Wilfred Albert (Frenchy) Durocher was born in Casselman (Village), Russell, Ontario on July 24, 1915, the son of Eli Francis Durocher (born in Buckingham, Quebec) and Marie Almanda Alexandrine (nee Thibault, born in Hull, Quebec) Durocher. Wilfred came from a large family, with seven brothers and five sisters. His brothers were: Elie Remie (born 1908), Jean Baptiste Emelien (born 1910), Oliver Joseph (born 1917), Omar (born 1923, died two years later), Frederick Joseph (born 1927), Albert (born 1928, died at birth) and Johnny (born 1931). His sisters were: Marie Rose Viola (born 1914, later to become Mrs. Lester Schram), Dora (born 1918, died at age 19), an unknown female (born 1922, died a few months later), a female stillborn (1928), and Freida (born 1931, later to become Mrs. Gill Gaynes). When Wilfred was age six years old, the Durocher family was residing at 230 Shamrock Street, Sarnia.

Wilfred Durocher would marry Florence Agnes (nee Hamilton) Durocher of Sarnia. The young couple would have two children together (a boy and a girl), and they would reside at 103 Alfred Street, Sarnia. Wilfred was employed by the Laidlaw Belton Lumber Company, recording his occupation as a lumber shipper. In January 1943, Wilfred would lose his father, Elie, an employee of the section gang of the Pere Marquette Railway, who died at that time. The family was then living at 239 Chippewa Street, Sarnia. A little over one year later, in April of 1944, Wilfred enlisted, joining the Canadian Army and becoming a member of the Algonquin Regiment, R.C.I.C. He attained the rank of Private and went overseas on October 1, 1944.

About four months later, on February 26, 1945, Wilfred Durocher would lose his life while fighting on German soil, during the Battle of the Rhineland. Wilfred would later be officially listed as, Overseas casualty, died of wounds received in action, in the field (Germany). At the time of Wilfred’s death, two of his brothers, both privates, were also overseas. Brother Emile was in a hospital in England after being wounded a few weeks earlier, and Oliver was believed to still be somewhere in England. Wilfred would leave behind his wife and two young children. Twenty-nine year old Wilfred Durocher is buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, Netherlands, Grave IX.B.6. On Wilfred Durocher’s headstone are inscribed the words, Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

SOURCES: A, B, C, D, E, F, L, N, 2C, 2D