Joseph David Albert Michaud was born on Thursday, September the 12th, 1918 in Canada in the family of Joseph Omer Lorenzo and Mary Lilian Michaud (CA). His nickname was Bert (derived from Albert).

The 5th of October 1944: Goirle in the Netherlands is almost liberated.

At 09.00hrs  The Sherman tanks of 'A' Squadron, 27th Canadian Tank Brigade (The Sherbrooke Fusilliers) departed from Poppel in Belgium towards Goirle in Holland. They were supported by infantrymen and scouts.

At around 13:00hrs, the bridge over the Hooge Vonder, the Vonderse bridge over the Leij near Buitenlust, was reached.

An eye-witness confirmed:

"The intention was to advance directly to Goirle by road, which initially went well. However, near a burning house about 1000 yards in front of our objective, the tanks of Sergeant Michaud and Lieutenant Marshall were hit by a bazooka as they were about to cross a bridge.

The crew of Sergeant Michaud's tank came under fire on leaving the tank, with the exception of Trooper Whitney, who had not left the tank. Sergeant Michaud fell behind his tank and was killed immediately. Trooper Mc.Guire fell into the mud with a leg wound and despite the first aid, his last words were "farewell Trump."

Smith was able to escape, but Trump Cheeseman was taken to a hospital with serious injuries.

The enemy's infantry attacked, but The Lincolns held out. No. 2 Troop was sent out to support 'B' Company, which had broken out on the left. The tanks of Sergeant Cuddie and Corporal Spence went to the flank with Lieutenant Butler and then Corporal Spence's tank was hit by a large caliber gun... The crew jumped out but they came under fire. Rep. Brazier and Corporal Spence were killed, Coomer and Giovannetti were wounded.

We had to hold this position until further notice, so we fired from our right flank to prevent infiltration of the enemy. Then the message came from higher up and the squadron (5 tanks) withdrew, under cover of darkness, to our headquarters in Poppel...."

Frightened by the rapid advance of the Allies, the Germans had quickly sent a battalion of "Chill" to Buitenlust. Four German tanks knocked out the Canadian tanks.

26 year old Bert Michaud was killed in these attacks along with Austin Brazier (20), John Mc Guire (37), Richard Whitney (32), John Spence (23). He was buried in a field grave on the Poppelseweg in Goirle. 

On the 20th of January 1945, he and eleven others were transferred to the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen-op-Zoom.