Nova Scotia/Nunavut Command of The Royal Canadian Legion www.ns.legion.ca 77 Private Charles Doucette Private Charles Doucette was executed by the Nazis shortly after landing in France in 1944. He faced racism at home, but still joined the North Nova Scotia Highlanders and fought in France in 1944. Charles Doucette, joined the North Nova Scotia Highlanders and landed in France on 6 June, 1944. He couldn't read or write English, but signed his name with an X. The infantry regiment moved inland, along with the Sherbrooke Fusiliers tank division. The next day they fought at Authie, not far from the coast near Caen. They ran out of ammunition and surrendered to the 12th SS Panzer Division, which took the prisoners of war to Abbaye d'Ardenne. That's where Pte. Doucette and eight other Nova Scotians were among at least 18 Canadians summarily executed by the Nazis. Despite the passage of time, it doesn't look like Doucette will be forgotten anytime soon. Canadian prisoners of war were executed by the Nazis in 1944. Some prisoners were held at this courtyard until they were taken to the garden and shot. One was Charles Doucette of Membertou, Cape Breton, N.S. Troy Paul, Doucette's grandson, never knew his grandfather, but he learned about him from his mother and aunts and from reading military history. "He used to work as a carpenter down at the Moxham Castle, of all places," Paul said. "He was a handyman. He would do anything to help feed and clothe his children. He wasn't the type of man that would sit down and wait for something to happen. He was a kind of a go-getter." Paul and his family often go to the school in Membertou to talk about the sacrifice Doucette made. "We want to continue to fight for those ideals of liberty and freedom and justice that even my grandfather thought were something to fight for," Paul said. "Even though he was a native Mi'kmaw on reserve, you know he didn't have to go and fight. He had kids at home and he kissed goodbye to his baby daughter, Marie, for the last time before he went away, and then he never seen her again." Paul said even though his grandfather faced racism at home, he still donned the Canadian uniform. "He gave up a lot in a lot of different ways and no matter how old you are, no matter where you live in this country, you have to recognize that freedom isn't free," said Paul. Private Charles Doucette Abbaye d'Ardenne courtyard continued ...
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