Brockville Remembers D-Day | Cornwall Standard-Freeholder

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As the generation that fought through D-Day moves on, others are answering the call to keep the memory of that pivotal historical fact alive.

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“It’s part of our duty to remember and we owe it to that generation,” Paul d’Orsonnens, former commanding officer of the Brockville Rifles and now director of the regiment’s museum, told a small crowd gathered in the Brockville lobby. City Hall will unveil an exhibit commemorating local people’s participation in D-Day and World War II on Monday.

Thursday marks the 80th anniversary of D-Day, the massive Allied landings on the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944. The largest seaborne invasion in history, the Normandy Landings led to the Allied liberation of France, then Western Europe and to victory. on the Western Front of World War II.

The local community will mark the anniversary with a service at the Royal Canadian Legion at 11 a.m., while the exhibit in the City Hall lobby will remain until mid-July.

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The Town Hall exhibit is one of two offered by the Brockville Regimental Rifle Museum, the other currently housed at the Brockville Museum.

D-Day was a defining moment in the fight against Nazism and the Brockville Rifles were there.

“Brockville gave 148 soldiers to World War II,” said Marines Honorary Colonel Allan Bird.

“We lost one on the first day and lost another 65 or so the rest of the war.”

The town’s first loss was Private Bert Box, who enlisted at Brockville Armories at the age of 21 in 1940. He landed on Juno Beach with the SD&G Highlanders on D-Day. Unfortunately, he succumbed to wounds sustained while his company came under mortar fire while on patrol.

According to the historical exhibit at City Hall, the company took cover, but some of the mortar rounds landed in a tree and exploded overhead. Pte. Box suffered a fatal wound when a large piece of wood chip went through him.

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Monday’s guests included Charles Beattie, whose grandfather, Charles Alexander Beattie, served with the Brock family and will lead the Brockville Rifles company that landed on Juno Beach on D-Day.

Beattie, who would go on to serve a 32-year career in the Canadian Forces, said he regrets he was too young when his grandfather died to hear any detailed stories from that fateful day.

Today, very few local regiments are lucky enough to have living members who were present on D-Day, and the Rifles are not among that small group. Mayor Matt Wren said he hopes the exhibit will help the community understand Brockville’s connection to that important moment.

Along with the displays, the city and Legion raised banners downtown featuring local people who served, which were also used in the run-up to Memorial Day.

On Thursday, Legion Branch 96 will hold an 80th D-Day commemoration at its location, 180 Park Street, beginning at 11 a.m.

The ceremony will include a parade, memorial service and wreath-laying, followed by refreshments and an open house with exhibits.

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