Language selection

Government of Canada / Gouvernement du Canada

Search veterans.gc.ca

Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Harley Victor Downton

In memory of:

Private Harley Victor Downton

June 9, 1944

Military Service

Service Number:

M/107639

Age:

20

Force:

Army

Unit:

Canadian Scottish Regiment, R.C.I.C.

Additional Information

Son of Sidney Reginald and Helena May Downton, of Hamilton, Ontario.

Commemorated on Page 294 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:

VI. C. 10.

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

Send us your images

  • Photo of HARLEY VICTOR DOWNTON– Harley (right) in Calgary, on Stephen Avenue (8th Avenue) SW. Approx. 1942. Photo courtesy of his brother.

    Details

    Photo of HARLEY VICTOR DOWNTON
    Photo of HARLEY VICTOR DOWNTON – Harley (right) in Calgary, on Stephen Avenue (8th Avenue) SW. Approx. 1942. Photo courtesy of his brother.
  • Photo of HARLEY VICTOR DOWNTON– 1940.

    Details

    Photo of HARLEY VICTOR DOWNTON
    Photo of HARLEY VICTOR DOWNTON – 1940.
  • Memorial– Private Harley Victor Downton is also commemorated on the Memorial at Putot-en-Bessin, FR … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens … May 2022

    Details

    Memorial
    Memorial – Private Harley Victor Downton 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.

Learn more about the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

To learn more please visit our help page. If you have questions or comments regarding the information contained in this registry, email or call us. For inquiries regarding the names and information found in the RCMP Honour Roll, please email the RCMP.

Date modified: