, Ontario on December 16, 1981 at the age of 69.
Conflict:
WW2
Regimental No.:
NA
Cause of Death (in war):
Survived
Branch:
Army
Regiment:
Royal Canadian Army Chaplain Corps (Roman Catholic) / Canadian Armed Forces Chaplain Service
Battalion:
Chaplain General (Roman Catholic), Armed Forces
Company:
Date of Birth :
Place of Birth:
Valleyfield, Quebec
Date of Enlistment:
Age at Enlistment:
28 years 7 months
Date of Discharge:
Age at Discharge:
55 years 7 months
Date of Death:
Age at Death:
69 years 10 months
Country Born:
Canada
Trade or Calling:
Priest
Next of Kin:
John Charlebois (Brother), 308 Milgate Street, Utica, New York, United States
Address at Enlistment:
Presbytère St-Joseph, Huntingdon, Quebec
Religion:
Roman Catholic
Place of Enlistment:
Montreal, Quebec
Was a Prisoner of War:
Height:
5 ft 7.0 in / 170 cm
Weight:
155 lbs / 70 kg
Chest:
37.0 in / 94 cm
Expansion:
4.0 in / 10 cm
Marital Status:
Single
Prior Military Experience:
No
Saw Service in:
Europe
Place of Discharge:
Ottawa, Ontario
Discharge Type:
Regular/End of Service
Discharge Notes:
Battle Died/Wounded:
Length of Service:
9871 days in service
Buried at:
Ste-Cécile-de-Masham Cemetery , Sainte-Cécile-de-Masham, Outaouais Region, Quebec, Canada
Links
Images
Brigadier Charles Rodrigue Hervé Charlebois
Ranks
| Conflict |
Rank |
Regiment |
Branch |
Unit |
Company |
Date From |
Date To |
| WW2 |
Brigadier |
Royal Canadian Army Chaplain Corps (Roman Catholic) / Canadian Armed Forces Chaplain Service |
Army |
Chaplain General (Roman Catholic), Armed Forces |
|
|
|
| Vacated Chaplain General appointment in Feb 1967 but retained Brigadier rank through terminal leave and release. |
| WW2 |
Colonel |
Royal Canadian Army Chaplain Corps (Roman Catholic) |
Army |
Army Headquarters — Director of Chaplain Services (RC) |
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Lieutenant-Colonel |
Royal Canadian Army Chaplain Corps (Roman Catholic) |
Army |
Central Command / Quebec Command / Army Headquarters |
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Major |
Royal Canadian Army Chaplain Corps (Roman Catholic) |
Army |
District/Command Chaplain appointments |
|
|
|
| Acting Honorary Major 20 Nov 1945; later postwar Major status retained/regularized. |
| WW2 |
Captain |
Royal Canadian Army Chaplain Corps (Roman Catholic) |
Army |
Chaplain Pool MD4 / 5th Canadian Division |
|
|
|
| Initial Honorary Captain appointment; CA(A) service begins 16 Sep 1940. |
| WW2 |
Captain |
Canadian Active Service Force |
Army |
Canadian Chaplain Services |
|
|
|
Awards
| Conflict |
Award |
Action |
Date of Award |
Date of Citation |
Source |
| WW2 |
1939-45 Star |
|
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Italy Star |
|
|
|
|
| WW2 |
France and Germany Star |
|
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Defence Medal |
|
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp |
|
|
|
|
| WW2 |
War Medal 1939-45 |
|
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal 1953 |
|
|
|
|
| WW2 |
Canadian Forces' Decoration with 1st Clasp |
|
|
|
|
Service Chronology
1912-02-14 — Born. [Valleyfield, Quebec]
1918 to 1923 — Attended Marie Rose school. [Valleyfield, Quebec]
1923 to 1932 — Attended Séminaire de Valleyfield; received Bachelor of Arts. [Valleyfield, Quebec]
1932 — Completed Bachelor of Arts studies at Collège/Séminaire de Valleyfield. [Valleyfield, Quebec]
1932 to 1936 — Studied at Grand Séminaire de Montréal; received Bachelor of Theology. [Montreal, Quebec]
1936 to 1937 — Worked as a teacher. [Valleyfield, Quebec]
1936-06-07 — Ordained a Roman Catholic priest. [Quebec]
1937 to 1940 — Served as curate/vicar at St. Joseph parish. [Huntingdon, Quebec]
1940-08-27 — Formally recommended for appointment to the Roman Catholic Chaplain Pool, Military District No. 4. [Huntingdon / Montreal, Quebec]
1940-09-16 — Appointed Honorary Captain and commenced Canadian Army (Active) chaplain service. [Montreal, Quebec / Military District No. 4]
1940-10-02 — Family form recorded widowed mother Lydia Vallée Charlebois at Valleyfield; father deceased. [Valleyfield, Quebec]
1941-08 — Posted to 5th Canadian Division at Camp Borden. [Camp Borden, Ontario]
1941-10 — Went overseas for chaplain service. [United Kingdom]
1941-11 — Proceeded to the United Kingdom with the 5th Canadian Armoured Division. [United Kingdom]
1943 — Embarked for Italy; French narrative states he travelled aboard the John Erickson and served about 18 months attached to 13th Field Dressing Station. [Italy]
1943-02 — Appointed chaplain to HQ RCASC, 11 Canadian Infantry Brigade, 5th Canadian Armoured Division. [United Kingdom]
1943-02 — Appointed chaplain to Headquarters, RCASC, 11 Canadian Infantry Brigade. [United Kingdom]
1943-10 — Proceeded to the Central Mediterranean Area with 11 Canadian Infantry Brigade. [Italy / Central Mediterranean]
1945-02 — Moved from Italy via Marseilles to Northwest Europe with his unit. [Italy / France / Northwest Europe]
1945-02 — Proceeded to Northwest Europe with 11 Canadian Infantry Brigade. [Northwest Europe]
1945-07 — Returned through the United Kingdom to Canada. [United Kingdom / Canada]
1945-07-29 — End of recorded WWII overseas service; returned to Canada in July 1945. [Canada]
1945-09 — Posted to Farnham and then Huntingdon during camp closure/demobilization work. [Farnham and Huntingdon, Quebec]
1945-11-20 — Appointed/promoted Major. [Canada]
1946-01 — Posted as chaplain at Camp Shilo. [Shilo, Manitoba]
1946-09-30 — Struck off strength Canadian Army (Active) at end of wartime/transition service period. [Canada]
1946-09-30 — Completed Canadian Army (Active) administrative service period. [Canada]
1946-10-01 — Taken on strength in the postwar Active/Permanent Force chaplain establishment and retained as Major. [Winnipeg, Manitoba]
1946-10-01 — Commenced Regular Force service. [Canada]
1947-03-05 — Appointed Command Chaplain (Roman Catholic), Prairie Command. [Winnipeg, Manitoba]
1950-10-15 — Promoted Lieutenant-Colonel and appointed Command Chaplain (RC), Central Command. [Oakville, Ontario]
1953-01 — Assumed appointment as Command Chaplain (Roman Catholic), Quebec Command. [Quebec]
1953-01-23 — Assumed Command Chaplain (RC), Quebec Command. [Montreal, Quebec]
1954-04 — Posted to Army Headquarters as Assistant Director, Directorate of Chaplain Services (Roman Catholic). [Ottawa, Ontario]
1954-04-19 — Posted to Army Headquarters as Deputy Director of Chaplain Services (RC). [Ottawa, Ontario]
1957-07 — Promoted Colonel and appointed Director, Directorate of Chaplain Services (Roman Catholic). [Ottawa, Ontario]
1957-07-01 — Promoted Colonel and appointed Director, Royal Canadian Army Chaplain Corps (Roman Catholic). [Ottawa, Ontario]
1961-04-17 — Admitted for surgical treatment of a deviated nasal septum. [Canadian Forces Hospital Rockcliffe, Ottawa, Ontario]
1961-04-17 — Admitted to Canadian Forces Hospital Rockcliffe for deviated nasal septum.
1961-04-18 — Underwent submucous resection for deviated nasal septum.
1961-04-27 — Discharged after satisfactory postoperative course with 10 days sick leave.
1963-05-09 — Promoted Brigadier and appointed Chaplain General (Roman Catholic) of the Armed Forces. [Ottawa, Ontario]
1964-11-19 to 1964-12-29 — Official liaison visit to Canadian forces in Europe and the Middle East, including France, Italy, El Arish, Beirut, Nicosia, the United Kingdom and Germany. [Europe and Middle East]
1964-12 — Undertook senior chaplain visit to Canadian Forces in Europe and the Middle East. [Europe / Middle East]
1965-05-10 — Admitted to NDMC with recurrent severe neck pain radiating into the left arm; diagnosed with acute cervical spondylosis with C6-C7 disc degeneration. [National Defence Medical Centre, Ottawa, Ontario]
1965-05-26 — Myelogram showed a significant filling defect/protruded intervertebral disc at C6-C7 on the left. [National Defence Medical Centre, Ottawa, Ontario]
1965-05-31 — Underwent cervical discectomy at C6-C7 for protruded disc. [National Defence Medical Centre, Ottawa, Ontario]
1965-06-14 — Discharged after 35 days, improved, with 30 days sick leave following cervical disc treatment. [National Defence Medical Centre, Ottawa, Ontario]
1966-06 — Suffered an acute myocardial infarction; later duties were medically restricted. [Canada]
1966-06-07 — Became seriously ill with heart disease while attending a Roman Catholic seminar at Royal Military College Saint-Jean; transferred to Queen Mary Veterans Hospital, Montreal. [Saint-Jean / Montreal, Quebec]
1966-07-04 — Transferred from Queen Mary Veterans Hospital, Montreal, to National Defence Medical Centre, Ottawa for continuing cardiac care. [Ottawa, Ontario]
1966-08-29 — Readmitted to National Defence Medical Centre after persistent burping, malaise and anorexia; recent June myocardial infarction noted.
1966-09-09 — Discharged from NDMC; GI and gall bladder studies normal; continued anticoagulation and physiotherapy and returned to half-day duties.
1966-10-23 to 1966-10-27 — Hospitalized at National Defence Medical Centre, Ottawa; discharged to 48 hours excused duty. [Ottawa, Ontario]
1966-10-31 — Medical category changed after myocardial infarction; restricted from employment requiring active physical fieldwork but recommended for retention until retirement age. [Ottawa, Ontario]
1966-12-25 — Admitted to NDMC with painful swollen left thigh; diagnosed as hematoma while on anticoagulant therapy.
1966-12-30 — Hemoglobin fell to 8.6 after bleeding into left thigh; compatible blood was cross-matched and 4 units of packed cells were transfused. [National Defence Medical Centre, Ottawa, Ontario]
1967-01-09 — Anticoagulation discontinued because control had been difficult and retirement/release was approaching. [National Defence Medical Centre, Ottawa, Ontario]
1967-01-12 — Ophthalmology examination for difficulty with near vision; corrective lenses assessed. [National Defence Medical Centre, Ottawa, Ontario]
1967-01-16 — Discharged after 22 days; left-thigh hematoma improved; continued physiotherapy recommended.
1967-02 to 1967-09 — Carried with Canadian Forces Headquarters Administrative Unit after vacating Chaplain General appointment and before final release. [Ottawa, Ontario]
1967-02-09 — Consultant noted no cardiac pain, improved leg, ongoing physiotherapy, and anticipated Army release.
1967-02-14 — Reached compulsory retirement age for rank; Chaplain General succession/retirement arrangements took effect. [Ottawa, Ontario]
1967-02-20 — Terminal leave commenced. [Canada]
1967-09-26 — Released from the Regular Force on compulsory retirement/age-limit provisions. [Canada]
1967-09-27 — Transferred/enrolled on the Canadian Forces Supplementary List following release. [Canada]
1981-12-16 — Died. [Ottawa, Ontario]
Notes
Born at Valleyfield, Quebec, on 14 February 1912, Charlebois attended Marie Rose school in Valleyfield (1918-1923), the Séminaire de Valleyfield (1923-1932), where he received a B.A., and the Grand Séminaire de Montréal (1932-1936), where he received a B.Th. He was ordained at Valleyfield on 7 June 1936. He taught at Valleyfield in 1936-37 and served as curate at Huntingdon from 1937 until entering the Army in 1940. His 1940 personal record states that he spoke French and English fluently and knew enough Italian to hear confessions.
Fluent in French, English, Italian and Latin
[Previous notes - manual reconciliation required]
former vicar at St. Joseph's Church, Huntingdon, HG 28 July 1943
Reported for duty on Sept. 16, 1940.
Born at: Valleyfield, Que., on February 14, 1912.
BIRTH 14 FEB 1912 • Valleyfield, Beauharnois-Salaberry, Quebec, Canada DEATH 16 DEC 1981 • Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Continued in the military after ww2
Request confirmation number EA2026_0171042
retired as Lieutenant Colonel des Forces Canadiennes
Additional Service Notes
Official Record of Service: commissioned Honorary Captain in the Canadian Chaplain Services, Canadian Army (Active), in September 1940; promoted Honorary Major in November 1945; transferred to the Canadian Army (Regular) in October 1946; promoted Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel in October 1950; Colonel in July 1957; and Brigadier in May 1963. Wartime appointments included the Chaplains' Pool, Military District No. 4 (Sep 1940-Aug 1941); Headquarters, RCASC, 5th Canadian Armoured Division in Canada and the United Kingdom (Aug 1941-Feb 1943); Headquarters, RCASC, 11 Canadian Infantry Brigade (Feb 1943-Jul 1945), serving in the United Kingdom, Central Mediterranean Force/Italy and Northwest Europe; return through the United Kingdom and Canadian repatriation system in July 1945; then Canadian postings. Postwar appointments included Military District No. 13 and No. 10, District Chaplain at MD10, Prairie Command, Command Chaplain at Prairie Command, Central Command and Quebec Command, Assistant Director and then Director of Chaplain Services (Roman Catholic) at Army Headquarters, and Brigadier/Chaplain General (Roman Catholic) of the Armed Forces from May 1963 to February 1967. From February to September 1967 he was attached to the Canadian Forces Headquarters Administrative Unit and was honourably released in September 1967. His official awards list records the 1939-45 Star, Italy Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp, War Medal 1939-45, Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal 1953, and Canadian Forces' Decoration with 1st Clasp. He was qualified bilingual in English and French and awarded symbol B.
[Previous notes - manual reconciliation required]
Additional Next of Kin Notes
At enlistment the personal record named his brother John Charlebois, 308 Milgate Street, Utica, New York, as next of kin. A family form dated 2 October 1940 records that his father was deceased and his mother, Lydia Vallée Charlebois, was living at 140 Jacques Cartier Street, Valleyfield, Quebec.
Parents. Mother (Lydia Vallee) died aged &2, father (Eustache Charlebois) died aged 79 - specific cause of death unknown. Has three brothers and one sister - all alive and well, One brother had coronary last year ~ but is fine now. Patient is the youngest of a family of 13, two brothers died in United States Veterans Hospital - both veterans of WWI, Eldest brother was Olida Charlebois. One sister was Aline Bernadette Charlebois
Research Notes
Pass 3 completed systematic review of Part 1 pp.70-150. The official Record of Service at pp.77-79 provides the complete 1940-1967 appointment sequence and explicit decorations list. It confirms Brigadier as final rank and distinguishes the Chaplain General appointment (to Feb 1967) from subsequent CFHQ Administrative Unit status through release. Medical/casualty messages document a serious heart illness on 7 Jun 1966 while attending an RC seminar at Royal Military College Saint-Jean; he was transferred from the station hospital to Queen Mary Veterans Hospital, Montreal. Later records show continued cardiac-related admissions and employment limitations. Late-career travel records document an official 19 Nov-29 Dec 1964 liaison visit to Canadian forces in Europe and the Middle East, including France, Pisa, El Arish, Beirut, Nicosia, the United Kingdom and Germany. Retirement planning records state compulsory release age 14 Feb 1967, posting for release proceedings, and substantial special/annual/rehabilitation leave; later release records establish 26 Sep 1967 as actual Regular Force release. An official disciplinary screening for the Canadian Forces Decoration records nil offences/non-effective service.
Part 2 adds substantial medical chronology: April 1961 admission to Canadian Forces Hospital Rockcliffe for a deviated nasal septum with submucous resection on 18 April and discharge on 27 April; August-September 1966 NDMC readmission after the June myocardial infarction, with coronary heart disease/recent infarction and intervertebral disc disease documented and return to half-day duties; and a 25 December 1966-16 January 1967 NDMC admission for a large left-thigh hematoma while anticoagulated. A 9 February 1967 consultant report noted no cardiac pain, marked leg improvement and continued physiotherapy.
Part 2 final review adds a significant 1965 cervical-spine episode: admitted to NDMC 10 May with recurrent neck pain radiating to the left arm; myelogram 26 May showed a left C6-C7 protruded disc; cervical discectomy followed on 31 May and he was discharged improved 14 June with 30 days sick leave. The Dec 1966-Jan 1967 anticoagulation-related left-thigh hematoma caused substantial blood loss (hemoglobin 8.6), requiring four units of packed cells; anticoagulation was later discontinued as retirement/release approached.
