Royal Canadian Artillery
Canadian Army
4th Canadian Armoured Division
ForceArmy, Artillery | 4th Canadian Armoured Division
Service NumberK/69471 (11 District Depot, Vancouver)
RankGunner
Engagement1942-10-28 | Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
T.O.S. this Regiment1944-10-02 (H.Q. 4th Canadian Armoured Division)
Overseas1943-07-21 | United Kingdom
Disembarked1944-07-22 | France
Date of Death1944-10-08 | The Netherlands
DiedDied in road accident
Additional InfoIn the dead of night, dispatch rider Billard departed from Sluiskil, Netherlands along the Ghent–Terneuzen Canal toward Terneuzen, Netherlands. It was Sunday, October 8 at 00:15, and he was carrying an urgent message from the artillery headquarters for the commander of the 342nd Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery. The message to postpone the shelling of the Paulinapolder never reached its destination. Billard somehow lost control over his motorcycle during the night along the canal and ended up injured in the water.
RecordsStudy the full service records
Birthdate1923-03-25
BirthplaceOkanagan Landing, British Columbia, Canada
Age21
ParentsSon of Hurbert John and Very May BILLARD
ReligionChurch of England
OccupationStudent
BILLARD, ERNEST JOHN - H.Q. 4th Canadian Armoured Division

Plot 11 | Row B | Grave 12

" HE SHALL GIVE HIS ANGELS CHARGE OVER THEE "

Medals
1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Service Volunteer Medal (with Clasp), 1939-45 War Medal
1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, Defence Medal, Canadian Service Volunteer Medal (with Clasp), 1939-45 War Medal
War Diary
War Diary 10 Canadian Infantry Brigade October 8, 1944
Adopted Grave
Unknown
Temporary Burial
Temporary burial, Assenede, Belgium
Coordinates Temporary Burial
51.225508418866,3.748639694861
Credits

Info from War Diary and Service Records: LAC (Library Archive Canada).

Photograph temporary burial: Eeklo Archive, Belgium.

Photographs Regimental and Division patch: JM-Militaria.

Photograph headstone: Michael van de Velde.

Adegem Canadian War Cemetery