Canada at War: THE SERVICES: Secrecy Rewarded
At the first Quebec Conference (August, 1943), rugged Canadian Sergeant Major Emile Couture's job was to keep conferees supplied with stationery. It was also his job to pick up the unused paper when the Conference was over. One morning in the Chateau Frontenac he found a piece of paper on which were boldly written the alternative dates for Dday, the number of troops and ships to be used, data on air cover.
Sergeant Major Couture rushed to his commanding officer. Major Charles Edward Gernaey, reported his find. Washington and London were informed. Yes, the paper had been missed. Both men were rushed to Washington. There, they took solemn oaths of secrecy.
At the second Quebec Conference last week the story leaked out. Couture, 29, and Gernaey, 37, were awarded British Empire Medals for keeping the biggest secret of the war. Who had lost the D-day document, or what had happened to him, military authorities would not say.
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