Veteran Major General Richard Rohmer (R) at the Canadian War Cemetery to mark the 80th Anniversary of the D-Day landings, in Beny-Sur-Mer.Kiran Ridley/The Globe and Mail
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They came from Pimicikamak Cree Nation in northern Manitoba with a flag and prayers, to honour one of their own, a young soldier who died taking the beaches of Normandy in 1944.
The tombstone in the Canadian War Cemetery in Bény-sur-Mer is marked simply “R. Beardy, gunner.” He enlisted in the army with his brother, Sandy, and they were among the roughly 14,000 Canadians who participated in the D-Day landing on June 6, 1944, and the months-long campaign that liberated France.
Rose Beardy died on July 30, 1944, at the age of 26. Sandy returned home to Cross Lake, Man., and spoke of a dream he’d had the night before Rose died, when he saw his brother in heaven.
‘It’s the invasion! It’s D-Day! At last!’ What Canadian soldiers saw on Juno Beach in 1944
Canadian veterans share memories of sacrifice ahead of 80th D-Day anniversary in France
“They fought for our rights,” said Rose’s great-grandson, Tyrell Muskego, as he stood near the grave on Wednesday. “It’s very emotional.”
Mr. Muskego, 18, was part of a group of more than 20 high-school students from Pimicikamak Cree Nation who travelled to France to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
Tyrell Muskego, 18, from Cross Lake, Man., stands at the grave of his great-grandfather who died in the Second World War, in the Canadian War Cemetery in Beny-Sur-Mer, northern France, on June 5.Kiran Ridley/The Globe and Mail
They joined a couple of hundred people and a dozen Second World War veterans for a ceremony at the war cemetery, which contains the graves of nearly 2,100 Canadian soldiers. After the speeches, wreath layings and a moment of silence, the students gathered around Mr. Beardy’s grave. They draped a Pimicikamak flag over his tombstone, held hands and prayed.
The event was one of several that have taken place across Normandy this week as towns and villages gear up for Thursday’s anniversary.
Leaders from around two dozen countries will be attending a commemoration service to mark the occasion. Among those expected are Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, U.S. President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and King Charles. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky is also due to attend.
Almost every town along the coast is decorated with Canadian, American, British and French flags in honour of the anniversary. For people here, the events of D-Day are close to their hearts.
Nearly 160,000 troops landed on the beaches that morning in what was one of the largest military operations ever launched. The soldiers attacked at five points codenamed Omaha, Utah, Sword, Gold and Juno, where the Canadians were concentrated. Around 4,000 soldiers died on D-Day and 73,000 more lost their lives as Allied troops pushed toward Paris, which was liberated on Aug. 25, 1944. Among the dead were 5,000 Canadians.
“For us, it’s important to commemorate the Canadians. It’s thanks to them that we remain French,” said Amélie Le Gouix, who lives in Bény-sur-Mer, which was one of the towns liberated by Canadian troops. “We can never forget, never.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Princess Anne unveiled a statue in Bretteville, Normandy, in honour of the Regina Rifle Regiment, which suffered more than 100 casualties on Juno Beach. They persevered nonetheless and liberated the towns of Reviers, Fontaine-Henry and Bretteville-l’Orgueilleuse.
“The statue unveiled today will forever tell the story of loyalty, of bravery and of duty,” said Anne, who is colonel-in-chief of the regiment. “I also hope it will remind future generations to never forget the sacrifice and determination of the Regina Rifles.”
Jim Spenst’s brother, Arnie, was one of the Regina Rifles who landed at Juno Beach on D-Day. Arnie was wounded at some point during the invasion and lost his leg. “They shipped him back to England and then back to Canada,” recalled Mr. Spenst, 98, who is from Meadow Lake, Sask. Mr. Spenst enlisted in 1943 and was sent to Normandy in July, 1944, after his brother returned home.
He hadn’t been back to Normandy until this week. “It’s nice and exciting and something that I really thought I’d like,” he said.
In Brittany, Mr. Macron honoured the role French paratroopers and local resistance fighters played in the D-Day invasion. He also travelled to Saint-Lô, Normandy, on Wednesday, to pay tribute to the thousands of civilians who died.
D-Day veteran Lieutenant-General Richard Rohmer reflects as he stands amongst the graves at the Canadian War Cemetery during a ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings, in Beny-sur-Mer, northern France, on June 5.Kiran Ridley/The Globe and Mail
At the Canadian War Cemetery, Lieutenant-General Richard Rohmer recalled what it meant for him, as a young man, to be among the Canadian soldiers who took part in D-Day. “It was significant for me, really significant,” he said Wednesday. “Many of my friends are here, my teammates in my squadron are here. And it’s significant that I am the only one left as a veteran of D-Day in this capacity, so I’m very proud of that fact.”
He added that even though the world remains engulfed in war, Canadians “can do something to assist liberty and justice.”
Daniel Guérin, the mayor of Reviers, which is next to the cemetery, said the burial ground continues to play an important role in the lives of the residents. Many townsfolk regularly visit the site even though local memory is slowly being lost as elderly residents die.
“I’ve been coming here since I was six years old. It’s a tradition we have kept up from our parents,” Mr. Guérin said. “It’s an important place for us – to recognize the role Canadians played here.”
He added that every year the town hosts a ceremony with prayers and songs for the Canadians buried here. And they’ve started encouraging parents to bring their children. “I hope we will continue to celebrate, so the next generation remembers.”
Canadian Second World War veterans visited the graves of 2,000 soldiers buried at the Beny-Sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery in France on Wednesday to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Many of those buried were men of the 3rd Canadian Division who died either on June 6 or during the early days of the advance towards Caen.
The Associated Press
Editor’s note: In a previous version of this article, a photo of the grave of Gunner Rose Beardy was incorrectly described in the caption as having been draped in the Manitoba flag. That incorrect description has been removed.