~*In mid-March 2017 a group from France's 'Odyssée de la Culture' travelled through Cape Breton with the aim of learning more about Private John Arsenault, one of the thousands of Canadian soldiers who enlisted, fought and gave up their lives on French soil; the non-profit organization is based in the municipality of Givenchy-en-Gohelle, where Vimy is located. They hope to create permanent cultural links and student exchanges between Cape Breton (and Canada) and Givenchy-en-Gohelle and its region to highlight the historic ties between the two countries.
~Though focusing on just one soldier, the 'Odyssée de la Culture' has honoured and commended every Canadian soldier who participated in the First World War.**
~In retracing John Arsenault's steps, the group began by visiting the Chéticamp home where John was born and raised; they went on to other Nova Scotia locations which were related to his enlistment, his army training and his departure for England aboard the SS 'Olympic', which embarked from Halifax. After that, the travel plans included following John's footsteps to England and from there, to France and to Vimy, where he lost his life during the battle of Vimy Ridge, only one year and four days after he'd enlisted in Nova Scotia. One of his great grandnieces took part in this trek to follow in her great granduncle's footsteps.
~On 9 April 2017, Givenchy-en-Gohelle honoured Private John Arsenault on the 100th anniversary of his death by naming a town street in his honour.
Military Service-
Rank: Private
Service Number: 222739
Age: 40
Force: Army
Unit: Canadian Infantry (Nova Scotia Regiment)
Division: 85th Battalion
A coal miner by trade, he enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 5 Oct 1916 in Sydney, Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Son of Simon and Victoria Arsenault (née Le Blanc) of New Aberdeen, Cape Breton County [his parents married on 13 Jan 1867 in Margaree, Inverness County, Nova Scotia].
Private John Arsenault is commemorated on Page 193 of Canada's First World War Book of Remembrance.
He is also commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
~*In mid-March 2017 a group from France's 'Odyssée de la Culture' travelled through Cape Breton with the aim of learning more about Private John Arsenault, one of the thousands of Canadian soldiers who enlisted, fought and gave up their lives on French soil; the non-profit organization is based in the municipality of Givenchy-en-Gohelle, where Vimy is located. They hope to create permanent cultural links and student exchanges between Cape Breton (and Canada) and Givenchy-en-Gohelle and its region to highlight the historic ties between the two countries.
~Though focusing on just one soldier, the 'Odyssée de la Culture' has honoured and commended every Canadian soldier who participated in the First World War.**
~In retracing John Arsenault's steps, the group began by visiting the Chéticamp home where John was born and raised; they went on to other Nova Scotia locations which were related to his enlistment, his army training and his departure for England aboard the SS 'Olympic', which embarked from Halifax. After that, the travel plans included following John's footsteps to England and from there, to France and to Vimy, where he lost his life during the battle of Vimy Ridge, only one year and four days after he'd enlisted in Nova Scotia. One of his great grandnieces took part in this trek to follow in her great granduncle's footsteps.
~On 9 April 2017, Givenchy-en-Gohelle honoured Private John Arsenault on the 100th anniversary of his death by naming a town street in his honour.
Military Service-
Rank: Private
Service Number: 222739
Age: 40
Force: Army
Unit: Canadian Infantry (Nova Scotia Regiment)
Division: 85th Battalion
A coal miner by trade, he enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force on 5 Oct 1916 in Sydney, Cape Breton County, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Son of Simon and Victoria Arsenault (née Le Blanc) of New Aberdeen, Cape Breton County [his parents married on 13 Jan 1867 in Margaree, Inverness County, Nova Scotia].
Private John Arsenault is commemorated on Page 193 of Canada's First World War Book of Remembrance.
He is also commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Inscription
(Epitaph...)
R. I. P.
