Second wave troops of 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade, probably Highland Light Infantry of Canada, disembarking with bicycles from LCI(L)s (Landing Craft Infantry Large) onto 'Nan White' Beach, JUNO Area at Bernières-sur-Mer, shortly before midday on 6 June 1944. From the National Archives of Canada. Caption taken from a similar, but grainy, British photo appearing on Wikipedia, "Juno Beach"
After heavy casualties against tenacious defence, the beach has here been secured. The risen tide has forced the LCIs to come in closer to the sea wall to disembark troops and equipment, which obscured the mined beach obstacles from view and the consequent loss of many landing craft. Mortar fire from the retreating German defenders as they manoeuvred for counterattack through the rest of the day delayed linkup with the British Army at Sword Beach until the next day. As at the British and American beaches, air attack and naval bombardment failed to destroy the well-protected German guns and most had to be taken by infantry, supported by the tanks that were eventually able to swim ashore. The first house liberated by the Queen's Own Rifles (now a reserve regiment in Toronto -- 100 of them died within sight of the house) still stands in Bernieres-sur-Mer. It is visible in many photos taken that day and was a pilgrimage for many years while the D-Day vets were still young enough to travel. An entry in the guest book from an 84-year-old ex-QOR apologizes to the owner for having to throw grenades into his cellar (where the Germans were.)
The bicycles proved not very useful in the notorious bocage (hedgerow) country inland and most were abandoned or given away to the local people. I am told that one has survived and is displayed at Juno Beach Centre, our museum of the Second World War in Courseilles-sur-Mer. Fittingly, the museum has laid out what can be a seriously ambitious bicycle tour of "The Maple Leaf Route" taken by the First Canadian Army across France and Holland into Germany. (Yes, the stylized maple leaf on the modern flag dates only from 1965 but maple leaves (and beavers) had appeared on Canadian uniforms and insignia for many years before that.)