Bay Chaleur Military Museum

Joseph Thomas Kaeble was born in St-Moïse, Quebec on 5 May 1893. Before he enlisted in the 22nd Infantry Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War, he earned his living as a mechanic. Corporal Kaeble was awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously for demonstrating singular bravery on the 8th and 9th of June 1918. He was in charge of a machine gun section in the Canadian line near Neuville-Vitasse, near Arras in France, when an intense bombardment fell on the trenches heralding a strong enemy raid. By the time the shells stopped falling, all of his section but one were casualties. Seeing some fifty Germans advancing toward his position, Kaeble jumped over the parapet of his trench firing a Lewis machine gun at the approaching enemy. Although repeatedly struck, Corporal Kaeble continued to empty one magazine after another into the attackers until he fell back into the trench mortally wounded, dying shortly afterward. The repulse of the enemy raid at this point was due to his courage.

David Fred Kaye.

Rifleman Richard ’Dick’ Keays (E30657), son of William Keays from Broadlands, Quebec, served with A Company, of the Royal Rifles of Canada, during the Second World War. He was deployed to the Pacific and fought valiantly in the defence of Hong Hong when the Japanese unexpectedly attacked the city a month after his arrival. After several days of intense fighting, however, the allies were forced to surrender to the Japanese on Christmas day 1941 and Rifleman Keays became a prisoner of war. He remained a POW until allied forces liberated him in 1945. Rifleman Keays passed away on February 17, 2007.

James E. Keighan, son of Thomas Keigan from Cross Point, Quebec, and his brothers (Lawrence and Thomas) all enlisted for military service during the Second World War with the Royal Canadian Airforce. James E. Keighan became a Leading Aircraftman.

Lawrence Keighan, son of Thomas Keigan from Cross Point, Quebec, and his brothers (James and Thomas) all enlisted for military service during the Second World War with the Royal Canadian Airforce. Lawrence Keighan became a Sergeant Pilot.

Private William Alexander Kellas (H6903), from North Kildonan, MB, served with 16th Platoon, D Company, of the Winnipeg Grenadiers during the Second World War. He was briefly stationed in the British West Indies (Jamaica) before being shipped overseas to the Pacific. He fought valiantly in the defence of Hong Hong when the Japanese unexpectedly attacked the city a month after his arrival. Tragically, after several days of intense fighting, Private Kellas was listed as missing in action on December 21, 1941. He is remembered at Sai Wan Memorial, Victoria, Hong Kong. Only four days after his disappearance, Private Kellas's comrades surrendered to the Japanese and became prisoners of war.

Rifleman Frederick Joseph Kelly (E30520), son of Thomas Kelly of Campbellton, New Brunswick, served as a Medical Orderly with the Royal Rifles of Canada during the Second World War. He was deployed to the Pacific and fought valiantly in the defence of Hong Hong when the Japanese unexpectedly attacked the city a month after his arrival. After several days of intense fighting, however, the allies were forced to surrender to the Japanese on Christmas day 1941 and Rifleman Kelly became a prisoner of war. He remained a POW until allied forces liberated him in 1945. Rifleman Kelly passed away on December 22, 2001.

Harris Kelly, WWII.

Warrant Officer Mike Kelly, son of Mavis and Claude Kelly of Gaspe, Quebec, serves with the Richelieu Squadron SSM. As of 2006, he has already given 22 years of military service and has represented the Canadian Armed Forces in several countries around the world. He now lives in Val Belair, Quebec, and is serving as the chief instructor for new officers at St-Jean-sur-Richelieu.

Allen Kelso (E29936), from Bury, QC, served with the Royal Rifles of Canada during the Second World War. He was deployed to the Pacific and fought valiantly in the defence of Hong Hong when the Japanese unexpectedly attacked the city a month after his arrival. After several days of intense fighting, however, the allies were forced to surrender to the Japanese on Christmas day 1941 and Rifleman Kelso became a prisoner of war. He remained a POW until allied forces liberated him in 1945.

Henry Kelso, son of John Long and Mary Kelso, was born on September 25th, 1915 at Belfast in Northern Ireland. He was educated at the Daniel McIntyre Collegiate Institute in Winnipeg. Upon graduating he began looking for work and on December 16, 1937 he secured a position as a bank clerk. When the Second World War broke out he quickly enlisted on September 21, 1939 and was assigned to the Winnipeg Grenadiers. In June of 1940 he was promoted to the rank of Corporal and he served with his regiment in Bermuda and Jamaica before being shipped to Hong Kong. He was a machine gunner and a Physical Training Instructor. He was killed in action on December 19th, 1941, as was his brother, Corporal John R. Kelso. He is buried at the Sai Wan Memorial Cemetery.

William John Kelso (E29815), from Quebec City, QC, was born in May 1921. After hostilities broke out in Europe in 1939, he enlisted for military service and served with C Company of the Royal Rifles of Canada during the Second World War. He was deployed to the Pacific and fought valiantly in the defence of Hong Hong when the Japanese unexpectedly attacked the city a month after his arrival. After several days of intense fighting, however, the allies were forced to surrender to the Japanese on Christmas day 1941 and Rifleman Kelso became a prisoner of war. He remained a POW until allied forces liberated him in 1945. After the war he married his wife, Inez (Tupper) Kelso and the couple settled in Montreal, QC. He passed away on January 30, 1956.

Raymond Kennedy.

Vernon Kennedy, from New Carlisle, QC, enlisted with the Canadian Army Corps on May 27, 1942 at the age of 25.

Reginald Alexander Kerr (H26072), from Winnipeg, MB, served with Band Platoon, Battalion HQ Company, of the Winnipeg Grenadiers during the Second World War. He was briefly stationed in the British West Indies (Jamaica) until being deployed overseas to the Pacific. He fought valiantly in the defence of Hong Hong when the Japanese unexpectedly attacked the city a month after his arrival. After several days of intense fighting, however, the allies were forced to surrender to the Japanese on Christmas day 1941 and Private Kerr became a prisoner of war. He remained a POW until allied forces liberated him in 1945. For his service, Private Kerr was awarded the British Empire Medal.

Joseph Kilbride.

Warrant Officer Class II Albert Kirouac (E22849), from Quebec City, QC, served with HQ Platoon, A Company, of the Royal Rifles of Canada during the Second World War. He was deployed to the Pacific and fought valiantly in the defence of Hong Hong when the Japanese unexpectedly attacked the city a month after his arrival. After several days of intense fighting, however, the allies were forced to surrender to the Japanese on Christmas day 1941 and Warrant Officer Kirouac became a prisoner of war. He remained a POW until allied forces liberated him in 1945.

Lance Corporal William Arthur Glenville Knapp (E30545), son of William H. and Shirley Gowen Knapp from Quebec City, QC, was born on June 11, 1921. After hostilities broke out in Europe in 1939, he decided to enlisted for military service and served with 14th Platoon, C Company, of the Royal Rifles of Canada. He was deployed to the Pacific and fought valiantly in the defence of Hong Hong when the Japanese unexpectedly attacked the city a month after his arrival. After 18 days of extraordinary fighting and being greatly outnumbered (14,000 defending against 60,000) he and his comrades were ordered to surrender on Christmas day 1941. He was taken prisoner, shipped to Niigata, Japan as a slave labourer. Torture, overwork, and poor nutrition resulted in him developing pneumonia. He was one of the first to die of pneumonia on November 22, 1943. He is buried at Yokohama War Cemetery, Japan.

Basil Kohut (H6899), from Winnipeg, MB, served with D Company of the Winnipeg Grenadiers during the Second World War. He was briefly stationed in the British West Indies (Jamaica) until being deployed overseas to the Pacific. He fought valiantly in the defence of Hong Hong when the Japanese unexpectedly attacked the city a month after his arrival. After several days of intense fighting, however, the allies were forced to surrender to the Japanese on Christmas day 1941 and Private Kohut became a prisoner of war. He remained a POW until allied forces liberated him in 1945. Private Kohut passed away on June 5, 1983.

Gregory John Kruse (V75287908), son of Teddy Kruse from Gaspe, QC, was born on December 2, 1968. After his highschool graduation, from Gaspe Polyvalent, he enlisted on September 13, 1989. He gave a total of nineteen years of service to his country, serving both at home and abroad. In 1999, he was deployed to Bosnia, returning home safely after completing his tour of duty. At the age of forty, while serving in the Panjwai District of Afghanistan, however, he was one of two Canadian soldiers who lost their lives on December 27, 2008 when an explosive device detonated near him. Sergeant Kruse was husband to Jessica Jill Gerarda Kruse and father of Kari-Anne, Megan Elizabeth, and Victoria Maria Kruse.