John Joseph Bussineau’s Exemplary Leadership
- Ontario Métis Facts
- 5 days ago
- 2 min read
John Joseph Bussineau was born on October 19, 1890, in Cook Mills Township, into Joseph Bussineau and Annie McKensie’s growing Métis family. Baptized at Precious Blood Church in Sault Ste. Marie, John Joseph was raised in nearby Dunns Valley.
On January 3, 1916, only eight months after his mother's death, John Joseph voluntarily enlisted with the 119th Battalion. He arrived in England in August 1916. In December 1916, he was transferred to the 52nd Battalion, where he rapidly rose through the ranks, first promoted to Lance Corporal in April 1917 and later to Corporal in September 1917.
Beyond his promotions, John Joseph was also one of 2,200 Canadian soldiers to be awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, Canada’s second-highest honour for gallantry in action. He received the medal in 1918 in recognition of an exceptional act of late-night service at a military outpost:
“Then, noticing a strong hostile patrol approaching, [John Joseph] again advanced, outflanked them, and captured one officer and ten other ranks, with a machine gun, which was afterwards effectively used by us.”
In November 1917, during fighting in Ypres, just two months after his promotion, John Joseph was struck by shrapnel in his leg, suffering a severe flesh wound to the knee. He was removed from the battlefield and spent the next seven months hospitalized in France recovering, but he never fully regained his mobility.
No longer medically fit for service, John Joseph was discharged on November 6, 1918, one week before the Armistice was signed on November 11.
John Joseph Bussineau returned home to Canada and resumed his life. He married Myrtle Elizabeth and had two sons, George and Mitchell. John Joseph passed away peacefully on December 3, 1958, and is remembered to this day for his distinguished service.
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