Private A/37695 Samuel Joseph Summerhayes

Personal Information:
Samuel Joseph Summerhayes was born on 1 September 1921, the eldest son of Mr & Mrs Earl Summerhayes of 145 Bruce Street, Brantford, Ontario, Canada.
He went to the King George School there and then onto the Collegiate Institute.
He was a member of St Jude's church and was employed by E A Fowler's grocery store.
Samuel enlisted in 1940 and went overseas initially to the UK in 1941 where he finished his training. Samuel had only been in Normandy for a short while when he was killed whilst driving a jeep.

Historical Information:
The Highland Light Infantry of Canada was founded in 1886 as the 29th Waterloo Battalion of Infantry and was allied to the Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow Regiment). In 1920 it became the 29th Regiment (Highland Light Infantry of Canada) and in 1954 was amalgamated with The Perth Regiment to form The Perth and Waterloo Regiment (Highland Light Infantry of Canada). They were initially kitted with a green glengarry, trews and scarlet doublet, but became kilted in 1935.

On 6th June 1944 the regiment landed just before midday at Bernieres-sur-mer, the Nan White area of Juno Beach. On that day 335 officers and men of 3rd Canadian Division of which the HLIC were a part, were killed in action or died of wounds.

Following the breakout from the landing beaches, there was serious fighting in the densely packed fields and lanes of Normandy; the bocage. A number of battles took place as the German forces made life very difficult for the allies. One of these was the battle of the Falaise Pocket from 12–21 August 1944, which became the decisive engagement of the Battle of Normandy. It took its name from the area around the town of Falaise within which the German Seventh and Fifth Panzer Armies became encircled by the advancing Western Allies. The battle resulted in the destruction of the bulk of Germany's forces west of the River Seine, and opened the way to Paris and the German border.

Many thanks go to Colonel Christopher Newbould CBE and Poppy Travel for arranging the visit to Beny-sur-Mer. Information has also kindly been provided by the courtesy of the Veteran Affairs Canada and the Brantford Kinsmen Club.