Normandy, 1944

The Second World War

Date

1939 - 1945

Geographical parameters

(no geographical parameters defined)

Context

(no eligibility parameters defined) A fleet action/campaign honour formally entitled “Normandy 1944” ^{Footnote 1}.

Description

For the Royal Canadian Navy D-Day operations began on 31 May 1944 with the sailing of HMCS Trentonian, a Flower-class Corvette, from Oban, Scotland. Trentonian was escort to a section of block ships that would be sunk to provide protection for the construction of the two “Mulberry” artificial harbours off of the coast of Normandy.

Clearing the way for the invasion force were the minesweepers of the 31st Canadian Minesweeping Flotilla commanded by Commander A.H.G. Storrs, RCN in HMCS Caraquet. The ten Canadian ships under Storrs’ command had to clear channels through the enemy’s minefields. These gaps varied in width from 400 to 1200 yards wide and were marked with buoys at one-mile intervals. Once the passages for the assaulting ships had been cleared the minelayers would then proceed to clear the areas where the fire support ships would be located. Canadian destroyers HMC Ships Algonquin and Sioux would be among these bombardment ships supporting the forces on land with their heavy calibre weapons. Finally, Landing Ships Infantry such as HMC Ships Prince David and Prince Henry carried troops of the 3rd Canadian Division to the beaches of Normandy.

In all, the Royal Canadian Navy provided 316 warships to Operation “Neptune” as the naval portion of D-Day landings was named. These ships were present off every beach where Allied troops were landed, serving in Canadian and in Allied formations, as well as out-of-sight of the land forces holding open the sea lanes while denying mobility to enemy naval forces.

Awarded to:

Ships in commission

• HMCS Algonquin ^{Footnote 2}
• HMCS Calgary ^{Footnote 3}
• HMCS Ottawa ^{Footnote 4}
• HMCS Regina ^{Footnote 5}
• HMCS Summerside ^{Footnote 6}

Ships not currently in commission

• HMCS Alberni ^{Footnote 7}
• HMCS Baddeck ^{Footnote 8}
• HMCS Bayfield ^{Footnote 9}
• HMCS Blairmore ^{Footnote 10}
• HMCS Camrose ^{Footnote 11}
• HMCS Canso ^{Footnote 12}
• HMCS Cape Breton ^{Footnote 13}
• HMCS Caraquet ^{Footnote 14}
• HMCS Chaudière ^{Footnote 15}
• HMCS Cowichan ^{Footnote 16}
• HMCS Drumheller ^{Footnote 17}
• HMCS Fort William ^{Footnote 18}
• HMCS Gatineau ^{Footnote 19}
• HMCS Georgian ^{Footnote 20}
• HMCS Grou ^{Footnote 21}
• HMCS Guysborough ^{Footnote 22}
• HMCS Haida ^{Footnote 23}
• HMCS Huron ^{Footnote 24}
• HMCS Kenora ^{Footnote 25}
• HMCS Kitchener ^{Footnote 26}
• HMCS Kootenay ^{Footnote 27}
• HMCS Lindsay ^{Footnote 28}
• HMCS Louisburg ^{Footnote 29}
• HMCS Lunenburg ^{Footnote 30}
• HMCS Malpeque ^{Footnote 31}
• HMCS Matane ^{Footnote 32}
• HMCS Mayflower ^{Footnote 33}
• HMCS Meon ^{Footnote 34}
• HMCS Milltown ^{Footnote 35}
• HMCS Mimico ^{Footnote 36}
• HMCS Minas ^{Footnote 37}
• HMCS Moose Jaw ^{Footnote 38}
• HMCS Mulgrave ^{Footnote 39}
• HMCS Outremont ^{Footnote 40}
• HMCS Port Arthur ^{Footnote 41}
• HMCS Port Colborne ^{Footnote 42}
• HMCS Prescott ^{Footnote 43}
• HMCS Prince David ^{Footnote 44}
• HMCS Qu’Appelle ^{Footnote 45}
• HMCS Restigouche ^{Footnote 46}
• HMCS Rimouski ^{Footnote 47}
• HMCS Saint John ^{Footnote 48}
• HMCS St. Laurent ^{Footnote 49}
• HMCS Saskatchewan ^{Footnote 50}
• HMCS Sioux ^{Footnote 51}
• HMCS Skeena ^{Footnote 52}
• HMCS Stormont ^{Footnote 53}
• HMCS Swansea ^{Footnote 54}
• HMCS Teme ^{Footnote 55}
• HMCS Thunder ^{Footnote 56}
• HMCS Trentonian ^{Footnote 57}
• HMCS Vegreville ^{Footnote 58}
• HMCS Wasaga ^{Footnote 59}
• HMCS Waskesiu ^{Footnote 60}
• HMCS Woodstock ^{Footnote 61}