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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Sydney Willis

In memory of:

Rifleman Sydney Willis

August 10, 1944

Military Service

Service Number:

B/64878

Age:

31

Force:

Army

Unit:

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

Additional Information

Son of John Richard and Mary Ann Willis, of Toronto, Ontario.

Commemorated on Page 479 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:

X. E. 13.

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 the Toronto Star September 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Star September 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Star September 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Star September 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Telegram August 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

    Details

    Newspaper clipping
    Newspaper clipping – From the Toronto Telegram August 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of Sydney Willis– Rifleman Willis enlisted in November 1941 with the 2nd Bn (Reserve) Queen's Own Rifles. Following basic training, he went to the 1st Battalion in England in 1942. Willis landed on D-Day with Able Company of the Regiment and survived the Normandy fighting until he was killed in action at Quesnay Wood north of Falaise.

    Details

    Photo of Sydney Willis
    Photo of Sydney Willis – Rifleman Willis enlisted in November 1941 with the 2nd Bn (Reserve) Queen's Own Rifles. Following basic training, he went to the 1st Battalion in England in 1942. Willis landed on D-Day with Able Company of the Regiment and survived the Normandy fighting until he was killed in action at Quesnay Wood north of Falaise.
  • 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
  • Gravemarker– This photo of Rfn Willis' gravemarker at Bretteville Cemetery was taken by Padre Cameron (QOR of C) in June 1997.

    Details

    Gravemarker
    Gravemarker – This photo of Rfn Willis' gravemarker at Bretteville Cemetery was taken by Padre Cameron (QOR of C) in June 1997.

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.

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