Private Peter Ignatius Bismutka

Private Peter Ignatius Bismutka was a soldier of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion. 

He was born on March 4, 1921 in Toronto, Ontario and shared his name with his father, Peter. He also had three sisters: Anne, Sally and Helen. Bismutka attended De La Salle Oaklands College before enlisting with the Royal Canadian Corps of signals on February 8, 1941 at Camp Borden, Ontario. He later transferred to the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion some time after that unit was founded in July 1942.  

Private Bismutka was fatally wounded on June 6, 1944 and his date of death is recorded as June 7 in the CWGC. He was part of the Canadians' C Company, tasked with destroying a German Signal Exchange (1675), the destruction of a bridge (186759) and neutralisation of enemy positions at Varaville (1875). The Canadians' war diary records the action in which he was killed:

"Major McLeod and Lieut. Walker with the balance of the party then cleared the chateau and at the same time other personnel of 'C' Company arrived from the DZ and cleared the gatehouse of the chateau. The gatehouse then came under enemy M.G. and mortar fire from the pill box situated in the grounds of the chateau. The pill-box also had a 75mm A/Tk. Gun. The whole position was surrounded by wire, mines and weapon pits. Major McLeod, Lieut. Walker and five O.R.'s went to the top floor of the gatehouse to fire on the pillbox with a P.I.A.T. the enemy 75mm A/Tk. Gun returned the fire and the short detonated the P.I.A.T. ammunition. Lieut. Walker, Cpl. Oikle, Ptes. Jowett and Nufield were killed and Major McLeod and Pte. Bismuka [sic] fatally wounded. Ptes. Docker and Sylvester evacuted these casualties under heavy fire". 

Bismutka was also in a relationship with a woman named Gladys, who he had intended to marry after he got back from Normandy. Sadly he never got his chance. 

Private Bismutka was eventually buried in Bretteville-Sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery in Plot VII B2.