Private Richard Charles Tavignot
Perth Regiment R.C.I.C.
Richard was born November 16, 1920 in Quebec. He was the eldest of one brother, two sisters and one half-brother. Richard enjoyed horseback riding, swimming, hunting, hockey and baseball. His brother Maurice remembers he was quiet, soft spoken, generous and caring. After he started working for a living he used to buy gifts for the family, especially his mother. "On many occasions he would hand me money to spend".
After leaving school he worked at the Royal York as a bus boy making $9.00/week plus board and tips. He worked with his father and George Hootun (father of Fred Hootun who is also buried in the Villanova War Cemetery).
Richard Enlisted June 12, 1941 and was TOS to the Perth Regiment. His brother Maurice was with the Irish Regiment of Canada both with the 11CIB. Maurice recalls:
"While stationed in England I never saw Richard as we were never able to get our leaves together. The first time I saw him in 1 1/2 years was in Italy. We arranged to have our 2 day leave together in Bari a rest place for the Canadian Army.
The next time I saw him was 15th December 1944. He was going up to the front lines in a bren gun carrier and I was on my way back to B Echelon about 5 miles from the front lines. As the road was being heavily shelled by the Germans we took cover in an old bombed out farmhouse. While waiting for the shelling to stop, I heard this voice on the other side of the small wall and knew it was Richard's. He was with three other Perth men seeking cover. After the shelling was over we met and embraced and we were so happy to see each other that we both wept momentarily. Before we parted for our respective destinations Richard said to me, Maurice I hope one of us gets back home to look after Mom, Dad and Mary & Helen (our sisters).
Just over two weeks later he and Fred Hootun were killed January 2, 1945. As I was back in B Echelon waiting to go back to my company in action I was detailed to go on burial party to the temporary cemetery to bury two of our fallen comrades. While putting these men to rest I noticed another burial party about 150 feet away but did not know what outfit it was at the time. As soon as we buried our men we had to leave back to join our regiment.
Two days later our Padre in the Regiment told me the sad news that my brother had been killed and buried. I was given permission to go and visit the cemetery and here I found out that it was my brother and Fred Hootun who were being buried while I was there. I actually was at my brother's funeral and did not know it. Maurice turned 90 in April 2013".
Villanova War Cemetery
Grave: 11 B 8
Maurice Tavignot
Irish Regiment of Canada
