BERNIERES-SUR-MER Calvados - 16 km north from Caen The Canadians under a deluge of shells On 6 June 1944, the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division commanded by General Keller landed in Normandy on Juno Beach. At 8:05 am, the Queen's Own Rifles Regiment set foot on this Norman beach in bad conditions : the amphibious tanks were late, and the preliminary artillery bombing left intact the German defences. The machine-guns and the weapons of the battery de La Cassine killed tens of Canadian soldiers before being neutralized in hand to hand fighting. A battleship of The Royal Navy approached the coast to support the attack, the blockhouses were fired at point blank range, and the Canadians overcame the German positions. Finally, at 8:30 am, infantry reinforcement, among them the French Canadians of Le Régiment de La Chaudière, and tanks of The Fort Garry Horse slammed ashore, Bernières-sur-Mer was liberated.

Queens Own Rifles monument - 5th Hackney Battalion plaque - N°3 Beach Group This blockhouse of the Atlantic Wall opposed to the Canadians of the Queen's Own Rifles Regiment, on 6 June 1944, inflicting them heavy losses on the beaches. A plaque is also dedicated to the British soldiers of the 5th Hackney Battalion the Royal Berkshire Regiment and to the N°3 Beach Group. Situation : in the town center, on the seafront

The Fort Garry Horse stele This stele is in memory of the Canadian soldiers of the 10th Armoured Regiment, The Fort Garry Horse, who landed on these beaches on 6 June 1944, and liberated Bernières-sur-Mer. Situation : in the town center, on the seafront (near the blockhouse)

La Chaudière Regiment stele This stele is in memory of the French Canadians of La Chaudière Regiment, commanded by Lieutenant colonel Paul Mathieu, who landed there on 6 June 1944. Situation : in the town center, on the seafront (near the blockhouse)

Liberation monument This monument recalls the liberation of Europe, on 6 June 1944, by the Allied forces. Situation : on the seafront

Canadian soldiers stele This stele is dedicated to all the Canadian soldiers of Infantry, Navy and Airforce troops who were killed on the beaches of Juno, on 6 June 1944. Situation : in the town center, on the seafront (near the blockhouse)

Journalists HQ plaque A plaque indicates this house was the headquarters of british and canadian journalists, photographs and film makers during the Landing operations. Situation : at the beginning of La Chaudière Regiment street, N°288 on the wall of the house

Canadian soldiers stele This rock stele - inukshuk - is dedicated to the Canadian soldiers fallen on the beaches of Bernières-sur-Mer, on 6 June 1944. Situation : on D514, next to the Tourism office

The Queen's Own Rifles stele A plaque in front of this house indicates that it was liberated by the soldiers of The Queen's Own Rifles of Canada, on 6 June 1944. The troops suffered heavy losses in this place. Situation : on the seafront, near the blockhouse, in front of a house

Ernest W. Parker stained glass window This stained glass window has been offered by the son of Ernest W. Parker, of the Royal Army Corps Signal, who landed in Bernières-sur-Mer on 6 June 1944. with The Queens Own's Rifles of Canada Regiment of the 5th Brigade (3rd Canadian Infantry Division). Situation : in Notre-Dame church

North Nova Scotia Highlanders plaque This plaque is in memory of The North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment, of the 5th Brigade (3rd Canadian Infantry Division)., who liberated the town this way on 6 June 1944. Situation : on the wall of the first-aid station, 50 meters from the Tourism office

14th Field Regiment monument Monument in mmory of nine soldiers of the 14th Field Regiment of the Royal Canadian Artillery kiled near this place on 6 June 1944. Situation : at the south exit of the town toward Bény-sur-Mer

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INTERESTING WEB SITES Personal web site about D-day and Normandy battle http://www.debarquement-normandie.com/ Association web site about Canadian soldiers in Normandy http://www.valourandhorror.com Personal web site about La Chaudière Regiment http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Lobby/1618/histoire.html Association web site about Canadian soldiers on D-day http://www.waramps.ca/military/wwii/dday.html Personal web site about the Atlantic Wall http://site.voila.fr/bunkers Personal web site about the Atlantic Wall http://atlantikwall.free.fr/   All rights of photos, texts, maps and graphics design are reserved