We regret to advise of the death of Corporal Gerald J. “Gerry” Gaudet (Ret'd), peacefully in Surrey BC on 1 December 2020 at the age 98 years. Gerry was a Second World War Royal Canadian Engineer veteran and was believed to be the last surviving veteran of Operation BERLIN - the rescue of 1 Airborne Division at Arnhem.
Born in Rogersville, NB in 1922, Gerry enlisted in the Royal Canadian Engineers and trained in Canada with 23rd Field Company, RCE. Shortly before D-Day Gerry was injured in a motorcycle accident and was assigned to 20th Field Company after his recovery. On D-Day, Gerry supported the assault landing of the Regina Rifles at the Village of Bernières Sur-Mer on Juno Beach. Shortly after D-Day, Gerry became aware of the landing of his former unit and he was able to re-join the 23rd Field Company. The route of the 23rd in France took them through Caen, Rouen, Abbleville, Omer, Bethune and Lens then on to Belgium Holland. In Holland, his company played the major role in Operation BERLIN - the evacuation of the British 1st Airborne across the Neder Rijn River after the failure of Operation MARKET GARDEN. Gerry’s was formally presented France’s Legion of Honour in 2015 for his participation in the Battle of the Liberation of France. *
After the war Gerry returned to New Brunswick for a couple of years then moved to Western Canada where he was employed by Dominion Glass for 34 years and became the Supervisor of Process and Equipment.
Cremation and Interment at Valley View Cemetery in Surrey BC. Online condolences can be sent here.
* See HERE for the story of the awarding of France’s Legion of Honour.
