​​Strict orders were given to the 21st Army Group containing the Canadian forces that landed in Normandy on 6 June 1944, D-Day. Many casualties were expected, and orders were issued on how the war dead should be buried in the field if not taken directly to a cemetery.

​Size and dimension of the grave was detailed, through to how identity discs were to be stored in sealed containers at the base of a cross or marker at the head of a grave. These were lessons learnt following the First World War and put in place to try and ensure all bodies were identified and could have a fitting marked place of burial within cemeteries. For the civilian population across northwest Europe, field graves were seen by local populations.

​Following the death of Major Ramsay and Lance Bombardier Karos on 31 August 1944, they were buried in a field grave near Belbeuf village. Local villagers in France tended to field graves long after the army had moved on. Between 31 August 1944 to 6 December 1944, a group of children and adults in Belbeuf tended the graves of these two men, which was photographed (exact date not recorded).

​On 6 December 1945 a letter was sent from a district records office to the Department of National Defence. It contained details on how Mrs Dumont had attended the local district records and handed over a photograph of the field grave with a group of local French civilians paying their respects to the Canadian men who had been killed during the liberation of the village and area in 1944.

​Mrs Dumont wanted the photograph to be sent back to the families of Major Ramsey and Lance Bombardier Karos as they she felt they would be interested in having the photograph. The letter sadly confirms that the office however could not identify the two soldiers and the photograph at that time was not shared with the families as intended.

​The photograph and words from Mrs Dumont showed the respect of French civilians towards those that liberated their country.

​In October 1945, the two men were removed from the field grave in Belbeuf and reburied at Calais Canadian Cemetery.

​For civilians who saw the graves and lived during the time when Canadian soldiers were in the village, they would never forget this and passed on the stories to future generations.​