LeBlanc, Joseph Thomas Lloyd

Date of birth:: December 19th, 1915 (Grande-Cascapedia/Quebec, Canada)
Date of death:: May 25th, 1944 (Hank/North Brabant, The Netherlands)
Buried on:: Commonwealth War Cemetery Jonkerbos
Plot: 24. Row: J. Grave: 2-4.
Service number:: R/174719
Nationality:: Canadian

Biography

Joseph was born on December 19 1915 in Grande-Cascapedia Quebec, the son of John N. LeBlanc and Lucy LeBlanc nee d'Amboise of Grand Cascapedia. They were married in 1910 in Bonaventura Quebec.

He was married on May 31 1943 in Toronto with Ruth Sybil LeBlanc nee O'Neil of Toronto. Ruth remarried later as Mrs. Wigg.

He was the brother of Arnold, Roland John (armed forces RCAF), Leonard Joseph (armed forces Army), Alban Arthur (armed forces Army), James Elbert, Mary Clara, Stella Grace and Mona LeBlanc. Two brothers were already deceased earlier as well one sister during the infancy.

He was a miner and member of the Roman Catholic Church. He spoke fluently English and French and his sports were hockey and softball and his hobby was photography.

He enlisted on July 8 1942 in Moncton New Brunswick and went on June 24 1943 thereafter overseas to the UK.

Joseph was killed in action on Thursday May 25 1944 age 28 due to a crash in the Oranjepolder near Hank before or after an attack on Aachen in Germany.

The other fallen RCAF crew member was F/O Sidney G. Peterson age 21 in grave 24-J-2-4.
The other fallen RAF Volunteer Reserve crew members were P/O Eric B. Wilson (South Rhodesia) in grave 24-J-2-4, Sgt William J. White age 22 in grave 24-J-2-4, F/O Norman A. Marston (DFC) age 24 in grave 24-J-2-4, F/Sgt Joseph Henderson age 33 in grave 24-J-2-4 and Sgt George H. Butler age 21 in grave 24-J-5.

On his headstone: NEVER FORGOTTEN. ONE OF THE BEST

There also is a monument near the crash site with the names of the fallen crew members.

He served with the 78 (R.A.F.) Sqdn Royal Canadian Air Force.