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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Bernard Joseph O'Connor

In memory of:

Private Bernard Joseph O'Connor

October 20, 1944

Military Service


Service Number:

B/97004

Age:

22

Force:

Army

Unit:

Royal Canadian Army Service Corps

Division:

7 Inf. Bde. Coy.

Additional Information


Born:

February 16, 1922
Oakville, Ontario

Enlistment:

May 31, 1941
Borden, Ontario

Commemorated on Page 407 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information


Cemetery:

GROESBEEK MEMORIAL
Netherlands

Grave Reference:

Panel 11.

Location:

During the Second World War, many thousands of men and women from all countries of the British Commonwealth and Empire lost their lives in trying to repel the German invasion of the Netherlands and Belgium in 1940, and in the ensuing struggle to liberate the occupied countries. Some 11,000 of these have their graves in Belgium and nearly 20,000 lie in the Netherlands. Of this number, there are over 1,000 who have no known grave. The Groesbeek Memorial, which stands in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, about 10 kilometres south-east of the Dutch town of Nijmegen, commemorates by name these members of the Commonwealth land forces who died during the campaign in North-West Europe between the time of crossing the Seine at the end of August 1944, and the end of the war in Europe. The Groesbeek Memorial consists of twin colonnaded buildings which face each other across the turfed forecourt of the Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, between the entrance and the Stone of Remembrance. The names of the men commemorated are inscribed in panels of Portland stone built into the rear walls, and within each building are inscribed the words:


The walls bear the names of the soldiers
Of the British Commonwealth and Empire
Who fell in the advance from the river seine
Through the low countries and into Germany
But to whom the fortune of war denied
A known and honoured grave.
30TH AUGUST 1944 - 5TH MAY 1945

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

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  • Memorial– Due to a tragic accident on October 20, 1944, 37 British and Canadians lost their lives on these fields. They died for our freedom. Canadians that died: Victor Barbour, Alfred Bateman, Eric Biggin, Leonard Joseph Bateman, Clifford Emil Carlson, Edwin Edward Larkin, Bernard Joseph O'Connor, Lorne Edgar Roulston, Walter John Sandison and Frances Henry Wall. This memorial is located at IJzendijke, Netherlands.
  • Newspaper clipping– From the Toronto Star December 1944. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me

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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