Memorial North Nova Scotia Highlanders Authie

The village of Authie is situated between Caen and the coast. Every year around D-day there are memorial services in the region and Authie is always part of it.

On June 7, 1944, in this town and in the surrounding fields, the Canadian North Nova Scotia Highlanders experienced their baptism of fire. Eighty-four North Novas and seven citizens of Authie, lost their lives this day. The memorial is often visited by veterans to commemorate the casualties who died during the invasion of Normandy.

Description of the memorial:

It takes the form of a tall, upright stone stele, light in colour, with a smooth rectangular face. The stone is mounted on a low base and surrounded by a small paved area, often decorated with flowers or wreaths during commemorations. The stele stands at the edge of a small, irregularly shaped square, its pavement marked by the emblem of Canada’s maple leaf. On its front is an inscription in both French and English:

ON JUNE 7, 1944, IN THIS TOWN
AND IN THE SURROUNDING
FIELDS, THE NORTH NOVA
SCOTIA HIGHLANDERS
EXPERIENCED THEIR BAPTISM
OF FIRE. EIGHTY-FOUR NORTH
NOVAS, AND SEVEN CITIZENS
OF AUTHIE, LOST THEIR
LIVES THIS DAY

Historic background:

On 7 June 1944, the North Nova Scotia Highlanders, advancing inland with the Sherbrooke Fusiliers, pushed through Buron and into Authie as part of the Canadian 3rd Infantry Division’s drive beyond the beaches. Their success was short-lived. The 12th SS Panzer Division “Hitlerjugend” launched a fierce counterattack that overwhelmed the Canadians. By the end of the fighting, eighty-four Highlanders were dead, seven villagers had been killed, and the Sherbrooke Fusiliers had lost around fifteen tanks.

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Source

• Text: TracesofWar & Don van den Bogert
• Photos: Randy Brandt