Jean Berthiaume

Joseph André Horace Jean Berthiaume, OBE, CD (November 27, 1915 – January 26, 2003) was a Canadian Army officer who served with the Régiment de St-Hyacinthe, the Royal Canadian Infantry Corps and the Royal 22e Régiment.

Jean André Berthiaume was born on November 27, 1915, in St-Hyacinthe, Quebec.

He studied at the Séminaire de St-Hyacinthe, where he earned a degree in letters and arts.

He then pursued another degree at the Université de Montréal, where he got a degree in chemistry.

At the same time his father was serving at the Regiment, Jean Berthiaume enlisted with the 84th Régiment de St-Hyacinthe in 1936.

There completed his basic training as a private and rose to the rank of sergeant.

Later he received his officer commission and was promoted to lieutenant.

He married Mme Denise Lapierre on April 14, 1940, at the St-Hyacinthe Cathedral.

As the war broke out, then Lieutenant Berthiaume continued training his troops in St-Hyacinthe.

He was transferred to the 4th Canadian Armoured Brigade at camp Debert in Nova Scotia for preparatory training as GSO with the 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade.

He then went to the Canadian Army Command and Staff College in Kingston and after shipped to England.

Most of the Canadians in reinforcement stayed in England for almost two years (1942–1944) until D-Day.

When arriving in France, as GSO 3 Operations, then captain Berthiaume aided in the orientation of some operations towards the ultimate victory.

By the end of the conflict, he was transferred to the 1st Canadian Infantry Division.

On April 26, 1946, then captain Berthiaume was posted to NDHQ as GSO 2 and the next day was promoted to the rank of Temporary major (T/maj).

On November 22, 1947, he was promoted to the rank of major.

After three years in Ottawa, then major Berthiaume went to the Canadian Army Training School in St-Jean, Quebec, in 1949.

He managed the Canadian Army Training School in St-Jean before it was transferred to Valcartier in 1952.

He stayed and contributed to the building of the Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean as Director of Administration.

An uncommon event occurred a few days after Christmas in 1952.

A child of one of the CMR's staff fell into the icy waters of the Richelieu river.

Upon hearing the child's cry for help, the CMR commandant, colonel Lahaie went onto the ice to rescue the boy, assisted by Captain Gosselin and Major Berthiaume.

Others came along as the alarm was sounded.

They were all pulled to safety; the child was saved.

Major Berthiaume left St-Jean for Valcartier in 1953 and went to the 2nd Battalion Royal 22e Régiment as deputy commander.

He packed the battalion and headed for Germany as Canada's NATO infantry contribution.

In July 1954, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel and was chosen as the Canadian representative at the SHAPE in Paris for a year.

Back in Canada, Lcol Berthiaume in 1957, took command of the 1st battalion Royal 22e Régiment until 1960.

He was a true gentleman in sharing the warm French-Canadian culture as host of many social functions at the Citadelle.

Leaving Quebec in early summer of 1960, LCol Berthiaume was flown to work with the UNTSO in Palestine.

Soon after, in July 1960, he headed to Congo as a United Nations chief of staff of the ONUC contingent.

Back in Canada, he went to serve as adjutant general at the Quebec Command HQ.

During those years, he commanded the Royal Army Cadet Camp of Farnham that closed in 1967.

Promoted to the rank of colonel, he commanded the Quebec Western District until his retirement in 1969.

Upon leaving the service in 1969, Colonel (Ret.) Berthiaume went to work for the Wabasso company in Trois-Rivières, Quebec as Director of Operations Services until his retirement in 1980.

During those years, he became involved with the Canadian Manufacturers Association as president of the St. Maurice chapter.

Colonel (Ret.) Berthiaume was a member of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch #2 of St-Hyacinthe with which he was devoted in many aspects.

Colonel Berthiaume continued his involvement and contribution to the Collège militaire royal de Saint-Jean throughout the years.

He always proved a good golf player at the annual benefit golf tournament and other activities.

After setting up over with the 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade, he still was very involved within the military community like in the celebrations of the 10th anniversary of Normandy where he commanded the Canadian group during the weekend long celebrations.