Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Photo of Michael George McLaren – As a follow up to the article Looking for Rifleman Ray McLaren in the June 2001 Peterborough Historical Society Bulletin - the Peterborough Centennial Museum & Archives (PCMA) found our missing man! As you may recall, Ray McLaren's name appears correctly on the Peterborough Cenotaph and in the Book of Remembrance but does not show up in any of Ottawa's memorials. Having contacted the National Archives, we took a chance on another McLaren with a different first name who shared the same Regimental information, location and date of death. The hunch paid off. In Ray's Service Records, there is a declaration made by his father stating that Ray had changed his first name to Michael in order to enlist. For unknown medical reasons, he could not enlist under his given name so, he went to North Bay and changed his name to Michael. Ray joined the Canadian Forester Corps (CFC) in October 1940 at North Bay. From there, he was sent overseas and spent time in Scotland and England where he did land in the occasional spot of trouble! From the CFC, Ray was transferred to other services including an anti-aircraft unit. Ray landed in France on the 15th of June 1944 and his final transfer was to the Regina Rifle Regiment as a reinforcement. The Regina's objective was to capture the ancient city of Caen, but the fighting proved very difficult, and the advance was slow. Ray died in action during the battle to seize the Abbaye d'Ardenne, on July 8th 1944. The PCMA is pleased to have been able to bring closure to Ray's story. He is indeed remembered in Ottawa, albeit as his alias Michael.

Grave Marker – The grave marker (2010) at the Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery located outside Reviers, about 4 kilometres from Juno Beach in Normandy, France. May he rest in peace. (K. Falconer & J. Stephens)

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)