PAYETTE, PTE JOSEPH - Regimental #657655
Joseph Payette was the older brother of Henry Joseph Payette. He was born August 15, 1889 in Queensborough, Ontario the son of Antoine and Mary Alice (Genereaux) Payette.
Joseph Payette
Joseph enlisted March 13, 1916 in Sundridge. Like his brother he identified his address as Ahmic Harbour and like others the 162nd he sailed October 31, 1916.
In December, he was taken on strength in the 35th Battalion and then transferred to the 4th Reserve Battalion. On February 27, 1917 he was transferred to the 1st Battalion in France arriving March 10.
On April 9, 1917 he was wounded at Vimy Ridge. The bullet entered through his nose and passed through the left orbit and came out the left side of his face.
He was with the 1st Battalion at the time of the injury. He had a loss of hearing in left ear, impaired vision in his left eye and impeded airway due to a bullet through his nose and face. Joseph was discharged from the Army May 9, 1919.
Tim Cook writing about the Battle of Vimy Ridge noted: “Attacking together for the first time, the four Canadian divisions stormed the ridge at 5:30am on 9 April 1917. More than 15,000 Canadian infantry overran the Germans all along the front. Incredible bravery and discipline allowed the infantry to continue moving forward under heavy fire, even when their officers were killed.There were countless acts of sacrifice, as Canadians single-handedly charged machine-gun nests or forced the surrender of Germans in protective dugouts. Hill 145, the highest and most important feature of the Ridge, and where the Vimy monument now stands, was captured in a frontal bayonet charge against machine-gun positions. Three more days of costly battle delivered final victory. The Canadian operation was an important success, even if the larger British and French offensive, of which it had been a part, had failed. But it was victory at a heavy cost: 3,598 Canadians were killed and another 7,000 wounded.”
Joseph was discharged from the army on May 9, 1919. He was identified as having enlisted March 13, 1916 and as having served in the 1st Canadian Battalion in France.
