The Canadian 3rd. Infantry Division were given the unenviable task of securing the stretch of Normandy coastline including, Vaux, Coucelles sur Mer, Bernieres sur Mer and St.Aubin sur Mer, this area was code named "JUNO BEACH".
The Canadian contingent was made up of men not only from Canada but also volunteers from Ireland, Scotland, French Canadians, Poles and quite a few Americans all of which wanted to fight for the freedom they believed in.
Accompanying the 3rd. Infantry at Juno was the No 48 Royal Marine Commando, who were given the objective of linking up with the No 41 Royal Marine Commando, who were coming ashore from Sword Beach.

After heavy bombardment from offshore the Canadians prepared for their run-in, the wind and tides were so strong that most of the landing craft were out of position, and had to be re-assembled before the final approach! this caused them to be at least 10 mins. behind schedule, the tide had risen on the beach covering most of the obstacles!! which led to severe problems.
The picture to the left, shows men of the 48 R.M. Commando landing on Juno, note the mini-motorcycle being unloaded.

The first wave saw the 7th. Brigade Group coming ashore, 50% of the D-D tanks which had been launched to give them cover when they hit the beach had sunk before firing a shot! The tides were horrific, many men died as soon as the landing craft doors opened. The German defences were virtually intact!!
Ten minutes later the 8th. Brigade landed, this time the D-D tanks were transported to the beach on the landing craft, but this caused them to come in late, leaving the infantry  without cover for some time, and therefore adding to the casualty rate.

The 7th. Brigade Group, under the command of Brigadier H. W. Foster fought heroically to secure their beach head. With only a few tanks in support the battle became murderous. The Royal Winnipeg Rifles suffered catastrophic losses before their position was secured.
The 8th. Brigade Group, under the command of Brigadier K. G. Blackader, landed to the east, again against tremendous German resistance, the D-D tanks came in behind the infantry and without their fire-power the defenders had the advantage, The Queens Own Rifles suffered the loss of 143 men alone.
For quite a long time the men on the beach thought the landing had been a failure, the losses were so great, but slowly the Germans began to back off and the Canadians pushed forward, all the time the sea was coming in and the beach was getting narrower and narrower.

Canadians landing on Juno Beach, each soldier was given a bicycle to carry ashore, the idea being that once ashore they would cycle down the road to Caen! If only it was so easy..
Obviously the bicycles were soon discarded when the enormity of the situation was realised.

JUNO CONTINUED