BENY-SUR-MER CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY

HISTORICAL INFORMATION: The Canadian 3rd Division landed at Juno Beach on 6th June 1944, and then fought their way inland. The objective was Caen, but this was not reached when the Canadians encountered battle groups from the 716th Division and 21st Panzer Division, and later the 12th SS 'Hitlerjugend' Division. Heavy casualties were suffered in the fighting inland from Juno.

LOCATION: The cemetery is reached from Courseulles-sur-Mer by taking the D79 to Caen. Or conversely, take the D79 from Caen to Courseulles-sur-Mer. At a cross-roads of the D79 and D35 to Beny-sur-Mer, follow signs to Reviers. The cemetery is about a kilometre from here, and can be seen on high ground alongside the road.

PERSONALITIES: Heavy casualties were suffered in the fighting inland from Juno, and the majority of the burials here are men from 3rd Canadian Division. Among them are nine pairs of brothers - a record for a cemetery of the Second World War. Incredibly, one family had a triple bereavement in Normandy. This was unknown in the British Army, as the practice of placing men from one family together in a unit had largely been discontinued after the First World War. The brothers are:

Gnr Edward BLAIS,  Royal Canadian Artillery, 13.7.44, age 28 (IX-H-1)
Rfn Raymond BLAIS, Regina Rifle Regt, 8.7.44, age 20 (XIII-G-3)

Tpr Kenneth BOYD, 7th Recce Regt, 9.7.44, age 21 (XI-A-3)
Lieut Nairn BOYD, 27th Armd Regt, 8.7.44, age 26 (XI-E-2)

Rfn Gordon BRANTON, Regina Rifles Regt, 6.6.44, age 24 (XI-E-16)
Rfn Ronald BRANTON, Regina Rifles Regt, 8.7.44, age 28 (XI-E-15)

Pte George HADDEN, Canadian Scottish, 10.6.44, age 19 (XIII-B-14)
Rfn James HADDEN, Regina Rifles Regt, 19.7.44, age 20 (XIV-F-14)

Pte John HOBBINS, Stormont Highlanders, 8.7.44, age 30 (VII-F-3)
Pte Michael HOBBINS, Stormont Highlanders, 8.7.44, age 23 (II-E-11)

L/Cpl Frank MEAKIN, Royal Winnipeg Rifles, 8.6.44, age 20 (XVI-B-3)
Cpl George MEAKIN, Royal Winnipeg Rifles, 8.6.44, age 23 (XIV-F-10)

Rfn John SKWARCHUK, Royal Winnipeg Rifles, 4.7.44, age 28 ((XII-C-15)
Tpr Metro SKWARCHUK, Royal Winnipeg Rifles, 6.6.44, age 25 (I-G-16)

Pte Owen TADGELL, North Nova Scotia Highlanders, 8.7.44, age 29 (XIV-A-16)
Signaller William TADGELL, Royal Canadian Signals, 29.6.44, age 24 (X-H-3)

Rfn George WHITE, Royal Winnipeg Rifles, 8.6.44, age 27 (VIII-B-4)
Rfn Robert WHITE, Royal Winnipeg Rifles, 8.6.44, age 24 (VIII-B-5)

Rfn Albert WESTLAKE, Queens Own Rifles, 11.6.44, age 26 (III-D-8)
Pte George WESTLAKE, Nova Scotia Highlanders, 7.6.44 (VIII-F-12)
Rfn Thomas WESTLAKE, Queens Own Rifles, 11.6.44, age 33 (III-D-7)

©Paul Reed 2002-2006