Sergeant Jean Baptiste Latremouille
Jean Baptiste was born in Hamilton and probably moved to Paris to work at Penmans No.1 Mill as a mill hand. He was Roman Catholic, married to Florence Latremouille, and 22 years of age when he enlisted with the 125th Battalion in Paris.
Jean Baptiste was a member of the 9th Platoon that embarked aboard the S.S Scandinavia on February 12, 1916. The 9th and 10th Platoons were the first contingent of soldiers from Paris, nearly 100 men, to go overseas. He seemed to remain with the 125th until 1918. He eaned the rank of lance Corporal on August 26, 1916 and was appointed Sergeant on February 14, 1918.
On March 15, 1918, he was transferred to the Canadian Railway Troops in Purfleet. The Canadian Railway Troops (CRT), formed in January 1917, was a crucial World War I unit composed of experienced railway workers, organized in England, and deployed to France in February 1917 to build and maintain vital railway infrastructure on the Western Front, supporting logistics and troop movement until the war's end. The military planners recruited skilled railway workers from across Canada, ensuring technical expertise. They were essential for building, maintaining, and operating railway lines to transport troops, ammunition, and supplies, keeping the war effort moving.
Canadian Railway Troops were frequently under enemy fire. Because their primary mission was to push rail lines as close to the front as possible to support major offensives, they operated in highly dangerous zones. Unlike infantry who had the protection of trenches, railway troops often worked above ground in the open to build or repair tracks. This made them prime targets for artillery shelling and aerial bombing. And they were constantly in such danger because there were often roughly 100 breaks per day due to enemy shell fire. During the massive German Spring Offensive in March 1918, CRT units were forced to abandon railway work and were instead used as emergency combat troops to build rear defense trench systems under fire. From early 1917 until the end of the war, the Canadian Railway Corps suffered 1,977 casualties due to accidents, shelling, gas, and direct fire. The Canadian Railway Troops, including the 4th Battalion, played a vital, though often overlooked, role in the Canadian Expeditionary Force's success, ensuring the lifeline of supplies reached the front lines.
On March 28, he departed for France with the 13th Battalion CRT and arrived the next day. On July 14, he was confirmed in the rank of Sergeant. On January 29, 1919, he was transferred to England for demobilization. On March 29, 1919, he was discharged in Toronto.