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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Thomas Lee Westlake

In memory of:

Rifleman Thomas Lee Westlake

June 11, 1944
Caen, France

Military Service

Service Number:

B/131131

Age:

29

Force:

Army

Unit:

Queen's Own Rifles of Canada, R.C.I.C.

Citation(s):

1939-45 Star, France-Germany Star, Defence Medal, War Medal 1939-45.

Additional Information

Born:

February 13, 1915
Toronto, Ontario

Enlistment:

August 12, 1942
Toronto, Ontario

Son of Robert and Etta (nee Lee) Westlake.

Brother of Private George Westlake, who died while serving with the North Nova Scotia Highlanders and of Rifleman Albert Norman Westlake, who served with Thomas in the Queens Own Rifles of Canada and died on the same day, in the same battle. Thomas and Albert are buried next to each other in the Beny-Sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery. Their brother George died seven days before them.

Commemorated on Page 475 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:

III. D. 7

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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  • Memorial– Remembering brothers lost … Brothers In Arms Memorial, Zonnebeke, BE … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens … May 2022

    Details

    Memorial
    Memorial – Remembering brothers lost … Brothers In Arms Memorial, Zonnebeke, BE … 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 a World War 2 issue of the St. Catharines Standard c.1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – From a World War 2 issue of the St. Catharines Standard c.1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of Thomas Westlake with his friend Barbara

    Details

    Photo of Thomas Westlake with his friend Barbara
    Photo of Thomas Westlake with his friend Barbara
  • Photo of Edward Westlake and Johnny Westlake– Edward Westlake and Johnny Westlake, the two surviving Westlake brothers. The two were originally from a family of 8 boys (two boys died in infancy, and another at a very young age). Albert, George and Thomas Westlake were all killed in June 1944. The sons of Robert and Esther Westlake, all of the boys were excellent athletes.

    Details

    Photo of Edward Westlake and Johnny Westlake
    Photo of Edward Westlake and Johnny Westlake – Edward Westlake and Johnny Westlake, the two surviving Westlake brothers. The two were originally from a family of 8 boys (two boys died in infancy, and another at a very young age). Albert, George and Thomas Westlake were all killed in June 1944. The sons of Robert and Esther Westlake, all of the boys were excellent athletes.
  • Newspaper Clipping– This obituary for three Westlake brothers who were killed within five days of each other in Normandy. This appeared in a 1944 Toronto newspaper. It was obtained from a microfilm copy. Courtesy of Padre Craig Cameron - QOR

    Details

    Newspaper Clipping
    Newspaper Clipping – This obituary for three Westlake brothers who were killed within five days of each other in Normandy. This appeared in a 1944 Toronto newspaper. It was obtained from a microfilm copy. Courtesy of Padre Craig Cameron - QOR
  • 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
  • Commemorative Plaque– Plaque commemorating the three Westlake brothers, George, Thomas and Albert that were all killed during the Second World War, June 1944. The Plaque is located in a Park in Toronto, Ontario, which was renamed in their honor, June 9, 1996.

    Details

    Commemorative Plaque
    Commemorative Plaque – Plaque commemorating the three Westlake brothers, George, Thomas and Albert that were all killed during the Second World War, June 1944. The Plaque is located in a Park in Toronto, Ontario, which was renamed in their honor, June 9, 1996.
  • 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)
  • Grave Marker– Three brothers buried at Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery: Thomas, George and Albert Westlake. May they rest in peace. (J. Stephens)

    Details

    Grave Marker
    Grave Marker – Three brothers buried at Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery: Thomas, George and Albert Westlake. May they rest in peace. (J. Stephens)
  • Grave marker– This photo of Rfn Westlake's gravemarker was taken by Padre Craig Cameron of The QOR of C on June 6th, 2003.

    Details

    Grave marker
    Grave marker – This photo of Rfn Westlake's gravemarker was taken by Padre Craig Cameron of The QOR of C on June 6th, 2003.

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