France
The D-Day Battlefields
The JUNO Beach Centre
Opened in 2003, by then then Prime Ministers of France and Canada, the maple-leaf shaped Juno Beach Centre at Courseulles-sur-Mer is Canada’s Second World War museum in France, also serving as a cultural and educational centre. The striking building, modern and bright with an outer skin of titanium, was designed by Canadian architect Brian K. Chamberlain.
The dramatic sculpture of five stylised soldiers in front of the museum was created by Toronto-based artist Colin Gibson. Named `Remembrance and Renewal`, the figures represent various qualities shown by Canada`s military personnel, including leadership, vigour, alertness, sombre reflection and a willingness to assist comrades.
Waterfront apartments at Courseulles-Sur-Mer: One of the car parks available for people visiting the museum lies on the right-hand side of the bridge.
The JUNO Centre project cost €6,250,000 Euros and donors can fund `name bricks` to pay tribute to individual WW2 Veterans. Over a million men and women joined the Canadian Armed Forces during the Second World War and the facility pays homage to the 45,000 Canadians who lost their lives during the conflict, of which 5,500 were killed during the Battle of Normandy, with 359 of those lost on D-Day. After an inscription has been added, the dark blue name plates are fixed onto one of these donor kiosks near the main entrance.
The Centre’s permanent exhibit draws on photographs, documents, firsthand accounts, multimedia, maps, and artefacts to tell the story of the Canadians who volunteered for military service or mobilised at home to contribute to the war effort. The presentations cover the battles that took Canadian units from Sicily, through Italy then on to Normandy and the Netherlands. There is also an ever-changing program of temporary displays.
Before accessing the main exhibits, visitors stand in a room with a film projected on 3 walls to simulate being carried in a landing craft. This is intended to put people in the mindset of a Canadian soldier about to ‘hit the beach’ on D-Day. After this short sequence, the doors open to the display areas, the first of which is Canada in the 1930s. Other rooms cover Canada’s road to war and commitment to the Allied cause, the Road to Victory, and ‘Some came back, Others did not’.
‘They Walk With You’ is a powerful film, made up of newsreel footage from a variety of sources, much of it previously unseen, and dramatic recreations, which combine to illustrate the courage and sacrifice of the Canadian forces during the Battle of Normandy. The large-scale model Spitfire pictured below hangs from the roof in the foyer.
JUNO Beach viewed from the dunes near the Centre.
Below right: In October 2005, twenty Canadian First Nations veterans of the Second World War were honoured at the CWGC Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery at Reviers, which lies close to where Canadian troops stormed ashore onto Juno Beach on D-Day. The ceremony marked one stop on an eight-day journey to Belgium and France by a Canadian aboriginal delegation commemorating the contributions of Indian, Inuit and other first nations`soldiers to Victory in Europe. At least 33 aboriginal soldiers are buried amid the pines and maples of the war cemetery which is the last resting place of 2,043 Canadians. It`s estimated around 4,000 aboriginals joined the Canadian military during the Second World War. Despite serving their country, many felt they were treated like second-class citizens when they returned home after long spells overseas and weren`t permitted to purchase land outwith their allocated reserves.
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George Horse, (86 years old at the time of the ceremony) of the Thunder Child First Nation in northwestern Saskatchewan, recalled being among the first soldiers to land on Juno Beach. He said "I shed a few tears thinking of my comrades I saw dropped in the water and I couldn't help them no how, I hope it doesn't happen again."
As part of the commemorations, this permanent reminder of the aboriginal Canadians` contribution to the war effort was unveiled beside the Juno Beach Centre. The memorial is in the form of an Inukshuk, a traditional Inuit stone structure. The opening at the top faces Canada, with the intention that the souls of fallen aboriginal soldiers can look towards their homeland, while people in Canada can look back at those who fought for their freedom.
As part of the commemorations, this permanent reminder of the aboriginal Canadians` contribution to the war effort was unveiled beside the Juno Beach Centre. The memorial is in the form of an Inukshuk, a traditional Inuit stone structure. The opening at the top faces Canada, with the intention that the souls of fallen aboriginal soldiers can look towards their homeland, while people in Canada can look back at those who fought for their freedom.
`Remembrance Way` is a trail leading from outside the JUNO Centre along the coast, passing various objects and points of interest on the way. Staff at the centre offer guided 45 minute-long 2km walking tours at regular intervals each day from April to October in French and English.
Troops of 'B' Company, North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment, take cover on the approach to the German strongpoint WN-27. St Aubin-sur-Mer, 6 June 1944.
This is the D-Day Commemoration Committee (Comite du Debarquement) Monument at Graye-sur-Mer. Ten of these granite structures have been erected along the 90 km stretch of the D-Day Landing Coast, from Ouistreham in the east to St Martin-de-Varreville in the west, to honour the heroism of the Allied Forces. Designed by Yves-Marie Froidevaux, the signal monuments were unveiled in the 1950s and six, like this one, are situated directly on the coast with four at inland locations. On the anniversary of D-Day they serve as focal points for commemoration ceremonies.
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Cosy`s bunker, now immediately recognisable due to its tilt, was the site of fierce fighting on D-Day. It owes its name to Lt. Wiiliam. A. "Cosy" Aitken who, along with 10 Platoon, `B` Company of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles, was entrusted with capturing the fortification.
An initial assault by machine-guns then grenades thrown through the apertures saw the strongpoint neutralised but Lt. Aitken received a severe head injury during the fighting, plus many of the Canadians in his unit were killed or wounded. Engineers set and blew charges which split and toppled the structure, leaving it in its present state. Aitken was hospitalised for several months but later returned to action. The photo of troops assembling to attack is on the information post beside the bunker which can be seen in the centre of the shot. |
The plaque in front of this tank, named `1 Charlie`, reads `Graye-sur-Mer. Char Churchill A.V.R.E. 26 Assault Squadron Royal Engineers, 7 Canadian Infantry Brigade. This tank landed on Graye-sur-Mer Beach at H Hour on D-Day and was stopped on the way inland 100 metres south of this spot. The members of its crew were killed or badly wounded. It remains as a memorial to all those who gave their lives here.`
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The 1st and 2nd Troops of the 26th Assault Squadron Royal Engineers, had been tasked with clearing obstacles to open an exit from this section of beach then continue over the line of dunes beyond.
Having suffered a slight delay, the first AVREs reached the shore about 07:55hrs and immediately got to work with flail-Crabs creating paths through the minefield while `bunker-busters` and the DD tanks and assault infantry already in action, engaged the enemy strongpoints. |
In addition to the already formidable enemy defences, the attackers soon discovered that an anti-tank ditch effectively blocked the way. Also, just beyond was a flooded culvert linked to the River Seulles. This, however, was what `Hobart`s Funnies` had been designed for - a fascine tank dropped its bundle into the first obstacle, enabling `1 Charlie` of 1st Troop to continue onto the second. Unfortunately this tank, commanded by Bill Dunn, lost traction and slid into the culvert, immediately flooding the interior and forcing the crew to bale out. Escorted by another tank, they made their way back towards the beach and took shelter behind the dunes but German mortar bombs soon fell on their position. Three men were killed outright but Dunn and his crew mate Bill Hawkins, although seriously wounded survived and both were evacuated to England.
The sunken tank was left in situ and incorporated into the beach exit road constructed once the area had been secured. It remained there until 1976 when, at the request of the citizens of Graye-sur-Mer, it was raised to form a permanent memorial. The operation was carried out by the RE and REME using a 70-ton crane provided by a local contractor. Both Dunn and Hawkins attended the memorial`s inauguration ceremony. Bill Dunn. In accordance with his last wishes, had his ashes scattered here in November 2014.
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