Lieutenant-Colonel J.F. L’Espérance
Régiment de la Chaudière

Men, we are back home, let us give thanks to God and pray for those who will never return. We left here Catholics and we have returned Catholics. Our first action home was to attend mass here.

(Montreal Gazette, 31 Dec 1945, 16)

Born In Montreal on 16 September 1913, Jean Fernand L’Espérance was a graduate of the University of Montreal and joined le Régiment de la Chaudière in 1932. He was commissioned two yeas later and served as a company commander on mobilization in 1940. He went to North Africa in January 1943 to gain combat experience while attached to the First British Army. He command “B” Company when the battalion landed on D-Day.

L’Espérance became second-in-command in November 1944 when Major G.O. Taschereau was elevated to succeed Lieutenant-Colonel Paul Mathieu. He took command a month after VE-Day when Taschereau transferred to the army of occupation in Germany. Awarded Chevalier of the Order of the Crown with Palm by Belgium, L’Espérance led the battalion home to Quebec in December 1945. He commanded the Régiment de la Chaudière again in the reserve army from 1949 to 1952.

After retiring from the army, he served as aide-de-camp to Lieutenant-Governor of Quebec Gaspard Fauteux. L’Espérance died in Levis, Quebec on 22 May 1957 at the age of only 44.