Troops from the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps (RCAMC) supported the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division for the D-Day landings.
Three RCAMC field ambulances were attached to the Canadian infantry brigades for the landings. 14 Canadian Field Ambulance supported the 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 22 Canadian Field Ambulance the 8th Brigade and the 23rd Canadian Field Ambulance the 9th. These field ambulances were the only Canadian medical units that took part in the initial landings on Juno Beach.
The assault sections of each field ambulance landed with the assault waves. For the first hour of the landings, the assault sections remained on the beach collecting casualties, giving them first aid, and protecting them as best as possible from enemy fire. As the assault infantry battalions moved inland, the field ambulances followed close behind, so they could give first aid to the wounded and evacuate them as soon as possible.
The Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps suffered 7 killed and 3 wounded on D-Day. 235 members of the RCAMC landed on Juno Beach on June 6th, 1944.
Roll of Honour
DUGUAY JOSEPH GUILLAUME
HENDERSON GEORGE
HERMAN HAROLD TRACY
MacDONALD DOUGLAS BERTRAM
PICKFORD ERNEST STANLEY FRANCIS
VERMETTE ANTONIO R.
WARE EDWARD
Research and writing by Brad St.Croix, PhD