• Normandy Massacres

Date of birth:

January 22nd, 1913 (Greenway/Manitoba, Canada)

Date of death:

June 11th, 1944 (Les Saullets, France)

Buried on:

Canadian War Cemetery Beny-sur-mer
Plot: III. Row: D. Grave: 10.

Service number:

B/61456

Nationality:

Canadian

Before the war, Lee Irwin Preston worked as a farmer and gold miner. He was raised in the United Church and came from a family with mixed national heritage—his father was Canadian and his mother American. At the time of his enlistment, Preston was living at 21 Elm Street in Toronto, Ontario.

On May 12, 1941, Preston enlisted in the Canadian Army at Toronto, joining the Ontario Regiment (Tank), part of the 5th Canadian Armoured Division. He was assigned regimental number B61456 and classified medically as Category "A," indicating full fitness for service. His early military training included small arms proficiency in rifle, pistol, Bren gun, and Thompson submachine gun, as well as grenade handling and mine warfare. He also underwent extensive mechanical and driving instruction, qualifying as a driver-operator and driver-mechanic, and later reclassified as a car and truck operator within the Canadian Armoured Corps.

Preston’s service record reveals a steady progression through technical and operational roles. He was employed in general duties and driver-operator tasks from October 1941 through mid-1943, and later served in more specialized capacities within armoured units. His training included field firing with Sherman tanks and participation in AFV (Armoured Fighting Vehicle) ranges, gas chamber drills, and various mechanical and tactical courses. He was awarded a Good Conduct Badge in May 1943 and received the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with clasp, recognizing his sustained commitment to the war effort.

Throughout his service, Preston was stationed at various locations across Canada and overseas. He was inoculated and vaccinated multiple times, reflecting the rigorous health protocols of the time. His dental and medical records show consistent care, and he remained in good health throughout his enlistment. His next of kin was initially listed as his father, John R. Preston, who was later marked as deceased. Subsequent records list his sister and other relatives, with his home address remaining Golden Prairie, Saskatchewan.

Preston was murdered as a captive soldier by Waffen-SS soldiers during the intense battles in Normandy.

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• - Service record(s)

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