Language selection


Search veterans.gc.ca

Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Bertil Sydolf Backlund

In memory of:

Private Bertil Sydolf Backlund

August 27, 1944
France

Military Service


Service Number:

K/54680

Age:

20

Force:

Army

Unit:

Calgary Highlanders, R.C.I.C.

Citation(s):

1939-45 Star, France and Germany Star, War Medal 1939-45, Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp.

Additional Information


Born:

March 9, 1924
Vemdaln, Sweden

Enlistment:

August 19, 1943
Vancouver, British Columbia

Son of Harald and Khristina Backlund, of Vancouver, British Columbia.

Commemorated on Page 241 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:

XVII. H. 1.

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

  • Newspaper clipping– From a World War 2 issue of the Vancouver Province c.1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From a World War 2 issue of the Vancouver Province c.1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Grave Marker– A photograph of the headstone at the Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery, located 20 kilometres south of Caen, France. May he rest in peace. (J. Stephens)
  • Cemetery– The Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery, located 20 kilometres south of Caen, France.  (J. Stephens)

Learn more about the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

To learn more please visit our help page. If you have questions or comments regarding the information contained in this registry, email or call us. For inquiries regarding the names and information found in the RCMP Honour Roll, please email the RCMP.

Date modified: