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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

James Esmond Clark

In memory of:

Lieutenant James Esmond Clark

August 8, 1944

Military Service

Service Number:

7

Age:

25

Force:

Army

Unit:

Royal Canadian Artillery

Additional Information

Son of Esmond Gosnold Clark and Dorothy Clark, of Kaleden, British Columbia.

Commemorated on Page 274 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information

Cemetery:

BRETTEVILLE-SUR-LAIZE CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY
Calvados, France

Grave Reference:

IV. H. 14.

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

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  • Newspaper clipping– From a World War 2 issue of the Vancouver Province c.1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – From a World War 2 issue of the Vancouver Province c.1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of James Esmond Clark– Born 14th January, 1919, at Victoria, B.C. Educated at Penticton High School. Entered the service of the Bank 6th April, 1936. Served at Penticton and Nelson, B.C. On active service with 111th Field Battery, R.C.A., in the rank of Sergeant, 4th September, 1939. Overseas in August, 1940. Returned to Canada in August, 1942, for Officers' Training Course at Gordon Head, B.C. Gazetted Second Lieutenant and posted as Instructor. Lieutenant in January, 1943. Again overseas in December, 1943. Awarded CERTIFICATE OF MERIT by Commander-in-Chief, 21st Army Group, July, 1944. The Certificate was accompanied by the following letter from Field Marshal Sir Bernard (later Viscount) Montgomery: "It has been brought to my notice that you have performed outstanding good service, and shown great devotion to duty during the campaign in France. I award you this Certificate, as a token of my appreciation, and I have given instructions that this shall be noted in your Record of Service." Died of wounds received in action in France 8th August, 1944. From a memorial booklet prepared by the Canadian Bank of Commerce.

    Details

    Photo of James Esmond Clark
    Photo of James Esmond Clark – Born 14th January, 1919, at Victoria, B.C. Educated at Penticton High School. Entered the service of the Bank 6th April, 1936. Served at Penticton and Nelson, B.C. On active service with 111th Field Battery, R.C.A., in the rank of Sergeant, 4th September, 1939. Overseas in August, 1940. Returned to Canada in August, 1942, for Officers' Training Course at Gordon Head, B.C. Gazetted Second Lieutenant and posted as Instructor. Lieutenant in January, 1943. Again overseas in December, 1943. Awarded CERTIFICATE OF MERIT by Commander-in-Chief, 21st Army Group, July, 1944. The Certificate was accompanied by the following letter from Field Marshal Sir Bernard (later Viscount) Montgomery: "It has been brought to my notice that you have performed outstanding good service, and shown great devotion to duty during the campaign in France. I award you this Certificate, as a token of my appreciation, and I have given instructions that this shall be noted in your Record of Service." Died of wounds received in action in France 8th August, 1944. From a memorial booklet prepared by the Canadian Bank of Commerce.

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