1. LEST WE FORGET
BY: Moustafa Kazan
Course: Canadian History
Teacher: R. Collishaw

2. Personal Information
• Name: Aitkenhead, Lloyd Duncan
• Age:19 years old , died on the 18th of July, 1944
• Address: 837 Carling Ave. Ottawa, Ontario.
• Social status: single
• Physical Characteristics: 5’11” in height
127 in weight
colour of eyes is blue
• Personality: Keen and has ability to make good soldier.

3. Military Service Information
• Rank: Private/Unknown
• Date of Enlistment: 11-5-42
• Place of Enlistment: Connaught Ranges, ON

4. Reason for Participating
• It seems that Lloyd Duncan wasn’t interested
in schoolwork. (He ran away from school)
• He participated in the army for the sake of
adventure. He wanted to try a different style
of life where he could face some risks despite
the danger.
• Keen to enlist in the army without a promising
job after discharge.

5. His Journey in the War
Aitkenhead’s journey was from:
• Place of enlistment Connaught ranges from
12-5-1942

6. His Journey in the War
• He went to Sussex from 25,8,1942 until
5,9,1942

7. His Journey in the War
• Dartmouth: A college in New Hampshire from
8-9-1942 until 24-9-1942

8. His Journey in the War
• He was sent to UK on the 24th of September,
1942 until the 19th of February, 1944

9. His Journey in the War
• He was sent to France on the 6th of July,1944
and got killed there in action.

10. Several Canadian Soldiers were killed in
France during WW II

11. D-DAY
On the sixth of June 1944, the largest sea-borne invasion in history, the D-Day landings
involved more than 156,000 troops from the United Kingdom , Canada, the United States and
the forces of the Free French. Nearly 7,000 vessels of all types were involved, of which more
than 4,000 were landing craft. The operation was supported by approximately 12,000 aircraft,
a task which included flying sorties, dropping of bombs, and the transportation of parachute
troops.
The objective of the invasion and the creation of a lodgement in Western Europe was long
held and thought essential to the defeat of Germany. Since 1942, plans had been drawn and
re-drawn, eventually emerging as "Operation Neptune", the assault phase, and "Operation
Overlord", the invasion itself. The site chosen for the landing was the Caen area of the
Normandy coast, approximately 350 kilometres southwest of Calais, where the Germans
waited in anticipation, fooled by the Allies deception operations. While this site would
require a lengthier and more hazardous passage for the invading fleet, those landing would
find the beaches more accommodating and the enemy defences lighter. The invasion plans
called for a wide landing in which five infantry divisions, each assigned a specific beach,
would wade ashore along an eighty kilometre stretch of the Normandy coast. Units of the 1st
Canadian Army would join with the British Second Army in forming the left side of the
assault, while the 1st United States Army would take the right. They would be preceded by
three airborne divisions, including members of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion, all
intended to impede German movements, thereby allowing the establishment of a beachhead.

12. D-DAY
• Two brigades of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Divisions were to land in the first wave
at Juno Beach, one of the two most heavily fortified beaches targeted in the
assault. The Canadian units were tasked with establishing a beachhead, capturing
the three small towns which lay directly behind it, and then advancing inland to take
a position on the high ground west of the city of Caen. More than 15,000 Canadians
would take part as actual members of the landing force, while the remaining
elements of the First Canadian Army would be expected to move in on Normandy in
the weeks that followed.
Although the location of the landing was a surprise, the Germans, weakened after
five years of war and battered by the Soviets, were well aware that an invasion was
imminent. In 1942, as the planning of an invasion was in its earliest stages, they had
began working on the "Atlantic Wall", an extensive system of coastal fortifications,
in anticipation of such an attack. Stretching from the Atlantic border between
France and Spain to Norway, the wall consisted of artillery, mines, wire, bunkers,
mortar pits, beach obstacles and machine gun nests. In early 1944, under the
direction of Field marshal Erwin Rommel, the wall had been strengthened further
through the construction of a line of reinforced, concrete pillboxes.

13. Invasion of D-day
• The D-Day invasion was to have taken place on June 5th, but storms forced a
postponement, despite the fact that several ships were already at sea. Meteorologists
predicted only marginally better weather for the following day, and the decision to
proceed fell to Supreme Commander of Allied Forces Dwight Eisenhower. He
recognized that, given the tides, another month would pass before conditions were
again right for invasion. This judgement, questioned privately by some
commanders, was shown to increase the element of surprise. The Germans were
certain that no invasion could take place for at least several days, and Rommel
himself saw the inclement weather as an opportunity to take a few days of
leave. Rommel was with his family when, in the early morning hours of June 6th,
the first Allied forces reached Normandy. Paratroopers, including 450 Canadians,
landed behind the Atlantic Wall. Though greatly outnumbered, the paratroopers
managed to create havoc and confusion within the German ranks, and a headquarter
was seized, a bridge destroyed, and transportation links severed.

15. As this was taking place, Canadian landing craft were approaching the Normandy coast. At
just after 8 o'clock, the Regina Rifles became the first to land. Their advance on the beach was
supported by tanks from the 1st Hussars. Many of the German fortifications had survived
bombardment, but together, the tanks and infantry managed to fight their way from the beach
to the town of Courseulles-sur-Mer, and by late that afternoon, had started to advance
inland. Supported by naval gunfire, the Victoria's Canadian Scottish landed succesfully at
Mike sector, and members of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles came under enemy gunfire while still
far offshore. Many were killed as they left the landing craft. Some of those who made it to
land managed to advance past the beach defences, where they occupied the nearby coastal
villages. If anything, the Nan sector proved less inviting as bombardment from the Channel
had failed to dent German defences. One particular concrete bunker destroyed several tanks of
the Fort Garry Horse, and brought heavy casualties to the North Shore Regiment before being
silenced.

16. It was in this sector that the Queen's Own Rifles received the worst battering of any Canadian
unit. Although their landing was to have been preceded by tanks, this was no possible due to
high waves. The Queen's Own arrived at the beach more than half an hour behind
schedule. Although they arrived pretty much intact, the killing began almost immediately. With
no cover, the Canadians were forced to scramble from the shoreline to the seawall, a distance
of more than 180 meters. Two thirds of their number were cut down by a German 88mm
gun. A second company of the Queen's Own had the misfortune of hitting the beach directly
opposite a German strongpoint. Half of those who landed were killed before the Germans
themselves became casualties. The experience of the Queen's Own stands in contrast with
threat of the Canadian Scottish, who arrived in the second wave. While the Canadian Scottish
suffered fewer casualties than any other battalion, their fellow reserve unit, Le Regiment de la
Chaudière's, were not so fortunate. As they approached the coast, the Chaudière's landing craft
struck a concealed mine. As a result, the Quebec regiment had no choice but to abandon their
equipment and attempt a swim to shore.
Of the Canadian units involved in the invasion, only one managed to reach their D-Day
objective. Nevertheless, they had left the first line of enemy defences in ruins. As dusk set, the
Canadians had advanced farther inland than any other of the invading forces. Three hundred
and forty Canadians died, with another 574 wounded, and forty seven taken prisoners.

17. What was happening where he died
At sea and in the air, Canada also played a major role in Allied victory during
the war. Thousands of tonnes of essential supplies, cargo and war materials
were shepherded across the ocean by Canadian naval vessels, always at risk
from German submarines, the weather, and the sea itself. The Royal Canadian
Air Force provided aircraft and pilots during Britain's darkest hour, when the
Germans attempted to occupy the island. Countless more Canadian air force
personnel served in bombers, with the coastal patrols, or in a ground crew
capacity. At home, Canada provided training and facilities for thousands of
Allied aircrew, as well as producing war materials which included explosives,
tanks, ships and aircraft. Many prisoners of war were also housed in Canada.
By the time the war had ended in 1945, 42,000 Canadians had died on land, at
sea, or in the air and Aitkenhead was one of those who died and got buried with
all his secrets like his rank and other things. Thousands more had been
wounded, or taken prisoners. This information shows the large role played by
the Canadian military during the Second World War. Many people wrongly
believe we were merely a part of Britain, however, we were not. Canada's
contribution is often overlooked by historians of the Second World War.

18. • Aitkenhead joined the army but unfortunately
he got killed after 2 years of enlistement

19. Beny-Sur-Mer Canadian War
Cemetery -France

20. Visual information
• Glebe colligate institute profile of the student
and the soldier Aitkenhead Lloyd Duncan
• Websites: www.Canadianmilitary.com
www.Canadaatwar.com
www.veterans.ca