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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Etsel John Cook

In memory of:

Lance Corporal Etsel John Cook

June 17, 1944

Military Service

Service Number:

B/144191

Age:

25

Force:

Army

Unit:

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

Additional Information

Son of Benjamin Calhoune and Sarah Jane Cook, of Orangeville, Ontario.

Commemorated on Page 278 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:

XVI. C. 12.

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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  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Star December 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Star December 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Star December 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Star December 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Telegram December 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Telegram December 1945. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of Etsel John Cook– Corporal Cook enlisted in 1943 and joined the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada in 1944 prior to D-Day. He was in Dog Company and was one of the group of six riflemen taken captive by the 12 SS Panzer Division at Le Mesnil Patry. He and the others were executed about 17 June near the town of Mouen.

    Details

    Photo of Etsel John Cook
    Photo of Etsel John Cook – Corporal Cook enlisted in 1943 and joined the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada in 1944 prior to D-Day. He was in Dog Company and was one of the group of six riflemen taken captive by the 12 SS Panzer Division at Le Mesnil Patry. He and the others were executed about 17 June near the town of Mouen.
  • Obituary– This obituary of Lance Corporal Cook was clipped from a Toronto newspaper in 1944 by Mrs Josie McQuade.

    Details

    Obituary
    Obituary – This obituary of Lance Corporal Cook was clipped from a Toronto newspaper in 1944 by Mrs Josie McQuade.
  • 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
  • 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
  • Plaque

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    Plaque
    Plaque
  • 37 Canadians Place– The town of Authie, France honoured 37 Canadian soldiers by naming a street after them. The young Canadians, mostly from the Maritimes, were part of the D-Day invasion and were killed while trying to liberate the town from the Germans.

    Details

    37 Canadians Place
    37 Canadians Place – The town of Authie, France honoured 37 Canadian soldiers by naming a street after them. The young Canadians, mostly from the Maritimes, were part of the D-Day invasion and were killed while trying to liberate the town from the Germans.
  • Photo 2 of 37 Canadians place

    Details

    Photo 2 of 37 Canadians place
    Photo 2 of 37 Canadians place
  • 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)
  • Gravemarker– This photo of Lance Corporal Cook's gravemarker was taken by Padre Craig Cameron of the QOR of C in June 1997.

    Details

    Gravemarker
    Gravemarker – This photo of Lance Corporal Cook's gravemarker was taken by Padre Craig Cameron of the QOR of C in June 1997.

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