​​Canadian Memorial, Bolderwood​

​​The wooden cross was originally erected here on the 14 April 1944 by men of the Royal Canadian Army Service Corp. They were attached to the Canadian 3rd Infantry Division, and went on to land on Juno Beach, Normandy on D-Day, 6 June 1944.

​A small plaque at the memorial reads:

​‘On this site a cross was erected to the Glory of God on 14 April 1944 by men of the 3rd Canadian Division, RCASC’ 

​The New Forest National Park was no stranger to Canadians during the build-up to D-Day. At that time, many so-called marshalling camps were built near the south coast of England. Their purpose was to prepare for the arrival of the Allied troops, who stayed there before their embarkation for Operation Overlord (the Allied operation that launched the successful liberation of German-occupied Western Europe) in June.

​It is unclear why this exact spot was chosen for the cross, as no marshalling camps were located at this precise location. It may have been placed by Canadian troops who were training in the area or passing through before embarking for Normandy at the end of May and early June 1944.