Joseph Kaeble
Encyclopedia
Joseph-Thomas Kaeble, VC
, MM
(5 May 1892 – 9 June 1918) was a Canadian
recipient of the Victoria Cross
, the highest military award for gallantry in the face of the enemy given to British
and Commonwealth
forces. He was the first French Canadian soldier to be decorated with the VC and Military Medal.
, Quebec
, he was a corporal
in the 22e Battalion (Canadien Francais)
, Canadian Expeditionary Force
during the First World War. On 8 June 1918 at Neuville-Vitasse
, France
, Kaeble performed an act of bravery for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross. He died whilst doing so.
At CFB Valcartier
, honors to Kaeble include Mount Kaeble, just east of Camp Vimy; a street on the base; and the Kaeble Club, the privates' and corporals' mess
.
On February 10, 2011, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans announced
that the nine new vessels in a new class of midshore patrol vessels would be named the Hero-class patrol vessels.
One of the new vessels will be named after Kaeble.
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, MM
Military Medal
The Military Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land....
(5 May 1892 – 9 June 1918) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
recipient of the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, the highest military award for gallantry in the face of the enemy given to British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
forces. He was the first French Canadian soldier to be decorated with the VC and Military Medal.
Biography
Born 5 May 1892 in Saint-MoïseSaint-Moïse, Quebec
Saint-Moïse is a parish municipality in Quebec....
, Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, he was a corporal
Corporal
Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
in the 22e Battalion (Canadien Francais)
Royal 22e Régiment
The Royal 22nd Regiment is an infantry regiment and the most famous francophone organization of the Canadian Forces. The regiment comprises three Regular Force battalions, two Primary Reserve battalions, and a band, making it the largest regiment in the Canadian Army...
, Canadian Expeditionary Force
Canadian Expeditionary Force
The Canadian Expeditionary Force was the designation of the field force created by Canada for service overseas in the First World War. Units of the C.E.F. were divided into field formation in France, where they were organized first into separate divisions and later joined together into a single...
during the First World War. On 8 June 1918 at Neuville-Vitasse
Neuville-Vitasse
Neuville-Vitasse is a commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Nord-Pas-de-Calais region of France.-Geography:Neuville-Vitasse situated southeast of Arras, at the junction of the D14 and D5 roads.-Population:-Places of interest:...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Kaeble performed an act of bravery for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross. He died whilst doing so.
Citation
Transported to hospital, Corporal Joseph Kaeble died of his wounds the next night, 9 June.Burial and legacy
He was buried in the local cemetery in Wantequin, some seven miles west of Arras (Wantequin memorial/cemetery: Plot II. Row A. Grave 8. Headstone).At CFB Valcartier
CFB Valcartier
Canadian Forces Base Valcartier is a Canadian Forces Base located in the municipality of Saint-Gabriel-de-Valcartier, approximately north of Quebec City...
, honors to Kaeble include Mount Kaeble, just east of Camp Vimy; a street on the base; and the Kaeble Club, the privates' and corporals' mess
Mess
A mess is the place where military personnel socialise, eat, and live. In some societies this military usage has extended to other disciplined services eateries such as civilian fire fighting and police forces. The root of mess is the Old French mes, "portion of food" A mess (also called a...
.
On February 10, 2011, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans announced
that the nine new vessels in a new class of midshore patrol vessels would be named the Hero-class patrol vessels.
One of the new vessels will be named after Kaeble.
External links
- Biography at the Dictionary of Canadian Biography Online
- In memory of Corporal JOSEPH KAEBLE (service/personal details, citation, relevant documents, burial information)
- Legion Magazine Article on Joseph Kaeble
- Find-A-Grave profile for Joseph Kaeble