Juno Beach

The words

1. Assault Beach

   Two Canadian infantry brigades assaulted Juno. Taking the coastal villages and opening routes inland were the first stage of their advance.

   Ch. IV, pp. 76–77, assault phases · Canadian Army history: the Juno assault (opens a new tab)

2. Assault Waves

   The first assault was followed by reserve battalions and the 9th Brigade. These later arrivals were intended to carry the advance farther inland.

   Canada’s role; Reserve units add support · Veterans Affairs Canada: Normandy landings (opens a new tab)

3. Beach Defenses

   Concrete gun positions, mines, wire and obstacles protected Juno. The preliminary bombardment left many defenses intact, forcing infantry and tanks to fight through them.

   The opponent; D-Day, surviving coastal positions · Veterans Affairs Canada: Normandy landings (opens a new tab)

4. Beach Landing

   Landing craft brought troops through rough water to the shore. The rising tide concealed mined obstacles, damaging craft and causing casualties among later arrivals.

   D-Day; Reserve units add support · Veterans Affairs Canada: Normandy landings (opens a new tab)

5. Beachmaster

   A naval officer supervising operations on a beach sector.

   Lieutenant Dudley Rayburn oversaw a sector of Juno as a naval beachmaster. His Beach Commando W reached France in early July 1944, after the initial assault.

   Did you know?

   Rayburn’s Combined Operations sleeve patch showed an anchor, a submachine gun and an eagle, representing the navy, army and air force.

   Artifact CWM 20000131-001, Rayburn and Beach Commando W · War Museum: a Juno beachmaster’s blouse (opens a new tab)

6. Bernieres

   The Queen’s Own Rifles landed at Bernières-sur-Mer. They suffered heavy casualties before overcoming the beach defenses and advancing through the village.

   Ch. V, pp. 107–108, Queen’s Own Rifles · Canadian Army history: the Juno assault (opens a new tab)

7. Canadian Army

   The army’s Juno force included infantry, tanks, artillery, engineers, signallers and medical personnel. Their different tasks supported the landing and sustained the advance inland.

   Canada’s role, supporting arms and services · Veterans Affairs Canada: Normandy landings (opens a new tab)

8. Courseulles

   Courseulles stood at the Seulles mouth. Canadians landed on both sides, with the Regina Rifles fighting through the town.

   Ch. V, pp. 102–105, landings and town fighting · Canadian Army history: the Juno assault (opens a new tab)

9. Juno

   Juno lay between Britain’s Gold and Sword beaches. The Canadian landing formed part of the British Second Army’s assault front.

   Ch. IV, p. 76, neighboring assault divisions · Canadian Army history: the Juno assault (opens a new tab)

10. Keller

    Major-General R. F. L. Keller commanded the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division. The 2nd Canadian Armoured Brigade was also under his command.

    Ch. IV, p. 76, divisional command and attached armor · Canadian Army history: the Juno assault (opens a new tab)

11. Mike Sector

    Mike lay west of the Seulles mouth. The Royal Winnipeg Rifles and an attached Canadian Scottish company assaulted its beaches.

    Ch. V, p. 102, 7th Brigade landing sectors · Canadian Army history: the Juno assault (opens a new tab)

12. Nan Sector

    Nan included the Regina Rifles’ landing east of the Seulles, as well as the 8th Brigade beaches farther east.

    Ch. V, pp. 102 and 106–108, brigade beach fronts · Canadian Army history: the Juno assault (opens a new tab)

13. Regina Rifles

    The Regina Rifle Regiment landed on Nan Green. Infantry and 1st Hussars tanks fought the surviving German positions in Courseulles.

    Ch. V, pp. 102–105, landing sector and tank support · Canadian Army history: the Juno assault (opens a new tab)

14. Third Division

    The 3rd Canadian Infantry Division supplied Juno’s main infantry force. Two brigades led the assault, with the third following to reinforce and extend the beachhead.

    Canada’s role; Best laid plans, brigade sequence · Veterans Affairs Canada: Normandy landings (opens a new tab)

15. Winnipeg

    The Royal Winnipeg Rifles assaulted west of Courseulles. Opposition varied: one company faced defenses missed by the bombardment and suffered severe losses coming ashore.

    Hard earned victory, the Winnipeg assault companies · Veterans Affairs Canada: Normandy landings (opens a new tab)