Personal Details | |
Date of Birth | July 23, 1876 |
Place of Birth | Lampaul, Finistere |
Country | France |
Marital Status | Single |
Trade / Calling | Roman Catholic Priest |
Religion | Roman Catholic |
Service Details | |
Regimental Number | NA |
Battalion | 173rd Brigade, 48th Regiment |
Force | French Army |
Branch | French Infantry |
Theatre of Service | Europe |
Prisoner of War | No |
Survived War | No |
Death Details | |
Date of Death | October 26, 1915 |
Age at Death | 39 |
Buried At | unknown |
Ernest Croisier was born on 23 July 1876 in Lampaul, Finistère, Bretagne, France. His parents were Francois Cloisier and Marie Anne Colleau, and he had at least one brother, Jean, who also served during the war. He attended the College of Lesneven and the Quimper Seminary, being ordained as a priest on 13 July 1902 by Monsieur Gennaro Granito Pignatelli de Belmonte. As a member of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI), from 1903-1904 he was at Colwyn Bay in Wales and then left for Canada, his first post in Kenora, Ontario from 1904-1905. From there he went to Fort Frances, Ontario for 3 years, followed by Winnipeg, Manitoba at Sacre-Coeur from 1908-1911, and then to Saint Jean Baptiste Church in Duluth, Minnesota from 1911-1914.
With the onset of the war, although not obliged, he answered the call of his country and left for the war zone. Given the grade of Captain with the 173rd Brigade, 48th Regiment, he was auxiliary Chaplain at Saint Marc.
Father Ernest Croisier died in the trenches in the front line on 26 October 1915 in Zuidschote (in French Zuydschoote), West-Vlaanderen (Westvleteren), Belgium. Zuidschote is a small village which was mainly agricultural. During the Great War the village was completely destroyed and many people died. It did not start to be rebuilt until 1920. Today it is included as part of the population of Ieper (Ypres). The Major General proclaimed Father Croisier the bravest of the brave, and he was cited on the orders of the army in November 1915.
According to an article in the Kenora Miner and News dated 10 November 1915, Father Croisier was noted as being endowed with the special gift as a speaker and took particular interest in the choir.
Father Croisier’s name appears on the monument erected to French Soldiers in the cemetery in front of the Cathedral of Saint Boniface in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He is also commemorated on the Notre Dame du Portage Roman Catholic Church Memorial in Kenora, Ontario.
by Judy Stockham
Research notes:
Information about Father Ernest Croisier is from DICTIONNAIRE BIOGRAPHIQUE DES OBLATS DE MARIE IMMACUILГ‰E AU CANADA, Tome 1.Editions de l’Université d’Ottawa, Ottawa, On, Canada 1974, from Archives Deschatelets, and from Notre Dame du Portage Church in Kenora, Ontario.
SGA-Memoires des Hommes: This database gives access to information about more than 1,3 millions soldiers who died during World War I and obtained the special distinction ‘killed in action’ (in French ‘Mort pour la France’).