Military service
Burial/memorial information
Son of John Richard and Mary Ann Willis, of Toronto, Ontario.
Digital gallery of Rifleman Sydney Willis
Digital gallery of
Rifleman Sydney Willis
Rifleman Willis enlisted in November 1941 with the 2nd Bn (Reserve) Queen's Own Rifles. Following basic training, he went to the 1st Battalion in England in 1942. Willis landed on D-Day with Able Company of the Regiment and survived the Normandy fighting until he was killed in action at Quesnay Wood north of Falaise.
Digital gallery of
Rifleman Sydney Willis
This photo of Rfn Willis' gravemarker at Bretteville Cemetery was taken by Padre Cameron (QOR of C) in June 1997.
Digital gallery of
Rifleman Sydney Willis
Memorialized on the pages of the Globe and Mail. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Rifleman Sydney Willis
From the Toronto Star September 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Rifleman Sydney Willis
From the Toronto Star September 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Rifleman Sydney Willis
From the Toronto Telegram August 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Rifleman Sydney Willis
From the Weston (Ontario) Times and Guide newspaper c.1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
Image gallery
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Rifleman Willis enlisted in November 1941 with the 2nd Bn (Reserve) Queen's Own Rifles. Following basic training, he went to the 1st Battalion in England in 1942. Willis landed on D-Day with Able Company of the Regiment and survived the Normandy fighting until he was killed in action at Quesnay Wood north of Falaise.
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This photo of Rfn Willis' gravemarker at Bretteville Cemetery was taken by Padre Cameron (QOR of C) in June 1997.
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Memorialized on the pages of the Globe and Mail. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
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From the Toronto Star September 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
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From the Toronto Star September 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
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From the Toronto Telegram August 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
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From the Weston (Ontario) Times and Guide newspaper c.1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
In the Books of Remembrance
Commemorated on:
Page 479 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance.
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BRETTEVILLE-SUR-LAIZE CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY Calvados, France
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.
For more information, visit Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
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