By Mary Spring
On June 6, 2024, Canadians will recognize the 80th anniversary of D-Day. On that fateful day, there were 1074 Canadian casualties, including 359 men who died in action. Worldwide, over 10,000 men were injured, and 2500 died that day alone (although the US National D-Day Memorial Foundation says the number is closer to 4,415.)
A memorial on Juno Beach recognizes the sacrifices that Canadian soldiers made on that day in June of 1944. A small number of veterans will take part in the ceremony on Juno Beach this year. This is likely the last time that soldiers who were involved that day will make that journey. We must all remember them.
On June 6th, I will always remember my father, Dr. Robert Douglas Bell. Dr. Bell grew up in Toronto but was a doctor in Huntsville after the new hospital was built in 1978. He served overseas as a medical officer with the Royal Navy and was on a ship just off of Gold Beach on D-Day.
My father’s story is of particular interest to me because of his need for family connections and his desire to communicate. He had never been away from home except in July of 1929 when he was sent to a summer camp in Algonquin Park. His memories were vivid, remembering that he was so homesick that he made himself physically ill for the month. He never left home again until he enlisted in 1942 at the age of 24. He had just graduated from medical school at the University of Toronto. He was away overseas for six years.
The ship that my father sailed on was the HMS Rapier, which was classed as a Landing Ship Infantry (large). The ship was run by the Merchant Navy by the Furness Withy Company. It ran the ship under special “Coastal Articles,” but the Royal Navy commanded and controlled it. The ship accommodated a company of 400 men, including naval deck crew and gunners, Royal Marine landing craft crew, Merchant Marine personnel, as well as Army and Navy liaison people. It could accommodate between 1800-2000 assault troops for extended periods who would be ferried ashore in large Landing Craft. Those were slung in 2 tiers of davits along the outer side of the ship.
The location of the target area for my dad’s ship was on the small seaside coast of La Riviere, France. This town was at the extreme eastern boundary of Gold Beach and right next door to the Canadians who were landing on Juno Beach. My father, a medical officer, crossed the English Channel numerous times on D-Day, transporting men to the beaches of Normandy.
My father often commented on the soldiers’ fear following the earlier ill-fated Dieppe raid. At that time, the Canadian tanks were immobilized at the water’s edge because they could not negotiate the shale on that beach.
My grandparents, Eva and Delos Bell, communicated with my father throughout the war. My father wrote a letter home every single day, and those letters, still in perfect condition, were kept in a box, which I still keep. Much can be learned from such letters. I believe that people might be interested in some of the communication that my father sent during this critical time in World War Two, so I am sharing excerpts from a few of the letters.
June 4, 1944: 2 days before D-Day
There isn’t much in the way of news here. There have been no letters for a few days now, so probably I’ll receive some tomorrow. None of the chaps on the ship have been getting mail promptly, so likely the hold-up is somewhere on this side. However dears, I am not worrying, because I know that there is mail on the way. You have all been wonderful with your writing, and they are always so full of news that to read them is almost like a visit home. You can not help but worry, I know, but I feel sure that everything will turn out all right and that it won’t be long before we are reunited at home- this time to stay!
Love to all, Doug.
June 7, 1944: Two letters: The day after D-Day
Dear folks,
Just a note before the mail closes to let you know that I am safe and sound. I know that you folks will have been worrying about me, but as you see, I am perfectly OK.
I have so much that I would like to tell you but of course I can’t at this time. However, the newspapers give a fairly true picture of things as I saw them, and that is all that I’ll say. In the meantime, please don’t worry if the letters don’t arrive regularly. I am OK over here and having the time of my life. Cheerio for now and God bless you. Love to all, Doug.
Dear folks,
I am afraid that I haven’t been able to write during the past couple of days, since we have all been very busy. You will all be reading about the big show and likely know more about it than I. However, according to censorship regulations we are allowed to say only that we took part, so descriptions will have to wait until after the war. The thing that you will want to know is that I am OK, and indeed I am. I still have hundreds of cigarettes, so don’t fuss about that.
Cheerio for now. Love to all, Doug.
June 8, 1944: 2 days after D-Day
Dear folks,
The newspapers have given an extremely accurate picture of the things as we saw it, and although we expected a bit of trouble, everything was quite tiddly.
At long last the second front seems to have started and I am sure that everyone at home is pretty excited about it. Churchill called it “the beginning of the end”, and to my mind, it is nothing more. However, it is a step in the right direction. Everything is going to be Ok and it won’t be long before it will all be over. We must have faith in God to see us through this ordeal, and I am convinced that He will look after us all.
I hope that you are all having a nice holiday. I certainly wish that I could have a little time at the Lake with you all, especially when Dad takes his leave, but although that is impossible at the present time, my thoughts are with you constantly.
Love, Doug.
June 12, 1944: 6 days after D-Day
Canadian Pacific Telegraphs
World Wide Communication
EVERYTHING OK HERE HAVE A GOOD HOLIDAY DON’T WORRY THINKING OF YOU CONSTANTLY LOVE DOUG BELL
My father returned from the war after spending time in the South Pacific and was away from his family for six years. I am sure that the constant communication from his family helped him through this difficult time in history. Dr. Doug Bell wrote a book about his experiences, Doog’s War, which can be found in the Huntsville Public Library.
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I have some of my father’s letters too. I gave his uniform to my son. I also have his discharge papers. It brings tears to my eyes.
Carol Ferris
Thank you Mary for sharing Doug’s letters. It sure makes that time in history more present when you can make a personal connection. I like that in a time of hardship and sacrifice there was never any negativity in those letters. He always had a positive outlook and gave hope to those back home that he was safe and the war would soon be over. ♥️
Thank you for sharing Doug’s letters with us. And thank you for his service.
We will remember!