Second World War (1939-1945)
The Navy in European Waters  - D-Day and the Normandy Landings

Over 100 Canadian warships and some 10,000 Canadian sailors supported D-Day, the 6 June 1944 landings in Normandy. Canadian ships and sailors helped protect the invasion fleet, cleared German minefields, and ferried Allied troops across the Channel.

The Gale of Hurricane Force on the Normandy Beach

Tony Law's painting depicts the effects of the gale which struck the Normandy invasion beaches from 19-22 June 1944.

Law witnessed the storm while commanding a flotilla of Canadian motor torpedo boats helping to guard the invasion beaches. The gale endangered the flow of supplies and reinforcements to the Allied bridgehead in Normandy. Striking with tremendous force, it drove ashore vessels like the landing craft seen at right, and destroyed one of the two "Mulberry" artificial harbours used to help land troops, equipment, and supplies.

The Gale of Hurricane Force on the Normandy Beach
Painted by Tony Law in 1945
Beaverbrook Collection of War Art
CWM 19710261-4073