Beaudoin, Rodolphe Majorigue Joseph

Rodolphe Majorigue Joseph Beaudoin was born on 13 January 1872 in Joliette, Quebec and was married to Emile Agnes Beaudoin. By the time the war started he had one son, Frederick, and four daughters, and was living as a boarder on St Andre Street in Montreal. He listed his occupation as Bookkeeper.

At the age of 43, Rodolphe Beaudoin enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), along with his son Frederick, in Montreal on 22 February 1916. He was taken into the 163rd Canadian Infantry Battalion (Canadien Français), a French speaking unit raised in Montreal in 1915. The battalion was sent on garrison duty to Bermuda in May 1916. He was promoted to Lance Corporal in June of 1916. However, he was reduced in rank an month later after a summary trial for misconduct, a conviction he strongly protested. The unit stayed in Bermuda until November 1916 when it was sent to the United Kingdom to be absorbed into the 10th Reserve Battalion. Beaudoin did not accompany them. Complaining of piles, he underwent an operation and was subsequently sent back to Saint John where, in November 1916, a medical review board recommended his release. He was discharged at Montreal on 10 March 1917.

He moved with his wife and family to Ottawa (433 Nelson Street) where he found employment as a clerk. His son Frederick also survived the war and joined him there in 1919. Rodolphe Beaudoin died on 1 April 1944 and is buried in Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa.