Seventy-five years ago, Operation Neptune saw the allied forces launch a full-scale invasion along the Normandy coast – an operation that would drive the Nazis out of France, and lead to the eventual end of the Second World War.
The invasion began shortly after midnight on June 6, 1944 – D-Day – with the deployment of about 24,000 paratroopers, followed at dawn by a full-scale assault, as infantry and armoured divisions landed along 80 kilometres of Normandy coastline.
An estimated 156,000 British, Canadian and American troops stormed Utah Beach, Juno Beach, Omaha, Gold and Sword Beaches, using a fleet of nearly 7,000 ships and landing vessels. They faced rough seas and bad weather, and fierce fire from the defending German forces along the “Atlantic Wall.”
There were heavy casualties, especially among the first troops to land, but by June 11 all five beaches had been taken by the Allies.
To mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day, Branch 521 of the Royal Canadian Legion invites the community to a candlelight service at the cenotaph, 115 Back St. in Bradford West Gwillimbury, on Thursday at 9 p.m. All are welcome to attend.
The service will especially honour the 359 Canadian soldiers who fell, and more than 700 who were injured, in the first assault as 14,000 Canadian forces landed on the 8 km of beachfront code-named 'Juno.'