Lt.-Col. Hercule Barré was a Montreal war hero and CEF Battalion Commanding Officer who served with distinction with the 14th (RMR), 87th Bn (Canadian Grenadier Guards), and 150th (Carabinier Mont Royale) during WW1.

Soldiers of the First World War - CEF

Name: BARRE, HERCULE

Rank: MAJ

Regimental number: 26269

Date of Birth: 31/03/1879

Next-of-Kin: Mrs. Regina Gervais, sister

Military Bio:

"Hercule Barré was born in Montreal in 1879, educated at Mont St. Louis College and the University of Montreal where he graduated with a degree in pharmacy. He was with the 65th Regiment, Carabiniers Mont-Royal, and was part of the draft of eight officers and about 250 men of that Regiment to join the newly formed 14th Battalion as a Captain and a company commander. He received injuries to his hip during the Second Battle of Ypres, and after recovering, returned to Canada on December 10, 1915. Just after sailing from England, his ship, the Hesperian, was torpedoed. Lt.-Col. Barré was rescued and ultimately reached Montreal. Once there, he was immediately tasked with recruiting the new 150th Battalion, composed essentially of French speaking Canadians from Montreal and surrounding area. As commanding officer, he then led that Battalion to England, leaving Canada on September 23, 1916 and arriving October 6th. There the battalion was absorbed into the 14th, 22nd, 24th, and 87th Battalions, C.E.F., and the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles. For his services, France awarded Lieut.-Col. Barré the Legion d'Honneur, Croix de Chevalier, in March of 1916. About 1919 he became the Canadian Commercial Attaché in Paris and remained at that post until making his escape from Paris before the arrival of the Germans in 1940. He retired from his government post March of 1943." – RMR MUSEUM "Bump in the Night"

BARRÉ, HERCULE, LdeH (Fr) – Lieutenant-Colonel - (1879-1943) Major 14th Bn. (RMR) / LCol. 150th Bn. (CMR) / Major 22nd Bn. (R22R) / Major 87th Bn. (CGG)

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

b. 1 Aug. 1879 Montreal, PQ, CA d. 27 Dec.,1962 Montreal, PQ, CA – Real Estate – Roman Catholic - 6ft 1in, Blue Eyes

1897 – Participated in Queen Victoria Jubilee as NCO

1905 – 27 March – Promoted to Lieutenant with 65th Regiment (Carabiniers Mont Royal)

1908 – 11 May - Promoted to Captain with 65th Regiment (Carabiniers Mont Royal)

1912 – Awarded Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service medal

1914 – 23 September – Attested with 14th Battalion (Royal Montreal Regiment) as Captain

1914 – 4 October – Embarked in Halifax and sailed for UK aboard SS Andania

1915 – Promoted to rank of Major while serving with 14th Battalion (RMR)

1915 – 31 March - Embarked for overseas and arrived in France (St Nazaire)

1915 – 24 April – Wounded with gunshot to his hip – "Capt. Hercule Barré had been ordered to get to his command in haste and on the way (it was dark) met some British officers who promptly declared him a spy. The more he protested the more certain they were that his speech betrayed him. They had him taken back to the nearest headquarters where he was identified and started off afresh only to be detained a second time by CEF cyclists. Once again, he reached headquarters, once more identified by the same officers who had identified him before. Capt. Barré set out a third time only to be wounded by a bullet to the hip. He dragged himself to the side of the road and waited for help. Someone came and asked: 'Who is it?' 'I Barré,' he cried. 'What, you Barré? What do you want this time?' It was the same officer who had twice identified him within the last hour." – RMR Museum article

1915 – 31 August – Invalided to Canada – His Ship SS Hesperian was torpedoed, and he was rescued at Sea

1915 – 8 December – Promoted to Lieut.-Colonel - appointed founding Commanding Officer of 150th Bn. (Carabinier Mont Royal)

1915 – 18 December – Awarded the French Legion D'Honneur (Knights Cross – Croix Chevalier No 29523) – (LG 30316)

1916 – 23 September - Embarked in Canada and sailed to UK

1918 – 21 January – On Command from OMFC to France (Paris)

1918 – 11 February – Attached to 22nd Battalion (Vandoos) CEF and 10th Reserve Battalion CEF

1918 – 28 October – Posted to 87th Battalion (Canadian Grenadier Guards) as Major (7 months 7 days)

1919 – 3 May – Proceeded to UK with 87th Battalion (CGG)

1919 – 31 May – Struck off strength from OFMC and sailed for Canada aboard HMTS Mauretania

1919 – 8 June - Discharged from CEF and paraded with 87th Battalion (CGG) in Montreal

1919–1940 - Appointed Canadian Trade Attaché to France (Paris) until Germany invaded in 1940