Lieutenant Joseph M Rousseau

Joseph Maurice Rousseau was the son of J. M. A. L. and Gabrielle Fafard Rousseau, of Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada; husband of Agnes Hornby Rousseau, of Montreal. He enlisted on 14 December 1940 in Royal Military College, Regiment Montmagny.

He was 5’ 8½“, Fair Complexion, 178½ lbs, Blue eyes, blond hair, with 20/30 vision. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 11 February 1941 and arrived in Gourock, Scotland on 30 July 1941. He married Agnes in Preston, UK, on 21 August 1943.

His brother, Lt Philippe Rousseau, also served in the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion.

Lieutenant Rousseau transferred to 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion on 8 November 1943, qualified as a parachutist on 24 December 1943 and took part in Operation Overlord (Normandy).

Lt Rousseau and the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion jumped into France on 5/6 June 1944. He was attached to 2nd Special Air Service Regiment on 9 September 1944, and was killed in action on 20 September 1944, aged 25. He was given a field burial in Igney Communal Cemetery, and was re-interred to Ranville War Cemetery, Calvados, France, on 11 December 1945.

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