Goderich veteran returns to Normandy, 75 years later

Seventy-five years after he landed on Normandy's shores in June of 1944, a Goderich, Ont. veteran is back on European soil.  Lt. Bill Anderson was a reinforcement soldier brought in six days after D-Day, the allied offensive that eventually led to the end of the Second World War. 

"I choke up," said Anderson, thinking about reunions between soldiers during D-Day anniversary events this week in Normandy, France.

"I think that'll be just magnificent," said Anderson, now 97.  The five-night trip includes a commemorative ceremony at Juno Beach Centre in Courseulles-sur-Mer, France. He's travelling in a group of 40 Canadian veterans, 40 escorts and three medical teams.

"The D-Day beach will never leave," said Anderson, recalling the memory of arriving by landing craft, six days after 14,000 Canadian troops stormed the beach at Normandy. He was 21, a reinforcement soldier with the Fifth Canadian Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery. 

It was a "jaw dropping" scene: the harbour filled with boats, artificial wharves and piers. Anderson remembers being awestruck.

"It was a lovely summer day.  A gorgeous day."  But at the same time, "you could hear the constant bang of the guns, 24 hours a day," he said.

More than 350 Canadian soldiers died on D-Day.  An additional 715 were wounded. The total number of allied casualties during the offensive was 10,000.

Anderson knew the name of the soldier he was called in to replace: Lt. Eddie Baillargeon. 

"A Major simply said – 'Anderson, here.' I went over, saluted smartly, and he said 'you're on your way.' "

Anderson said he felt "joy and elation" to step in, after six weeks waiting behind the lines.  

Life in the line of fire was hard.  Anderson said he can still smell the bug-resistant uniforms, which could "stand up by themselves," he said.  "They were awful."

One day, a naval officer he knew from Fredericton, NB. invited Anderson to have lunch on his ship, anchored in the harbour at Juno Beach.

"I went aboard and we had white bread, and I had a shower. I got out of that uniform,"

"It was just a real treat," said Anderson, recalling the blissful feeling of clean clothes and white bread with butter.

It was Bill's friend, Nancy Boucher who introduced the idea of returning to Normandy after seeing an announcement on television inviting veterans to D-Day ceremonies.

"I thought that he really deserved to go, and reminisce," said Boucher.

"I brought up the idea while we were sitting at the hospital and his wife was passing away," she said. Bill's wife Betty died in April. At 97, he has outlived his wife and children.

Bill initially declined to go, but the next day "decided he wouldn't be the oldest person there, that maybe he would enjoy this trip," said Boucher. 

She said hearing Anderson's stories reminds her of her own father, who served in the armed forces. For Anderson, this week's journey to Normandy reminds him of his father, who served in the Boer War.

In the 1960's, Anderson brought his dad to Camp Gagetown, NB, for the anniversary of the Battle of Leliefontein. Anderson remembers a man coming through the door who his father immediately recognized from sixty years before.

Anderson doesn't know if he'll have the chance to reunite with members of his regiment at this week's D-Day celebrations, and how many are still alive. 

He's certain he'll witness other allied soldiers locking eyes for the first time in 75 years.  Like his father, he expects they'll recognize each other right away.

"They put their life on the line, standing side-by-side with those guys," he said.