Victor Joseph Benoit

Pjila'si (welcome). Kulaman Ma' Wan' Ta' Siwkw - Lest We Forget. This November 11 as we remember all our war veterans we must not forget the contributions of the indigenous people of this province to the security of this nation by participating in our wars. Many have paid the ultimate price by giving their lives for their country. In our case, our country was Newfoundland. In this article I highlight one particular incident. In October 12, 1915 five members of the Newfoundland Royal Naval Reserve were lost when the ship; the armed drifter Frons Olivar, whose crew they formed part of, struck a mine and was blown up in the North Sea. The disaster was relayed to Commander McDermott of the H.M.S. Calypso who received the message Wednesday morning, October 20, 1915, from the Admiralty. The men lost were:

• Victor J. Benoit, son of Joseph Benoit and Ellen Damois of Cape St. George, NL.
• Walter James Hynes, son of Mrs. David Hynes of Port au Port, NL.
• George Hussey LeDrew, brother of John LeDrew of Cupids, NL.
• Stephen Sparks, son of Mrs. Fanny Sparks of Georgetown, Brigus, NL. Has another brother serving who joined at the same time.
• William Mark Woolridge, son of Elizabeth Woolridge of Fogo, NL.

There are many stories that need to be told. One such story is the story of Victor Joseph Benoit. His name has not been publicly mentioned since 1915 but today I salute him for his bravery. Victor Benoit was born March 15, 1896 in De Grau, NL. and was baptized in Stephenville, NL. He had ten siblings including Joseph H. Benoit, who was adopted. He was a young, eager Lnu'k/Mi’kmaq man, who left his home along with his brother Johnny-Joe and Joseph H. Benoit (whom he called his cousin Joe), along with others in his community attracted by the excitement of travel and living an exciting life.

He was the son of Joseph Benoit and Ellen Damois of De Grau, Newfoundland. His father was known to all as Joe-Mic Benoit and to his descendants as Gopy-Joe. The family lived off the land fishing, hunting, trapping and gathering food for the long and harsh winters the Port au Port Peninsula was known for. They also had a saw mill, a skill passed down from his father Michel “Mic” Benoit who operated a saw mill powered by a water wheel in Red Brook.

Victor Benoit tragedy lost his life at the very young age of just nineteen. St. Benedict’s Parish (now called Our Lady of the Cape) registry in De Grau records that he died October 12, 1915 in WWW1. His sister Victoria, last surviving sibling, remembers him well. He is my Great Uncle and he leaves no descendants but he will never be forgotten. Welálin (thank you).

Some other Lnu'k/Mi'kmaq war veterans from Newfoundland include:

• Johnny E. Benoit, Royal Navel Reserve and Royal Army Reserve, WWW1
• Adolph Benoit, Newfoundland Regiment, WWW2
• Joseph H. Benoit, Royal Navel Reserve, WWW1
• Narcaiss Chaisson, Royal Navel Reserve, WWW1
• Benjamin Benoit, Royal Army Reserve, WWW1
• Joseph Gabriel, Royal Army Reserve, WWW1
• Walter Jesso, Home Guard and Army, WWW1
• John Young, Royal Navel Reserve, WWW1

Compiled and published on the internet on November 9, 2005 by Jasen Benwah

jes'n penwa

Cape St. George, NL.

Sources:

1. The Western Star, Curling, Bay of Islands, Newfoundland, Wednesday, October 20, 1915
2. Benoit family oral tradition
3. St. Benedict’s Roman Catholic Parish, De Grau, NL.
4. Victoria Drake, Montreal, Quebec
5. Edna May Benoit, De Grau, NL.
6. Jack Simon, Cape St. George, NL.

Photo of Victor Benoit courtesy of Edna May Benoit

Appeared in the November 11, 2005 issue of the Western Star.

Website Copyright © 2005 Benoit First Nation