Veteran Eusèbe Romeo Joseph (Joe) Dupuis - Second Lieutenant Thomas Weston Buss - Corporal Maurice Ashe

Joe Dupuis

    Eusèbe Romeo Joseph Dupuis was born on August 24^th, 1916 in Memramcook, New Brunswick.  In 1940, Joe enlisted in the military at the age of 24, alongside two of his brothers, Jack and Lionel. Joe became a wireless air gunner (WAG), and he spent much of his time with the R.C.A.F. fighting over the Middle East and Europe during the Second World War. 
    There were very little odds of surviving bombing command.  As one pilot had worked out, there was an eight percent chance of surviving a combat tour of 30 bombing operations.  These odds were about the same for Joe. There were times when Joe was flying so close to the enemy that he would pick up their radio waves.  The German’s would play the song ‘Lili Marlene’ with the dedication of the song “Through the courtesy of your enemy!”.

Joe with his crew in England

    The men would sleep in tents while they were on duty; however, they had to be sure to zip it up well so that no scorpions could get in, as one bite could kill a person within 15 or 20 minutes.  One night, Joe awoke with a scorpion on him! The other men quickly rushed him to the first aid tent as they suspected he only had a few minute to live.  Fortunately, Joe had not been bitten, but the scorpion was certainly done for.

Joe in Egypt

    In 1943, Joe was one of the two crewmen who safely parachuted to the ground after their aircraft was shot down over the Sahara desert.  The two men were stranded in the desert for several days before being captured by Arabic tribesmen and kept as prisoners of war.  Luckily, the British were paying more than the Germans for prisoners of war at that time, and the two men were sold to the British.  When they returned to their flying duties, Joe’s fellow survivor was killed within a week.  After two more operational tours, Joe had a brief leave home where he learned that his brother Lionel had been injured in France, then later killed in Belgium.  Joe returned overseas and completed 16 more trips.
May of 1945 was a time Joe would never forget.  Upon his return to base after a raid, he and his comrades learned that the war had ended! They celebrated long into the night, but were awakened in the morning by a call to report to the briefing room as usual.  Joe told his comrade that he had a vague impression that the war may have ended. Although many others agreed with this suspicion, it was quickly dismissed as a dream as they were being called for briefing as normal.  The men were soon told that this flight would be the most rewarding yet, as they would be flying to Belgium to get the liberated prisoners of war.  Many soldiers, along with Joe, were very touched by the liberated men’s gratefulness, yet they mourned for their fellow airmen who were killed the previous night during their final raid. 
     Once the war in Europe had ended, Joe volunteered for the Pacific Theater, but the war with Japan was over by September of 1945.  After five and a half years of service, Joe was discharged from the R.C.A.F.  Upon Joe’s return back to Canada, he studied at the University of New Brunswick and graduated with a degree in electrical engineering.  He married Gladys Armstrong and had two daughters.  Joe passed away on June 8^th, 2008.  


Corporal Maurice Ashe 

Corporal Maurice Ashe was a soldier of the 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles, Saskatchewan Regiment, and he fought during the First World War. After one of his good comrades was wounded at Vimy Ridge, Ashe continued to serve until his death in battle on February 24^th, 1918, at the age of 27. He is buried at the Thelus Military Cemetery in Pas de Calais, France.




Second Lieutenant Thomas Weston Buss 
Second Lieutenant Thomas Weston Buss fought with The Buffs East Kent Regiment’s 6^th Battalion during the First World War.  The Buffs were a United Kingdom force allied with Canada. Second Lieutenant Thomas Weston Buss died during the Arras battle and is buried in the Arras Memorial cemetery. 


Grace Bowness