Private Edouard Reuben Maillet 666334
Canadian Expeditionary Force
Edouard Reuben Maillet was born in Ricibucto- Village in Kent County, NB on January 14, 1890. His father was Reuben S. Maillet and his step-mother was Victoria Maillet. The war that was supposed to be over at Christmas was now in its second year. Maillet felt he had to contribute. He enlisted at the age of 26 in March of 1916 in Moncton, NB. Prior to joining the military he was a labourer. Upon enlistment, he was with placed with the 165th Battalion and later taken on strength by the 4th Pioneer Battalion. His medical records from 1916 indicate that he was 5’ 8” tall and weighed 140 pounds. He had a medium complexion, dark hair and blue eyes. His medical record also noted that he had a contusion to an abdominal wall as the result of an injury sustained in 1912 while in the United States. The file indicates that the injury was the result of lifting a heavy object. Edouard stated during his examination that he aggravated the same area in 1913. This hernia would cause further troubles for Edouard during his military career in Europe.
Edouard served his country for 3 years and 42 days. After training in Canada from March to September, 1916 he then proceeded to England on the SS Metagana. He disembarked in Liverpool on September 22, 1916. He was taken on strength by the 5th Canadian Pioneer Battalion at Crowborough on December 2, 1916. Crowborough had a Canadian Machine Gun Training School which opened during the second half of the First World War. On January 14, 1917, he was sent to France to face battle for the first time. He was taken on strength by the 3rd Canadian Pioneer Battalion. A pioneer battalion worked in conjunction with the engineers. They helped to consolidate positions captured by the infantry. They were also involved with tunneling, mining, wiring, railroad work, and building and maintaining trenches. This battalion played a vital role in the preparation work prior to the April 9th attack on Vimy Ridge and over the course of the four day battle.
Edouard was transferred to the 29th Battalion on May 8, 1917. The hernia which had troubled him for several years was again aggravated as his medical records indicate that he was hit in this spot with a lump of earth while fighting in France in 1917.
On April 30, 1918 Edouard was struck off strength to the 2nd Battalion Canadian Machine Gun Corps. Maillet would fight through until the end of the war. On April 13, 1919, he returned to England and left for Canada on May 14, 1919. He was discharged on May 25, 1919 in Toronto at the age of 29. He returned to Richibucto- Village where he fished for a few years and then took care of the Richibucto Harbour Lights. He retired in 1951 to take care of his wife, Emma, who was ill. Edouard and Emma had 2 sons and 5 daughters.
Edouard died at the age of 74 on February 18, 1964 at Hotel Dieu Hospital in Moncton. He had served his country well and his family is proud of his contribution to the military.
Edouard served his country for 3 years and 42 days. After training in Canada from March to September, 1916 he then proceeded to England on the SS Metagana. He disembarked in Liverpool on September 22, 1916. He was taken on strength by the 5th Canadian Pioneer Battalion at Crowborough on December 2, 1916. Crowborough had a Canadian Machine Gun Training School which opened during the second half of the First World War. On January 14, 1917, he was sent to France to face battle for the first time. He was taken on strength by the 3rd Canadian Pioneer Battalion. A pioneer battalion worked in conjunction with the engineers. They helped to consolidate positions captured by the infantry. They were also involved with tunneling, mining, wiring, railroad work, and building and maintaining trenches. This battalion played a vital role in the preparation work prior to the April 9th attack on Vimy Ridge and over the course of the four day battle.
Edouard was transferred to the 29th Battalion on May 8, 1917. The hernia which had troubled him for several years was again aggravated as his medical records indicate that he was hit in this spot with a lump of earth while fighting in France in 1917.
On April 30, 1918 Edouard was struck off strength to the 2nd Battalion Canadian Machine Gun Corps. Maillet would fight through until the end of the war. On April 13, 1919, he returned to England and left for Canada on May 14, 1919. He was discharged on May 25, 1919 in Toronto at the age of 29. He returned to Richibucto- Village where he fished for a few years and then took care of the Richibucto Harbour Lights. He retired in 1951 to take care of his wife, Emma, who was ill. Edouard and Emma had 2 sons and 5 daughters.
Edouard died at the age of 74 on February 18, 1964 at Hotel Dieu Hospital in Moncton. He had served his country well and his family is proud of his contribution to the military.
