The 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion was part of the 3rd Parachute Brigade, along with the British 8th and 9th Parachute Battalions, of the 6th British Airborne Division. It was commanded by Lt.-Col. J. A. Nicklin.
“C” Company jumped first into Normandy as they were tasked with marking the drop zone for the rest of the battalion. The Canadian battalion’s objectives were to destroy a German headquarters and bridges near Varaville and cover the 9th Battalion’s movement against the Merville Gun Battery. With these tasks completed, the battalion was to take up positions around the Le Mesnil crossroads as part of the 3rd Brigade’s defence of the ridge running north from Troarn towards Sallenelles.
The battalion’s drop zone was just outside Varaville. The Canadian paratroopers jumped into Normandy roughly five hours before the landings started. Darkness, intense enemy anti-aircraft fire, and a lack of markers on the drop zone resulted in many of the Canadian paratroopers being scattered. As a result, 84 Canadian paratroopers were taken prisoner on D-Day.
Despite the difficulties of the drop, the battalion completed its objectives. “B” Company destroyed two bridges at Varaville. “C” Company destroyed a bridge over the Divette River, east of Varaville, and captured a strongpoint, which threatened the brigade drop zone. They held this position until the next day.
With the bridges destroyed, most of the battalion moved to Le Mesnil crossroads. The Canadian paratroopers carried out aggressive patrolling to confuse the German troops in the area. The Canadian paratroopers stayed at the crossroads until June 17th, 1944 when they were relieved.
The 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion suffered 21 killed and 94 wounded during their first day of combat. 543 Canadian paratroopers jumped into Normandy on June 6th, 1944.
Roll of Honour
ADAMS LLOYD
AUBIN JOSEPH ERNEST ALBERT
BASTIEN OVIDE MAURICE
BROADFOOT JAMES GEORGE
CLARK WENDELL J.
COBURN JOHN CARRWON
CONNAGHAN GORDON CHARLES
COSGROVE FRANCIS D.
ELLEFSON ORLANDO MORRIS
FLEXER ALEC ELLIS
LA CROIX GEORGE RICHARD
MODDERMAN PETER JACOB MARTINUS
MacLEOD HUGH MURRAY
MacPHERSON MALCOLM ALLEN
McINNIS ALEXANDER J.
NEUFELD LESLIE A
NIGH JOSEPH SIMEON
OXTOBY CLIFFORD MELBOURNE
PLEDGER KENNETH MERVYN
REYNARD MARTIN H.
WALKER HUGH MacMILLAN
Research and writing by Brad St.Croix, PhD