Sergeant Irvin Alexander Laberge

Irvin Alexander Laberge was born at Malone, New York, on 22 October 1920 and lived in Huntingdon, Quebec. Educated at St. Joseph School, Huntingdon Academy and an embalming school in Syracuse, he worked in plumbing and undertaking before joining the Royal Canadian Air Force on 4 November 1941, R141824. He served in Canada as a guard, service policeman and ground-warfare instructor, at west-coast stations and later at Bagotville, Greenwood and Pennfield Ridge. He reached Sergeant and was discharged on 14 August 1945. He intended to return to embalming and undertaking after helping his father in plumbing. A Veterans Affairs enquiry records his death at Huntingdon on 30 March 1966.

1920-10-22 — Born Irvin Alexander Labarge, later known as Laberge; Malone, New York, USA.
1927 – 1934 — Attended St. Joseph School; Huntingdon, Quebec.
1934 – 1938 — Attended Huntingdon Academy, four years of high school; completed Grade XI; Huntingdon, Quebec.
1938 – 1939 — Studied embalming and mortuary science at Syracuse School of Embalming; later counselling calls it a six-month Simmons course; Syracuse, New York, USA.
1939 – 1941 — Worked as plumber's helper for Laberge Bros.; also learned plumbing with his father; Huntingdon, Quebec.
1940 – 1941 — Worked as embalmer for Lyld Kelly; later counselling gives about two and a half years with Kelly Undertakers; Huntingdon, Quebec.
1941-10-01 — Applied to the RCAF; declared American birth name Irvin Alexander Labarge and intention to use Laberge; declaration day appears to be 1 October; Montreal, Quebec.
1941-10-08 — Recruiting medical examination: fit for ground service, category A4B, 72½ inches, 215 pounds, chest 41 inches with 2-inch expansion; Montreal, Quebec.
1941-11-03 — Interview assessed type very good, appearance neat and suitability Standard Tradesman; standard-trade test passed; Montreal, Quebec.
1941-11-04 — Attested for RCAF Special Reserve active service for the duration, R141824, Aircraftman 2nd Class and Standard Tradesman; affirmation rather than oath; Montreal, Quebec.
1941-11-04 – 1941-11-05 — Posted to No. 1 Manning Depot; travelled by CPR rail from Montreal Windsor Station at 2355, arriving Toronto at 0810 on 5 November; Toronto, Ontario.
1941-11-05 — Certified family particulars: unmarried, parents alive at Huntingdon; Metropolitan insurance premiums arranged; Toronto, Ontario.
1941-11-06 — Smallpox vaccination, negative Schick and positive Dick tests; T.A.B.T. and scarlet-fever preventive injections followed through December; Toronto, Ontario.
1941-11-08 — Dental examination at No. 1 Manning Depot found fair oral hygiene, prophylaxis required and treatment needs; Toronto, Ontario.
1941-12-13 — Struck off strength of No. 1 Manning Depot; remustered from Standard Tradesman to Standard Guard; Toronto, Ontario.
1941-12-14 — Taken on strength of Trenton training unit; Trenton, Ontario.
1941-12-15 – 1942-01-03 — Security Guard Course, No. 6 Composite Training School; passed 201/300, 67%, 59th of 251; assessed fair worker, unsuitable as instructor at this stage; Trenton, Ontario.
1942-01-03 — Posting sequence records departure from Trenton for Coal Harbour detachment; early entries were amended; Coal Harbour, British Columbia.
1942-01-17 — Proceeded from Vancouver to RCAF Station Bella Bella; service verification establishes this movement date; Bella Bella, British Columbia.
1942-02-04 — Reclassified Aircraftman 1st Class; one record instead reads 4 March; Bella Bella, British Columbia.
1942-03-06 — Qualified in musketry practices; certificate contains a service-number transposition; Bella Bella, British Columbia.
1942-05-04 — Reclassified Leading Aircraftman; Bella Bella, British Columbia.
1942-05-25 – 1942-06-03 — Emergency dental treatment surrounding alveolar-abscess admission; Bella Bella, British Columbia.
1942-05-26 – 1942-06-02 — Hospitalized with painful swollen right lower jaw, alveolar abscess; saline washes and heat, improved and returned to duty with daily dental follow-up; Bella Bella, British Columbia.
1942-06-05 — Lower-right molar extracted; further prophylaxis and restorations during June–August; Bella Bella, British Columbia.
1942-07-19 — Miscellaneous entry appears to authorize two weeks sick leave; abbreviation not fully expanded; Bella Bella, British Columbia.
1942-07-21 – 1942-08-04 — Fourteen days annual leave recorded; Bella Bella, British Columbia.
1942-08-07 – 1942-08-13 — Absent without leave from 0030 on 7 August until 2030 on 13 August, six days twenty hours; Bella Bella, British Columbia.
1942-08-14 – 1942-08-17 — Awarded four days detention and forfeiture of seven days pay for AWOL; eleven days later excluded from qualifying service; Bella Bella, British Columbia.
1942-11-23 — Remustered Security Guard, Group C; Bella Bella, British Columbia.
1943-03-09 – 1943-03-31 — Temporary duty; ceased on 31 March; Gordon Head, British Columbia.
1943-03-31 — Struck off station strength on transfer to Patricia Bay; Bella Bella, British Columbia.
1943-04-01 — Taken on strength of RCAF Station Patricia Bay; Patricia Bay, British Columbia.
1943-04-08 — Outpatient right-thumb X-ray showed small flake fracture of palmar head of first metacarpal; no treatment advised; Victoria, British Columbia.
1943-04-12 — Qualified ground-warfare instructor, Army category QI; another copy gives an uncertain February date; Patricia Bay, British Columbia.
1943-04-16 – 1943-04-22 — Seven days compassionate leave; Patricia Bay, British Columbia.
1943-04-22 — Dental re-examination; Patricia Bay, British Columbia.
1943-06-18 – 1943-07-01 — Fourteen days annual leave; Patricia Bay, British Columbia.
1943-07-31 — Station certified current liquor permit; Patricia Bay, British Columbia.
1943-08-07 — Ground-warfare instructor assessment: handled classes well, keen, good instructor and dependable leader; Patricia Bay, British Columbia.
1943-08-27 — Blood group A recorded at Patricia Bay; Patricia Bay, British Columbia.
1943-08-28 — Passed LAC-to-Corporal drill and ceremonial qualification at 86%; all five categories scored 86; Patricia Bay, British Columbia.
1943-09-01 — Appointed paid Acting Corporal; Patricia Bay, British Columbia.
1943-09-27 – 1943-10-18 — Temporary-duty attachment; Vickers .303 medium-machine-gun course ran 27 September–16 October, passed 216/300, 72%, recommended as instructor; Gordon Head, British Columbia.
1943-10-02 — Drunkenness at 2130; reprimanded; conduct sheet entry dated 9 October; Victoria, British Columbia.
1943-10-26 — Applied to buy $50 Fifth Victory Loan bond, payable by six $8.40 monthly assignments; delivery to Alex Laberge at Huntingdon; Patricia Bay, British Columbia.
1943-11-14 — Assessment called him keen and good ground-warfare instructor; one drunkenness case excepted from otherwise exemplary conduct; Patricia Bay, British Columbia.
1943-11-15 — Remustered Service Police, Group C, Defence duties; commanding officer recommended delayed promotion; Patricia Bay, British Columbia.
1943-11-20 — Proficiency review recommended retaining acting rank another two months; Patricia Bay, British Columbia.
1943-12-01 — Temporary Corporal appointment recorded; Patricia Bay, British Columbia.
1943-12-19 — Classification-test score 46 recorded; Patricia Bay, British Columbia.
1943-12-23 – 1944-01-04 — Special leave recorded; Patricia Bay, British Columbia.
1944-01-12 — Selected by Western Air Command as instructor for new Service Police (Defence) organization, with anticipated Sergeant Instructor rank; Patricia Bay, British Columbia.
1944-01-15 — Canadian Volunteer Service Medal recorded; station also certified liquor permit; Patricia Bay, British Columbia.
1944-02-17 – 1944-02-24 — Seven days annual leave; Patricia Bay, British Columbia.
1944-03-03 — Found unsuitable for potential aircrew because of heavyweight build; ground-service fitness retained; Patricia Bay, British Columbia.
1944-03-06 — Struck off strength to Ucluelet; Patricia Bay, British Columbia.
1944-03-07 — Taken on strength of RCAF Station Ucluelet; Ucluelet, British Columbia.
1944-03-20 – 1944-04-04 — Temporary-duty attachment from Ucluelet; Tofino, British Columbia.
1944-04-17 — Struck off station strength for Eastern Air Command Administrative Unit, Halifax; Ucluelet, British Columbia.
1944-04-18 — Taken on strength and struck off strength of Eastern Air Command Administrative Unit; Halifax, Nova Scotia.
1944-04-19 – 1944-04-26 — No. 501 Personnel Holding Unit interval before Bagotville posting; Halifax, Nova Scotia.
1944-04-27 — Taken on strength of No. 1 Operational Training Unit; Bagotville, Quebec.
1944-05-22 — Assessment described very satisfactory ground-warfare instructor, with Sergeant establishment vacancy; Bagotville, Quebec.
1944-06-01 — Appointed paid Acting Sergeant; later temporary-sergeant paperwork uses same effective date; Bagotville, Quebec.
1944-06-10 — St. John Ambulance Badge recorded; Bagotville, Quebec.
1944-06-26 – 1944-06-28 — Dental restorations followed by prophylaxis; recorded dentally fit; Bagotville, Quebec.
1944-07-17 – 1944-07-25 — Seven days annual leave plus one day's travelling time; Bagotville, Quebec.
1944-09-26 – 1944-10-03 — Assessment and command endorsement recommended retention of acting rank; not recommended for commission; Bagotville, Quebec.
1944-10-28 — Struck off strength of No. 1 OTU to No. 8 OTU, Greenwood; Bagotville, Quebec.
1944-10-29 — Taken on strength of No. 8 Operational Training Unit; Greenwood, Nova Scotia.
1944-10-30 — Victory Loan application gives No. 1 OTU and MPO 503; requested $1,000 Seventh Loan bearer bond paid by cheque, delivery through Huntingdon bank to Alexander; Bagotville, Quebec.
1945-01-18 – 1945-01-29 — Twelve days leave, seven annual and five New Year days; transportation entry recorded; Greenwood, Nova Scotia.
1945-01-23 — Assessment described competent, tactful NCO with superior trade skill, effective administration and dependable leadership; Greenwood, Nova Scotia.
1945-01-26 – 1945-02-01 — Command recommended and concurred in Temporary Sergeant appointment effective 1 June 1944; Greenwood, Nova Scotia.
1945-02-14 – 1945-02-15 — Dental re-examination and restoration; Greenwood, Nova Scotia.
1945-02-26 – 1945-07-05 — Temporary duty from No. 8 OTU, Greenwood; returned 5 July; Pennfield Ridge, New Brunswick.
1945-04-16 — Purchased $50 Eighth Victory Loan bond by six $8.40 monthly assignments; directed delivery to Alexander Laberge; Pennfield Ridge, New Brunswick.
1945-05-16 — Applied for voluntary discharge, subject to command surplus and service priority; reported no overseas service; Pennfield Ridge, New Brunswick.
1945-06-23 (approximate) — Eastern Air Command discharge authorization under KR(Air)195(17); another letter cites 28 June; Halifax, Nova Scotia.
1945-07-05 — Returned from Pennfield Ridge temporary duty; Greenwood, Nova Scotia.
1945-07-06 — Authorized discharge clearance; counselling planned return to embalming after helping father in plumbing; Greenwood, Nova Scotia.
1945-07-10 — Identification discs lost about this date, later certified 13 August; Greenwood, Nova Scotia.
1945-07-11 – 1945-08-16 — Pre-discharge leave, seven annual plus thirty special days, home address Box 25; Huntingdon, Quebec.
1945-07-31 — No. 8 OTU disbandment led to amended posting to No. 2 Release Centre, Lachine; original order had 16 August; Greenwood, Nova Scotia.
1945-08-13 — Release medical assessment: no complaints, fit for any employment, category A4B/profile 111111-2; negative chest X-ray and dental treatment requirements; Lachine, Quebec.
1945-08-13 — Discharge counselling and gratuity application; referred to employment service Valleyfield and Veterans Affairs Montreal; Lachine, Quebec.
1945-08-14 — Discharged Sergeant, Service Police Group C, on completion of voluntary emergency service KR(Air)195(17); transferred General Section Reserve Class E; War Service Badge 174159; Lachine, Quebec.
1945-08-15 – 1945-08-18 — Four days commuted leave; date fields on other copies conflict; Huntingdon, Quebec.
1945-08-24 — RCAF returned birth certificate, education/reference letter and will to Huntingdon; notified Pension Commission of discharge; Ottawa, Ontario.
1945-08-29 – 1945-08-31 — Allowance enquiry confirmed no dependants allowance in issue and no deductible allowance or assigned-pay overpayment; Ottawa, Ontario.
1945-09-07 — War-service gratuity $337.50 for 1,369 qualifying days; four monthly instalments entered as $84.37; Huntingdon, Quebec.
1946-08-14 — Postwar dental relief: upper-left third molar extracted, fillings and prophylaxis; signed satisfactory-treatment certificate; Huntingdon, Quebec.
1946-09-23 — Additional amalgam fillings; year inferred from preceding 1946 treatment entry; Huntingdon, Quebec.
1953-01-19 — Veterans Affairs authorized final $0.50 re-establishment-credit payment to close account; allowances 2 or 5 not granted; Huntingdon, Quebec.
1966-03-30 — Died, according to 1997 Veterans Affairs verification request; Huntingdon, Quebec.
1997-04-01 — Veterans Affairs sought service verification for War Veterans Allowance purposes; request is not proof of allowance award; Calgary, Alberta.
1997-04-10 — Service verification confirmed Canada-only service, enlistment and discharge dates, and Vancouver–Bella Bella movement 17 January 1942; Calgary, Alberta.