Feature Article June 5, 2002
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The Sixth Day of June 1944, D-DayLest We Forgetby Don AntoineThe new year of 1944, was ushered in with much jubilation and merriment at Trafalgar square, in the heart of bomb-scarred London. One of the lions at the base of Nelson's monument had been jarred by a bomb. The singing and dancing was from a large crowd of Allied Servicemen Canadians, Americans and freedom fighters from the Nazi-occupied countries, France, Poland and Czechoslovakia.
The English people had survived the Battle of Britain Blitz, from 1940-1941, when the German Luftwaffe sent nightly air raids. Many would return to the air raid shelters and many would stay put to fight incendiary bombs. Much suffering left the English people battered, but not broken.
Many great battles had been fought and won. Our boys in Italy were approaching the holy city. Many had been lost and many were in the Nazi POW camps. Nothing mattered now; we had to put these battles aside. If we want peace, we must cross the English Channel and hit the enemy in his lair. Everyone knew that plans had been laid for the greatest sea-borne invasion in human history. This plan would soon be put in action... The Germans knew it too as they watched from their great concrete fortifications, pillboxes and machine gun encampments overlooking the Normandy coast.
As D-Day approached miles of long convoys, loaded with tanks, guns, man and ammunitions, rolled south. It is said that there was not enough room for a blade of grass to grow between Southampton and Plymouth..
As Dawn approached on D-Day, the water on the channel was filled with crafts of all types. Suddenly a noise like thunder rose up as the bombers and battleships pounded their targets to soften things up for the invading infantry. The Luftwaffe arrived quickly in great numbers to engage our flyers in aerial dog fights through the day.
In the early hours of June 6, the Canadians, along with the 4th Royal Commandos, were responsible for capturing Juno Beach. After securing it, the Canadians spent the rest of that long day engaged in a flurry of house-to-house fighting in the small town of Couseilles-Sur-Mer. By midnight, Canadian losses totaled 1,000 men killed, wounded, or missing. Toronto Star, Apr.25/02
The names of 143 volunteers who served in WWII are shown in the Oso Township Hall. Most of those who served on that fateful day have now passed on, and only a few remain.
-Ken Hollywood, an anti-tank gunner was severely wounded.
- Al Gilpin, with the south Alberta Tanks, feels that the closing of the Falais Gape was the beginning of the end for the enemy. Al's tank troop captured 2,000 enemy in this battle. Al's greatest memory was entering Holland. He loved the Dutch people. It was here that the wounded were taken out of action. - Jim Smith was with the Grenadier Guards Tanks. In battles with superior tanks, tigers and panzers, two of their tanks were lost. Jim was wounded twice but returned to action. - On May 28, Roscoe Garrett's assault group was sent to an assembly place close to the coast. On June 1, they loaded on the larger landing craft, and stayed on board until they started for France. "Royal Marine Commandos were with us. At first light on June 6, we were off to the coast of Normandy. We had been given French money to be used to help us escape if we were captured." - Brenda Garrett was a member of the Women's Royal Naval Service. She worked in naval camps on the south coast of Britain. Early in June they were ordered to remain on duty at their stations. "We watched the Royal Marines load their landing craft and take off on the Channel to parts unknown. Tears and good wishes went with them." These few honour the memory of their comrades who laid down their lives.
