Boulet, Joseph Eugene

Date of birth:: November 19th, 1912 (Fort William/Ontario, Canada)
Date of death:: February 26th, 1945 (Xanten/North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany)
Buried on:: Canadian War Cemetery Groesbeek
Plot: XVI. Row: G. Grave: 7.
Nationality:: Canadian

Biography

Lieutenant
Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, R.C.I.C.

The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry was ordered to cross the border from the Netherlands into Germany on February 14, 1945, towards Kalkar and Xanten, Germany. The regiment made slow progress on the road between Goch and Kalkar, because the roads were often flooded due to dike breaches. The road also ran along the Hochwald, where heavy fighting took place. They managed to capture a high point along the road near Louisendorf and repelled several attacks by the German forces. On the morning of February 20, the situation was critical with another attack, but aided by the tanks of the Fort Garry Horse, they managed to stabilize things the next day. The RHLI had no fewer than 125 people killed in action. They moved on towards Xanten to push the enemy back even further.
On the night of February 26, Joe's company had a position on either side of the Goch-Kalkar road. That night, another enemy counter-attack, supported by tanks, took place. Joe was walking around in his platoon cheering on the men when he was hit by a grenade from one of these tanks. He was immediately evacuated and taken to the hospital in St. Michielsgestel. There he died that same evening at 10.30 pm, after every attempt had been made to save him. He had received a blood transfusion, plasma and had underwent surgery. To no avail.
Joseph Eugene Boulet died on February 26, 1945, he was 32 years old.

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