Remembering the Canadians Soldiers Lost in Southern France During the First World War

Dedicating a commerative plaque in Lesperon, France (BGen Irwin, Mayor Mrs. Cousseau, Cdr Nadeau and CCWO Marris)
CCWO Marris with M Alix, a Frence veteran in Dax, France
BGen Irwin saluting the grave of Pvt Herbert in Lesperon
Publication Date 
25 Oct 2019

On 5 October 2019, a small group of Canadians set out to remember lumberjacks who were sent overseas as part of the Canadian Engineers to cut wood in France to support the war effort. The Colonel Commandant, BGen Steve Irwin and the Branch Chief Warrant Officer, CWO Glenn Simpkin set out on a remembrance journey with Cadet CWO Marris and Capt Forget from 1573 Bassin-de-la-Lièvre Cadet Corps affiliated to the Mapping and Charting Establishment. 

The four of them participated in six different commemorative ceremonies in the South of France. Some Canadian, some American, but each ceremony had a meaning. Children gathered and remembered; veterans came together to talk, to exchange and to make a connection.  At each stop, a plaque was set up in the small town to commemorate the efforts and lives lost. Forever will be remembered the Canadian Lumberjacks in Leon, Lesperon and Laluque.

“Farewell and always, Remember them.
Corps forestier,
Corps humain,
Corps en mouvement,
Corps qui fait corps….”

(taken from, Les faiseurs de sciure by Evelyne Kendzior-Pellereau).