LeFort, Elmer Joseph

Normandy Massacres

Date of birth:: December 15th, 1909 (St. Joe/North Dakota, USA)
Date of death:: June 8th, 1944 (France)
Buried on:: Canadian War Cemetery Beny-sur-mer
Plot: XIII. Row: F. Grave: 6.
Service number:: H/41815
Nationality:: Canadian

Biography

Elmer Joseph LeFort was born on December 15, 1909, in St. Joe, North Dakota, USA. A Roman Catholic and laborer by trade, he lived in Inglis, Manitoba, Canada, with his wife Mary Doris Cecelia LeFort and their three children: William, Mable, and Doris.

LeFort enlisted in the Canadian Active Service Force on July 8, 1941, at Brandon, Manitoba, joining the Royal Winnipeg Rifles. He was assigned regimental number H-41815 and served as a Rifleman. His military journey took him through various training centers in Canada before he was deployed overseas to the United Kingdom in November 1941.

LeFort was wounded in the left upper arm by mortar shrapnel on August 21, 1943.

He participated in the Normandy campaign and landed in France on June 6, 1944, as part of the D-Day operations. Tragically, just two days later, on June 8, 1944, Rifleman LeFort was murdered by Waffen-SS soldiers His remains were later reburied with honor at the Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery in France.

His widow received a Memorial Cross and war service gratuity in recognition of his sacrifice.

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