D-Day invasion at Juno Beach June 6, 1944 Photographer: Gilbert Milne Library and Archives Canada
For four war-torn years, Hitler’s army had been in control of Europe. D-Day was the final push by the Allied Forces to win it back. It began the year-long Battle of Normandy, which would end with the German surrender on V-E (Victory in Europe) Day, May 8, 1945.
Canada’s goal was to secure an eight-kilometre-long stretch of French beach, and from there move towards an inland airfield. Lieutenant Gilbert Milne, a photographer with the Royal Canadian Navy, captured these images of the Highland Light Infantry and the West Nova Scotia Highlanders as they prepared for and carried out their assault on occupied France.
Troops from Highland Light Infantry and the West Nova Scotia Highlanders boarding in preparation for D-Day June 4, 1944 Photographer: Gilbert Milne Library and Archives Canada Gilbert Milne 2165
Troops from Highland Light Infantry and the West Nova Scotia Highlanders June 5, 1944 Photographer: Gilbert Milne Library and Archives Canada Gilbert Milne 2240
Troops waiting in Portsmouth before D-Day June 5, 1944 Photographer: Gilbert Milne Library and Archives Canada
Preparation for D-Day June 6, 1944 Photographer: Gilbert Milne Library and Archives Canada PA 135963
Crossing the English Channel June 6, 1944 Photographer: Gilbert Milne Library and Archives Canada Gilbert Milne 1803
Troops on Juno Beach June 6, 1944 Photographer: Gilbert Alexander Milne Gilbert Alexander Milne/Library and Archives Canada
Landing at Juno Beach June 6, 1944 Photographer: Gilbert Milne Library and Archives Canada PA 133757
D-Day in Toronto
Prayer meeting for D-Day invasion June 6, 1944 Photographer: John H. Boyd City of Toronto Archives Fonds 1266, Item 90982
Globe and Mail staff wait for news of D-Day invasion June 6, 1944 Photographer: John H. Boyd City of Toronto Archives Fonds 1266, Item 90983
Telegram from Toronto Mayor Fred J. Conboy to Bert Wemp of the Toronto Telegram newspaper, stationed in Italy June 8, 1944 City of Toronto Archives Series 361, Subseries 1, File 693
D-Day headlines June 6, 1944 Photographer: John H. Boyd City of Toronto Archives Fonds 1266, Item 90980
D-Day veterans Corporal Gilbert Young (left) and Acting Corporal C. D. Flynn examine war souvenirs June 21, 1945 Photographer: John H. Boyd City of Toronto Archives Fonds 1266, Item 9719
For more information about D-Day, explore these websites: