Andrew Joseph (Joe) Gauthier joined 1st Bn 48th Highlanders in September 1939. Following training at No. 1 Cdn Infantry (Rifle) Training Centre he sailed from Halifax on 12 May 1940 to join the 1st Battalion in England. The War Diary of November 1944 reads: “During the evening orders were received that 3 men whom we are allowed to send on the 1st 30 day leave to Canada were to be warned to stand by to move. These men are RQMS D GOODALL, Sjt-Major J GUNN of HQ Coy and L/Sjt J.A.GAUTHIER of “C” Coy. These three have been continuously with the Bn since the landing in SICILY. Sjt GAUTHIER is the only NCO left at the present time who has been in every action in a rifle company during the past year and a half.”
He was discharged at Toronto in June 1945, but re-enlisted in August 1950 into the Canadian Army (Special Force) and saw service in Korea with the 22e Régiment from April to December 1951. He subsequently served with the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (2RCR), with whom he qualified for the Canadian Parachute Badge in November 1952, and the 3rd Battalion. The Royal Canadian Regiment (3RCR), with whom he again served in Korea from February 1953 to February 1954 when that unit was designated as 1st Battalion of the newly formed Regiment of Canadian Guards. In November 1954, In November 1955 he left the Canadian Army (Regular). After Korea it was believed that he had volunteered to serve with the French in. Indochina but this was never confirmed.