Cyrille was born Nov 22, 1893 in Pokemouche, Gloucester, New Brunswick, Canada. He lived with his parents and 8 siblings on a farm in Inkerman and Upper Pokemouche. Next door to Cyrille and his family were his grandparents, several uncles and their families all earning their living as a farmer. Cyrille was also a farmer when he became old enough.
Farmer was the occupation he listed when he was arrested in Upper Pokemouche on July 11, 1918 for defaulting on his draft orders. Why did he not report for the draft? Was it because he could only speak French (1901 census indicates he only spoke French; unable to locate 1911 census) in what would most likely be an English environment. Was it a fear of dying? By July 1918 Canada had fought in many battles (Vimy Ridge, Passchendaele, etc.) and had lost many men. Did he believe that he was exempt from the draft because he was a farmer? Prime Minister Borden promised labouring farmers exemptions during his campaign but broke this promise after the election. We will never know his reason for not reporting.
Four days after being arrested for defaulting, Cyrille underwent medical examination in Sussex, Kings county, New Brunswick where he was declared fit for duty but lacked training. The description on his calling up describe him as 6 feet tall with a 39 inch chest, fair complexion, blue eyes and black hair with no distinctive marks.
Cyrill's time as a soldier was short, it is unknown if he even completed his training. He fell ill November 22, 1918 (approximately) of the Spanish Influenza while in Upper Pokemouche and died one week later on November 29, 1918. Cyrille was one of the 776 Canadian Expeditionary Force members for whom the Spanish Influenza Pandemic was fatal.
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| Library and Archives Canada; War Graves Registers: Circumstances of Death; Box: 239 |
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