World War I Victoria Cross Recipient. A native of Saint-Moïse (Québec), he joined the 22nd Battalion (now the Royal 22nd Regiment known also as the “Vandoos”) in 1916 and went to France to fight with his unit. He quickly earned his Military Medal. The highest military decoration was awarded posthumely to him for his actions on 8th/9th June, 1918, in the Mercatel et Neuville-Vitasse sector, near Arras. The following extract is recorded in the London Gazette Supplement No. 30903, dated 16th September, 1918:- "For most conspicuous bravery and extraordinary devotion to duty when in charge of a Lewis gun section in the front line trenches, in which a strong enemy raid was attempted. During an intense bombardment Corporal Kaeble remained at the parapet with his Lewis gun shouldered ready for action, the field of fire being very short. As soon as the barrage lifted from the front line, about fifty of the enemy advanced towards his post. By this time the whole of his section except one had become casualties. Corporal Kaeble jumped over the parapet, and holding his Lewis gun at the hip, emptied one magazine after another into the advancing enemy, and although wounded several times by fragments of shells and bombs, he continued to fire and entirely blocked the enemy by his determined stand. Finally, firing all the time, he fell backwards into the trench mortally wounded. While lying on his back in the trench he fired his last cartridges over the parapet at the retreating Germans, and before losing consciousness shouted to the wounded about him: "Keep it up, boys; do not let them get through! We must stop them !" The complete repulse of the enemy attack at this point was due to the remarkable personal bravery and self-sacrifice of this gallant non-commissioned officer, who died of his wounds shortly afterwards."
World War I Victoria Cross Recipient. A native of Saint-Moïse (Québec), he joined the 22nd Battalion (now the Royal 22nd Regiment known also as the “Vandoos”) in 1916 and went to France to fight with his unit. He quickly earned his Military Medal. The highest military decoration was awarded posthumely to him for his actions on 8th/9th June, 1918, in the Mercatel et Neuville-Vitasse sector, near Arras. The following extract is recorded in the London Gazette Supplement No. 30903, dated 16th September, 1918:- "For most conspicuous bravery and extraordinary devotion to duty when in charge of a Lewis gun section in the front line trenches, in which a strong enemy raid was attempted. During an intense bombardment Corporal Kaeble remained at the parapet with his Lewis gun shouldered ready for action, the field of fire being very short. As soon as the barrage lifted from the front line, about fifty of the enemy advanced towards his post. By this time the whole of his section except one had become casualties. Corporal Kaeble jumped over the parapet, and holding his Lewis gun at the hip, emptied one magazine after another into the advancing enemy, and although wounded several times by fragments of shells and bombs, he continued to fire and entirely blocked the enemy by his determined stand. Finally, firing all the time, he fell backwards into the trench mortally wounded. While lying on his back in the trench he fired his last cartridges over the parapet at the retreating Germans, and before losing consciousness shouted to the wounded about him: "Keep it up, boys; do not let them get through! We must stop them !" The complete repulse of the enemy attack at this point was due to the remarkable personal bravery and self-sacrifice of this gallant non-commissioned officer, who died of his wounds shortly afterwards."
Bio by: Guy Gagnon
Inscription
889958 Corporal
Joseph Kaeble VC. MM.
22nd Bn. Canadian Inf.
9th June 1918 âge 26
Mort glorieusement
au champ d'honneur
À Neuville-Vitasse, Arras
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See more Kaeble memorials in:
Records on Ancestry
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