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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Robert Munro Findlay

In memory of:

Rifleman Robert Munro Findlay

June 8, 1944

Military Service

Service Number:

B/131123

Age:

20

Force:

Army

Unit:

Royal Winnipeg Rifles

Additional Information

Born:

March 6, 1924

Son of Wallace Munro Findlay and Frances Ellen Findlay, of Toronto, Ontario.

Commemorated on Page 304 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information

Cemetery:

BENY-SUR-MER CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY
Calvados, France

Grave Reference:

XIII. F. 5.

Location:

Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery is about 1 kilometre east of the village of Reviers, on the Creully-Tailleville-Ouistreham road (D.35). Reviers is a village and commune in the Department of the Calvados. It is located 15 kilometres north-west of Caen and 18 kilometres east of Bayeux and 3.5 kilometres south of Courseulles, a village on the sea coast. The village of Beny-sur-Mer is some 2 kilometres south-east of the cemetery. The bus service between Caen and Arromanches (via Reviers and Ver-sur-Mer) passes the cemetery.

It was on the coast just to the north that the 3rd Canadian Division landed on 6th June 1944; on that day, 335 officers and men of that division were killed in action or died of wounds. In this cemetery are the graves of Canadians who gave their lives in the landings in Normandy and in the earlier stages of the subsequent campaign. Canadians who died during the final stages of the fighting in Normandy are buried in Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery.

There are a total of 2,048 burials in Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery. There is also one special memorial erected to a soldier of the Canadian Infantry Corps who is known to have been buried in this cemetery, but the exact site of whose grave could not be located.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

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  • Newspaper Clipping– Memorialized on the pages of the Globe and Mail. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Newspaper Clipping
    Newspaper Clipping – Memorialized on the pages of the Globe and Mail. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper Clipping– Memorialized on the pages of the Globe and Mail. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Newspaper Clipping
    Newspaper Clipping – Memorialized on the pages of the Globe and Mail. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– Memorialized on the pages of the Globe and Mail. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – Memorialized on the pages of the Globe and Mail. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Star December 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Star December 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Memorial– Rifleman Robert Munro Findlay is also commemorated on the Memorial at Putot-en-Bessin, FR … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens … May 2022

    Details

    Memorial
    Memorial – Rifleman Robert Munro Findlay is also commemorated on the Memorial at Putot-en-Bessin, FR … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens … May 2022
  • Memorial– This monument is dedicated to the memory of the Canadian soldiers of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles and to all other Canadian combatants who played a part in the Liberation of Putot-en-Bessin on 7 June 1944. Photo courtesy of Marg Liessens … May 2022.

    Details

    Memorial
    Memorial – This monument is dedicated to the memory of the Canadian soldiers of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles and to all other Canadian combatants who played a part in the Liberation of Putot-en-Bessin on 7 June 1944. Photo courtesy of Marg Liessens … May 2022.
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Telegram 1944........Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Telegram 1944........Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Telegram May 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Telegram May 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Telegram December 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Telegram December 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Grave Marker– Cecil Pittman travelled with the Royal Winnipeg Riffles Association when they participated in the 40th Anniversary of the D day tour to the Normandy beaches (Juno Beach) in 1984, the Royal Winnipeg Riffles "pilgrimage" tour in 1989, the year the memorial was unveiled in the little village of Audrieu and the Royal Winnipeg Riffles 50th Anniversary tour in 1994. He also attended the unveiling ceremonies of the Juno Beach Memorial located in Normandy, France in June of 2003. Mr. Pittman has researched information through the National Archives, military histories, former veterans and from any other materials he can locate. In 2002, he completed 104 stories for the Manitoba Geographical Names Program (Lakes, Rivers, Islands, etc are named after Manitoba's world War II and the Korean Conflict casualties) Several soldier's photo from his collection were included with these stories in the Map Branch's publication "A Place of Honour". (Notes taken from the Cecil Pittman's photo collection)

    Details

    Grave Marker
    Grave Marker – Cecil Pittman travelled with the Royal Winnipeg Riffles Association when they participated in the 40th Anniversary of the D day tour to the Normandy beaches (Juno Beach) in 1984, the Royal Winnipeg Riffles "pilgrimage" tour in 1989, the year the memorial was unveiled in the little village of Audrieu and the Royal Winnipeg Riffles 50th Anniversary tour in 1994. He also attended the unveiling ceremonies of the Juno Beach Memorial located in Normandy, France in June of 2003. Mr. Pittman has researched information through the National Archives, military histories, former veterans and from any other materials he can locate. In 2002, he completed 104 stories for the Manitoba Geographical Names Program (Lakes, Rivers, Islands, etc are named after Manitoba's world War II and the Korean Conflict casualties) Several soldier's photo from his collection were included with these stories in the Map Branch's publication "A Place of Honour". (Notes taken from the Cecil Pittman's photo collection)
  • Photo of Robert Munro Findlay– Rifleman Robert M. Findlay B131123 Born 03-06-24 Former Student of Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute

    Details

    Photo of Robert Munro Findlay
    Photo of Robert Munro Findlay – Rifleman Robert M. Findlay B131123 Born 03-06-24 Former Student of Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute
  • Document– Robert Findlay filled out this registration form when he entered Lawrence Park Collegiate in 1939. He left the school in June of 1940and transferred to Central Technical School. Notice that the comment on the bottom of the card says that he was killed in the RCAF. This is incorrect.

    Details

    Document
    Document – Robert Findlay filled out this registration form when he entered Lawrence Park Collegiate in 1939. He left the school in June of 1940and transferred to Central Technical School. Notice that the comment on the bottom of the card says that he was killed in the RCAF. This is incorrect.
  • Document– Graves Registration Form for Robert Munro Findlay. Library & Archives Canada vis Whitehouse

    Details

    Document
    Document – Graves Registration Form for Robert Munro Findlay. Library & Archives Canada vis Whitehouse
  • Death Certificate– Ontario Registration of Death for Robert Munro Findlay. Library & Archives Canada

    Details

    Death Certificate
    Death Certificate – Ontario Registration of Death for Robert Munro Findlay. Library & Archives Canada
  • Letter– Bridagier Laurin asks his son to look into the loss of Findlays possessions in England. (The parents of Findlay are using the 'back door' to get answers from CMHQ) Library & Archives Canada

    Details

    Letter
    Letter – Bridagier Laurin asks his son to look into the loss of Findlays possessions in England. (The parents of Findlay are using the 'back door' to get answers from CMHQ) Library & Archives Canada
  • Letter– Bridagier Laurin son, Colonel Laurin, asks the Department of Veterans' Affairs for an answer to his fathers request. Library & Archives Canada via Whitehouse

    Details

    Letter
    Letter – Bridagier Laurin son, Colonel Laurin, asks the Department of Veterans' Affairs for an answer to his fathers request. Library & Archives Canada via Whitehouse
  • Letter– On the 6th of December 1945, the Findlay household in Toronto received this letter from the Director of Records (CA). It was a worning that their son was one of 31 bodies found in a mass grave. They had be murdered by German SS troops on 8 June 44. Source: Whitehouse via Archives Canada

    Details

    Letter
    Letter – On the 6th of December 1945, the Findlay household in Toronto received this letter from the Director of Records (CA). It was a worning that their son was one of 31 bodies found in a mass grave. They had be murdered by German SS troops on 8 June 44. Source: Whitehouse via Archives Canada
  • Document– This mimeographed sheet list all of the bodies found in the mass grave. There were three survivors who informed their superiors about the execution of the unarmed prsioners of war. Source: Whitehouse via Archives Canada

    Details

    Document
    Document – This mimeographed sheet list all of the bodies found in the mass grave. There were three survivors who informed their superiors about the execution of the unarmed prsioners of war. Source: Whitehouse via Archives Canada
  • Document– This message to authorities in Canada was to warn them of the coming publicity problem of the War Crimes trial in Nurnenburg of the SS unit Commanding Officer Kurt Meyer. Source: Whitehouse via Archives Canada

    Details

    Document
    Document – This message to authorities in Canada was to warn them of the coming publicity problem of the War Crimes trial in Nurnenburg of the SS unit Commanding Officer Kurt Meyer. Source: Whitehouse via Archives Canada
  • Letter– Mr. Findlay sent this letter to the Director of Records (Col Laurin) in an effort to find out how and when his son had been killed. Source: Whitehouse via Archives Canada

    Details

    Letter
    Letter – Mr. Findlay sent this letter to the Director of Records (Col Laurin) in an effort to find out how and when his son had been killed. Source: Whitehouse via Archives Canada
  • Letter– This statement was made by a survivor of the massacre of Canadian POWs on * June 44. There were two other men from Findlay's unit that escaped as well. They are named in this document. Source: Whitehouse via Archives Canada

    Details

    Letter
    Letter – This statement was made by a survivor of the massacre of Canadian POWs on * June 44. There were two other men from Findlay's unit that escaped as well. They are named in this document. Source: Whitehouse via Archives Canada
  • Letter (January 9, 1946)– Col. Laurin Letter 9 January 1946 (page 1) This letter was written to Robert Findlay's father in reply to a letter from the father asking why he had not been notified earlier. This letter explains the circumstances around lack of notification of the next-of-kin. General Kurt Meyer could not be conficted of these murders because the Army couldn't prove beyond a 'reasonable' doubt that they were killed by the SS.(page 2) Col Laurin explains that the Army doesn't deal in anything but facts and will not upset families over anything else. Source: Whitehouse via Archives Canada

    Details

    Letter (January 9, 1946)
    Letter (January 9, 1946) – Col. Laurin Letter 9 January 1946 (page 1) This letter was written to Robert Findlay's father in reply to a letter from the father asking why he had not been notified earlier. This letter explains the circumstances around lack of notification of the next-of-kin. General Kurt Meyer could not be conficted of these murders because the Army couldn't prove beyond a 'reasonable' doubt that they were killed by the SS.(page 2) Col Laurin explains that the Army doesn't deal in anything but facts and will not upset families over anything else. Source: Whitehouse via Archives Canada
  • Letter (January 9, 1946)– Col Lauring Letter 9 Jan 46 (page 2) Colonel Laurin is the Director of Records for the Canadian Army. This letter was written to the parents in response to a letter to his office from the Adjutant-General's office stating that the German General accused of the murder of these 31 men had been found not guilty by lack of evidence. Source: Whitehouse via Archives Canada

    Details

    Letter (January 9, 1946)
    Letter (January 9, 1946) – Col Lauring Letter 9 Jan 46 (page 2) Colonel Laurin is the Director of Records for the Canadian Army. This letter was written to the parents in response to a letter to his office from the Adjutant-General's office stating that the German General accused of the murder of these 31 men had been found not guilty by lack of evidence. Source: Whitehouse via Archives Canada
  • Beny-Sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery– The Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, located at Reviers, about 4 kilometres from Juno Beach in Normandy, France. (J. Stephens)

    Details

    Beny-Sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery
    Beny-Sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery – The Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, located at Reviers, about 4 kilometres from Juno Beach in Normandy, France. (J. Stephens)

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