Patrick Louie Anderson was born in Maple Creek September 10, 1920 to Joseph and Anna Belle Anderson. The family moved to Regina and later Patrick had a job as a clerk in a bottle exchange.
Enlisting on June 24 1940, Patrick (L27749) became a rifleman in The Regina Rifles. Because a large number of the enlisting prairie men were farmers, the regiment was nick- named "The Johns" as in the "Farmer John" saying. The regiment was placed on active duty May 24, 1940 and the First Battalion left for Britain August 24, 1941.
On D-day, the Rifles were part of the Seventh Infantry Brigade and the Third Canadian Infantry Division that fought in northwestern Europe until the end of the war.
Along the Juno Beach area, German communication bunkers were located every 100 metres and connected by tunnels for escape. These bunkers were built by French citizens who were forced, through slave labor, to work 2 or 3 days per week in their construction. The rest of the week they worked to feed not only their families, but were expected to feed and house the invaders as well.
Today the top of these connecting tunnels is used as a sidewalk in front of the Juno Beach Centre and the bunkers are slowly being swallowed by the sand. While the centre wants the bunker kept for historical purposes, the French people would like it all to disappear for closure on a dark period of their history.
On June 6, 1944 at 8:05 a. m., arriving later than planned and with the tide turning, they landed 45 men in boats usually holding 30 because it was known many would be lost on the widest (8 kilometers wide) beach of the D-day landing operation. "Juno Beach" was stormed by men landing every 300 metres. While they fought a French citizen rode his bicyle to get his baguette as Canadians and Germans fought opposite one another.
One Canadian going through the tunnels found 40 men hiding. Once the tunnels had been cleared, they went on to clear the houses and town, only to find they had to go back to clear bunkers again.
By 9:30 it was over and one bar was opened to celebrate the removal of the Germans while the Canadians moved on to clear the next small villages.
The Rifles faced the 12th SS Panzer Division (Hitlerjunend - Hitler Youth group that numbered over 20,000 men defending Caen. The Rifles entered Caen and captured on its northern outskirts the Abbaye d'Ardenne where Canadian troops were murdered while prisoners of war. When the SS left the Falaise pocket there remained only around 12,000, their reputation shattered by the murders of prisoners of war and other war crimes.)
Patrick was killed in action 18 June 1944 in Normandy and was buried at the Beny-sur-Mer military cemetery near Reviers.
Rifleman Patrick Anderson was honored by his home province when they named Anderson Lake on the Crackingstone Peninsula near Uranium City (74N7) 59 degrees 26' 108 degrees 45' in his memory.
Enlisting on June 24 1940, Patrick (L27749) became a rifleman in The Regina Rifles. Because a large number of the enlisting prairie men were farmers, the regiment was nick- named "The Johns" as in the "Farmer John" saying. The regiment was placed on active duty May 24, 1940 and the First Battalion left for Britain August 24, 1941.
On D-day, the Rifles were part of the Seventh Infantry Brigade and the Third Canadian Infantry Division that fought in northwestern Europe until the end of the war.
Along the Juno Beach area, German communication bunkers were located every 100 metres and connected by tunnels for escape. These bunkers were built by French citizens who were forced, through slave labor, to work 2 or 3 days per week in their construction. The rest of the week they worked to feed not only their families, but were expected to feed and house the invaders as well.
Today the top of these connecting tunnels is used as a sidewalk in front of the Juno Beach Centre and the bunkers are slowly being swallowed by the sand. While the centre wants the bunker kept for historical purposes, the French people would like it all to disappear for closure on a dark period of their history.
On June 6, 1944 at 8:05 a. m., arriving later than planned and with the tide turning, they landed 45 men in boats usually holding 30 because it was known many would be lost on the widest (8 kilometers wide) beach of the D-day landing operation. "Juno Beach" was stormed by men landing every 300 metres. While they fought a French citizen rode his bicyle to get his baguette as Canadians and Germans fought opposite one another.
One Canadian going through the tunnels found 40 men hiding. Once the tunnels had been cleared, they went on to clear the houses and town, only to find they had to go back to clear bunkers again.
By 9:30 it was over and one bar was opened to celebrate the removal of the Germans while the Canadians moved on to clear the next small villages.
The Rifles faced the 12th SS Panzer Division (Hitlerjunend - Hitler Youth group that numbered over 20,000 men defending Caen. The Rifles entered Caen and captured on its northern outskirts the Abbaye d'Ardenne where Canadian troops were murdered while prisoners of war. When the SS left the Falaise pocket there remained only around 12,000, their reputation shattered by the murders of prisoners of war and other war crimes.)
Patrick was killed in action 18 June 1944 in Normandy and was buried at the Beny-sur-Mer military cemetery near Reviers.
Rifleman Patrick Anderson was honored by his home province when they named Anderson Lake on the Crackingstone Peninsula near Uranium City (74N7) 59 degrees 26' 108 degrees 45' in his memory.
Patrick Louie Anderson was born in Maple Creek September 10, 1920 to Joseph and Anna Belle Anderson. The family moved to Regina and later Patrick had a job as a clerk in a bottle exchange.
Enlisting on June 24 1940, Patrick (L27749) became a rifleman in The Regina Rifles. Because a large number of the enlisting prairie men were farmers, the regiment was nick- named "The Johns" as in the "Farmer John" saying. The regiment was placed on active duty May 24, 1940 and the First Battalion left for Britain August 24, 1941.
On D-day, the Rifles were part of the Seventh Infantry Brigade and the Third Canadian Infantry Division that fought in northwestern Europe until the end of the war.
Along the Juno Beach area, German communication bunkers were located every 100 metres and connected by tunnels for escape. These bunkers were built by French citizens who were forced, through slave labor, to work 2 or 3 days per week in their construction. The rest of the week they worked to feed not only their families, but were expected to feed and house the invaders as well.
Today the top of these connecting tunnels is used as a sidewalk in front of the Juno Beach Centre and the bunkers are slowly being swallowed by the sand. While the centre wants the bunker kept for historical purposes, the French people would like it all to disappear for closure on a dark period of their history.
On June 6, 1944 at 8:05 a. m., arriving later than planned and with the tide turning, they landed 45 men in boats usually holding 30 because it was known many would be lost on the widest (8 kilometers wide) beach of the D-day landing operation. "Juno Beach" was stormed by men landing every 300 metres. While they fought a French citizen rode his bicyle to get his baguette as Canadians and Germans fought opposite one another.
One Canadian going through the tunnels found 40 men hiding. Once the tunnels had been cleared, they went on to clear the houses and town, only to find they had to go back to clear bunkers again.
By 9:30 it was over and one bar was opened to celebrate the removal of the Germans while the Canadians moved on to clear the next small villages.
The Rifles faced the 12th SS Panzer Division (Hitlerjunend - Hitler Youth group that numbered over 20,000 men defending Caen. The Rifles entered Caen and captured on its northern outskirts the Abbaye d'Ardenne where Canadian troops were murdered while prisoners of war. When the SS left the Falaise pocket there remained only around 12,000, their reputation shattered by the murders of prisoners of war and other war crimes.)
Patrick was killed in action 18 June 1944 in Normandy and was buried at the Beny-sur-Mer military cemetery near Reviers.
Rifleman Patrick Anderson was honored by his home province when they named Anderson Lake on the Crackingstone Peninsula near Uranium City (74N7) 59 degrees 26' 108 degrees 45' in his memory.
Enlisting on June 24 1940, Patrick (L27749) became a rifleman in The Regina Rifles. Because a large number of the enlisting prairie men were farmers, the regiment was nick- named "The Johns" as in the "Farmer John" saying. The regiment was placed on active duty May 24, 1940 and the First Battalion left for Britain August 24, 1941.
On D-day, the Rifles were part of the Seventh Infantry Brigade and the Third Canadian Infantry Division that fought in northwestern Europe until the end of the war.
Along the Juno Beach area, German communication bunkers were located every 100 metres and connected by tunnels for escape. These bunkers were built by French citizens who were forced, through slave labor, to work 2 or 3 days per week in their construction. The rest of the week they worked to feed not only their families, but were expected to feed and house the invaders as well.
Today the top of these connecting tunnels is used as a sidewalk in front of the Juno Beach Centre and the bunkers are slowly being swallowed by the sand. While the centre wants the bunker kept for historical purposes, the French people would like it all to disappear for closure on a dark period of their history.
On June 6, 1944 at 8:05 a. m., arriving later than planned and with the tide turning, they landed 45 men in boats usually holding 30 because it was known many would be lost on the widest (8 kilometers wide) beach of the D-day landing operation. "Juno Beach" was stormed by men landing every 300 metres. While they fought a French citizen rode his bicyle to get his baguette as Canadians and Germans fought opposite one another.
One Canadian going through the tunnels found 40 men hiding. Once the tunnels had been cleared, they went on to clear the houses and town, only to find they had to go back to clear bunkers again.
By 9:30 it was over and one bar was opened to celebrate the removal of the Germans while the Canadians moved on to clear the next small villages.
The Rifles faced the 12th SS Panzer Division (Hitlerjunend - Hitler Youth group that numbered over 20,000 men defending Caen. The Rifles entered Caen and captured on its northern outskirts the Abbaye d'Ardenne where Canadian troops were murdered while prisoners of war. When the SS left the Falaise pocket there remained only around 12,000, their reputation shattered by the murders of prisoners of war and other war crimes.)
Patrick was killed in action 18 June 1944 in Normandy and was buried at the Beny-sur-Mer military cemetery near Reviers.
Rifleman Patrick Anderson was honored by his home province when they named Anderson Lake on the Crackingstone Peninsula near Uranium City (74N7) 59 degrees 26' 108 degrees 45' in his memory.
Inscription
L27749 RIFLEMAN
P. L. ANDERSON
THE REGINA RIFLES REGIMENT
18TH JUNE 1944 AGE 25
Gravesite Details
Rifleman, Regina Rifle Regiment, R.C.I.C. Son of Joseph and Anna Belle Anderson, of Regina, Saskatchewan. Age 25.
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