• Normandy Massacres

Date of birth:

August 26th, 1916 ( Galway/New Brunswick, Canada)

Date of death:

June 8th, 1944 (Saint-Germain-la-Blanche-Herbe, France)

Buried on:

Canadian War Cemetery Bretteville-sur-Laize
Plot: XIV. Row: E. Grave: 4.

Service number:

F/40898

Nationality:

Canadian

Walter Michael Doherty was a Roman Catholic by faith. He grew up in a rural setting and worked as a laborer before enlisting in the Canadian Active Service Force. He joined the military on July 16, 1940, at Aldershot, Nova Scotia, and was assigned the regimental number F40898. Doherty served as a Private in the North Nova Scotia Highlanders.

Throughout his military career, Doherty demonstrated commitment and resilience. He underwent basic and advanced training in various locations across Canada and the United Kingdom, including Debert and Amherst. His service record includes participation in small arms range courses and educational qualifications up to Grade VIII. He was known to have farming experience, having worked with his father prior to enlistment, and expressed interest in returning to agricultural work after the war.

Doherty was deployed overseas on July 19, 1941, and served in the United Kingdom before being sent to France. On June 6, 1944, he disembarked in Normandy as part of the Allied invasion. Tragically, he was reported missing in action on June 7, 1944, and later officially presumed killed in action. His remains were interred at Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery in France.

Walter Michael Doherty was unmarried and had no children. His next of kin was his father, Francis Xavier Doherty, who resided in Beaverbrook, Albert County, New Brunswick. His mother, Ella Mary Doherty, had passed away in 1920. Walter had siblings, including Stella Teresa Tingley, who later provided information for estate purposes.

His death was later linked to investigations into German war crimes. He was among the Canadian soldiers murdered during the first days of the invasion.

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• Photo 1: Operation Picture Me
• - CAMPBELL, I.J., Murder at the Abbaye, Golden Dog Press, Ottowa, 2000.
  - Service record(s)

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