Police Constable Clarence Verdun Courtney
Clarence Verdun Courtney was born on the 26th of March 1916, to John and Elsie Courtney. Courtney grew up in the city and attended Western Technical School. Following in the footsteps of his father, Courtney joined the Toronto Police Department in January 1939. Sworn in as Police Constable 302, PC Courtney was assigned to No. 2 Police Station, in the area of Dundas Street West and Bay Street. Courtney was married and lived at 160 Glendonwynne Rd.
On June 8th, 1942, PC Courtney answered the call and enlisted with the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps (RCASC), the army's logistical transport and supply corps. Courtney excelled in the army – he was quickly promoted up the ranks and received specialized training including driver training, advanced infantry training, platoon weapons, mine detection and clearing, and military motorcycle riding. Courtney was posted to No. 84 Company, RCASC – a part of the 2nd Canadian Tank Brigade, where it would serve on the front lines providing logistical support to tanks in battle. The 2nd Canadian Tank Brigade moved to England in the summer of 1943 where Courtney and his men trained for the upcoming invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe.
On D-Day – June 6th, 1944, the largest seaborne invasion force in history was crossing the English Channel and headed for Normandy, France. Courtney was aboard the SS Sambut, a vessel which was carrying troops, vehicles, and supplies of Courtney's No. 84 Company as well as artillerymen from the British Army. The Sambut had actually departed from London along the river Thames three days prior to avoid detection, and by noon on D-Day, while first waves of allied soldiers were fighting on the beaches, Courtney's ship was off the coast of Dover, England. German coastal artillery was bombarding the convoy from Calais, and at 12:15pm the Sambut was hit in the side with 15-inch shells wounding Courtney severely in the abdomen. A medical officer dressed Courtney's wounds while the ship's cargo burned around them. At 12:45pm, an ammunition cache in the ship's hold exploded and the order as given to abandon ship. Courtney was helped to the life rafts where he clung to the side with the help of other men, but eventually succumbed to his wounds and slipped into the English Channel.
Police Constable Clarence Verdun Courtney is commemorated at the Bayeux Memorial in Normandy, France.
Name: | Clarence Verdun Courtney |
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Badge: | 302 |
Rank: | Police Constable |
Date of Birth: | March 26, 1916 |
Age: | 28 |
Length of Service: | 3 Years |
Date of Death: | June 6, 1944 |