In the Footsteps of the North Shore Regiment: from Juno Beach to Carpiquet
- Romain Bréget
- Nov 10, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Feb 17
In May 2022, I had the honor of guiding the son and grandson of Canadian WWII veteran Donald Moar. Donald landed on Juno Beach on D-Day alongside his brother, Fred "Toot" Moar. Both brothers served as officers in the prestigious North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division.
Juno Beach: The First Footsteps
Our day began at the Juno Beach Centre in Courseulles-sur-Mer. We started at the Memorial Bricks dedicated to the brothers—a moving moment as Donald’s son held a photograph of his father as a veteran, bridging the gap between 1944 and today.
We then transitioned from the museum to the sand, visiting Mike Red beach. This sector was one of the bloodiest landing zones on Juno Beach. Standing there, we discussed the harrowing mechanics of the assault and the courage required to face the Atlantic Wall.
Bernières-sur-Mer and the Breakout
To follow the brothers' specific path, we moved to the edge of Bernières-sur-Mer near Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer. Fred "Toot" Moar was a Lieutenant in A Company, he commanded 7 Platoon. His men rushed the seawall under intermittent German fire, exiting through a breach created by naval bombardment.
"We were the best assault company of the division and the defenses in front of us were not a serious fortification" Fred Moar
Donald Moar was a Lieutenant in D Company, he landed shortly after his brother further east. We stood in front of the "Château", where archival film footage remarkably captured men of D Company landing—possibly including Donald himself.
The Battle for Tailleville
Following the inland route of the North Shore Regiment, we reached the village of Tailleville. This was a complex tactical engagement. While C Company attacked the village center with Sherman tanks from the Fort Garry Horse, Fred’s 7 Platoon successfully seized a strategic copse of trees on the eastern outskirts.
We explored the remains of the German defenses and the water tower area, where Fred was eventually recalled to become A Company’s Second-in-Command (2iC). Meanwhile, Donald’s D Company secured the southern edge of the village, preparing for the next day's objective: the Douvres Radar Station.
We had time to discover Tailleville in detail, saw the copse of tree taken by Fred's platoon, exploring the remains of the German defenses, until we drove to the edge of the forest south-east of Tailleville, where D Company ended DDay.
The next day, the North Shore Regiment was ready to tackle their final DDay objective: the large radar-station at Douvres. But the attack never started: it would have been too much for a single regiment with limited fire-support. The regiment was withdrawn to Anguerny and Cairon where it remains until the 17th.
From the Radar Station to the "Hitler Youth" Front
The campaign's intensity grew as the Regiment moved toward Le Mesnil-Patry. It was here that the brothers faced the grim reality of the war, discovering the fallen of the Queen's Own Rifles of Canada. Holding his position a few hundred meters away from the Germans, Fred Moar narrowly escaped death when a bullet went ripping above his head.
"I knew them all" Fred Moar, talking about the dead officers of the Queen Own's Rifles in Le Mesnil-Patry.
On July 4th, the mission became even more perilous: Operation Windsor, the seizure of Carpiquet and its airfield. The North Shore Regiment faced the fanatical and criminal 12th SS Panzer Division "Hitleryouth" who executed close to 150 Canadians prisoners-of-war on the days after DDay.
The Fields of Carpiquet: A Heavy Price
We stood in the quiet fields where D and A Companies began their assault. On that day in 1944, these fields were a "kill zone" of rolling artillery fire and German counter-battery shells.
Donald’s D Company was on the left, advancing along the railway line.
Fred’s A Company was on the right, supported by the Régiment de la Chaudière.
Though they captured the northern part of the village in three hours, the cost was devastating: Donald’s D Company lost half its men. Fred's A Company was in slightly better shape.
We concluded our tour at the Carpiquet Church and the North Shore Regiment Memorial, reflecting on the heavy psychological toll mentioned in wartime letters by fellow officer Harold MacDonald.
If our tour ended in Carpiquet, the Battle of Normandy was not yet over. The month of July and August will continue to see heavy fighting, taking physically and psychologically a heavy toll on the men of the North Shore. On August 11th, Harold MacDonald, officer in the regiment, wrote in a letter
It’s a funny life, and how one stands it is a marvel. Toot Moar was in a while ago. He’s getting really down - one of the originals and it is hard to look around and see so few of the old gang left. I put on hot water and got him a wash and shave, and even a haircut; made him feel a lot better. It’s little things we do for each other that makes this old world livable.
Both Fred and Donald would survive the Battle of Normandy and the rest of the war. If Fred, who became a Colonel after the war, talked about his war experience openly, Donald remained much more reserved and quiet. The war had affected differently the two brothers.
Comments