On the occasion of the 80^th Anniversary of D-Day, the CMEA reminds of our 19 Sappers who were killed during the assault. This project started in 2014, for the 70^th Anniversary of D-Day, when the Juno Beach Center sought to recognize each Canadian Soldier who died on 6 June 1944 during the Normandy Invasion. The CMEA ensured that an appropriate tribute was published for each of our 19 D-Day Fallen Sappers.

Our start point was the work of the "Lest We Forget" project led by Blake Seward, a teacher at Smiths Falls Collegiate in Smiths Falls, ON. His students undertook the research on several of our Sappers. Vince Larocque from the 6^th Field Engineer Squadron Museum Association greatly assisted with the Tributes for the 6^th Field personnel and the late Stanley Fields of the 5^th Field Company Veterans Association assisted with the narratives of the sappers from 'The Fighting Fifth'.

These RCE units were part of the Assaulting Force on D-Day: 5, 6, 16 and 18 Field Companies and  3 Field Park Company. Most of the Sappers supporting the landing of the 3^rd Canadian Division that day landed ahead of the assaulting infantry. Sapper casualties were proportionately among the highest of all branches.

Tributes

Take a moment to view the tributes to our D-Day sappers who sacrificed their lives. Scroll through the complete set to appreciate the many ‘Average Canadians” who responded to the call during WW II and how each one contributed to the successful D-Day invasion. Clicking on each name will take you to a personalised page for each. 

See also: Sapper Gallantry on the Normandy Beaches