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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Edward Smith

In memory of:

Rifleman Edward Smith

June 8, 1944

Military Service

Service Number:

H/42084

Age:

21

Force:

Army

Unit:

Royal Winnipeg Rifles

Additional Information

Born:

September 17, 1922
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Enlistment:

December 26, 1941
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Son of Joseph and Mary Ellen Smith, of Beaconia, Manitoba.

Commemorated on Page 446 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:

XIII. F. 9.

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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  • 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.
  • Memorial– Rifleman Edward Smith is also commemorated on the Memorial at Putot-en-Bessin, FR … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens … May 2022

    Details

    Memorial
    Memorial – Rifleman Edward Smith is also commemorated on the Memorial at Putot-en-Bessin, FR … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens … May 2022
  • Grave marker– Rifleman Edward Smith, Royal Winnipeg Rifles, of Beaconia, Manitoba, son of Joseph Smith and Mary Ellen (nee Viznaugh/Visnaugh) brother of Elmer, Victoria, Anna, Janace, William, and Rose. Both parents and all siblings of "Uncle Eddie" are deceased since 1995.

    Details

    Grave marker
    Grave marker – Rifleman Edward Smith, Royal Winnipeg Rifles, of Beaconia, Manitoba, son of Joseph Smith and Mary Ellen (nee Viznaugh/Visnaugh) brother of Elmer, Victoria, Anna, Janace, William, and Rose. Both parents and all siblings of "Uncle Eddie" are deceased since 1995.
  • Photo 2 of Grave Marker– Cecil Pittman travelled with the Royal Winnipeg Riffles Association when they participated in the 40th Anniversary of the D day tour to the Normandy beaches (Juno Beach) in 1984, the Royal Winnipeg Riffles "pilgrimage" tour in 1989, the year the memorial was unveiled in the little village of Audrieu and the Royal Winnipeg Riffles 50th Anniversary tour in 1994. He also attended the unveiling ceremonies of the Juno Beach Memorial located in Normandy, France in June of 2003. Mr. Pittman has researched information through the National Archives, military histories, former veterans and from any other materials he can locate. In 2002, he completed 104 stories for the Manitoba Geographical Names Program (Lakes, Rivers, Islands, etc are named after Manitoba's world War II and the Korean Conflict casualties) Several soldier's photo from his collection were included with these stories in the Map Branch's publication "A Place of Honour". (Notes taken from the Cecil Pittman's photo collection)

    Details

    Photo 2 of Grave Marker
    Photo 2 of Grave Marker – Cecil Pittman travelled with the Royal Winnipeg Riffles Association when they participated in the 40th Anniversary of the D day tour to the Normandy beaches (Juno Beach) in 1984, the Royal Winnipeg Riffles "pilgrimage" tour in 1989, the year the memorial was unveiled in the little village of Audrieu and the Royal Winnipeg Riffles 50th Anniversary tour in 1994. He also attended the unveiling ceremonies of the Juno Beach Memorial located in Normandy, France in June of 2003. Mr. Pittman has researched information through the National Archives, military histories, former veterans and from any other materials he can locate. In 2002, he completed 104 stories for the Manitoba Geographical Names Program (Lakes, Rivers, Islands, etc are named after Manitoba's world War II and the Korean Conflict casualties) Several soldier's photo from his collection were included with these stories in the Map Branch's publication "A Place of Honour". (Notes taken from the Cecil Pittman's photo collection)
  • Document– This is a list of the Canadian soldiers who were found in a mass grave in Normandy. They had been POWs of the SS troops of Kurt Meyer. On the 8th of June 1944 they were herded into a field and shot. A description of the incident is found in the other documents. Source: Whitehouse via Archives Canada

    Details

    Document
    Document – This is a list of the Canadian soldiers who were found in a mass grave in Normandy. They had been POWs of the SS troops of Kurt Meyer. On the 8th of June 1944 they were herded into a field and shot. A description of the incident is found in the other documents. Source: Whitehouse via Archives Canada
  • Letter– This letter was sent by CMHQ to the head of the Chaplains Corps and through him to all the district chaplains. Each family on the list received a personal visit from a chaplain to explain that their loved ones named might be in the news and why. Some families heard it on the radio or read it in the paper before the chaplain could get to them. It came as a shock to them that they were not told previously how the deaths occurred. Source: Whitehouse via Archives Canada

    Details

    Letter
    Letter – This letter was sent by CMHQ to the head of the Chaplains Corps and through him to all the district chaplains. Each family on the list received a personal visit from a chaplain to explain that their loved ones named might be in the news and why. Some families heard it on the radio or read it in the paper before the chaplain could get to them. It came as a shock to them that they were not told previously how the deaths occurred. Source: Whitehouse via Archives Canada
  • Letter– One of the three survivors of the killing was an RCA Gunner named Clarke. His statement explains what happened. Source: Whitehouse via Archives Canada

    Details

    Letter
    Letter – One of the three survivors of the killing was an RCA Gunner named Clarke. His statement explains what happened. Source: Whitehouse via Archives Canada
  • Photo of Edward Smith– Rifleman Edward Smith H/42084, Royal Winnipeg Rifles, at age 19. Ed born Sept. 17, 1922. Beloved son of Joseph and Mary Ellen Smith (nee Viznaugh)brother to Elmer, Sydney, William, Lily (Raven), Victoria, Janice (Prince) Anna (Genaille) Rosie (Sinclair/Hedberg)

    Details

    Photo of Edward Smith
    Photo of Edward Smith – Rifleman Edward Smith H/42084, Royal Winnipeg Rifles, at age 19. Ed born Sept. 17, 1922. Beloved son of Joseph and Mary Ellen Smith (nee Viznaugh)brother to Elmer, Sydney, William, Lily (Raven), Victoria, Janice (Prince) Anna (Genaille) Rosie (Sinclair/Hedberg)
  • Attestation Papers

    Details

    Attestation Papers
    Attestation Papers
  • Grave Marker– Gravemarker - France 2007

    Details

    Grave Marker
    Grave Marker – Gravemarker - France 2007
  • Cemetery– The Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, located at Reviers, about 4 kilometres from Juno Beach in Normandy, France. (J. Stephens)

    Details

    Cemetery
    Cemetery – The Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, located at Reviers, about 4 kilometres from Juno Beach in Normandy, France. (J. Stephens)

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