BIOGRAPHIES of 70 Canadian Jewish servicemen who are
buried in the cemeteries of Normandy and northern France, killed during the
Second World War.
There are some larger, more well-known Canadian
War Cemeteries like Beny-sur-Mer, and Bretteville-sur-Laize, and also, farther
east, such as the larger Hautot-sur-Mer cemetery, where the dead from the
Dieppe raid of 1942 were buried.
Most of the casualties at Beny and
Bretteville happened after the June 6, 1944 Normandy D-Day invasion at Juno
Beach, and in the subsequent fighting, south and east closer to Caen and
Falaise later on that summer and fall, as well as RCAF crews who were killed flying
air raids from bases in England.
In Beny-sur-Mer.
There
are 19 Jewish Canadian servicemen
buried in this cemetery.
1. Bombardier George Meltz, 25, Toronto, Canada. Royal Canadian Artillery,
Son of
Nathan and Rachel Meltz; husband of Gertrude Meltz, of Neasden, Middlesex,
England. He enlisted in 1941, and trained in England. He participated in the D-Day landings. His family says he was killed by a sniper. He died July 8, 1944. He was married to Trudy, an English war bride. They think it was she who had the epitaph placed on his
tombstone, with the words “He died so Jewry should suffer no more.”
2. Private Joseph E. Gertel, Gunner, North Nova Scotia Highlanders, age 22, 8
July 1944, from Montreal. Born in Poland.
Gunner Joseph Gertel of Montreal,
Quebec, died of wounds on July 8, 1944. He was buried in the Beny-sur-Mer
Canadian Military Cemetery, France. Gunner Gertel enlisted in the Royal
Canadian Artillery in 1943 and was attached to the North Nova Scotia
Highlanders when he fell in the battle for Normandy early in July. Gunner
Gertel was born in Wodiwetz, Poland, in 1921.
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| Photo by John Friedlan. July 2011. |
3. Corporal Myer Mike Litwack,
Royal Canadian Army Service Corps, age 22, 25 July 1944. He was from Ottawa, Ont. Son of Mr. and Mrs Jack and Dora Litwack, of
409 Bronson Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario.
4. Rifleman Israel Freedman,
The Royal Winnipeg Rifles, 5 July 1944, age 21
In a letter of condolence to Mrs.
Freedman, Company Quartermaster Sergeant B. Rosen, wrote: “Izzy, like other Jewish
boys, had something more to fight for, a greater cause, and please console
yourself with these few words. We over here are all ready to give our lives
that others may live! It is a duty not only to King and Country, but to the
Jewish people the world over.” Rifleman Freedman was born in Minsk, Russia. Son Of Peter And Molly Freedman, Of Winnipeg,
Manitoba.
Rifleman Israel Freedman, of
Winnipeg, Manitoba, was officially reported killed in action in France on July
5, 1944. He was buried in the Canadian Military Cemetery at Beny-sur-Mer,
France, beside Rifleman Yude Brownstone of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles. Rifleman
Freedman enlisted in November 1941 with the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of
Canada and went overseas in June 1942. He was killed in the fighting near
Caen. Rifleman Freedman was born
in Minsk, Russia. (Canadian Jewish Congress Charities Committee National
Archives Genealogy Collection)
5.Rifleman
Yude Brownstone, Royal Winnipeg Rifles, age 20, killed July 4, 1944,
July 04. He was from Winnipeg, Man. He was killed at Carpiquet, France. He is buried beside Israel Freedman.
6. Private
Abraham B.Cohen, Royal Canadian Ordinance Corps, died August 20 1944, age
45. He was from Toronto. Son of Jack and Betsy Cohen; husband of Bessie Cohen, of Toronto.
7. Trooper David Charles Cramer, 10th Armoured Regiment, Fort Garry Horse, died July 06, 1944. He was from Winnipeg. Son of Oscar and Becky Cramer, of Winnipeg. He was 23.
8. Private
David D Goldsmith, North Nova Scotia Highlanders, Canadian Army, age 24,
died July 08 1944 He was from Toronto, Ont.
Son of Reuben and Rose Goldsmith, of Toronto,
Ontario.
9. Sergeant
Fred B. Harris, Queen's Own Rifles, 23, died June 06 1944. He was from
Toronto, Ontario. He was killed while serving with the invasion forces on
D-Day. Sgt. Fred B.
Harris was one of the closest friends of the late Canadian federal politician, Lt. Barney Danson. In an interview with CBC, Danson said Harris "was killed right on the
beach. He hardly got out of the landing craft."(CBC.ca)
10. Guardsman George Holidenke,
22nd Armoured Regiment, Canadian Grenadier Guards, died August 10, 1944, age 29. He was from Montreal, Que. He served under the name Holden. Son of Morris and Yetta Holidenke.
13. Captain Fred
Pascal, 2nd survey regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery,
August 08, 1944. He was from
Montreal, Que. He was the son J. Pascal (J. Pascal Hardware Company). He was a
member of the Montreal YMHA.
Captain Pascal qualified for his
commission with the McGill Canadian Officers Training Corps and went overseas
in November 1940. He received his captaincy in April of the following year. A
brother, S.A.M.S. Arthur Pascal, served overseas with the 17th Duke of York’s
Royal Canadian Hussars.
14. Corporal Israel Pavelow, Royal Canadian
Regiment, age 31. He was from
Philadelphia, USA. He served
under the name Ervin Povol. Murdered as a prisoner of war. 9 June 1944. First battalion Regina
Rifles.
Son of Mr. and Mrs.
Hyman Pavelow, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, One of the 13 Regina Rifles
caught and executed near the road in Bretteville, in a war crime that would be
later investigated and the subject of the book “Conduct Unbecoming, the Story
of the Murder of Canadian Prisoners of War in Normandy,” By Howard Margolin.
14. Private Lawrence Reider, Essex Scottish Regiment, died July 18, 1944, age 23.
He was from Kitchener, Ontario. A brother,
Lance Corporal Saul Reider, who served with the Royal Canadian Regiment, was
wounded in Italy.
15. Rifleman
Harry Segal, Royal
Winnipeg Rifles, died June 08, 1944, He was 25, from Winnipeg, Son of Charles and Sarah Segal. He was married.
16. Trooper
Frank Silverberg, First
Hussars, Canadian Armoured Corps. Died June 11 1944, age 21. He was from Toronto,
Ont. Son of
Abraham and Ida Silverberg, of Toronto.
17. Rifleman Nathan Tafler, Royal Canadian
Army Service Corps, age 21, June 8, 1944. He was from London, Ont. Son of
Reuven and Charna Tafler, of London, Ontario.
18. Captain Irving Percival Weingarten,
Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps, age 26, died July 13, 1944. He was from
Toronto, Ont. A doctor, he was killed in action in Eterville, France, when a
shell struck his regimental aid post as he was tending the wounded.
There
are 22 Jewish Canadian servicemen
buried In this cemetery.
1. Guardsman
Archie Adelman, 22nd Armoured Division, Canadian Grenadier Guards, died
August 11. 1944, age 24.
He was from Montreal, Que. Adelman enlisted with
the Guards in 1941 and went overseas in 1942. He trained in England for two
years. He was with the invasion forces on D-Day and was serving as a tank crew member
with the 22nd Armoured Regiment in France when he lost his life. Son of Mrs. and Mrs. Alec Adelman.
2. Warrant
Officer Second Class Abram Arbour, Company Sergeant Major. Queen's Own
Cameron Highlanders of Canada, died August 23, 1944. He was from Winnipeg, Man. He was 27. He was killed in action
at Falaise. He was awarded the Military Cross. Son of Nathan and Etta Arbour; husband of Clarice May
Arbour, of Newhaven, Sussex, England.
“He was awarded the Military Cross,
according to a Department of National Defence release (P.N. 51-45) of February
6, 1945. The citation accompanying the award read: "During the night of
August 7, 1944, an infantry regiment attacked and captured the town of
Fonteney-le-Marmion. On consolidation one of the companies was allotted the
defence of the northern section of the town in the vicinity of battalion
headquarters. During the early hours of the morning, August 8, the enemy
shelled and mortared the town very heavily. The company commander was wounded
and C.S.M. Arbour immediately took over command of the company and completed
reorganization of the defence position. At approximately 8 a.m. an enemy
counterattack in some strength moved against the company position. This attack
was pinned down by small-arms fire, and C.S.M. Arbour personally formed and led
a counterattack force to mop up the enemy. With utter disregard for personal
danger and with absolute confidence he formed a composite force. Under covering
fire from 11 and 12 platoons, they assaulted and killed or captured the enemy force
that threatened his company position. C.S.M. Arbour, by his speed in handling a
difficult situation, and his superb courage, was directly responsible for the
battalion holding and consolidating the objective.” He enlisted with the
Canadian Army on September 11, 1939, and went overseas on Aug. 24, 1940. He
took part in the fighting at Caen and Dieppe.”
3. Trooper
David Beigleman, New Brunswick Rangers, 10th Indep. Machine Gun Coy. August 10, 1944, age 21. He
was born in Poland. He was from Montreal, Que. Son of Meyer and Ida Beigleman, of Montreal. Member of
Hashomer Hatzair and Jewish Public Library.
4. Private
Louis Blatt (or Blattin), North Shore Regiment, Winnipeg. Killed Aug. 8, 1944.
5. Lieutenant
Lawrence Cohen, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, age 22, killed July 08, 1944,
He was from Winnipeg, Cohen
was a member of the Royal Canadian Infantry Corps, and he died while serving with
the Royal Warwickshire Regiment
as a CANLOAN Officer. Son of Isaac and Anne Cohen, of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
6.
Private William Harvey Dubinsky, Calgary
Highlanders, 30, died August 13, 1944. He was born in Russia. He was from
Winnipeg.
Son of Son of Shiyah Dubinsky, and of Reva Dubinsky, of
Winnipeg, Manitoba.
7. Gunner Issie Elias, Stormont, Dundas and
Glengarry Highlanders. age 24. Died August 13, 1944, He was from Montreal, Que.
Son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Elias, of Montreal.
8. Private
Muni Erlick, Canadian Armoured Corps. Died August 20, 1944. He was 38, from
Montreal. Son of Mrs. S. Erlick of Park Avenue.
He had fought in Spanish Civil War with
Mackenzie Papineau battalion.
9. Lance
Sergeant Jack Faibish, Royal Canadian Artillery, died July 28, 1944. He was
from Markinch, Saskatchewan. The Saskatchewan government on July 10, 1951
included the following locations named after Jewish men: "Faibish
Bay" after Jack Faibish, son of Mr. And Mrs. Aaron Faibish, Markinch,
Sask. He was posthumously awarded the
Certificate of Good Service by Field Marshal Lord Montgomery of Errigal.
10. Lieutenant
Jules Freedman, Canadian Armoured Corps. Died Aug 14, 1944. He was from
Toronto, age 24. An optometrist, and wireless operator.
Tank commander in the Battle for Falaise pocket. Son of Mrs. A. Freedman.
Article about him in the Globe and Mail.
11. Private
Donald Gaskin, age 27, The Black Watch (RHR) died August 08, 1944 He was
from Montreal. Son of
Samuel and Gertie Gaskin, of Montreal, Quebec. His older brother
Signalman Jack Gaskin was killed May 10, 1945 and is buried in Holland.
12. Private Isadore Gimple, Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, died August 12, 1944. He was
from Toronto.
13. Acting
Corporal Reuben Gorodetsky, The Black Watch (RHR), died August 21, 1944. He
was from Montreal, Que. He was a member of the Montreal YMHA. Son of Mrs. G. Gorodetsky of Jeanne Mance Street. He was married and was involved in the
labour movement in Montreal's fur and leatherworkers union.
14. Gunner
Joseph Bernard Horn, Royal Canadian Artillery, died August 08, 1944. He was
from Montreal. He was a member of the Montreal YMHA. He was age 22.
Son of William Horn, and of Regina Horn, of
Montreal. He was a dentist with the Canadian Dental Corps, but changed
regiments to serve overseas.
15. Private
Arthur Osher Lewis, Lincoln and Welland Regiment, died August 02, 1944. He was from Hamilton, Ont. He was 25,
and married. Husband of Clara Rose Lewis, of Hamilton,
Ontario.
16. Rifleman
William Maloff, Queen's Own Rifles of Canada, age 27, died August 10 1944. Son
of George and Tanna Maloff, of Calgary, Alberta.
17. Captain
Harry L. Marantz, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps, Aug 14, 1944. He was
from Winnipeg, Man. He was a doctor. He was mentioned in Dispatches. Son of Mr.
and Mrs. Louis Marantz. His son is Denis Marantz, in PEI.
18. Lance
Corporal Sam Harry Roseman
(Rosenman), Essex Scottish Regiment, died July 30, 1944., He was from
Kitchener, Ont. Son of Mrs. Bessie Roseman.
19. Flight
Lieutenant / Warrant Officer, Air Gunner Max Samuels, Royal Canadian Air
Force, 408 Squadron, age 24, killed June 20, 1943,.He was from New Glasgow, NS.
He was reported missing after air operations over Germany. Son of Samuel and Annie Samuels, of New Glasgow. “TheCanadian Press reported his flying exploits. A member of the reserve
militia before 1939, Flight Lieutenant Samuels enlisted in the air force in
September 1940 and proceeded overseas in September 1941. He participated in
bombing attacks on the Italian automobile centre of Turin and in sorties over
Cologne, Essen and Dortmund. He received his commission overseas for
efficiency, meritorious service and the display of qualities of leadership in
the field. At first a wireless operator, he later became a bomb aimer. Three
brothers also served in the armed forces: Bandsman Issie Samuels and Sergeant
Louis Samuels in the army, and Flying Officer Saul Samuels also in the R.C.A.F.”
20. Flying
Officer Mortimer Samuel Max Sucharov, Royal Canadian Air Force, died December
02, 1944; He was from Winnipeg, Manitoba. He was 29. Son of Harry and Sophie Sucharov, of Winnipeg
21. Bombardier
Albert Tweyman, Essex Scottish Regiment, age 24, died August 08, 1944.
He
was from Toronto, Ont. Son of
Harry and Rose Tweyman of Toronto
One of 8 children. Brother Private Jack
Tweyman. Worked for the Daily Hebrew Journal before he enlisted.
http://twgpp.org/
http://twgpp.org/
Steve Rogers photo.
22. Sergeant
Morley Bernard Wachnow, The Black Watch of Canada (RHR), killed July 28, 1944, age 22. He was from Edmonton. Son of Nathan Wachnow, and of Sarah Wachnow, of
Edmonton. Sergeant Morley Wachnow of Edmonton, Alberta, was officially reported
killed in action in France on July 28, 1944. Sergeant Wachnow enlisted in July
1940. He joined the Prince Albert Volunteers and later transferred to the
Regina Rifle Regiment. He was promoted to sergeant while stationed at the
Osborne Barracks in Winnipeg. He went overseas in August 1943 and was transferred
to the Black Watch. A brother, Wilfred Wachnow, served as navigator in the
R.C.A.F.
In the
Bayeux Cemetery:
1. Arthur
Crotin, Signalman Royal Canadian Corps. Of Signals August 23, 1944. Bayeux
War Cemetery (IV. F. 22.) Calvados, France. He was from Ansonville, Ont. Son of Mrs. H. Crotin. A brother Lance Bombadier Walter Joseph Crotin, also
died in the war, of illness, while training in Canada, in 1943. He is buried at Krugersdorf, Ontario.
2. Louis Paul, Private Royal Canadian Army Service Corps, August 09, 1944. Bayeux War Cemetery
(IV. F. 21.) Calvados, France. He was born in Poland. He was from Winnipeg, Man.
He died after being critically wounded in the battle of Normandy.
In the Bayeux Memorial Panel (MIA, presumed killed or no
known gravesite)
1. Julius
Bendit, Trooper, 6th Duke of Connaught's Royal Canadian Hussars, died, April 15, 1945. Bayeux Memorial (Panel 19 column 3) Calvados, France. He was born in Bucovina. He was from Montreal, although his mother later moved to Ste. Agathe des Monts, Que. He was reported
missing in France on July 27, 1944 and was for official purposes presumed killed in
action. Mother is Mrs. Sabina Bendit. He worked in cartage for a furniture store. He fought through Sicily in the Italian campaign, then was transferred to France for D-Day.
2. David Gelman,Trooper
27th Canadian Armoured (Sherbrooke Fusiliers) Regiment, 22, died August 08, 194. Bayeux Memorial (Panel 19, column 3) Calvados, France. He was from
Ste. Sophie de Lacorne, Terrebonne County, Que. He was killed in Caen, France. Son of Boris and Sarah Gelman, of Terrebonne. He was a farmer.
3. Moses
or Maurice Glanzberg (or Glansberg), Rifleman, Regina Rifle Regiment, July 09, 1944. He was 33, Bayeux Memorial (Panel 26) Calvados, France. He was from Ottawa,
Ont. He was killed in action in Normandy.Son of Menahem-Mendel Glansberg and Chane Glansberg.
4. Steele
Richard Kenilworth, Lance Corporal Governor General's Foot Guards
(Canadian Armoured Corps). Died August 17, 1944. Bayeux Memorial (Panel 19, column 2)
Calvados, France. He was from Toronto. Married
to Mrs. Esther Steele.
In the
cemetery in Ranville
1. Nathan Louis Berger, 22, Warrant Officer, Royal Canadian Air Force, #233 Squadron. died June 6, 1944. Ranville War Cemetery. Calvados, France. He was from Montreal, Que. He was reported missing on
active service on June 6, 1944 and was subsequently reported killed on active
service. Warrant Officer Berger was attached to the RAF Transport Command and
was engaged in ferrying operations, carrying paratroops to the Caen sector when
killed. Son of Harry and Sarah Berger.
1. John
Orrell Levine, Lieutenant Royal Canadian Infantry Corps, July 02, 1944. He
was 23. Hottot-les-Bagues War
Cemetery. He was from Inverness, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia.
1. Lionel
Cohen, Private Royal Regiment
of Canada, killed August 19, 1942. Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery, Hautot-sur-Mer (J.
60) Seine-Maritime, France He was from Toronto, Ont. He was killed in action at
Dieppe. Before the war he was in the insurance business, He was Joe King's cousin from Montreal. Commando. Son of Nathan and Ray Cohen, of Toronto, Ontario. Husband of R. Cohen.
Participated in the first Jewish religious services in Iceland.
2) Samuel
Berger, 22, Private Essex Scottish Regiment August 19, 1942. Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery, Hautot-sur-Mer (D. 35) Seine-Maritime, France He
was born in Poland. He was from Windsor, Ont. He was killed in action at
Dieppe. Son of Osias and Freda Berger.
3. Louis Goldin, Private, Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal August 19, 1942. Dieppe
Canadian War Cemetery, Hautot-sur-Mer (L. 62.) Seine-Maritime, France. He was
from Montreal, Que. He was killed in action in Dieppe. Manning his machine gun.
4. Morris
Lozdon, Private, Royal Regiment of Canada, 32, August 19, 1942. Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery, Hautot-sur-Mer , Seine-Maritime, France. He was
from Toronto, Ont. He was killed in action at Dieppe. Married with three children. Son of Hyman and Elizabeth Lozdon, of
Toronto, Ontario; husband of Mary Lozdon, father of Ronald, Barbara and
Stanley. He took commando training and participated in raids against Germans in
Boulogne and Dieppe, capturing some prisoners. Before the war he worked at a
model airplane company.
5. Paul
Leon Magner, Private, Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, 23, killed August 19, 1942. Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery, Hautot-sur-Mer (K. 46.) Seine-Maritime,
France. He was from Toronto, Ont. He was killed in action at Dieppe.
6. Morris Greenberg, Sergeant, Royal Regiment of Canada, August 19, 1942. Dieppe Canadian War Cemetery, Hautot-sur-Mer Seine-Maritime, France He was from Toronto, Ont. He was killed in action at Dieppe. Sgt Morris Greenberg - RRC- aged 24 years, Yiddish poet from 50, Oxford St, Toronto, killed evacuating wounded. Photo. Born 9.11.17 son of Mr. & Mrs. Samuel Greenberg.
Frederick Griffin, war correspondent for the Toronto Star, wrote of Sergeant Greenberg: “During the Dieppe raid, Sergeant Morris Greenberg... won the praise of his officers and fellow soldiers after he helped many wounded companions safely back from battle under intense fire.” A brother, Sergeant Irving Greenberg, served overseas with the 48th Highlanders and later with an anti-aircraft unit that downed a number of German planes.
In the Calais Canadian War Cemetery
1. Herman
Backler, 20, Flight Sergeant, Royal Canadian Air Force, Calais Canadian
War Cemetery, Leubringhen, Pas de Calais, Leubringhen, France. He was from Montreal, Que. He was listed
missing after active service on August 19, 1944, and was for official purposes
presumed dead (RCAF Casualty List #1193).
2. Mervyn
K. Emsig, Flying Officer, Royal Canadian Air Force, September 09, 1944. Calais Canadian War Cemetery, Leubringhen (7. E. 1.) Pas de Calais,
Leubringhen, France. He was from Toronto, Ont. Son of Mr, and Mrs. Max Emsig of Dufferin Avenue. 20 years old.
3. Simon Green, Private Royal Canadian Regimen, August 19, 1942. Calais Canadian War Cemetery
(4. B. 7.) Pas de Calais, Leubringhen, France. He was from Toronto, Ont. died of wounds sustained at Dieppe, whilst a POW. 33 years old.
5. Leizer
Heifetz , Private Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, August 26, 1942. Calais
Canadian War Cemetery, Leubringhen (4. A. 4.) Pas de Calais, Leubringhen,
France He was born in Russia. He was from Parkerview, Sask. He was listed
missing after the raid on Dieppe, was for official purposes presumed dead
(Casualty List # 349).
Nephew of Mrs. Malka Lowe, Melville, Sask. 33 years old.
6. Joseph
Shore, Rifleman, Royal Winnipeg Riffles, September 27, 1944. Calais Canadian
War Cemetery (6. C. 3.) Pas de Calais, Leubringhen, France. He was from
Winnipeg, Man. He was killed in action in Belgium, age 36.
7. Morris
Marvin Soronow, Lieutenant Royal Winnipeg Rifles, August 28, 1944. Calais Canadian War Cemetery, Leubringhen (2. A. 6.) Pas de Calais,
Leubringhen, France. He was from Winnipeg, He met his death when the platoon he commanded was crossing the Seine on
the way to Rouen and ran into a German machine gun nest. Lieutenant Soronow had
gone on ahead to find a more advantageous position for his men when he was
struck down. However, he managed to warn his platoon to fall back. Son
of Max and Riva Soronow, of Winnipeg, Manitoba. LL.D. (University of Manitoba). He was 31.
Tombstone says: “Here lies one of the Jewish faith. He gave his life for his God, his people and country.”
An honours graduate in law, he was a member of the Montefiore
club, which has established a law prize in his honour.
In the Mesnil-St Laurent Churchyard Aisne April 1943
1. Sidney
Brow, Flying Officer Royal Canadian Air Force, April 15 1943, age 25, Mesnil-St. Laurent Churchyard Aisne, France. He was from North
Bay, Ont.
1a) His Brother Zave, 19, died in Netherlands in
March 1945.
1. Meyer Greenstein, Flight Sergeant, Royal Canadian Air Force, January 07, 1945. Munster Communal
Cemetery (Coll. Grave) Haut-Rhin, France. He was from Toronto, Ont. But born and
raised in Montreal.
Shot down and presumed
missing.
U of T alumnus. The U of T institued an award given to the student who shows writing excellence. Greenstein was the class
of 1940. Was a skilled athlete, and wrote for the U of T Varsity newspaper.
In the Bermering Communal Cemetery in Moselle
In the Longueval Cemetery, London Cemetery and
Extension, France
 |
| (Courtesy RCAF Centralia blog) |
1.
Julius Kramer, Pilot
Officer, Royal Canadian Air Force, June 25, 1944. Longueval, Collective
grave, near Longueval, Somme, France . He was from Toronto, Ont. Flew a
Lancaster Bomber. Graduated from RCAF Centralia Station.
“Kramer was one of Fifty-three graduates who
received their wings on April 6, 1943 as members of Course 69. After
operational training, Kramer and his crew were posted to No. 1651 Conversion
Unit, where Kramer received the following assessment: “Very steady pilot,
slightly above average. Handles crew well.” Kramer was posted to No. 61
Squadron. On June 24, 1944, Pilot Officer Kramer piloted Lancaster ND987 for
operations to Prouville, France, to attack flying-bomb sites. The Lancaster was
hit by anti-aircraft fire and crashed near the village of Epecamps, about 2
kilometres from Bernaville, Somme. Pilot Officer Kramer’s brother, Captain
Louis S. Kramer U.S. Army, travelled to the area and received the following
information from local villagers. On the night of 24th/25th June 1944, an
English bomber crashed in flames in a field in the village of Epecamps and
exploded on impact, scattering the wreckage over a half acre. No
identifications were possible, but by identifying the remains of six left feet,
the villagers assumed that at least six persons perished in the crash. They
buried the remains they could find in the village cemetery. Part of the
wreckage with the number ND 987 was shown to Captain L.S. Kramer by the villagers.
As one member of the crew is now safe, and as he completes the crew of seven,
it is possible to assume that one of the six members that perished in the
crash, was P/O J. Kramer.”
In the Berou-la-Mulotiere Communal Cemetery (grave 1)
Eure-et-Loir
1. Alan Rodd, Flight Sergeant, Royal Canadian Air Force, June 11, 1944. Berou-la-Mulotiere
Communal Cemetery (grave 1) Eure-et-Loir, France He was from Winnipeg, Man. He transferred from the army to the Air Force. He
was an Air Gunner.
Son of Samuel and Annie Rodnunsky, of Edmonton,
Alberta
In the Longueil Churchyard (British plot. Coll. Grave
3-5) Seine-Maritime, France
1. Harry (or Harold) Sager, Flying
Officer, Royal Canadian Air Force, June 13, 1944. Longueil Churchyard (British plot. Coll. Grave 3-5) Seine-Maritime, France. He
was from Montreal, Que. His Lancaster bomber, damaged by enemy action, crashed
over Varengeville-Sur-Mer near Longueil, France. He was a member of the
Montreal YMHA.
In the Weyer Communal Cemetery (joint grave) Bas-Rhin,
France
1. Meyer Edsel Schwartz, Pilot Officer, Royal Canadian Air Force, February 24, 1944. Weyer Communal
Cemetery (joint grave) Bas-Rhin, France He was listed missing and presumed
dead, when the plane which he navigated was brought down by enemy fire while on
a bombing mission over Germany. Buried in joint grave with his copilot. In the Alsace
area.
In the Bassu cemetery
1. Jack Spevak, Pilot Officer, Royal Canadian Air Force. July 25, 1944. Bassu Communal
Cemetery (grave 2) Bassu, France. He was from Ottawa, Ont. 419 Squadron.
In Orleans
1. Elmer Oscar Aaron
Flying Officer Elmer Aaron was from
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the RCAF in Montreal in March 1942
and received his commission as a flying officer in October 1943 (in England).
Flying Officer Aaron had completed 14 missions and had been forced to bail out
of his ships twice before his last flight. He was participating in a raid on
Tours in France and was about fifteen miles from his objective when his
squadron was caught in a concentration of anti-aircraft fire. Four planes were
seen to burst into flames, and it was later announced that nine craft of this
squadron had failed to return. Son of Harry Aaron and Jeanne Aaron, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Corbeil Community Cemetery, Essone, France
1. Leonard Gold, Flying Officer, RCAF 78
Squadron, from Edson Alberta.
Son of William and Pauline Gold; husband of
Margaret Ellinor Gold, of Edmonton,
(Nemo Non Paratus) Flying
Officer Leonard Gold of Edson, Alberta, was reported missing after air
operations over Paris on June 8, 1944, and was officially reported killed the
same day. Flying Officer Gold enlisted in the air force in August 1942 and
after training at Saskatoon, Dafoe and the No. 2 Air Observers School at
Edmonton, went overseas in 1943. Three brothers were in the service: Harold Gold in the R.C.N.V.R. and Jack
and Charles Gold in the army.
In the Dunkirk Town Cemetery
1. Meyer
Bubis
Lance Corporal, from Toronto. Age 27, Royal Regiment of Canada,
R.C.I.C. went missing.
Aug, 19, 1942. Lance Corporal Meyer Bubis of Toronto, Ontario, was officially
reported to have died on November 1, 1942. He enlisted in the army at Toronto
on September 7, 1939, and proceeded to Iceland in June 1940. He was sent to
England in 1941, where he was attached to headquarters. He was born in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and came to Toronto in 1920. His sister, Esther
Bubis, served with the Canadian Women's Army Corps.
Photos and information
from: The Canadian Virtual War Memorial website, Veterans Affairs Canada, Government of Canada.
and
Canada at War, website
and
Jewish Canadian Military Museum
and
Also this entry below may have been Jewish and
killed in Dieppe
B37321 Pte John M Grallick/Gorelick RHLI - from
Toronto killed at Dieppe - no known grave. Son of Mr. and Mrs. John Grallick,
168 Euclid St - born 1921
also, Aspler
Birth:
|
unknown
|
Death:
|
Aug.
8, 1944
|
Note:
Private, North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment, R.C.I.C. Son of Philip Sherwin
Aspler and Florence Aspler, of Montreal, Province of Quebec. Age 19.
|
|
Burial:
Cintheaux
Departement
du Calvados
Basse-Normandie,
France
Plot:
X. B. 11.
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