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On June 6, 1944, Allied forces consisting of British, American, and Canadian soldiers launched a major offensive by landing on the beaches of Normandy. This significant event marked the beginning of the campaign to free France from Nazi control.
Shortly after the initial invasion, Hay arrived at Courseulles-sur-Mer, where he experienced a turning point in his wartime journey. During a night patrol on July 7-8, he was captured by the German 12th SS Panzer Division. Following his capture, Hay was transported to Zabrze in Poland, where he was forced to work in a coal mine as a prisoner of war.
Reflecting on that moment in 2024, Hay described his immediate emotions as ones of “dread” and “fear.” He recounted the details of the ill-fated patrol: “We went out on night patrol, was supposed to be doing a blow up of a self-propelled gun in no man’s land, but in fact, it was behind their lines.” Despite being allowed passage initially, the Germans soon cut off their retreat, leading to a clash. Out of the 30 men on patrol, only 16 returned—including Hay’s brother, a corporal—while five were captured and an estimated nine were killed.
As the Soviet forces advanced, the prisoners were forced to embark on a grueling march of approximately 1,000 miles to a new camp. The journey was deadly, with many prisoners perishing along the way. Hay recalled a moment during this three-month forced march when he felt he could no longer continue. He said he “lay down to die” but was saved by two comrades who came back for him, supporting him with “an arm around each shoulder.
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