Alerts

The Sacrifice

The cost of victory was high on D-Day and the Battle of Normandy. 

Wounded men covered with blankets lying on the sand near a stone wall.
More wounded Canadian soldiers awaiting transfer to a Casualty Clearing Station on D-Day, Courseulles-sur-Mer, France, June 6, 1944. Photo: Frank L. Dubervill.

On D-Day:

  • Total Allied casualties were at least 10,000, with 4,414 confirmed dead.
  • Canada lost 359 soldiers on D-Day.
  • US casualties were 1,465 dead, 3,184 wounded, 1,928 missing and 26 captured.
  • German casualties have been estimated at 4,000 to 9,000 men.
  • French civilian casualties on D-Day and D+1 are estimated at 3,000 people.

During the Battle of Normandy (June 6 to August 25, 1944):

  • Total Allied casualties were more than 209,000.
  • More than 5,000 Canadian men died and more than 18,700 were wounded.
  • Total German casualties (killed and wounded) were estimated at more than 200,00. 
Wounded men lying on the beach.
Wounded Canadian soldiers awaiting evacuation to a Casualty Clearing Station of the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps on D-Day, June 6, 1944. Photo: Frank L. Dubervill.
  • A wounded man lying on the metal deck of a ship, with multiple other men standing around him.
    A wounded Canadian soldier is given adrenaline on the deck of a Landing Craft, Tank off the Normandy beach, June 6, 1944. Photo: Donovan Thorndick.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Okotoks and DeWinton suffered a tremendous loss: Arnold Roseland of Okotoks with the Royal Canadian Air Force, and Leonard Ardiel of Okotoks and Bill Anderson of DeWinton, both with the Calgary Highlanders, were killed.

Read more about these local heroes:

Arnold Roseland

Leonard Ardiel

Bill Anderson

Most of the Canadians who were killed in action during the Battle of Normandy are buried in two French cemeteries.

A white monument with a cross in front of many rows of white gravestones.
Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery in Reviers, France.
An aerial shot of a cemetery, surrounded by well-kept grass and trees.
Bretteville-Sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery, near Bretteville, France.

A total of 2,871 Canadians are buried in the Bretteville-Sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery located near the Town of Bretteville, 14 kilometres south of Caen.

 

A total of 2,029 Canadians are buried at the Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery in the Village of Reviers which is located 15 kilometres northwest of Caen. 

 

Last Updated: