Paul Grenier

Lt-Col. C.F.L. Roy

/ Matthew K Barrett / Leave a comment

Lieutenant-Colonel Laurent Roy
Fusiliers Mont-Royal
Roy

Our second in command Major C. F. L. Roy was found in the skin of a merchant selling a typewriter to two war correspondents. Now we know he is the man to occupy the position of Mess President for the officers mess. Tow we can buy two new typewriters for our secretary.

(War diary, 25 May 1945)

Born on 30 December 1915 in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Charles Francis Laurent Roy worked for the Canada Starch company and graduated from the Joliette Seminary. Since 1935 he had been a commissioned officer in the Régiment de Joliette, which mobilized in 1942 for home service as part of the Atlantic Command in New Brunswick and Newfoundland. In January 1945, the regiment went overseas to England where it was broken-up for reinforcements. Roy as attached to the Fusiliers Mont-Royal as second-in-command during the final phase of the Northwest Europe campaign.

Continue reading →

Lt-Col. P. Grenier

/ Matthew K Barrett / Leave a comment

Lieutenant-Colonel Paul Grenier
Fusiliers Mont-Royal
Grenier

The weak link in this Bde is the Fus M.R. I do not believe that Grenier has the military knowledge and professional ability to produce a good and well-trained Bn. He has commanded the Bn for over 5 years and is nearly 50 years old. He should really be replaced by a better and younger man.

(Gen. Montgomery, “Notes on Inf. Bdes of Canadian Corps,” Jan 1942)

Born on 23 January 1893 in Montreal, Paul Grenier was grandson of a former mayor of the city and commanding officer of Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal since March 1938. He had joined the 150th Battalion as a lieutenant and served in France with the 42nd Battalion then the 22nd Battalion until severely wounded at Passchendaele. A militia officer with the Fusiliers Mont-Royal since 1919, he steadily rose through the ranks by seniority and led the battalion to Iceland in June 1940.

Continue reading →