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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

John William Clark

In memory of:

Private John William Clark

August 11, 1944

Military Service

Service Number:

B/40678

Age:

24

Force:

Army

Unit:

Lincoln and Welland Regiment, R.C.I.C.

Additional Information

Son of Andrew and Leah Clark, of Toronto, Ontario.

Commemorated on Page 274 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information

Cemetery:

BRETTEVILLE-SUR-LAIZE CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY
Calvados, France

Grave Reference:

XI. B. 7.

Location:

This cemetery lies on the west side of the main road from Caen to Falaise (route N158) and just north of the village of Cintheaux. Bretteville-sur-Laize is a village and commune in the department of the Calvados, some 16 kilometres south of Caen. The village of Bretteville lies 3 kilometres south-west of the Cemetery. Buried here are those who died during the later stages of the battle of Normandy, the capture of Caen and the thrust southwards (led initially by the 4th Canadian and 1st Polish Armoured Divisions), to close the Falaise Gap, and thus seal off the German divisions fighting desperately to escape being trapped west of the Seine. Almost every unit of Canadian 2nd Corps is represented in the Cemetery. There are about 3,000 allied forces casualties of the Second World War commemorated in this site.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

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  • Photo of John Clark– Clark, John - Private (Driver Mechanic). Born 1st May, 1920, at Toronto. Educated at R. H. MacGregor School and East York Collegiate Institute, Toronto. Entered the service of the Bank 4th May, 1936. Served at Head Office and Bay & Wellington (Toronto). Enlisted 12th July, 1940, from Bay & Wellington (Toronto) in The Lincoln and Welland Regiment. Served in Canada and Newfoundland. Overseas in December, 1942. Landed in Normandy in July, 1944. Killed in action 11th August, 1944, at Langenairre, Normandy, near the Falaise Gap. He had been defending the position with a machine gun, when it was hit and destroyed by the enemy, the camouflage catching fire. His comrade was killed, but he took a Bren gun and advanced towards the enemy. He was hit by a grenade which broke his neck, killing him instantly. The Regimental Chaplain wrote: "We were proud of him in his death, and sorrowful to lose a gallant comrade and a good soldier." A Comrade wrote: "He was a main factor in saving the day for our company." From a memorial booklet prepared by the Canadian Bank of Commerce.

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    Photo of John Clark
    Photo of John Clark – Clark, John - Private (Driver Mechanic). Born 1st May, 1920, at Toronto. Educated at R. H. MacGregor School and East York Collegiate Institute, Toronto. Entered the service of the Bank 4th May, 1936. Served at Head Office and Bay & Wellington (Toronto). Enlisted 12th July, 1940, from Bay & Wellington (Toronto) in The Lincoln and Welland Regiment. Served in Canada and Newfoundland. Overseas in December, 1942. Landed in Normandy in July, 1944. Killed in action 11th August, 1944, at Langenairre, Normandy, near the Falaise Gap. He had been defending the position with a machine gun, when it was hit and destroyed by the enemy, the camouflage catching fire. His comrade was killed, but he took a Bren gun and advanced towards the enemy. He was hit by a grenade which broke his neck, killing him instantly. The Regimental Chaplain wrote: "We were proud of him in his death, and sorrowful to lose a gallant comrade and a good soldier." A Comrade wrote: "He was a main factor in saving the day for our company." From a memorial booklet prepared by the Canadian Bank of Commerce.
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