Mac Dixon
On June 13, 1941, William “Mac” Dixon enlisted in the Canadian Army in Owen Sound, Ontario. His story is also that of the Duplex Drive Sherman tank “Bold”, which today proudly stands on the Eastern side of the Courseulles-sur-Mer port and is visible from the Juno Beach Centre.
Bold was a Duplex Drive (or “DD”) Sherman. This amphibious tank belonged to the Canadian First Hussars regiment. At approximately 7:15 am on June 6, 1944, it launched into the water 5,000 yards (approx. 4.5 km) from shore to lead B Squadron’s first wave attack on the heavily fortified German positions in Courseulles-sur-Mer. On board was B Squadron leader Major Duncan, gunner and loader Ross Tofflemire and Sergeant Jibb, co-driver and hull gunner Cliff Challenger, and driver “Mac” Dixon.
The run into the beach was described by Sergeant Léo Gariépy: “At about 3,000 yards (approx. 2.7 km from shore) I looked about and saw Major Duncan about 30 yards to my starboard and the rest of the DD’s behind us… We had been showered with small arms fire, but suddenly I saw two pillars to the right near Major Duncan’s tank, the first shell fire we had received on the way in. I looked ahead again and when I turned around once more the Major’s tank had disappeared.”
When Bold started to sink, the men were trapped inside and could not get out until they hit bottom and the tank flooded. Tofflemire was killed in the water, but the others were picked up by either landing craft or rescue boats. Dixon’s craft then hit a mine and sank, and he was back in the water. Challenger had a severe head wound and was eventually evacuated to England.
Dixon made it to shore later in the day and met up with a few others from his regiment. He picked up a German rifle and joined the Regina Rifles Regiment, spending that first night on the front lines. He later rejoined the First Hussars and fought through France until he was wounded and hospitalised on September 25, 1944 during the battle to liberate Calais. He returned to combat in December 1944 and fought the rest of the war in Belgium, Germany, and Holland driving a “Kangaroo” (Armoured Personnel Carrier).
Trooper Ross Tofflemire, killed on D-Day
Sergeant Jibb
Cliff Challenger severely wounded on D-Day
Mac’s efforts were not the only sacrifices of the Dixon family. His brother Walter was an RCAF Typhoon pilot, killed over England on April 9, 1943.
“Mac” Dixon’s brother, Flight Sergeant Walter Dixon, RCAF pilot killed on April 9, 1943.
As for Bold, it was raised from the sea in 1971 and is now a Canadian Second World War monument in Place Léo Gariépy, Courseulles-sur-Mer.
