D 15141 Sgt Paul Barrette, Royal Canadian Engineer

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Temujin
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Re: D 15141 Sgt Paul Barrette, Royal Canadian Engineer

Post by Temujin » Wed Aug 31, 2022 5:31 pm

I’ve checked thru the WD for 6 Jun 44, and then went back Months, found a few records when he was Duty Sgt…..but nothing on which part of the unit he was with.

Also, I found the entire “casualty list” (wounded and dead) for the entire war. Went thru and highlighted Sgt Barrette and all the other Killed of wounded. The WD mentions “some” of them……but not ALL of them……so still no idea on how Sgt Barrette may have been killed

Still looking…….I’m trying to find his name and possible which part of the Unit he was with on D Day…..if I can find this, their may be enough information in the War Dairies to point out what he was doing, and possible where he became a casualty….I hope

Casualty list
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This form tells you how to “read” the above lists
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The following are just a couple of the documents I found Sgt Barrette’s name on
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Re: D 15141 Sgt Paul Barrette, Royal Canadian Engineer

Post by Temujin » Wed Aug 31, 2022 6:05 pm

Similar information on the 16th Cdn Field Company RCE during D Day on this site

https://www.wartimes.ca/forums/viewtopic.php?t=365

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Re: D 15141 Sgt Paul Barrette, Royal Canadian Engineer

Post by Temujin » Wed Aug 31, 2022 6:09 pm

And this information from the CMEA website

Sergeant Paul Barrette, D15141
Sgt Paul Barrette Gravestone
Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery about 4 kms from Juno Beach in Normandy, France.
16th Field Company, Royal Canadian Engineers

Paul Barrette was born in Montreal, Quebec on 10 September 1910. The son of Arthur and Diana, he had three brothers and two sisters. He left school before the age of 13 and was single working as a mechanic with the local electric power company when he enlisted on 15 July 1940.
Over the next year, Paul completed his individual training with the 16th Field Company and on 18 June 1941, his unit embarked at Halifax for the United Kingdom. In England, Paul continued his individual training to upgrade his Pioneer qualifications as well as becoming trained as a Fitter and an Engine Artificer. He progressed in rank and was confirmed at the rank of Sergeant on 5 September 1943. The intensity of unit training increased in Spring 1944 as they prepared for the planned assault on the Continent.

On D-Day, several parties from 16th Field Company landed at H-Hour ahead of the infantry to provide immediate support for their assault. Despite the high water that brought landing troubles, two sections reached the beach along with their armoured bulldozers. They cleared a 50-foot gap in the beach obstacles within a half-hour.

While working on the beach, the troops were frequently under fire from German machine guns and mortars. As they moved off the beach, enemy sniper fire was the worst problem. Sergeant Barrett was the single D-Day fatality from 16th Field Company. Paul rested in a temporary grave at St Aubin Sur-Mer until removed to his permanent grave in Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery in France
..... Based on research conducted by the Canadian Military Engineers Association.

https://cmea-agmc.ca/D-Day-Tribute-Barr ... Fd-Coy-RCE

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Re: D 15141 Sgt Paul Barrette, Royal Canadian Engineer

Post by Temujin » Wed Aug 31, 2022 7:50 pm

I “think” I’ve found which Platoon he was in, after reading literally 100’s of pages of the War Diaires.

The documents below shows Unit Bridging training, and it’s broken down by Platoons, with (I BELIEVE) are the Platoon Sgt in charge of Training.

This show Sgt Barrette and Cpl Townsend “trained” 3 Platoon…………I will now compare this information to the War diaries for the 6th Jun 1944, and see if I can spot a possibility of where Sgt Barrette may have be Killed (it may be my best guess)
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Re: D 15141 Sgt Paul Barrette, Royal Canadian Engineer

Post by Temujin » Wed Aug 31, 2022 9:14 pm

After reviewing hundreds of pages of WD, I’m not able to give any more information on Sgt Barrette on his death.

I do know that he was the Platoon Sgt for No 3 Platoon, and his Platoon landed as “assault engineers” with the North Shore Regiment and the Queens Own Rifles of Canada in the first waves of the landing.

I was able to determine the organization of the Company at that time:

Officer Commanding - Maj V. C. Hamilton
2 i/c - Capt G.F. Smith
HQ’s Platoon Officers (Recce officers) - Lt M.C.M Cameron and Lt S.M Schofield
No 1 Platoon Commander - Lt E.M. Peto, Plt Sgt - Sgt Harrison
No 2 Platoon Commander - Lt J.L. Yeats
No 3 Platoon Commander - Lt L.P. Kenyon, Plt Sgt - Sgt P. Barrette
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No 1 Platoon landed approx H+20 min
No 2 Platoon landed Nan White at approx H+65 min
No 3 Platoon had 4 assualt engineer that landed in the first waves

Capt G.F. Smith, Landed with Coy Vehicles at approx H+7 hours

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Re: D 15141 Sgt Paul Barrette, Royal Canadian Engineer

Post by Temujin » Thu Sep 01, 2022 5:16 pm

Thought I’d post these for you
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Re: D 15141 Sgt Paul Barrette, Royal Canadian Engineer

Post by klambie » Thu Sep 01, 2022 5:29 pm

Temujin,

Any idea what P.A.D. duty is? Was looking for Barrette in those entries as they name the Platoon and usually the NCO in charge.
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Re: D 15141 Sgt Paul Barrette, Royal Canadian Engineer

Post by Temujin » Thu Sep 01, 2022 5:39 pm

klambie wrote:
Thu Sep 01, 2022 5:29 pm
Temujin,

Any idea what P.A.D. duty is? Was looking for Barrette in those entries as they name the Platoon and usually the NCO in charge.
Which entry was it Kevin……I’m not sure I’ve ever heard that acronym before

Let me see if I can find anything on P.A.D. Duty

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Re: D 15141 Sgt Paul Barrette, Royal Canadian Engineer

Post by klambie » Thu Sep 01, 2022 5:59 pm

Temujin wrote:
Thu Sep 01, 2022 5:39 pm
klambie wrote:
Thu Sep 01, 2022 5:29 pm
Temujin,

Any idea what P.A.D. duty is? Was looking for Barrette in those entries as they name the Platoon and usually the NCO in charge.
Which entry was it Kevin……I’m not sure I’ve ever heard that acronym before

Let me see if I can find anything on P.A.D. Duty
Third and fourth images in your post today. They seem to be sprinkled around fairly randomly, not always included with other duty Pl tasks.
Kevin Lambie
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Re: D 15141 Sgt Paul Barrette, Royal Canadian Engineer

Post by Temujin » Thu Sep 01, 2022 6:39 pm

klambie wrote:
Thu Sep 01, 2022 5:59 pm
Temujin wrote:
Thu Sep 01, 2022 5:39 pm
klambie wrote:
Thu Sep 01, 2022 5:29 pm
Temujin,

Any idea what P.A.D. duty is? Was looking for Barrette in those entries as they name the Platoon and usually the NCO in charge.
Which entry was it Kevin……I’m not sure I’ve ever heard that acronym before

Let me see if I can find anything on P.A.D. Duty
Third and fourth images in your post today. They seem to be sprinkled around fairly randomly, not always included with other duty Pl tasks.
Thanks, got it…….Not exactly sure, usually I’m pretty good sorting out acroynm’s but can’t figure this one out…….I think it might be a “reaction force”…… but I could be completely wrong, usually a “Engineer Section” with NCO so that 8 to 10 men……..I’ll see if I can find anything that tells us the meaning of that. Looking now

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