The War Memorial Monument in Winnipeg Beach was dedicated in 2005 by the Ladies Auxiliary Branch #61 in honour of veterans, in the Year of the Veteran. Winnipeg Beach has many War Heros and Heroines who served in both the first and second wars. A plaque in the Winnipeg Beach legion has a list of founding members who all served in the war. Families have begun to provide the Winnipeg Beach Historical Society with photos and details about their service, and they will eventually all be included here in our historic archives.
However today as you stand at this memorial, we would like to honor a Winnipeg Beach family who paid the ultimate price, sending three sons off to war, and having only one return, with both of the other sons giving their lives for our freedom on the very same day.
Note: Edmond on the left and Joseph in the middle were both killed on the same day of 17 August 1944.
Three brothers who went to war and only one returned. The sad thing is that both brothers Lieutenant Edmond Emile Baillargeon(left) and Flight Lieutenant Joseph Louis (middle) were both killed on the same day, August 17,1944. Elizabeth's father, Sergeant Lawrence Vincent Baillargeon returned home from the war and passed away July 15, 1994.
The three brothers actually lived on Hazel Avenue in Winnipeg Beach from 1927-1937 with their sister Mae and their mother and father.
From a newspaper article at the time…
WORKER'S SOLDIER SON DEAD, AND FLYING SON IS MISSING
With news reaching him that one son has died of wounds received in action and that a second is missing following air operations, Edmond Baillargeon, Ford plant worker of 425 Pitt Street West, today knows the tragic meaning that war can spell to the home front.
On August 20 Mr. Baillargeon received a wire from the R.C..F. Casualties officer in Ottawa informing him that his son, PO. Joseph Louis Baillargeon was missing following air operations overseas on August 17.
On August 24 came a second wire, from the director of army records in
Ottawa, stating his son, Lt Edmond Emile Baillargeon had died August 17 as a result of head wounds received in action.
Mr. Baillargeon's other son - Cpl. Lawrence Baillargeon, is with the Canadian Army in France.
Lawrence, 22, is the youngest son; Joseph is 24, and Edmond was 26. Lawrence went overseas in 1940 as a private with the Essex Scottish; Joseph went overseas in 1941, and Edmond went over in October, 1943, holding an officer's rank at the time.
All three boys were well known in Windsor, where Edmond and Joseph were both employed. Both were university graduates and Lawrence was about to enter university at the outbreak of war.
Lt. Edmond Baillargeon attended Assumption College and studied four years at the University of Saskatoon. He spent a brief period on the city hall staff. Sisters in the family are Mrs. Allen Chester of Winnipeg, whose husband is overseas; Mrs. John Wilk of Winnipeg, and Mrs. Roy English of Port Arthur.
Note: Edmond on the left of the photo and Joseph in the middle were both killed on the same day of 17 August 1944. Joseph was shot down over the Baltic Sea, his body never recovered. Lawrence on the right returned home and passed away on 15 July 1994. The Baillargeon Boys lived in Winnipeg Beach from 1927-1937 on Hazel Street with their sister Mae, and their mother and father. They were Free Press carrier boys in Winnipeg Beach.
