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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Charles Kolesar

In memory of:

Gunner Charles Kolesar

August 23, 1944

Military Service


Service Number:

H/69860

Age:

38

Force:

Army

Unit:

Royal Canadian Artillery

Division:

4 Field Regt.

Additional Information


Son of George and Anne Kolesar, of Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Commemorated on Page 354 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information


Cemetery:
Grave Reference:

XVII. H. 8.

Location:

This cemetery lies on the west side of the main road from Caen to Falaise (route N158) and just north of the village of Cintheaux. Bretteville-sur-Laize is a village and commune in the department of the Calvados, some 16 kilometres south of Caen. The village of Bretteville lies 3 kilometres south-west of the Cemetery. Buried here are those who died during the later stages of the battle of Normandy, the capture of Caen and the thrust southwards (led initially by the 4th Canadian and 1st Polish Armoured Divisions), to close the Falaise Gap, and thus seal off the German divisions fighting desperately to escape being trapped west of the Seine. Almost every unit of Canadian 2nd Corps is represented in the Cemetery. There are about 3,000 allied forces casualties of the Second World War commemorated in this site.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

Send us your images

  • Photo of CHARLES KOLESAR– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Saying Goodbye– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Photo of Charles Kolesar– Cecil Pittman travelled with the Royal Winnipeg Riffles Association
when they participated in the 40th Anniversary of the D day
tour to the Normandy beaches (Juno Beach) in 1984, the Royal
Winnipeg Riffles "pilgrimage" tour in 1989, the year the memorial
was unveiled in the little village of Audrieu and the Royal Winnipeg
Riffles 50th Anniversary tour in 1994. He also attended the unveiling
ceremonies of the Juno Beach Memorial located in Normandy,
France in June of 2003.

Mr. Pittman has researched information through the National
Archives, military histories, former veterans and from any other
materials he can locate. In 2002, he completed 104 stories for the
Manitoba Geographical Names Program (Lakes, Rivers, Islands,
etc are named after Manitoba's world War II and the Korean
Conflict casualties) Several soldier's photo from his collection
were included with these stories in the Map Branch's publication
"A Place of Honour".

(Notes taken from the Cecil Pittman's photo collection)
  • Biography
  • Cemetery– The Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery, located 20 kilometres south of Caen, France.  (J. Stephens)
  • Grave Marker– A photograph of the headstone at the Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery, located 20 kilometres south of Caen, France. May he rest in peace. (J. Stephens)

Learn more about the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

To learn more please visit our help page. If you have questions or comments regarding the information contained in this registry, email or call us. For inquiries regarding the names and information found in the RCMP Honour Roll, please email the RCMP.

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