Alcide and Phyllis Comeau

Alcide Comeau, circa 1940

On May 21, 1940, Gunner A.J. Comeau enlisted in the army in Richibucto at the Kent Memorial Hall. Alcide was sent to Woodstock, New Brunswick for three weeks training, then had a weekend leave. After that he proceeded to Aldershot, Nova Scotia.

 While on his way to Aldershot camp, he wrote his address inside a matchbook and tossed it out the window of the train while going through Aylesford, Nova Scotia. Story has it, that many of the men were using this tactic to get the girls to write them, while they were in training, and preparing for the war.

Louise Hudson found the matchbook, but it was her sister Phyllis who "pinched" the young gunnar. Phyllis starting writing to Alcide while he was in training.

A note written by Alcide explains it all "I dropped my address at Aylesford while on the train to Aldershot camp. Phyl wrote to me and we corresponded to each other. I met her in person on the 14th of July 1940. We were engaged on June the 14, 1941, and married on the 16th of Feb. 1942."

Alcide and Phyllis' wedding photo, 1942

Following three months in Aldershot, he was sent to Berriefield, Ontario on a wireless course for four months and came back to Aldershot for six months. Other camps/stations that he trained at were Fort Connaught, Fort York, Fort MC Naba, Bellford Rouge, Wysemen, Newfoundland, Phillips Head, Newfoundland, and Megantic, Quebec.

Comeau family time line

The Comeau family history has been well documented by many historians and families. Our time line begins with Hubert Comeau

1363 - Hubert Comeau was born in France (died 1384 and buried in Pouilly-en-Auxois)

1450 - Guy de Comeau, born in Pouilly-en-Auxois (Cote d'Or), Burgundy France, in 1495 he founded a chapel in the parish church of Pouilly-en-Auxois. He had at least two children, Jean and Claude.

1527 - Claude de Comeau married Jeanne de Gissey, and have sons, one was Jean Comeau. After several generations, Pierre Comeau was born in 1606 in Burgundy, France. Pierre is considered the main Comeau ancestor in Canada.

1605 - Port Royal (Nova Scotia) was established, however it was then destroyed by Argall in 1613.

1632 - Isaac de Razill arrived with 300 pioneers, who become ancestors of many Acadians. Pierre Comeau, a cooper, was among these pionners and helped establish the settlement at La Have (le Heve), and sought out support of governor d'Aulnay de Charnisay to rebuild the settlement at Port Royal.

1649 - Pierre Comeau married Rose Bayols (who came to Canada with her father Nicolas Bayols) on the St. Jehan. Pierre and Rose, had many children (10). One of the children, Jean II Comeau (b. 1665) married Catherine Babin. According to records, they had 15 children.

1716 - Founding of Louisbourg by the French.

1721 - One of Jean II and Catherine's children, Claude Comeau married Claire Landy in Riviere aux Canards. One of their chlildren was Joseph Comeau.

1755 - Explusion of the Acadians began

1768 - Joseph Comeau married Madeline Herbert in Menoudy, and one of their children was Cyrille Comeau.

1816 - Cyrille Comeau married Anne Leblanc, and they settled in St. Charles de l'Ardoine. One of their children was Laurent Comeau.

1846 - Laurent Comeau married Mathulde Arsenault in St. Louis de Kent, and they have a son Bazile Comeau.

1896 - Bazile married Philomene Degrace, and in 1896 Emile was born in St. Oliver Kent Co. New Brunswick,

1916 - Emile Comeau (pictured above) married Agnes Mazerolle in St. Louis de Kent, and had 7 children. One of their sons was name Alcide Comeau, and he was born in 1920 in Richibucto, New Brunswick.

1942 - Alcide Comeau married Phyllis Hudson in Auburn, Nova Scotia.

Photo : Emile Comeau (Date unknown)

The Acadians - French Cross - 1755

French Cross is a historical monument in a place now called Morden, Nova Scotia. This is a place where Acadians lived and died in that fateful year of 1755. The original old oak cross has now been replaced with this stone monument. For those unfamilar with the story, there are many books and historical documents that detail the events that lead up to the Explusion of the Acadians in 1755. The following in no way captures the significance of this event, or the tragic events that occurred.

The Acadians were French colonists who settled in what is now known as the maritme provinces. Acadia was their home, particulary Port Royal. History documents the event that occured in the early 1700s that lead up to 1755. From 1755 to 1763, what is know as the Great Explusion occured, where over 14,000 Acadians were deported from Acadia to Louisana, France and other areas. Many were separated from their families, loaded on ships, and sent to unknown lands. Over half of them perished, their lands and homes were destroyed.

It has been documented, that a group of 60 Acadians tried to avoid the coming deportation. They gathered their belongings and travelled up the Annapolis River. Many became sick, and died. The Mi'Kmaq assisted the Acadians and aided them in wintering on the shore of the Bay of Fundy and in heading to Quebec in the Spring. Many died during that winter, and when the spring arrived, the survivors paddled across to New Brunswick.

Before they left, a wooden cross was erected on the shore to remember their families and friends who did not survive. That cross was the "French Cross".

Pictured here is Alcide and Phyllis Comeau (my husband's parents). Phyllis grew up in Aylesford, Nova Scotia, which is close to Morden, and Alcide is an decendant of the Acadians.