D-Day () June 6 1944 By James C. Retson Last Revised October 8 2020

This site is dedicated to all the Soldiers from the Kenora area who made the supreme sacrifice, their families and other victims of World War two.

Links at the end of this monograph may show your relatives. I would be pleased to hear from any Relatives of Kenora Servicemen who they see if such videos.

Contents D-Day (Operation Overlord) June 6 1944 ...... 1 Soldiers From Kenora Area who Fought in D-Day and aftermath ...... 1 Planning and Preparation for D-Day...... 2 Preparation for the invasion by individuals from Kenora had been ongoing for months...... 2 D-Day ...... 3 Ernest William "Bill" Bradley ...... 3 Rifleman James Elder, H20664 ...... 4 The Drive to (Bridgehead Battle June 7-30 1944 ...... 5 Road to Falaise (Operation Totalize) ...... 6 Soldiers (other than those listed in cemeteries below)...... 6 Cemeteries...... 6 War Cemetery ...... 6 Kenora and Area Soldiers buried at Bayeux ...... 6 Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery ...... 7 Kenora and Area Soldiers buried at Beny-sur-Mer ...... 7 Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery ...... 7 Kenora and Area Soldiers buried at Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery ...... 8 Sources ...... 8 Videos Related to D Day ...... 9

Soldiers From Kenora Area who Fought in D-Day and aftermath

Rifleman Ernest William Bradley -Royal Rifles killed 8 Jun 1944 near Cain, Private Grozik, Mark - Canadian Scottish Regiment Lance Corporal Lloyd Leslie Paulson -10 Armoured Regiment Fort Garry Horse Rifleman James Elder - Regina Rifle Regiment Gunner Victor James “Jim” Mackie - Canadian Artillery

(Additional information from Relatives of those who fought from Kenora welcomed at [email protected])

Planning and Preparation for D-Day

The dream of returning to North West Europe had begun as soon as the evacuation had finished in 1940. The planning began seriously in March 1943. With the appointment of the American general Dwight Eisenhower the planning took on a new sense of urgency. The Land armies would be led by General until a beachhead was established to allow Eisenhower and Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF) to cross the channel. Monty would command the 21 st Army Group consisting of British, Canadian, Polish, Free French and other national formations.

In May1943 a decision was ma to land in between Orne and Vire estuaries with 5 divisions , 2 airborne, and three seaborne, One American and two British (including ). From east to west:

Sword Beach:

2nd would land between Caen and Bayeux with 1 British Corps with 6th Airborne Division on the east bank of the Orne, 3rd British Division and 27th Armoured Brigade in the leading wave followed by the commandos of 1st Special Services Brigade , 51st (Highland) division and 4th Armoured Brigade

Juno Beach:

3rd Canadian Division and 2nd Armoured Brigade in leading wave followed by 4th Special Service Brigade, :

On the Right wing XXX British Corps with 50 Northumbria) Division and 8th Armoured Brigade leading the first wave, followed by 7th armoured Division and 9th (West Riding) Division.

Omaha Beach First US Army between Bayeux and the east of Cotentin peninsula -on the left flank, V Corp with 1st Infantry Division and elements of 29th Infantry Division in leading wave followed by the rest of 29th division and two ranger battalions on that beach and at Pointe du Hoc.

Utah Beach - On the right flank, VII Corp with 4th Infantry Division in the leading wave followed by 9th Infantry Division , 90th Infantry Division and 79th Infantry Division. Two airborne divisions, 82nd and 101st Airborne were to set up a bridgehead in that sector.

Preparation for the invasion by individuals from Kenora had been ongoing for months.

Lance Corporal Lloyd Leslie Paulson, service number 26710, son of Peter Paulson and Ella May Day, was born 1 Jul 1918 at Kenora according to his attestation papers. He completed grade 10 in Kenora . He enlisted 17 Feb 1941 Winnipeg and transferred to 10 Armoured Regiment Fort Garry Horse on 1 Apr 1941 at Camp Bordon. On November 1 the regiment was moved from Camp Bordon to Debert, Nova Scotia in preparation for the move overseas and on the night of 9 Nov 1941 embarked on the Oronsay. After several days in the harbour, the Oronsay sailed on 13 Nov 1944 with a large collection of ships arriving in Liverpool England on 22 Nov, 1941.

Over the next 2 ½ years training continued in Scotland and England. Training in combined operations and amphibious took place at Inverary, North Scotland. ‘B’ and ‘C’ Squadrons took special training in the use of “Duplex Drive” or DD swimming tanks. Paulson was located in troop 2 ‘A’ Squadrons. Through out this period the equipment improved. In 1941 training was carried on in Ram Cruisers, in 1942 Lee tanks, and towards the 2

end of 1943 Valentine tanks were employed and in mid April 1944 British Canadian Sherman DD tanks and shortly after a certain number of the new 17 Pounder Sherman Vc Firefly

On 18 Mar 1944, he married Gloria Straussler at the Register’s office at Brighton and had a nine day leave to celebrate the wedding.

On June 3 the crews moved their vehicles from Fort Gomer which they had occupied in 1943 44 to Bay Horse to be loaded on Landing Craft (Tank) III or LCT3. Squadron A vehicles were loaded on LCT 1510, 1511, 1512, 1513, 1522, 1523, 15552, and 1554. On Sunday June 4 the LCTs moved up the Solent to Southampton and marshalled into columns for the channel crossing. They were transported by an Armada of ships known as Force ‘J”. They were scheduled to cross on June 5th but weather delayed the start until the 6th. (See more below) D-Day

The Royal Winnipeg Rifles landed in the sector called Mike Red by 0735 where defences had been left untouched by the prior bombardment by the guns of the Royal Navy. Despite heavy losses, one by one with the aid of aid of armoured vehicles strong points were eliminated. Graye-sur-mer, Sainte-Croix and Banville were taken and the Winnipeg Rifles were in position of Creully by 1700 on the afternoon of June 6th. The Royal Winnipeg Rifles and Regina Rifles claim credit for being the first Allied unit to reach their D-Day objectives.

Rifleman Wilfred Joseph Nabish, H17749, Royal Winnipeg Rifles, son of Tom Nabish and Netty Que We Zence, was born on June 10 1922 in Kenora. He October 3 1941 and in April 1 1942 was remustered with Royal Winnipeg Rifles as a Rifleman. He embarked May 2 1942 over seas and disembarked May 12 1942 in the UK. He Landed in France on D-Day and was killed the same day.

Ernest William "Bill" Bradley, H103409, son of Walter Bradley and Maude Coppard was born in Kenora on September 27 1922 in Kenora. His father had served in World War 1 and as a result of the war and work on the railway he lost his hearing and his job with the CPR.

Bill enlisted Royal Winnipeg Rifles, R.C. I. C on 17 Nov 1942. He married Laura Martha McNabb 30 Jun 1943 and shortly after left Canada for England on 25 Aug 1943, arriving 2 Sept 1943. He embarked from UK 1 Jun 1944, disembarked in France 6 Jun 1944, D- Day

On June 7th the Royal Winnipeg Rifles took Putot-en-Bassin. On the 8th two battalions of the 12th SS Panzer Division launched a series of attacks against the Royal Winnipeg Rifles and were overwhelmed. That evening 23 prisoners captured were executed by men of the 12th SS Panzer Division. Later similar atrocities were committed by this SS unit including the execution of Bradley. It is believed executed were conducted under the direction of Maj. Gen Kurt Meyer at the ancient Abbey of Ardennes at Mouen and at Authie near Caen. Putot was retaken later on June 8th. His date of death is presumed as 8 Jun 1944. He was reburied at Canadian Cemetery at Beny-Sur-Mer, France Plot 13, Row H, Grave 6 It is believed he was executed under the direction of Maj. Gen Kurt Meyer at the ancient Abbey of Ardennes at Mouen and at Authie near Caen.

Bradley was buried at Canadian Cemetery at Beny-Sur-Mer, France Plot 13, Row H, Grave 6.

Following the war Kurt Meyers was tried and held responsible for most of the 45 Canadians executed at the Abbey of Ardennes on June 8th. He was sentenced to death, latter commuted to life imprisonment of this. He served five years in Dorchester, New Brunswick where he worked in the library and learned English. He was transferred to a prison in Germany and released from prison on 7 September 1954. He died of a heart attack on 23 December 1961. 3

Bradley's widow died 10 Jun 1988 in Waterloo, Ontario. His father Walter died 20 Jun 1971 in Kenora, his mother died 09 Jul 1972 in Kenora.

Private Mark Grozik, son of Nicholas Grozik and Tekla “Tillie” Farion was born 12 Sep 1923 in Kenora. He finished school in Shortdale, at Grade 8 to assist father who operated a small trucking business hauling cream to creamery and handling freight. He had an older brother Eugene Nicholas Grozik who served in the (Cameron’s) and two younger brothers Wesley and Roy and sister Joanna. He enlisted 8 Apr 1943 and sent to 10 District Deport in Winnipeg. On 29 Apr 1943 was transferred to 100 Canadian Army Basic Training Centre in Portage La Prairie. On 30 Jun 1943 commenced training at A15 Canadian Infantry Training Centre Shilo Camp.

He disembarked embarked on June 6 1944, D- Day with the Canadian Scottish Regiment. The C company of the Canadian Scottish Regiment landed on the Mike Green sector and found their objective a 75 mm gun beneath a casement at Vaux already knocked out by Gunfire from the Royal Navy. They then proceeded to Graye. Mark died two days later, 8 Jun 1944 of multiple shrapnel and mortar wounds. He is buried at the Canadian War Cemetery at Bretteville-Sur-Laize , Grave Viii. Row B. Plot 9

Rifleman James Elder, H20664, son of Bert Elders, b. 24 Dec 1920 Kenora, enlisted 24 September 1940 3rd Canadian Inf H.V. transferred to Regina Rifle Regiment R.C. I. C disembarked in France 6 Jun 1944, d. 10 Jul 1944 of wounds initially buried at Military Cemetery at La Douvres reburied at Canadian War Cemetery Beny- Sur-Mer, , France, Grave 16, Row E, plot 2 [Add to story from 6 to 10th]

Lance Corporal Lloyd Leslie Paulson on D-Day and aftermath:

On D-Day, ‘A’ Squadron was scheduled to follow Squadron ‘B’ and ‘C’ in the second wave. B Squadron was to arrive in front of Bernières-sur-Mer where they were scheduled to clear the beach and secure the beachhead within an hour. However, the tanks were trapped on the beach by an 8-foot seawall which took over an hour to breach. It was decided by Regimental Headquarters Lieutenant - Colonel Morton that Squadron ‘A’ would also land at Bernières-sur-Mer.

Squadron B was held up by a minefield waiting for 8 Canadian Infantry Brigade reserve Battalion Le Régiment de la Chaudière. The advance to Beny-sur-Mer was actually led by Squadron ‘A’ followed by Chaudière, B Squadron and the Queens Own Rifles. The advance to Beny-sur-Mer was held up by heavy resistance. A decision was made to detach Squadron ‘B’ and head around on the right to Fountain Henry and Thaon before proceeding to their first objective of Anguerny. After assisting in in the capture of Beny-sur-Mer ‘A’ Squadron pushed on to Hill 70 where it was rejoined by Squadron ‘B’ .

On June 7, Captain Goodman and Squadron ‘A’ was assigned to reconnaissance to check to see if the road from Beny-sur-Mer through Tailleville to Douvres-la-Délivrande was clear. On June 8 Squadron B left for Villon-les Buisson but was redirected to conduct a raid on Vieux Cairon . Two anti tank guns were knocked out and 12 prisoners taken but as the spot was too heavily garrisoned the Canadians had to withdraw to Les Buisson. On June 9 Squadron ‘B’ launched an attack on Buron but had to pull back. On June 10 Squadrons ‘B’ and ‘C’ exchanged places and then Squadron ‘C’ pulled out to join the Regiment at a new location, Basly in preparation for a forthcoming operation.

On June 11 the Regiment was given under command to the 46 Royal Marine Command to clear the Mue Valley and secure the hamlet of La Villeneuve on the Caen-Bayeux highway. The Commandos and ‘A’ Squadron set off at 10 AM on Sunday. The Tanks followed the road through the Mue Valley with the Commandos on one side and the amour on the other. In Cairon, Lasson Rossel and Le Hamel artillery fire was called to soften the 4

opposition. At 6 P.M. two troops of Tanks were ordered to return to the Regiment to defend against an anticipated counterattack while the rest continued on to Rots.

Lieutenant Sandy McPherson led 2nd Troop into Rots followed by the Commandos. They cleared a path to the village square where they encountered a Panther parked down a side street. The Germans fired killing Trooper Lochard Ballantyne Lance Corporal’s Paulson’s foot. The crew bailed out taking Paulson with them. A grenade thrown by the Germans wounded two of the team and the only unwounded member attempted to drag Paulson to coven. A machine gun burst killed Paulson and he died on June 1 1 1944. With the help of the addition of the 4th troop the situation was stabilized and the Commandos held Rots.

The Drive to Caen (Bridgehead Battle June 7-30 1944

The Battle for Caen

On 18–20 July 1944, Operation Goodwood was a British offensive in the Second World War, as part of the battle for Caen in Normandy, France. The objective of the operation was a limited attack to the south, to capture the rest of Caen and the Bourguébus Ridge beyond.

Operation Atlantic (18–21 July 1944) was a Canadian offensive during the Battle of Normandy in the Second World War. The offensive, launched in conjunction with Operation Goodwood by the Second Army, was part of operations to seize the French city of Caen and vicinity from German forces.

In Operation Greenwood the British VIII Corps, with three armoured divisions, attacked to seize the German- held Bourguébus Ridge, the area between Bretteville-sur-Laize and Vimont and to inflict maximum casualties on the Germans. On 18 July, the British I Corps conducted an advance to secure a series of villages and the eastern flank of VIII Corps and to the west, the II Canadian Corps launched Operation Atlantic, synchronised with Goodwood, to capture the rest of Caen south of the Orne River. While Goodwood failed in its primary aim, it forced the Germans to keep powerful formations opposite the British and Canadians on the eastern flank of the Normandy beachhead and , the First US Army attack which began on 25 July, caused the weaker German defences opposite to collapse.

Lt. Gen. Guy Simonds' II Canadian Corps would launch an attack, codenamed Operation Atlantic, on the western flank of VIII Corps to liberate Colombelles and the remaining portion of Caen south of the Orne river. Following the capture of these areas, the Corps was to be prepared to capture Verrières Ridge. The Atlantic– Goodwood operation was slated to commence on 18 July. Operation Atlantic was initially successful, with gains made on the flanks of the Orne River near Saint-André-sur-Orne but an attack by the 4th and 6th Canadian Infantry Brigades of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division, against strongly defended German positions on Verrières Ridge to the south was a costly failure. (See Breaking From Juno Chapter 11 and 12)

On the morning of 18 July, with heavy air support, advance elements of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division were able to capture Colombelles and Faubourg-de-Vaucelles, a series of industrial suburbs just south of Caen along the Orne River. By mid-afternoon, two companies of the Black Watch had crossed the Orne River, with 'A' Company taking fewer than twenty casualties. Additional Battalions from 5th Brigade managed to push southward to Saint-André-sur-Orne. With the east bank of the Orne River secured, the 4th and 6th Canadian Infantry Brigades moved into position for the assault on Verrières Ridge. The German High Command (OKW) dominated the Caen–Falaise road, blocking Allied forces from breaking out into the open country south of Caen.

Units of the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada, supporting the South Saskatchewan Regiment of the 2nd Division, were able to secure a position in St. André-sur-Orne in the early hours of 20 July but were 5

soon pinned down by German infantry and tanks. A simultaneous direct attack up the slopes of Verrières Ridge by the South Saskatchewan fell apart as heavy rain prevented air support and turned the ground to muck, making it difficult for tanks to maneuver. Counterattacks by two Panzer divisions forced the South Saskatchewan back past their start line and crashed into their supporting battalion, the Essex Scottish, who lost over 300 men as they struggled to hold back the 12th SS Panzer Division. Meanwhile, to the east, the remainder of I SS Panzer Corps fought the largest armored battle of the campaign, with British forces involved in Operation Goodwood. By the end of the day, the South Saskatchewan Regiment had taken 282 casualties and the ridge was still in enemy hands.

Simonds remained determined to take the ridge. He sent in two battalions, the Black Watch and the Calgary Highlanders, to stabilize the situation, and minor counterattacks by both, on 21 July, managed to contain Dietrich's armored formations. By the time the operation was called off, Canadian forces held several footholds on the ridge, including a now secure position on Point 67. Four German divisions still held the ridge. In all, the actions around Verrières Ridge during Operation Atlantic accounted for over 1,300 Allied casualties including Private John Albert McKay from Kenora near Saint-André-sur-Orne. Criticism, perhaps unjustified were launched at McDonald the Commander of the Scottish Essex.

Road to Falaise (Operation Totalize)

Soldiers who fought In France

Soldiers (other than those listed in cemeteries below)

Sergeant Alexander Allen McKay H19344, son of James Albert McKay and Laura Jane Folster, b. 25 May 1920 Herb Lake, Manitoba, enlisted 8 Sep 1939 Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada, R.C.I.C. disembarked at Gourock, UK, disembarked in France 19 Aug 1942 (Jubilee Operation) disembarked in France 8 Jul 1944, d. 13 Sep 944 burial Wieburringham Church Cemetery Dunkerque, Belgium, reburied Adegem Canadian Cemetery, Belgium.

Cemeteries

Bayeux War Cemetery

Of 4144 burials 178 are Canadian and 338 unidentified

From Caen take N13 for just 25 Kilometres to exit 37.1 toward Le Molay—Littry. Turn right onto D5/Route de Littry and continues for 1,6 kilometres, then turn right to remain on D5. The Bayeux Cemetery is 200 metres on right and Memorial on the left side of the road opposite the cemetery. Names on memorial of more than 1800 commonwealth soldiers who died in early weeks after Normandy landing of which 338 are Canadian.

Kenora and Area Soldiers buried at Bayeux

Charles Tait, H51871, Royal Canadian Army Service Corp, son of Charles Tait and Jane (Jean) Morrison, b. 1 Oct 1916 Keewatin, enlisted 18 Jul 1940 Winnipeg 4th RCASC, attended at Shiloh for Driver training, 7 July 1941 attached #6 Dist. Depot, Halifax, Driver Mechanics, Woodstock, 31 Oct 1941, qualified as Driver Mechanic Class 1, converted to 4 CDN Armed Div. embarked at Halifax 24 Sep 1942, disembarked in

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Liverpool 25 Sep 1942, embarked UK 20 Jul 1944 disembarked in France 22 Jul 1944, attached to Algonquin Regiment , wounded 14 Aug 1944, d. of wounds 24 Aug 1944, buried in Bayeux War Cemetery Grave IV Row D plot 4

Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery Of 2029 burials 2025 are Canadians, 19 unidentified, most are men of the Third Canadian Division who died on 6 Jun 1944 and the following days during advance toward Caen

On Caen’s peripheral road, N814 , head northeast to exit 5-Cote de Nacre toward Douvres-la- Deliverance/Courseulles-sur-Mer. At the roundabout, take the third exit onto avenue de la Cote de Nacre. After 1.4 kilometres, go through one roundabout and keep right to stay on avenue de la Cote de Nacre. Continue onto D7. Pass through one roundabout and at the next take fourth exit to D404 and continue for 5.5 kilometers. At the roundabout, take the third exit onto D35 towards Reviers. The cemetery is just over 1 Kilometres on the right.

Kenora and Area Soldiers buried at Beny-sur-Mer

Rifleman Ernest William Bradley H103409, son of Walter Bradley and Maude Coppard b. 27 Sep 1922, Kenora, enlisted Royal Winnipeg Rifles, R.C. I. C 17 Nov 1942, m. Laura McNabb 30 Jun 1943 arrived overseas Aug 1943d. embarked from UK 1 Jun 1944, disembarked in France 6 Jun 1944, d. 8 Jun 1944 Reburied at Canadian Cemetery at Beny-Sur-Mer, France Plot 13, Row H, Grave 6 believed executed under the direction of Maj. Gen Kurt Meyer at the ancient Abbey of Ardennes at Mouen and at Authie near Caen1

Lance Corporal Lloyd Leslie Paulson, H26710, Fort Garry Horse son of Peter Paulson and Ella McIntosh, b. 1 Jul 1918 enlisted 17 Feb 1941 Winnipeg, m. Gloria Straussler in Brighton, Sussex, 1944, d. 11 Jun 1944 10th Armed. Regt buried at Canadian War Cemetery Beny-Sur-Mer, Calvados, France, Grave reference X.F.4

Rifleman James Elder, H20664, son of Bert Elders, b. 24 Dec 1920 Kenora, enlisted 24 September 1940 3rd Canadian Inf H.V. transferred to Regina Riffle Regiment R.C. I. C disembarked in France 6 Jun 1944, d. 10 Jul 1944 of wounds initially buried at Military Cemetery at La Douvres reburied at Canadian War Cemetery Beny- Sur-Mer, Calvados, France, Grave 16, row E, plot 2

Gunner Victor James “Jim” Mackie, son of Robert Mackie and Margaret Ellen Johnson, H54861, b. 26 Dec 1921 Kenora, enlisted Royal Canadian Artillery, disembarked 6 Jun 1944, d. 22 Jul 1944 buried Canadian Military Cemetery Beny-sur-Mer, Grave 11, row B Plot 15,

Rifleman Andrew Richard Smith, H20547, Royal Winnipeg Rifles, son of James Wellington Smith and Edna Annie Jones, b. 12 May 1921 Keewatin, enlisted 8 August 1940 Winnipeg, C of C., embarked at Halifax 13 Dec 1940, disembarked in Gourock 26 Dec 1940, embarked for France 18 Aug 1942, disembarked at Dieppe, 19 Aug 1942, transferred to Royal Winnipeg Rifles, 9 Jun 1944, d. 12 Aug 1944 of Wounds at 1 St. Germain la Blanche Herbe, reburied Beny-sur-Mer, France IV Row F Plot 3

Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery Of 2958 burials, 2792 are Canadians, 87 unidentified, most died in the battles for Caen, Verrieres and Falaise2

1 Kenora Miner News (KMN) http://www.kenorapubliclibrary.org/library-resources/newspaper-archives.aspx 14 Dec 1945 2 Shaw, Susan Evans, Canadians at War, Vol 2. A Guide to the Battle Fields and Memorials of World War 2, page 174 7

From Caen’s peripheral highway N814, take exit 13 onto N158, direction Alencon/LeMans/Falaise, and continue for about 8 Kilometres. Tae exit La Jalouise toward Bretteville-sur-Laize and merge onto D23A. After 320 metres turn left onto D23; take the first right onto D80 and right again onto D183A. After 2 kilometres turn right onto D183, then again right onto D167. The cemetery is 650 metres on the right.

Kenora and Area Soldiers buried at Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery

Private Charles Stewart Erskine, H70609, son of Charles Erskine b. 19 May 1923, Kenora, enlisted 27 Nov 1942 Fort William, 102nd C. A. (B) Training Centre, disembarked UK 22 May 1943, Disembarked from UK 6 Jun 1944, South Saskatchewan Regiment R.C. I. C. Disembarked in France 8 Jun 1944, d. 25 Jul 1944 Canadian War Cemetery at Bretteville-Sur-Laize, France

Sergeant Robert McLeod Gordon son of Hugh Blair Gordon and Bertha Brugge, b. 2 April 1913, enlisted 17 Jul 1940, H51816, disembarked in UK 25 Sep 1942 disembarked at France 22 Jul 1944 4th Canadian Armed Battalion Company Royal Canadian Army Service Corps, d. 12 Aug 1944, initial burial Bretteville about 20 yds East of Road, reburial to Canadian Military Cemetery at Bretteville-sur-Laize.

Private Grozik, Mark, son of Nicholas Grozik and Tillie H9174 b. 12 Sep 1923 Kenora, enlisted 8 Apr 1943 Canadian Scottish Regiment, R.C.I. C, disembarked in France 6 Jun 1944, d. 8 Jun 1944 wounded by shrapnel, buried Canadian War Cemetery at Bretteville-Sur-Laize Viii. B. 9

Private John Albert McKay H19432, son of James Albert McKay and Laura Jane Folster, b. 14 Aug 1915 Herb Lake, Manitoba, enlisted 12 Sep 1939 Winnipeg, Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada , R.C.I. C embarked in Halifax 13 Dec 1940, Disembarked Gourock, Scotland 26 Dec 1940, embarked UK 6 Jul 1944, Disembarked France 8 Jul 1944, d. 21 Jul 1944 buried Canadian Military Cemetery, Grave 4, Row F, Plot 2 Bretteville-sur-Laize, France

Lance Corporal Michael Usick, son of John Usick and Barbara Molaluka, b. 4 Oct 1914 Keewatin, m. Jenney enlisted 20 Nov 1941, 10 D.D. Artillery Wing, transferred to South Saskatchewan Regiment, 27 Jan 1942, transferred to 103 rd. C.A. (B)T.C Shilo, Disembarked in UK 25 June1942 disembarked in France 8 Jun 1944 back to South Saskatchewan Regiment 67214, South Saskatchewan Regiment, R.C.I. C d. 16 Aug 1944 reburied Canadian Military Cemetery, Bretteville-sur-Laize, France

Private Frederick Thomas White, H70609, son of Mary Jane McCann, b. 20 Aug 1915 Kenora, m. Helen Elizabeth McCann enlisted 4 Jul 1940 Port Arthur, Lake Superior Regiment d. 5 Aug 1944 France, of wounds received in Action buried in La Hogue reburied in Bretteville-sur-Laize, France, Grave 12, Row F, Plot 19

Other Soldiers

Company Sergeant Major Jock Forbes, son of John Forbes and Elizabeth Mackie Farquhar, b. 27 May 1910, Keewatin, Ontario, Canada, m. Isabella Grace Gray McLeod 4 Jul 1903 Keewatin, Ontario, enlisted 27 Sep 1939 Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada, went overseas Dec 1940, landed in France Jul 8 1944, fought in France, Belgium and Holland, wounded in Nov 1944, fighting in Holland, Feb 10 1945, d. 30 Sep 2000 Keewatin, Ontario

Sources Bishop, Arthur, “The Normandy Conquest”, Battles that Forged Our Nation, 1759-1953, Toronto: Prospero Books, 1999 Cook, Tim, The Necessary War, Volume One, Canadians Fighting the Second World War 1939-1943, Toronto Allan Lane, 2014 8

Cook, Tim, Fight to the Finish, Canadians in the Second World War 1944-1945, Volume Two, Toronto Allan Lane, 2015. J.L. Granatstein and Desmond Morton, Bloody Victory, Canadians and the D-Day Campaign 1944, Lester Publishing Co.,1994 J.L. Granatstein and Desmond Morton, A Nation Forged in Fire, Canadians and the Second World War 1939- 1945 Toronto: Lester Publishing Co 1989 McNorgan, Michael R and Gordon T. Crossley, Facta Non Verba, A History of the Fort Garry Horse, Winnipeg: Fort Garry Horse Foundation, 2012 Readers Digest, The Canadians at War 1939/45, Westmount Quebec, Reader Digest, 1986 Shaw, Susan Evans, Canadians at War, Vol 2. A Guide to the Battle Fields and Memorials of World War 2, Fredericton: Goose Lane, 2014

Stacey, Colonel, Official History of the Canadian Army in the Second World War, Volume 1, Six Years of War, The Army in Canada, Britain and the Pacific, Ottawa: The Queen’s Printer, Ottawa, 1955 (available at https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/themes/defence/caf/militaryhistory/dhh/official/book-1955-army-ww2-1- en.pdf ) Stacey, Colonel, Official History of the Canadian Army in the Second World War, Volume 2, The Victory Campaign, The Operations in North-West Europe, 1944-1945, The Queen’s Printer, Ottawa, 1960 (available at https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/services/military-history/history-heritage/official- military-history-lineages/official-histories/book-1960-army-ww2-3.html ) Zuehlke, Mark, , Canada’s D-Day Victory: June 6 1944, Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre, 2005 Zuehlke, Mark, Holding Juno, Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre, 2005

Websites Kenora Miner News (KMN) http://www.kenorapubliclibrary.org/library-resources/newspaper-archives.aspx

Videos Related to D Day

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9i8KDgecCz4 D-Day: Allied Landings in Normandy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wg5x5WaZPo Archive Video Of The D-Day

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