Canadian soldier killed in 1944 buried in France

BRETTEVILLE-SUR-LAIZE, France - More than 60 years after he died on a French battlefield in the Second World War, a Canadian soldier has received a proper funeral.

Pte. Ralph Tupper Ferns of Toronto survived just six weeks of the war before he was killed in a friendly-fire bombing in August 1944.

Three years ago, a villager in Normandy found a helmet buried in a field and that led to the discovery of the Canadian soldier.

Tupper Ferns' family only knew that he was missing until his remains were positively identified earlier this year.

Today, with family members in attendance, Tupper Ferns was buried at the Bretteville-sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery in France, joining almost 2,800 fellow Canadians.

Nephew Gary Ferns was among those on hand to say a proper goodbye.

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  The folded Canadian flag is handed by a member of the Canadian Forces, left, to Private Ralph Tupper Ferns' nephew Gary Ferns, second left, as niece Janice Ferns looks on, third left, by the coffin containing the remains of Private Ralph Tupper Ferns of the Royal Regiment of Canada during a funeral service at the Canadian war cemetery of Bretteville-sur-Laize, western France, Friday, Nov. 14, 2008. (AP / David Vincent)