​​Alphonse Noël, born on 23 October 1922 in Pointe-Alexandre, New Brunswick, enlisted in the Canadian Army in 1941 at the age of eighteen. Hailing from an Acadian family (French colony on the Atlantic coast of North America), he joined the North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment and trained in Canada before heading to England. In May 1942, he was assigned to A Company under Major Archie MacNaughton.

​Noël’s pivotal moment came on D-Day, 6 June 1944, when the regiment landed in Normandy near Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer. Facing heavy German fire, Noël and his comrades fought through barbed wire, mines, and snipers to clear the village. During intense house-to-house fighting, MacNaughton was killed, and Noël himself was wounded by a sniper’s bullet and a grenade. Despite his injuries, he continued to fight, helping to secure the village and protect his fellow soldiers.

​After D-Day, Noël’s regiment advanced through France, battling through the heavily fortified village of Tailleville. After sustaining further wounds, he was sent to England to recover. Noël returned to France in July 1944, and in the months that followed, participated in the brutal Battle of the Scheldt, one of the most important engagements for the Canadian forces.

​When the war ended in 1945, Noël returned to Canada, reuniting with his brother Julien before heading home to Lamèque. He worked various jobs, including as postmaster of Lamèque for 25 years. In 1948, he married Augustine Savoie, and they had five children.

​A devoted community leader, Noël was involved with the Royal Canadian Legion and the local credit union. In 1984, he returned to Europe with his family to visit places he fought in, including Normandy and Belgium. His war experiences were documented in his memoir, Mes Souvenirs de la Guerre 1939-1945. In 2004, a memorial was dedicated to him in Tailleville. Noël passed away on 7 May 2009, leaving a legacy of bravery and service.​