Canadian Virtual War Memorial
Douglas Harvey McCallum
In memory of:
Major Douglas Harvey McCallum
July 25, 1944
Orne River, France
Military Service
Army
Royal Canadian Engineers
Distinguished Service Order, awarded as per Canada Gazette dated 4 November 1944 'During the night 18-19 July 1944, 2 Canadian Corps made an assault crossing of the River Orne. This operation was one of the most important of the entire campaign, and its failure would have had a serious effect on the whole operation in Normandy. As part of the Corps plan, 31 Canadian Field Company, the Corps of Royal Canadian Engineers, had the task of constructing a bridge over the River Orne at Caen to allow the passage of the so necessary supporting arms. Failure, therefore, to complete construction of this bridge would have had serious effects on the army plan. Major McCallum was in command of this operation and though harassed by mortar and sniper fire, and by enemy planes, carried on with the task and brought it to a very successful conclusion. His courage, leadership and ability were of the highest order and undoubtedly contributed largely to the success of the operation.' British War Medal and Victory Medal
Distinguished Service Order
Additional Information
Son of Mr. and Mrs. Fergus McCallum of St. Eugene, Quebec. Husband of Hazel J. (nee Robertson) McCallum, of Montreal, Quebec.
The province of Manitoba honoured Major McCallum by naming Lake McCallum in his honour.
Commemorated on Page 382 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.
Burial Information
BRETTEVILLE-SUR-LAIZE CANADIAN WAR CEMETERY
Calvados, France
XI. F. 5.
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
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Newspaper Clipping – Remembered on the pages of the Ottawa Journal. Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me -
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Identification – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
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Attestation paper – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
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Document – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
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Correspondence – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
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Grave marker – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
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Photo of DOUGLAS HARVEY MCCALLUM – Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me -
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Newspaper clipping – From the Montreal Gazette. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me -
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Newspaper clipping – From the Ottawa Citizen. Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
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