Sergeant Léonard “Léo” Gariépy - WW2 Past Canadian Grenadier Guards (C.A.S.F.) who landed in France on D-Day.

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Musée Canadian Grenadier Guards Museum

Name/Title

Sergeant Léonard “Léo” Gariépy - WW2 Past Canadian Grenadier Guards (C.A.S.F.) who landed in France on D-Day.

Scope and Content

Sergeant Gariépy - The former Canadian Grenadier Guard who landed on Juno Beach on D-Day (June 6th 1944) & later became an “Honourary citizen” of Courseulles-sur-Mer, with «Place Léo Gariépy», named after him. Léonard “Léo” Gariépy was born on October 3, 1912, in the parish of St-François de Sales, in Laval, Québec, Canada. Between 1931 and 1935, he studied pathology at Montreal’s General Hospital. In 1936, Léo enlisted in the active non-permanent militia with the Canadian Grenadier Guards. On March 1, 1940, Private Gariépy was transferred to the Canadian Cavalry regiment. On February 18, 1941, this regiment would become the 6th Armoured Regiment – First Hussars from London, Ontario. It is with this armoured regiment that Léo landed on Juno Beach on June 6, 1944. D-DAY & BATTLE OF NORMANDY The First Hussars regiment landed in the first wave on Juno Beach shortly after 08:00 on June 6, 1944. Bad curent and winds hindered the regiment from landing their amphibious Duplex Drive (DD) tanks. As a result, the regiment suffered many casualties. In “B” squadron, Sergeant Gariépy commanded a tank named Bucéphale, one of the many amphibious tanks to land on Juno Beach on D-Day. He had four men under his command: William McGinnis, driver, Robert Neal, driver-assistant, Marcus Silverbery, gunner and L. Nells, radio-operator. As commander, Léo was at the periscope to control the direction of the tank. AFTER THE WAR Léo Gariépy remained in the Canadian Armed Forces until 1947 and was tasked to several different armoured regiments. He was also appointed instructing officer for young recruits. On September 11, 1947, he was discharged from the military. At the end of the 1960s, Léo led the initiative to fish out of the water a DD tank named « Bold », which had sank in front of Courseulles on D-Day. The tank was re-surfaced, restored, and offered to the town. It is presented « Place Léo Gariépy », on the other side of the harbour, visible from the Juno Beach Centre. Léo Gariépy died abruptly on May 8, 1972. “Honourary citizen” of Courseulles-sur-Mer, he rests in the military section of Courseulles’ the municipal cemetery.

Created By

Lieutenant Michael Hayes-Rivet, retired.

Create Date

December 27, 2021

Updated By

Lieutenant Michael Hayes-Rivet, retired.

Update Date

February 18, 2022