Lieutenant-Commander Martin Bouchard, president of the military committee of the Quebec Garrison Club (centre in white uniform), is accompanied by guests of honour: Chief Warrant Officer Denis Hallé, regimental sergeant major of the Régiment de la Chaudière; Lieutenant-Colonel Bruno Gilbert, commanding officer of the Régiment de la Chaudière; Brigadier-General (ret.) Denis Belleau, former commanding officer of the Régiment de la Chaudière; Danielle Monosson, consul general of the United States in Quebec City; J. Michel Doyon, 29th lieutenant-governor of Quebec; Éric Lamouroux, consul general of France in Quebec City; Harnold Savard, president of Branch 265 of the Royal Canadian Legion and his wife Marlène Ouellet; and Patrice Perdriat, president of the Association des Anciens Combattants et Soldats français de Québec. (Photo by Capt (ret) J.M. Cousineau)

Garrison Club commemorates 80th anniversary of D-Day landings

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Garrison Club commemorates 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings

Submitted by Capt. (ret.) J.M. Cousineau

The D-Day landings in Normandy that took place on June 6, 1944, represented a crucial turning point in the Second World War. Allied forces, made up of American, British and Canadian troops, led a vast invasion on the beaches of Normandy to liberate Western Europe from Nazi occupation.

Canadians played a key role in this operation, landing on Juno Beach, one of the five beaches earmarked for the invasion. Some 14,000 Canadian soldiers took part in the operation, supported by the Royal Canadian Navy and the Royal Canadian Air Force. Juno Beach stretched for some 10 kilometres along the Normandy coast, covering the areas between Courseulles-sur-Mer and Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer.

The landing was particularly difficult because of the strong German defences, including minefields, fortified bunkers and anti-tank obstacles. Canadian soldiers faced heavy fire and perilous conditions as they reached the beaches. Despite these obstacles, they succeeded in breaking through the German defensive lines.

The Canadians advanced further inland than any other Allied force on D-Day, capturing several villages and establishing crucial bridgeheads. Their success at Juno Beach was crucial to the overall success of Operation Overlord, contributing to the Allied advance into Europe and ultimately, to the defeat of Nazi Germany.

D-Day remains a moment of great national pride for Canada, commemorated for the courage, determination and sacrifice of the Canadian soldiers who took part in this historic operation.

On May 30, the military committee of the Quebec Garrison Club commemorated the 80th anniversary of the Normandy Landings with a formal dinner attended by several dignitaries, chaired by Lieutenant-Commander Martin Bouchard, president of the military committee. 

Speeches were followed by a series of tributes orchestrated according to military protocol. The national anthems of the principal guests were played, and a letter written by a soldier just before he was killed in the landing was read by a student from the Conservatoire d’art dramatique de Québec. 

The evening continued with a moment of silence, highlighted by the “Last Post,” before concluding with dinner.

Lieutenant-Commander Martin Bouchard, president of the military committee of the Quebec Garrison Club (centre in white uniform), is accompanied by guests of honour: Chief Warrant Officer Denis Hallé, regimental sergeant major of the Régiment de la Chaudière; Lieutenant-Colonel Bruno Gilbert, commanding officer of the Régiment de la Chaudière; Brigadier-General (ret.) Denis Belleau, former commanding officer of the Régiment de la Chaudière; Danielle Monosson, consul general of the United States in Quebec City; J. Michel Doyon, 29th lieutenant-governor of Quebec; Éric Lamouroux, consul general of France in Quebec City; Harnold Savard, president of Branch 265 of the Royal Canadian Legion and his wife Marlène Ouellet; and Patrice Perdriat, president of the Association des Anciens Combattants et Soldats français de Québec. (Photo by Capt (ret) J.M. Cousineau)

Garrison Club commemorates 80th anniversary of D-Day landings was last modified: July 17th, 2024 by QCT Editor