LAMARRE, P/O Joseph Yves Jean Claude (J95374) - Mention in Despatches - No.425 Squadron - (deceased) - Award effective 13 June 1946 as per London Gazette of that date and AFRO 726/46 dated 26 July 1946. Air gunner. Born in Montreal 12 December 1924; enlisted there 15 March 1943 and posted to No.5 Manning Depot. To No.1 Manning Depot, 7 April 1943. To No.4 WS, 29 August 1943; remained there to 7 October 1943 when posted to No.1 SFTS; to No.10 BGS, 29 October 1943; graduated and promoted Sergeant, 28 January 1944. Attended No.3 Aircrew Graduate Training School, Three Rivers, 12 February to 16 March 1944; posted on the latter date to ?Y? Depot; embarked 25 March 1944; arrived overseas 2 April 1944; to No.22 OTU, 30 May 1944; to No.61 Base, 20 September 1944; attached to No.1664 HCU, 11 October to 24 November 1944; to No.425 Squadron, 24 November 1944; commissioned in September 1945 with effect from 4 January 1945; killed in action 5/6 January 1945 (Halifax MZ860, aircraft :\"E\"); buried in Germany. His aircraft was shot down in the area of Nienburg/Weser at 1918 hours on 5 January 1945. The evidence was that all the crew baled out safely. However, P/O (then Flight Sergeant) Lamarre was shot by the SS. Other evidence suggested that WO2 (later P/O) J.A.P. Piche either died in the crash or was shot as well. With respect to Lamarre, the local SS officer, Obersturmbannfueher Bossenberg, had a heated argument with the local police chief, one Herr Keunecke who declined to shoot the prisoner, after which the SS officer declared, ?We will have to shoot him ourselves?. The story as put out that Lamarre had been shot while trying to escape, but Bossenberg ridiculed Keunecke for squeamishness, saying that a 19 year-old SS soldier had shot the prisoner. Information to this effect was known to Canadian authorities as early as 17 July 1945.

JOSEPH YVES JEAN CLAUDE P/O(AG) J95374//R219184. From Montreal, Quebec. Killed In Action Jan.6/45 age 20. #415 Swordfish Squadron (Ad Metam). Halifax aircraft # MZ 860 missing during operations over Hanover, Germany. P/O. J.A. Piche was also killed. One Canadian, FS. Cauchy, was either an Evader or was taken Prisoner Of War. Four Canadians, FS.s J.M. Cantin, J. Cote, F/L. J.J. Lesperance, and Sgt. E.F. Faulkner, were taken Prisoners Of War. Pilot Officer Air Gunner Lamarre is buried in the Limmer British Cemetery at Hanover, Germany.