Canadian War Cemetery Calais

Calais was liberated in September 1944 by the 1st Canadian Army, which together with the 2nd British Army was part of the XXI British Army Group commanded by General Montgomery. This Army Group also included the Polish 1st Armored Division, the Belgian Piron Infantry Brigade, the Dutch Princess Irene Brigade and the 1st Czechoslovak Armored Brigade.

They were responsible for the liberation of the left flank along the canal coast, which resulted in a majority of the victims buried here dying during these battles.

699 fallen soldiers are commemorated, of which 674 are from the Commonwealth, of which 580 are Canadian. In addition, 6 Czechoslovaks and 19 Poles were also buried. There are 30 unidentified victims.

In Plot V - Row C -9 is a communal grave for 5 members of the crew of an Avro Lancaster PB 129 of the 405th Squadron RCAF that was shot down by FLAK near Ambleteuse (Cap Gris Nez). They were part of 531 aircraft that had to carry out a day's bombardment of the guns of the Todt battery in Audinghen.

They became victims of a "blue on blue" attack. After 3 crew members managed to save themselves with a parachute, the plane made a crash landing with a full bomb load, after which they were mistaken as a target by subsequent planes.

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