Regina project brings photos of Sask. soldiers’ graves home

The men and women who died in World War 2 are buried in war cemeteries across Europe, but now a Regina man is bringing photos of their graves home to Saskatchewan.

Chris Harris is the photographer behind the Saskatchewan Remembrance Project. He has photographed 246 graves in war cemeteries in Normandy, France and Italy.

“We try to recreate that with instalments so that people who might not be able to go over to Europe to take it all in, might get some kind of idea of what it’s like to walk along those rows and rows of crosses,” Harris said in an interview with the 980 CJME Morning Show Thursday.

Harris described the war cemeteries as lush, green and perfectly maintained even in the middle of the summer heat and dry conditions.

“It just kind of imparts on you how really thankful they are for the sacrifices that were made by these – not only Saskatchewan – but Canadian boys and Commonwealth soldiers that led to the liberation of these countries, “ Harris said.

As part of the Saskatchewan Remembrance Project, Chris Harris photographs one of 108 of the Saskatchewan fallen in Italy.

As part of the Saskatchewan Remembrance Project, Chris Harris photographs one of 108 of the Saskatchewan fallen in Italy. (Chris Harris Facebook)

The project began when Harris researched the story of one Saskatchewan paratrooper who was killed on D-Day. While on a trip overseas, he decided to photograph all 47 grave sites in Normandy of Saskatchewan soldiers killed on D-Day.

He posted on Reddit that he would be available to take photos of gravesites for anyone who had relatives buried in the war cemeteries in Normandy.

“Overnight I had over 100 requests and I guess there was no turning back and it’s just kind of evolved into something quite special,” Harris said.

Those photos will be part of a special installation in Regina’s Victoria Park on Remembrance Day.