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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Hugh Alphonse MacInnis

In memory of:

Private Hugh Alphonse MacInnis

July 27, 1944
France

Military Service


Service Number:

F/13284

Age:

27

Force:

Army

Unit:

The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada

Citation(s):

1939-1945 Star, France and Germany Star, War Medal, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Clasp, Atlantic Star, and Air Crew Europe Star.

Additional Information


Born:

April 13, 1917
Georgeville, Antigonish Co., Nova Scotia

Enlistment:

October 17, 1940
Auld's Cove, Nova Scotia

Son of Daniel Alexander and Martha MacInnis, of Georgeville, Antigonish Co., Nova Scotia. Brother of Alexander, Lauchlin, Leo, Gilles, Angus and Donald Cyril, and two sisters Sally and Isabel.

Commemorated on Page 373 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information


Cemetery:
Grave Reference:

VII. G. 12.

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 Hugh Alphonse MacInnis– Private Hugh MacInnis in Antigonish N.S. before his deployment overseas.
  • Photo of Hugh Alphonse MacInnis– Hugh and his regiment at Training Camp at Aldershot, N.S.
  • Photo of Hugh Alphonse Macinnis– In September 1943 Hughie was promoted from the rank of Private to the rank of Lance Bombardier with the Royal Canadian Artillery but possibly was restless  'to see more action' and in December 1943  transferred to the Infantry division.
  • Newspaper clipping– The Battle of Verrières Ridge, was part of Operation Atlantic (July 18-20) and Operation Spring (July 25-27).

Hughie was part of a Reinforcement group created to be placed where needed. His units, the Royal Regiment of Canada and the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) were both involved in Operation Atlantic and Operation Spring.
Angie, (Hughie's younger brother and a member of the R.C.A.F. at this time), reported that the family was informed Hughie was hit by a mortar shell in his trench at Verrières Ridge.
  • Letter– Hughie remained in England for three weeks, doing additional training until he was deployed to Normandy, France , landing on July 25, 1944. This was seven weeks after D-Day (June 6, 1944). This is a letter to his brother "Hooks" (Alex) during his stay in England as part of the Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit.  This letter was written three weeks before Hughie died.
  • Letter from King George VI– Letter of consolation from King George VI

October, 1944
  • Daniel and Martha MacInnis– Daniel Alexander (D.A.) and Martha (MacEachern), Hughie's parents, married at Holy Rosary Church, 
Ballantyne's Cove, Antigonish County - October 19, 1909
  • Photo of Lauchie MacInnis– Lauchie (Hughie's older brother) and Hughie in Georgeville, Antigonish County, Nova Scotia.
  • Photo of Angie MacInnis– Angie (Hughie's younger brother)
in North Africa with the R.C.A.F.
  • Photo of Donald MacInnis– Donald (Hughie's youngest brother)
with the Royal Canadian Navy.
  • Family Farm– The MacInnis family farm built ca. 1880
  • Photo of Hugh MacInnis– Apple blossom time in Ohio, Antigonish with Kay MacLean, Isabel (sister of Hughie), Catherine (wife of brother Gillis), and Hughie 

May 1941
  • Family Photo– Hughie's family.
Front row: Alex, Isabel, Sally and Lauchie
Back row: Angie, Gillis and Leo
  • In Memoriam– Hugh A. MacInnis
1917 - 1944
  • The MacInnis family crest

Learn more about the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

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