June 6, 1944. The allied forces of England, America, and Canada stormed the five beaches of Normandy taking out the axis force of Germany on a day we call D-Day. Canada’s roll was key in this event. However I want to know, how might the events of d-day been different if the Canadian forces had not supported the allies?

The Canadian troops supported the allies by sending over 14000 men to fight as well as 110 ships, and 10000 sailors. England informed Canada that they would have to help and fight along side the other allies in order for them to successfully take back Normandy France. Canada’s job was to take over Juno beach which was located in between Sword and Gold beach. Those two beaches were where the England troops were located.

After a successful beginning to a mission, Canada was then supposed to help connect the three beaches so that all of the English troops could be grouped back together for the final part of the battle. The R.C.A.F. had helped prepare the invasion by bombing targets inland. Also on the day of D-Day the R.C.A.F had 15 fighter and fighter-bombing squadrons that helped to control the skies over Normandy and attacked the enemy targets. 

If the Canadian forces did not participate in this event then the outcome could have been much different. For example the English and American troops could have spread out along the five beached which could have lead to more casualties and the possibility of one of them not conquering one of the beaches. Or the allies might not have fought for all five beaches, maybe they would have left one out which again could have lead to the possibility of the battle not being successful.

The Canadians role in the battle of D-Day was key to the successful fight. Without them the English troops would not have been able to regroup as easily, there was always the possibility of more casualties, as well as without the bombings that were previously done by the R.C.A.F before there could have been more enemy troops to fight off. Overall every single one of those men were needed that day, whether they were Canadian or not. Each one of those men were important and without them we don’t know what the outcome could have been.

I can’t imagine the courage and strength those men had in them to storm the beaches knowing very well that this could be the last time they saw the light of day. My great grandad was apart of this. He stormed Sword beach on D-Day with the English Allies. He never talked much about what happened that day for him, so I don’t know what struggles he had to go through personally. I can only imagine how hard it must have been for him after all the research on this day I did. There’s the possibility he could have been taken down, shot at, seen his own friends around him fall. Knowing that my great grandad could have faced all of that and still managed to live his life happily after the war shows how strong of a man he was. He was just 1 of 150000 men who stormed those beaches that day.

*Insert photo of my great grandad receiving a metal for fighting on the front lines on D-Day, (It’s too late at night currently to look for it)*

Sources I used to find out more information on D-Day and Canada’s role in the event:
WarMuseum.ca
Juno Beach – Wikipedia