The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery

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1 The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery Dedication of a 25 Pounder JUNO Beach, Normandy 6 th June, 2010

2 3 rd Canadian Division Landing on D-Day - Commander Royal Artillery is Brig PAS Todd Brigadier PAS Todd, CBE, DSO, ED, CD ( )

3 Artillery Regiments that were a part of the Normandy Landing 12 th Field Regiment 13 th Field Regiment 14 th Field Regiment 19 th Field Regiment 3 rd Anti-tank Regiment 4 th Light Anti- Aircraft Regiment Priest 105 mm SP Gun in Canadian service

4 The Juno Beach Centre June 6 th, 2010 (700 in Attendance) God Bless Canada! Vive la France!

5 A Large Crowd

6 D-Day Juno Beach This battle was the single most important battle on the Western front. D- Day is the military codeword for the paratrooper operations on the night of June 5 and the beach landings on the morning of June 6 in Normandy. Canada s 3 rd Division led the way at Juno Beach supported by four regiments of field artillery plus an anti tank and anti-aircraft regiment. Three thousand, two hundred Gunners landed on D-Day, losing 17 officers and 40 other ranks. The Commander Royal Artillery of 3 rd Division was Brigadier Stanley Todd, a First World War Gunner and a great hero amongst Canadian Gunners. On the morning of June 6, 1944, it was cloudy and pouring rain. The tide was low, and thousands of soldiers from America, Britain, Canada, and many other countries were prepared to storm the beaches. The battle was going to be fierce, and thousands of men would lose their lives fighting. The 14th and 19th Field Regiments, Royal Canadian Artillery fired a steady barrage onto the beaches with their 105mm guns, beginning at 0739hrs and lasting for thirty minutes.

7 Juno Beach (cont d) Before the infantry landed on the beach, all artillery launched a saturation barrage against the enemy defences. Destroyers pounded the beaches, large landing crafts fired their 4.7-inch guns and Landing Craft Tanks fired rocket rounds. Four field artillery regiments of the Royal Canadian Artillery, in all 96 guns of 105-mm, embarked on 24 LCTs, moved toward the beaches simultaneously. From its craft the 12th Field Regiment opened fire against a fortified position in Courseulles. At 0655hrs, the 13th Field Regiment attacked another position west of the cliff. At 0744hrs, the 14th Regiment fired on the Bernières fortified position; and at 0739hrs, the 19th Regiment attacked a similar post in Saint-Aubin. For half an hour they fired above the heads of the infantry and above the LCAs that were by the shore. Taking advantage of the surprise, the first assault troops silenced the 75mm and 88mm guns and ensured access to the beaches. Around 0830hrs, they were followed by the reserve battalions.

8 Juno Beach (cont d) The Royal Canadian Artillery Field Regiments landed on the 7th Brigade front at about 0900hrs. Delays in opening exits from the beaches prevented the field artillery from moving inland as soon as had been planned. Lt.-Col. Webb brought the guns of the 12th Field Regiment ashore and put them into action on the beach. The artillery was deployed side by side amid the confusion of men and vehicles, and then opened fire in support of the advancing infantry. At 0910hrs and 0925hrs, the 19th and 14th Field Regiments landed and positioned their self-propelled guns for combat. The ever-increasing number of troops and vehicles on the beach made circulation more difficult. To solve the problem, Royal Corps of Engineers personnel opened up breaches in the seawall protecting the beach. The fighting moved inland. As D-Day drew to an end, Canadians had succeeded in advancing quite deeply towards Creully, Colomby-sur-Thaon and Anisy, short of their assigned targets but far enough to make the operation a definite success. The Canadian Artillery contribution to the Liberation of France was significant nine field regiments and three medium regiments (almost 300 guns), and several anti tank and anti-aircraft regiments (350 guns). A total of 17,000 Gunners. About 2,000 Artillerymen were killed or wounded in the liberation of France.

9 A Canadian Gun in Normandy, Representing all D-Day Gunners and Gunners who Liberated France

10 C Troop, 14 th Field Regt, RCA

11 An Outstanding Detachment from 1RCHA

12 The Juno Beach Centre

13 The Calgary Highlanders on Parade, Juno Beach, 6 th June, 2010

14 The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery The Dignitaries, including The Hon Bernard Généreux, representing Min of Veterans Affairs, and Canada s Ambassador to France, M. Marc Lortie

15 The Mayor of Courseulles-sur-Mer, Frédéric Pouille and Local Flag Party

16 Thank You Mementos Lieutenant Garth Webb, GPO of C Troop on D-Day, 14 th Field Regiment. Founder of Juno Beach Centre Maj Craig Ethelston and Col Comdt present a 1RCHA Plaque Col Comdt and Maj Craig Ethelston present 25 Pdr Cartridge Case to Natalie Worthington, Director Juno Beach Centre

17 General Selbie s Father-in-Law Served with Garth Webb in 14 th Field Regt on D-Day Discussing Those Times with Lt Webb

18 Outstanding Local Media Coverage

19 Hommage aux artilleurs!

20 Remembering Our Great D-Day Veterans Veterans Gilbert Boulanger and Bruce Melanson Give Act of Remembrance

21 The Royal Regiment of Canadian Artillery Over these Fields of Normandy, Much Canadian Blood Has Been Shed - We Shall Remember Them

22 We Must Remember Them

23 Our 1RCHA Team With our Irish Gunner Friends With Garth s Gun

24 Time to Explore and Learn Dieppe Bunker Paying Homage

25 A Visit to Vimy

26 Proud to be Gunners Once a Gunner, Always a Gunner! Special Thanks to 1RCHA, especially Major Craig Ethelston, Lieutenant Mark Stevenson and Warrant Officer Lundrigan

27 Our Colours!