WorldWar II
FallenSoldiers - RockwoodCenotaph
Page 28
THOMASEDWINHAYWARD
B143124Private
Born:
16 June1924 inToronto, Ontario
PreviousOccupations:
Farming andCarpenter’sHelper
Enlisted:
24February 1943 in anunknown location
Died:
6August 1944 at the age of 20
Buried:
BayeuxBritishMilitaryCemetery, Normandy, France
ThomasEdwinHaywardwas born in theMount Denis part of Toronto,
on 16 June1924 toThomas andRubyAdelineHaywardof RR# 5
Belwood, in thenorth east part of EramosaTownship. Hewas theonly
son of their three children (Clara andFlorenceEllen). His father Thomas
was disabled fromwoundswhile serving inWWI. Edwin grew up on the family’s farm and he also
worked as a carpenter’s helper at Rayner Construction. Little else is known about himbefore he
enlisted into the army on 24February 1943 (location unknown).
After completing his basic training, hewas granted leave until mid-June to return home and help his
father with spring planting and tending the fields. On 24August 1943, he embarked by ship from
Canada andarrived inEnglandeight days later. Uponarrival, hewas transferredwith the rank of
Private to theHamiltonbased regiment, theArgyll andSutherlandHighlanders of Canada (Princess
Louise’s).
TheArgyll andSutherlandHighlanders
arrived inEngland in July 1943, where it trainedwith the
10thCanadian InfantryBrigade of the 4thCanadianArmouredDivision.
On21 July 1944, PrivateEdwinHayward arrivedwithhis regiment inNormandy and almost
immediately saw action in the final stages of theBattle of Normandy.
TheFalaiseGap / FalaisePocket
(also known as theChambois pocket) described the area
between the four Norman cities ofArgentan, Chambois, Trun andVimoutiers. The combinedAllied
Armies attempted to encircle and destroy thewithdrawingGermanSeventhArmy andFifthPanzer
Army duringAugust 1944. Tough resistance by theGermans delayed the closing of the gap and
while150,000German soldierswere capturedand the roadswere litteredwith their destroyed
vehicles and tanks, about 100,000 soldiers escaped theAllied trap. WhileGermany’s losseswere
over 10,000 dead, Canadian losseswere heavywith over 18,000 dead or wounded.
On5August, PrivateHaywardwas severelywoundedby amortar bomb during the prelude to
theBattleof theFalaisGap and taken to a field hospital. On 6August hewas transferred to #30
General Hospital inBayeux, Normandy, France but died from hiswounds.
Hewas buried in theBayeuxBritishMilitaryCemetery inNormandy, France. His name is also
memorialized in theBooks of Remembrance in thePeaceTower of theCanadianParliament
Buildings, Ottawa.
