On The War Memorial Trail…..The Soldier From Birch River Who Served In Italy And North West Europe But Lost His Life 5 Months After WWII Ended

August 17, 2026 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

August 17, 2026. One can imagine the relief that soldiers and their families felt when WWII in Europe was officially over, after the Allies formally accepted Germany’s unconditional surrender on May 8, 1945. While some soldiers slowly began returning home, others remained in Europe, tasked with various duties in liberated countries and as a post-occupation force in Germany.

Unfortunately, not everyone who had survived WWII returned home. Accidents and illness led to the death of several soldiers. One such soldier was Edward Alexander MUNRO, who died in a road accident in Germany in October 1945, at the age of 27, while serving with the 2nd Line 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade Company of the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps (Canadian Army Occupation Force).

Birch River is in northern Manitoba, near the border with the province of Saskatchewan. (Map source: Google Maps)

Born September 17, 1917 in Birch River, Manitoba, Edward was the son of Thomas ‘Tom’ Henry and Margaret ‘Maggie’ (nee Moore) Munro. He had three brothers: John Peter, Angus James, and Charles ‘Charley’ George, and two sisters: Kathleen (married name Delyea) and Sarah Louise.

Blanche Cowley-Head, a First Nations genealogist, wrote to let us know that Edward’s mother Maggie, and her sister Harriet, “…were sisters that married Munro brothers. The two sisters were the daughters of Peter Moore of the Shoal River Band (now known as Sapotaweyak Cree Nation). They lost their Treaty and Indian status upon their marriage to non-status Indians….” (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sapotaweyak_Cree_Nation)

The search for a photo of Edward was successful when Glenda Foster, Office Administer at the Swan Valley Legion Branch #39 in Manitoba was able to find one. Glenda explained that she “…was born and raised in Birch River, I do know of the family and was well acquainted with Charley….”

….Edward enlisted in 1942…

When he enlisted at Military District No. 10 ‘B’ Company of the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps (RCASC) in Winnipeg, Manitoba on August 27, 1942, Edward was working at his father’s mixed farming operation in Birch River, and said that he’d left school at the age of 17. His Personnel Selection Record stated that he was “…pleasant mannered and cooperative…” and “…walks with a slouch, talks freely and is quite friendly…” and noted that all three of his brothers were in the army – two with the Royal Canadian Artillery and one with the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders. He enjoyed playing softball and was interested in becoming a barber after the war.

On September 19, 1942, Edward was transferred to No. 100 Canadian Army (Basic) Training Centre (CABTC) in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba. Shortly before completing his basic training, his Platoon Commander stated that he was a “… good soldier…” with a “…smart appearance, talkative…” and “…might be a good prospect for Provost duties, as a Corporal in charge of a small group of men…”

Edward Alexander Munro. (Photo submitted by Glenda Foster of the Swan Valley Legion Branch #39 in Manitoba)

After completing his basic training, Edward was sent to A20 Royal Canadian Army Service Corps Training Centre in Red Deer, Alberta on November 18, 1942 for further training. He qualified as a Driver Class III wheeled vehicles on December 23, 1942. (This meant he had passed the tests to drive standard military trucks and soft-skin wheeled vehicles at a beginner-to-intermediate trade proficiency level.)

After receiving his Class III certification, he was granted Christmas leave until December 27, 1942, in what turned out to be the last chance he would have to see his family before going overseas.

Once he returned back to Red Deer, he was hospitalized on December 30, 1942 until January 4, 1943 with a fractured rib.

….Edward left Canada for overseas service….

On March 11, 1943, Edward left Canada for the United Kingdom. Upon arriving on March 17, 1943 he was assigned to No. 1 Canadian Army Service Corps Reinforcement Unit (RCASC RU), effective the following day. This logistical training and staging unit was based in Aldershot in Hampshire, and administered by Canadian Military Headquarters (CMHQ) in London.

Newly arrived soldiers from the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps (RCASC) received additional operational and combat training. As active field units in the First Canadian Army needed reinforcements due to casualties, No. 1 Reinforcement Unit could deploy combat-ready replacements directly to the front lines.

On June 4, 1943, Edward was assigned to No. 3 Canadian Infantry Brigade (CIB) of the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps (RCASC). A few weeks later, on June 25, 1943, he was sent to 1st Canadian Infantry Divisional Troops Company (12 Company) RCASC for more training, before returning to No. 3 Canadian Infantry Brigade (CIB) on July 7, 1943. Edward was among the soldiers being prepared for the Italian Campaign – the upcoming Allied invasion of Italy, which began after the successful landings in Sicily (Operation Husky). (See https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/military-history/second-world-war/italian-campaign)

….Edward served in Italy….

On August 16, 1943, Edward boarded a ship that left the United Kingdom the following day and arrived in Sicily on August 27, 1943, where his unit, No. 3 Canadian Infantry Brigade Company, RCASC, was taking part in the final stages of the Operation Husky before going on to mainland Italy for the upcoming Italian Campaign.

The unit had a transport and supply logistical role, supporting the 3rd Canadian Infantry Brigade of the 1ar Canadian Infantry Division with essential tasks such as hauling ammunition, food, fuel, and equipment across treacherous mountain roads and river valleys in Italy.

On September, 1943, Edward and the rest of his unit later crossed the Strait of Messina to land on mainland Italy at Reggio di Calabria under Operation Baytown, the start of the Italian Campaign. (See https://project44.ca/storymaps/southern-italy/)

The Italian Campaign followed Operation Husky in Sicily. (Map source: Juno Beach Centre)

Vehicles would be driven under severe conditions, with heavy reliance on relay drivers and field maintenance during the upcoming battles as troops moved up through mainland Italy, including Ortona and the breakthroughs of the Hitler and Gothic Lines.

On November 4, 1943, Edward was transferred to No. 1 Canadian Infantry Brigade Company, RCASC, and a few days later, on November 12, 1943, seconded to 112 Forward Maintenance Centre (FMC), one of several highly mobile logistical hubs set up just behind the front lines, where ammunition, fuel, food, and spare parts were stored.

Edward remained with 112 FMC until July 4, 1944, when he was hospitalized at No. 15 Canadian General Hospital in Caserta, Italy. There is no indication that Edward was wounded, so it’s possible that he was in hospital for an infection. During the summer of 1944, malaria was a major issue, due to the marshy, mosquito-heavy terrain that had been intentionally flooded by retreating German forces.

After his hospital discharge on July 15, 1944, Edward was placed in an X-4 Reinforcement Unit for a short period, until July 25, 1944, when he was transferred to No. 2 Canadian Infantry Brigade Company, RCASC. The unit was stationed in a rest area along the Volturno River valley in southern Italy, near the towns of Piedimonte d’Alife (today’s Piedimonte Matese) and Raviscanina.

Edward had a chance to recuperate more fully, before returning to No. 1 Canadian Infantry Brigade Company, RCASC on August 23, 1944. The unit was in central Italy, positioned just south of the Gothic Line, and had begun staging logistics for Operation Olive, an offensive aimed at breaking through the German Gothic Line fortifications. This meant moving large quantities of ammunition, rations, and fuel up mountainous terrain to sustain front line infantry units. The main assault on the Gothic Line began 3 days later, on August 26, 1944.

It was also a period when Edward took additional training, qualifying as a Driver i/c Class III on September 15, 1944. (The term ‘Driver i/c’ refers to ‘Driver, internal combustion’. Class III meant he was qualified to drive heavy trucks and armoured cars, but not tanks.)

On October 18, 1944, he qualified as a Driver Mechanic (MV) ‘C’, which meant he not only was qualified to operate military vehicles, but was also able handle field repairs, basic mechanical troubleshooting, and routine vehicle maintenance.

Shortly after completing his training, his unit moved north across the Apennines to prepare for the assault on the Gothic Line.

….Edward left Italy for northwest Europe…

On March 7, 1945, Edward and his unit left Italy from Leghorn, the port in Livorno, as part of Operation Goldflake, arriving in Marseilles, France two days later. Operation Goldflake was the codename for moving troops from Italy to North-West Europe. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Goldflake)

Once in France, the unit travelled north by road and train to join the 1st Canadian Army in Belgium and The Netherlands, again providing crucial logistical and transport support. In The Netherlands, the unit was part of the support provided for the advance across the IJsselmeer, the liberation of Apeldoorn, and beginning on May 2, 1945, for Operation Faust, the delivery of food, coal and medical supplies across German lines for the relief of the starving Dutch.

Operation Faust ended on May 9, 1945 with the surrender of Germany, but in that short one week period had delivered between 840 and 1,141 tons of food and supplies EACH day! (See https://rclsa-asrlc.org/stories/op-faust/)

….Edward was in Germany with the CAOF….

With the end of WWII, Edward was granted a well-deserved leave to the United Kingdom, from May 18 to 31, 1945. Shortly after returning to his unit, he was transferred to the newly formed 2nd Line 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade Company (Canadian Army Occupation Force), RCASC as a Driver Mechanic (MV) ‘C’ on June 14, 1945. This new unit was sent to Germany to support the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division (Occupation Force), as part of the Canadian Army Occupation Force (CAOF), which was involved in policing, rebuilding, and securing the British Zone of occupied Germany.

Edward’s unit was responsible for transporting bulk supplies using 3-ton to 10-ton trucks, and accounting for the supplies and rations, and maintaining fuel depots. On-site mechanics, like Edward, kept the unit’s vehicle fleet operational.

He was given an 11 day leave to the United Kingdom, from August 12 until 24, 1945. On September 27, 1945, Edward was admitted to No. 6 Canadian Field Dressing Station (RCAMC) in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, a distance of 257 km (160 miles), remaining there until he was discharged on October 3, 1945.

The distance between Apeldoorn and Oldenburg is 257 km. (Map source: Google Maps)

….Edward died in a road accident in Germany…

Drawing of accident site from Edward Munro’s service file.

Just a few days after being discharged, Edward lost his life in a vehicle accident while a passenger in an armoured scout car that was returning from ‘Alexandra Airport’ (Flughafen Oldenburg/Alexanderheide) located 5 km (3 miles) from Oldenburg. His brother, Charles ‘Charley’ George, who also served in 2nd Line 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade Company, was a passenger in the front seat of the vehicle, and was injured in the same accident.

According to the Court of Inquiry, an accident occurred “…on the Bad Zwischenahn Road between Bad Zwischenahn and Oldenburg, Germany at 2305 hours 5 Oct 1945…” with 4 soldiers in the vehicle. The speed of the vehicle was judged to be “….normal, at approximately 25 miles per hour….” and evidence indicated that “…the accident occurred due to a combination of weather conditions, slippery roads, bad lights, and poor visibility…”

Edward “…was instantly killed as a result of this accident…” Three other soldiers from the same unit were injured: Pte A. THOMSON (the driver of the vehicle); Pte C. G. MUNRO (Edward’s brother); and L/Cpl M. D. WHITE.

Testimony by several witnesses who stopped to help following the accident reported that the vehicle had hit a tree. Pte R. E. QUADE stated that he “….looked inside the vehicle and noticed that three of the men were inside, and one, I would say, was dead or dying….and the fourth was outside, walking around with blood on his face….”

Cpl Roy W. STATES, another witness, said he’d stopped to help, tried unsuccessfully to immediately get help, before returning to the vehicle and “…saw to my horror a body with his head smashed in…”

Edward, with a fractured skull, was the only fatality. He was taken to No. 16 Canadian General Hospital in Oldenburg, with the death certificate signed on October 6, 1945.

Charley was seriously injured with “…head lacerations, concussion, and a fractured right scapula…” He returned home to Birch River after being discharged from the Canadian Army and died in 2002.

….Edward is buried in Holten…

Edward was initially buried in the Canadian Military Cemetery in Osterscheps, Germany (near Oldenburg) before being reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands on March 8, 1946. During our 2025 European War Memorial Tour, Pieter placed Canadian and Manitoba flags by his grave.

Pieter at the grave of Edward Alexander Munro after placing Canadian and Manitoba flags. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Pieter reflected that Edward’s death resonated after learning that not only had he helped so many soldiers as a member of the essential services provided by the RCASC, he had been part of Operation Faust. “…After being involved in saving the lives of so many starving Dutch citizens, it is tragic that this man lost his life in a vehicle accident over which he had no control…”

…..Edward will be listed on the National Métis Veterans Memorial Monument….

Once we noticed that Edward is not listed on the National Métis Veterans Memorial Monument just outside of Batoche, Saskatchewan, but his brother Charley is, we sent in an application to have his name added. (See https://www.metismuseum.ca/metisveteransmonument/)

In January 2026, we received an email from Ryan Nordmarken, Senior Administrative Coordinator at the Gabriel Dumont Institute – Métis Culture & Heritage Dept., advising that the application was approved. “…This submission has been added to the list to be included with the next engraving. Thank you!...”

…..Munro Peninsula is named in Edward’s honour….

Munro Peninsula in northern Manitoba was in Edward Alexander Munro’s honour. (Map source: Mapcarta)

Munro Peninsula, on Obuyi Lake (formerly known as Pincock Lake) in northern Manitoba (approximately latitude 59°07′ N, longitude 97°07′ W) was named after him in 1995. ‘Obuyi’ comes from the Chipewyan language and means ‘trees have been burned around the lake’.

Thank you to Glenda Foster of the Swan Valley Legion Branch #39 in Manitoba for sending a photo, and to Jennifer Laviolette, Editor at The Swan Valley Star and Times newspaper, for referring us to the Swan Valley Legion. Thank you also to Blanche Cowley-Head for confirming that Edward’s mother Maggie had Indigenous roots.

The flags placed at Edward’s grave during our 2025 European War Memorial Tour were donated. Our thanks go to:

Alan Waddell, Constituent Assistant, on behalf of Heath MacDonald, MP for Malpeque, for the Canadian flag.
Brad Robertson, Chief of Protocol, Government of Manitoba, on behalf of Wab Kinew, Premier of Manitoba, who donated the Manitoba flag.

Pieter’s research efforts to find photos and families of soldiers continue. Do you have a story to tell? Email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, or comment on the blog.

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?…

If you are reading this posting, but aren’t following our research, you are welcome to do so. Our blog address: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/

4 countries, 6 weeks, 7,000 km – an unforgettable war memorial journey in Europe…. Daria’s book ‘No Soldier Buried Overseas Should Ever Be Forgotten‘ is available in print and e-book formats. Net proceeds of book sales help support research costs and the cost of maintaining this blog. For more information see https://nosoldierforgotten.com/

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On The War Memorial Trail….The Flight Engineer From Urbainville Aboard The Last Flight Of Lancaster KB914

August 9, 2026August 11, 2026 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

August 9, 2026. Several months ago, an article sent by Don Coutts, nephew of WWII pilot Elmer Bagnall MUTTART, about Flying Officer Bernard Delbert FORBES, an airman from North Bay, Ontario, who died in a February 1, 1953 plane crash in Newfoundland, led to the discovery that one crew member was Corporal Joseph ‘Donat’ GALLANT of Urbainville, Prince Edward Island. (See Shared from BayToday.ca: Tragic 1953 crash that killed North Bay airman still remembered: https://www.baytoday.ca/local-news/tragic-1953-crash-that-killed-north-bay-airman-still-remembered-11879654?utm_source=Email_Share&utm_medium=Email_Share&utm_campaign=Email_Share)

Wedding photo of Donat Gallant and Émilie Gaudet. (Photo courtesy of Ron and Evelyn Gallant. Photo restoration by Pieter Valkenburg)

Born March 17, 1918 in Urbainville, Prince Edward Island, Donat was the son of Cyrus and Edna Gallant. A WWII veteran, he was living in Wellingon, Prince Edward Island, with his wife Mary Émilie (nee Gaudet) Gallant, who he’d married on October 4, 1943. They were the parents of three children – Ronald, Sandra, and Gerald.

We were interested in finding a family member, if possible, and thanks to several Gallants who lived in the area where the airman came from, Pieter was soon put in contact with Evelyn Gallant, wife of Donat’s son Ron.

….The leadup to the crash…

Joseph ‘Donat’ Gallant. (Photo courtesy of Ron and Evelyn Gallant)

Donat had re-enlisted in the RCAF on January 8, 1948 in Summerside, Prince Edward Island. According to an article in the February 20, 1953 edition of the Telegraph-Journal of St. John, New Brunswick, Donat had been “…stationed at the Chatham RCAF base before transfer to Greenwood, where he completed a flight engineer’s course in November…”

Based in Greenwood, Nova Scotia, he was a member of No. 405 ‘Eagle’ (Maritime Reconnaissance) Squadron, a long-range patrol unit involved in maritime surveillance and Arctic sovereignty. Originally formed on April 3, 1941 in England as the first RCAF bomber squadron overseas, and serving as an elite Pathfinder force unit. Disbanded on September 5, 1945, it was reformed on April 1, 1947 as No. 405 Bomber Reconnaissance Squadron at RCAF Station Greenwood, and was later re-designated No. 405 Maritime Reconnaissance Squadron in 1950, and today is known as No. 405 Maritime Patrol Squadron. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/405_Long_Range_Patrol_Squadron)

A Lancaster of the type used by No. 405 Squadron. (Source: Wikipedia)

In January 1953, two Lancaster KB868 and Lancaster KB914 crews, from No. 405 ‘Eagle’ (Maritime Reconnaissance) Squadron, were sent to Keflavik, Iceland, to take part in an anti-submarine warfare (ASW) exercise.

However, on Saturday, January 31, 1953, both crews received orders to proceed to Goose Bay, Labrador, to participate in the search for a missing civilian twin-engine Beechcraft 18 Expeditor. The plan was to fly to the vicinity of Bluie West One (now Narsarsuaq Airport) located near the southern tip of Greenland, and then do a track crawl to Goose Bay, while looking for any signs of the missing aircraft. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narsarsuaq_Air_Base)

Both Lancasters left Keflavik on Sunday, February 1, 1953. Lancaster KB914 left Keflavik at 7:31 am (1031 Zulu). Lancaster KB868 arrived safely around 3:30 pm (1826 Zulu) at RCAF Station Goose Bay, landing with the plane coated with heavy snow. Goose Bay was getting dumped on by heavy snow and the base was ‘socked in’. (NOTE: Zulu Time is the world standard time used in aviation. Also known as Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), it remains constant, unaffected by Daylight Saving Time changes.)

…. Lancaster KB914 didn’t have a safe arrival….

Map shows the plane’s path from Keflavik to where it crashed near Goose Bay. (Map prepared by Wendy Nattress)

By the time that Lancaster KB914, which had been directed to the search area, began approaching Goose Bay at 4:26 pm (1926 Zulu), not only was the base ‘socked in’, but the Ground Control Approach (GCA) system was unserviceable, and the aircrew had no visibility.

With the situation preventing the plane from landing at Goose Bay, the pilot, Thomas Claude WAGAR, was ordered to divert to the RCAF Station in Torbay, Newfoundland (now St. John’s International Airport). The plane was at a height of 2,135 metres (7,000 feet) and had five hours of fuel left. The order was acknowledged, a course was plotted to their new destination, and the plane headed in an easterly direction. The estimated time of arrival at Torbay was 7:09 pm (2209 Zulu), well within safe fuel limits.

At 5:30 pm (2030 Zulu), however, an urgent message was sent to Goose Bay notifying them that the pilot had just feathered two of the four Rolls Royce Merlin engines and they were returning to Goose Bay. Feathering refers to turning the propeller blades so their thin edges point directly into the oncoming air. This stops the blades from spinning in the wind and cuts down heavy drag, helping to keep the plane steady.

Arrival at Goose Bay was estimated at 6:00 pm (2100 Zulu). 16 minutes later the pilot requested a weather update for Goose Bay. This was sent but not acknowledged. Radio contact between ground personnel and the plane suddenly ended. Lancaster KB914 was declared missing.

…. Lancaster KB914 wasn’t found until June….

When a massive air search, hampered by more bad weather and two other missing aircraft that also required attention, was unsuccessful, the search was called off on February 16. In addition to the missing Lancaster and Beechcraft, a British York transport, carrying troops to Jamaica via Gander, vanished over the Atlantic on February 2, with cold, blowing snow still sweeping the area.

A February 3, 1953 article in the Globe and Mail noted that “…an extensive search from Greenland and Labrador bases found no trace of a Philadelphia-owned Beechcraft which disappeared Friday on a flight between Goose Bay, Labrador, and Greenland. The Lancaster went down Sunday while searching for the civilian plane, which carried two men…”

Months went by, until, on June 15, 1953, the wreckage of the Lancaster KB914 was spotted from the air by D.P. Saunders, a civilian pilot with the Ottawa-based Laurentian Air Services. An RCAF ground search party flew out to the wreckage site to recover the human remains and to investigate the scene.

Preliminary study of the ground showed that the aircraft had gone in almost vertically. Forest damage was limited due to the impact, although debris had struck trees up to 91 metres (100 yards) distant when the Lancaster exploded. The human remains were recovered on June 21.

….Why did the plane crash?…

According to the crash report, the plane crashed 153 km (95 miles) southeast of Goose Bay at around 5:46 pm (2046 Zulu). The plane’s engines had been covered with ice, and the plane’s de-icer did not work properly.

A summary of the evidence in the crash report indicated that “…from the position of the crash….” the plane was “….62 miles off track….” (62 miles is about 100 km)

“….The pilot had reported that he was returning to Goose Bay with two engines feathered….” No 1 and No 4 engines showed no issues, while the “…propellers of Nos. 2 and 3 engines indicated that they were in the feathered position…” suggesting that the plane “….was flying on the two outboard engines….”

With the inboard engines feathered, this meant that “…as some of the pilot’s instruments are operated by vacuum pumps (one on each inboard engine) he would be denied the use of his artificial horizon, turn and bank and directional gyro…”

As well, “….the hydraulic system would be inoperative….” as these were also on the inboard engines. “….As the carburetor air intake shutters are hydraulically operated, the pilot would be unable to change the position of the shutters…” from where they were positioned before the engines had been feathered.

Why were the two engines feathered? About one hour after the ordered diversion from Goose Bay to Torbay, “…the pilot was compelled to feather Engine No. 2 due to severe icing…” but the port de-icer didn’t work. “….A short time later, the pilot found it necessary to feather No. 3 engine due to overheating…”

The pilot couldn’t see where he was flying, his artificial horizon and directional aids were inoperable, as was the hydraulic system. Then, “…shortly before the accident, No. 1 engine failed or partially failed due to icing, resulting in complete loss of control by the pilot…”

Evidence showed that “…as two of the crew members had their parachutes on, it is more than likely that the pilot was attempting to have the crew bail out after he experienced loss of control…”

….The crew of Lancaster KB914…

Donat was one of two Flight Engineers aboard the last flight of Lancaster KB914. The rest of the crew members were:

Pilot – Flying Officer (F/O) Thomas Claude WAGAR DFC, from Kingston, Ontario but born in Parham, Ontario, aged 32. (DFC refers to Distinguished Flying Cross)
Co-Pilot – Flying Officer (F/O) Charles Bruce SCOTT, from Saint John, New Brunswick, aged 27.
Navigator – Flying Officer (F/O) Stephen James DECKER, born in Cooks Harbour, Newfoundland, aged 24.
Navigator – Flying Officer (F/O) Douglas David Richard WOOD, from Peterborough, Ontario, aged age 21.
Radio Officer – Flying Officer (F/O) Bernard Delbert FORBES, from North Bay, Ontario, aged 23.
Radio Officer – Flying Officer (F/O) Frances ‘Frankie’ Steward FOWLOW, from St. John’s, Newfoundland, aged 24.
Radio Officer – Flying Officer (F/O) Thurland Mabury TATE, from Grand Manan, New Brunswick, aged 22.
Flight Engineer – Corporal Roger David Joseph LALONDE, from Kirkland Lake, Ontario but born in Cobalt, Ontario, aged 30.

….A mass funeral was held for all 9 men in Greenwood…

A mass funeral was held in Greenwood for all 9 airmen. (Photo courtesy of Ron and Evelyn Gallant)

A mass funeral was held on June 26, 1953 in Greenwood, Nova Scotia, for the nine airmen. The ceremonies took place in the Catholic Chapel and in the Station Drill Hall after which the body of each airman was transported to his Canadian hometown for final burial.

A mass funeral was held in Greenwood for all 9 airmen. (Photo courtesy of Ron and Evelyn Gallant)

A procession on the day that the mass funeral was held in Greenwood for all 9 airmen. (Photo courtesy of Ron and Evelyn Gallant)

….Donat is buried at Baie Egmont (St. Jacques) Cemetery…

Map shows location of the church in Egmont Bay, as well as Urbainville and Wellington. (Map source: Google Maps)

Evelyn Gallant noted that after the mass funeral service in Greenwood, there was another service held “….in Egmont Bay church….” (St. Philippe et St. Jacques Roman Catholic Church)

Ron Gallant, the oldest of Donat’s children, was 7 when his father died. He said he “…remembered the soldiers at the church and the guns at the funeral. After the funeral, Father Burke brought us home. My mother never remarried, and is buried next to my father….”

Pieter by the grave of Joseph ‘Donat’ Gallant after placing Canadian, Prince Edward Island, and Acadian flags. A stone marker in front is that of his wife. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Donat was buried in Baie Egmont (St. Jacques) Cemetery in Prince Edward Island. We visited the cemetery one beautiful, sunny day in June, and Pieter placed Canadian, Prince Edward Island, and Acadian flags by his grave.

….A memorial in Greenwood honours the crew of Lancaster KB914…

On May 27, 2022, a ceremony to honour the crew of Lancaster KB914 was held, with a memorial placed in the Commemorative Garden at the Greenwood Military Aviation Museum at 14 Wing Greenwood. (The family of Frances ‘Frankie’ Steward FOWLOW did attend the ceremony: https://auroranewspaper.com/wp-content/uploads/pdf/Archive/2022/4322news.pdf)

Ron Gallant at the memorial in Greenwood honouring the crew of Lancaster KB914. (Photo courtesy of Ron and Evelyn Gallant)

Ron said he never met the families of the other crew members, and was unable to attend the 2022 ceremony as he was recovering from an operation. However, he and Evelyn subsequently visited Greenwood to see the memorial.

Ron Gallant at his home in Richmond, Prince Edward Island. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Thank you to Ron and Evelyn Gallant for providing photos and information, to Shawn Rainville for newspaper research, and to Don Coutts for letting us know about the last flight of Lancaster KB914. Thank you to Wendy Nattress, who prepared the map showing the flight path for Lancaster KB914.

The flags placed at Donat’s grave during our visit were donated. Our thanks go to:

Alan Waddell, Constituent Assistant, on behalf of Heath MacDonald, MP for Malpeque, for the Canadian flag.
Matt MacFarlane, MLA (Member of the Legislative Assembly) for District 19, Borden-Kinkora, Prince Edward Island, for the Prince Edward Island flag.
La Société acadienne de Clare at the request of Simone Comeau, for the Acadian flag.

Pieter’s research efforts to find photos and families of soldiers continue. Do you have a story to tell? Email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, or comment on the blog.

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?…

If you are reading this posting, but aren’t following our research, you are welcome to do so. Our blog address: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter Valkenburg: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ591TyjSheOR-Cb_Gs_5Kw.

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On The War Memorial Trail….The Canadian National Vimy Memorial Is 90!

July 28, 2026 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

Canadian National Vimy Memorial from a distance. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

July 28, 2026. On July 26, 1936 the Canadian National Vimy Memorial, designed by Walter Allward, was officially unveiled – 90 years ago. In September 2017, we visited Vimy Ridge during our 6 week, 7,000 km (4,350 miles) war memorial journey in Europe that took us through 4 countries. Pieter placed flags at the known graves of men listed on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion in Borden-Carleton, Prince Edward Island, and we stopped at many memorials during our visit.

I was reminded of the 90th anniversary as the most anticipated stop in 2017 was Vimy Ridge in France, where two WWI soldiers listed on the Cenotaph are also named on the Canadian National Vimy Memorial: John ‘Lymon’ WOOD and Patrick Raymond ARSENAULT. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2017/07/28/learning-about-the-two-names-on-the-vimy-memorial/)

Pieter at the entrance to Vimy Ridge in France. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

The turn-off to the Vimy Ridge memorial and visitors centre is a tree-lined public road, with jogging and walking paths, that leads to the nearby villages of Givenchy and Vimy.

….The Canadian National Vimy Memorial took 11 years to build….

Although we were familiar with the memorial from seeing it on TV, it’s much larger and beautiful when seen in person. While we knew that the land around Vimy Ridge was gifted to Canada by the French government in December 1922 as a mark of gratitude for Canada’s involvement in the defence of France during WWI, it wasn’t until we were there in 2017 that we understood why it took so many years to build.

The memorial sits on the highest point of Vimy Ridge, known during WWI as Hill 145. The ground was littered with unexploded shells and grenades, rusted weapons and wire, and 91,440 metres (100,000 yards) of earth had to be removed by hand to prepare for the monument’s base.

Nearby dugouts and tunnels had to be emptied of explosives that were still stored there, and filled with wet chalk or concrete. Finding underground caverns hidden beneath the monument’s base was crucial, as the memorial weighs more than 50,000 tons.

Work on the monument itself finally began in 1925, took 11 years to build and cost 1.5 million dollars. The white limestone used for the memorial came from an ancient Roman quarry in Seget, Croatia, and didn’t arrive on site until 1927.

The familiar two tall columns represent Canada and France. The pillars together and the horizontal base also form the top half of a cross. The monument includes 20 figures representing honour, justice and peace.

‘Canada Bereft’. (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

One female figure, known as ‘Canada Bereft’, stands alone looking out over the slopes of the ridge. The base of the monument is engraved with the 11,285 names of Canadians who have no known grave in France.

….Previous stories about WWI soldiers listed on the Canadian National Vimy Memorial….

In 2017, we were aware of only the two names previously mentioned: John ‘Lymon’ WOOD of North Tryon, Prince Edward Island, and Patrick Raymond ARSENAULT of Bedeque, Prince Edward Island. Since then, we’ve also told the stories of two more soldiers whose names are engraved on the monument: Merrill Augustus MARSHALL of Covehead, Prince Edward Island, and Lloyd Clifton SHORTLIFF of Barton, Nova Scotia. Here below are links to their stories:

Patrick Raymond ARSENAULT: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2017/08/07/ww1-soldier-private-patrick-raymond-arsenault-uncovered/
Merrill Augustus MARSHALL: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/06/14/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwi-signaller-from-covehead-killed-during-the-battle-of-vimy-ridge/
Lloyd Clifton SHORTLIFF: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/07/31/the-ww1-soldier-from-barton-whose-body-was-never-recovered/
John ‘Lymon’ WOOD: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2019/09/16/the-parallel-ww1-experiences-of-john-lymon-wood-clifford-almon-wells/ and https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2018/06/02/wwi-soldier-john-lyman-woods-connection-with-acadia-university/

….Stories about our 2017 visit to Vimy Ridge….

Missed our stories about our 2017 visit? You can read them here:

Our visit to Vimy Ridge will never be forgotten. Meanwhile, Pieter’s research efforts to find photos and families of soldiers continue. Do you have a story to tell? Email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, or comment on the blog.

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?….

If you are reading this posting, but aren’t following our research, you are welcome to do so. Our blog address: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/

4 countries, 6 weeks, 7,000 km – an unforgettable war memorial journey in Europe…. Daria’s book ‘No Soldier Buried Overseas Should Ever Be Forgotten‘ is available in print and e-book formats. Net proceeds of book sales help support research costs and the cost of maintaining this blog. For more information see https://nosoldierforgotten.com/

You are also invited to subscribe to our YouTube Channel: On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter Valkenburg: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ591TyjSheOR-Cb_Gs_5Kw.

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On The War Memorial Trail….. The Soldier From Bedeque Who Served In Both WWI And WWII

July 26, 2026 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

Pieter Valkenburg (left) and Mario Henry at Bedeque Cemetery. (Photo credit: Laurie Henry)

July 26, 2026. Every November, just before Remembrance Day, members of Borden-Carleton Legion Branch #10, in Prince Edward Island, place Canadian flags at the graves of veterans buried in 9 cemeteries, and at 4 cenotaphs. While flags are placed to honour the veterans, their stories and details of service are often unknown.

One of the cemeteries is Bedeque Cemetery (also known as Lower Bedeque Cemetery) in Lower Bedeque, Prince Edward Island. One of the veterans buried here, George ‘Stanley’ Clarence JACK, came to Pieter’s attention from Phillip MacDonald. “…My maternal grandfather, Stanley C Jack, was a veteran of WWI and WWII….” he wrote. “… He was the youngest boy of John S Jack and Elizabeth MacKinstry of Bedeque, and is buried at the Lower Bedeque Cemetery, just down the road from where I live…”

Born July 17, 1897 in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, Stanley was the youngest son of John Slifton and Elizabeth (nee MacKinstry) Jack. Phillip explained that his great-grandparents raised “…6 boys who all served in WWI & WWII. They were all born on PEI but my grandfather was the only one to remain on the Island to raise his family….”

Stanley worked as a mail driver until he was conscripted, aged 20, under the Military Service Act and sent for a medical exam in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, on December 5, 1917. However, he wasn’t drafted until months later.

After relying exclusively on volunteers for the first few years of WWI, the Canadian government passed the Military Service Act in August 1917 to make military service compulsory for male citizens aged 20 to 45. (See https://www.warmuseum.ca/firstworldwar/history/life-at-home-during-the-war/recruitment-and-conscription/conscription-1917/)

…..Stanley enlisted in the 1st Depot Battalion…..

George ‘Stanley’ Clarence Jack in WWI. (Photo courtesy of the Jack Family. Photo restoration by Pieter Valkenburg)

In 1917-1918, when it was difficult to recruit enough men for infantry battalions, depot battalions were organized in Canada to obtain personnel who would then be sent to various Canadian Reserve Battalions in England.

Stanley wasn’t drafted until March 11, 1918, when he enlisted with ‘H’ Company, 1st Depot Battalion, Nova Scotia Regiment, in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, and began his basic training.

Per Nova Scotia’s Part In The Great War, compiled and edited by M. S. Hunt, the 1st Depot Battalion had been organized “….on September 25, 1917, for the purpose of looking after the draftees under the Military Service Act…”

However, due to “…destruction of property caused by the Halifax Explosion in December 1917….” quarters for military personnel were in short supply, which is likely the reason why Stanley didn’t have to enlist until months after passing his medical exam. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax_Explosion)

…..Stanley left Canada for England…..

On August 2, 1918, Stanley was transferred to the 102nd Draft Battalion Nova Scotia, one of 1,700 men to be sent overseas.

An account in Nova Scotia’s Part In The Great War noted that the men “…paraded at 8 PM on August 3, 1918; the roll was called, documents checked, etc. The men were then dismissed and ordered to parade and entrain at 4:30 AM on August 4th…”

SS Ixion. (Photo source: http://www.shipspotting.com)

After leaving Halifax, Nova Scotia aboard SS Ixion, the ship arrived safely in Liverpool, England on August 15, 1918, with the men disembarking the following day. Among the men aboard the ship was Cyrus Joseph GALLANT of Piusville, Prince Edward Island, whose story has previously been told. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2026/06/20/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwi-soldier-from-piusville-who-enlisted-in-the-veterans-guard-of-canada-in-wwii/)

Map showing routing from Liverpool to Bramshott. (Map source: Google Maps)

From Liverpool, the men travelled 396 km (246 miles) towards Bramshott, where they were transferred to the 17th Reserve Battalion of the Canadian Infantry on August 22, 1918. Bramshott Camp was a massive training facility for the Canadian Army, with thousands of soldiers living there. The camp included hospitals, an open-air theatre, and an extensive network of corrugated iron and wooden huts.

The 17th Reserve Battalion was a training and reinforcement depot based in England. Its primary role was to train newly arriving soldiers, and dispatch them to combat battalions.

By the time Stanley arrived in England, just a few months before WWI ended on November 11, 1918, his time with the 17th Reserve Battalion never went beyond training. Instead of being sent to a frontline unit he stayed in England until returning home.

Map showing routing from Bramshott to South Ripon. (Map source: Google Maps)

The Battalion remained in Bramshott until January 12, 1919, when it moved to South Ripon, a distance of 413 km (257 miles), from where soldiers would be demobilized and started returning back home to Canada.

…..Stanley returned back to Canada in 1919…..

HMT Mauretania with geometric dazzle camouflage scheme designed by Norman Wilkinson (Photo source: New-York Tribune December 8, 1918, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=84709365)

On June 28, 1919, Stanley was on his way back to Canada aboard HMT (Hired Military Transport) Mauretania. He was officially discharged on July 13, 1919 in Charlottetown.

…..Stanley enlisted in the Veterans Guard of Canada in WWII…..

George ‘Stanley’ Clarence Jack in WWII. (Photo courtesy of the Jack Family)

During the inter-war years, Stanley married Stella Beryl Craig, and they had three daughters. During WWII, Stanley enlisted as a volunteer with the Veterans Guard of Canada.

Volunteers for the Veterans Guard were WWI veterans that had served in Canadian or British forces, were fit, and had been honourably discharged. They received the same pay ($1.30 a day) and allowances as other soldiers. As a local defence force to guard against enemy attacks, and guard duties at internment and prisoner-of-war camps in Canada, Stanley would not have been sent overseas into a war zone. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veterans_Guard_of_Canada)

Stanley’s brother-in-law, Harrison William CRAIG, the younger brother of his wife Stella, also served in Canada during WWII, but died of an allergic reaction in 1942. Harrison is listed on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion, and his story was told several years ago. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2019/09/22/the-ww2-soldier-who-had-an-allergic-reaction/)

Phillip was unsure where his grandfather served during WWII, but wrote that he believed “…he was stationed in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia….” because his mother “…lived there with her mother and sisters in the early 1940s when he was in the war….” Glace Bay, located in Cape Breton, was part of the Homeland Defence duties for the Veterans Guards of Canada. Stanley may have been posted to other locations during WWII as well.

….Stanley is buried in Bedeque Cemetery…

Following the end of WWII, Stanley returned to his life in Bedeque, and worked as a farm labourer and mail courier. Following Stella’s death on December 30, 1969, Stanley remained a widower until his own death on April 6, 1985 in Charlottetown. He was buried in Bedeque Cemetery (also known as Lower Bedeque Cemetery) in Lower Bedeque, Prince Edward Island, where we visited his grave one hot sunny day in July.

Pieter by the grave of George ‘Stanley’ Clarence Jack. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Thank you to Phillip MacDonald for providing photos and information on his grandfather. “… Please keep up the great work…” he wrote.

This November, when a Canadian flag is placed at Stanley’s grave, he’ll be more than just a name on a list. Pieter noted that “…it means so much more when I’m standing at a grave if I know what the soldier looked like and a bit about him…..“

Pieter’s research efforts to find photos and families of soldiers continue. Do you have a story to tell? Email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, or comment on the blog.

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?…

If you are reading this posting, but aren’t following our research, you are welcome to do so. Our blog address: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter Valkenburg: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ591TyjSheOR-Cb_Gs_5Kw.

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On The War Memorial Trail…. Struck By Shellfire Part 3 The WWII Gunner From Olds Who Lost His Life As He Was Being Moved To Safety

July 22, 2026 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

July 22, 2026. On February 26, 1945, the lives of three WWII soldiers intersected during the Battle of Keppeln in Germany. Private Harry BIZNAR, Lt Robert Joseph MARKEY, and Gunner Albert Donald AHLWARDT, all lost their lives when a shell burst near them as Private Biznar and Lt Markey were trying to get a wounded Gunner Ahlwardt to safety in a nearby house.

In Part 1 of Struck By Shellfire, the story of WWII soldier Harry BIZNAR was told. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2026/07/03/on-the-war-memorial-trail-struck-by-shellfire-part-1-the-wwii-soldier-born-to-ukrainian-immigrants-who-lost-his-life-trying-to-get-a-wounded-gunner-to-safety/)

In Part 2 of Struck By Shellfire, the story of WWII soldier Robert Joseph MARKEY was told. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2026/07/16/on-the-war-memorial-trail-struck-by-shellfire-part-2-the-wwii-lieutenant-from-saint-john-who-lost-his-life-trying-to-get-a-wounded-gunner-to-safety/)

Now, in Part 3, the Struck By Shellfire series concludes with Albert Donald AHLWARDT. The report on the circumstances of death for Harry Biznar and Robert Joseph Markey did not identify the gunner from the Ram carrier from a regiment other than Lincoln & Welland, but detective work on Pieter’s part resulted in identifying the gunner as Albert Donald Ahlwardt.

Born June 2, 1923 in Olds, Alberta, Albert was the son of Herman August and Edith May Ahlwardt. The youngest of 5 children, Albert had a brother and three sisters. Pieter was able to connect with Diane McLeaghn, daughter of Albert’s sister Stella McLean, who submitted a photo.

….Albert enlisted in 1943…

When he enlisted at Military District No. 13 in Calgary, Alberta on July 26, 1943, Albert was employed as a truck driver for Cliff Sturgeon, a wholesale gas company for Imperial Oil in Olds. His Personnel Selection Record noted that he had left school at age 17 in order to assist his family financially, as his 72 year old father was “…frequently confined to hospital…” with an “…old age pension…” as his sole income. Albert had been driving 3 ton gasoline trucks since he left school. It was recommended that he be trained to drive military trucks.

On August 3, 1943, he was sent for basic training to the A1 Canadian Artillery Training Centre (CATC) in Petawawa, Ontario. After 6 weeks, he was interviewed, and recorded as being “….happy in the army….”

Albert remained at A1 CATC for training as a Driver i/c Class III (Wheeled), and received his qualification on November 16, 1943. With this qualification, Albert was deemed “…suitable for operational service overseas…” (The term ‘Driver i/c’ refers to ‘Driver, internal combustion’. Class III meant he was qualified to drive heavy trucks and armoured cars, but not tanks. Wheeled refers to wheeled vehicles.)

….Albert left Canada for overseas service…

From December 1 to December 8, 1943, Albert was granted special leave, for what turned out to be the last time he saw his family. While on leave, he had been transferred to No. 2 Transit Company, and then, on December 10, 1943, Albert reported to No. 1 Training Brigade in Debert, Nova Scotia, for final training and preparation before going overseas. The Brigade provided refresher courses and was a final staging point for troops waiting to cross the Atlantic Ocean.

On March 3, 1944, Albert was transferred to Serial 292 – the No. 1 Canadian Artillery Reinforcement Unit (CARU). This unit was stationed in the United Kingdom to train and supply replacements for overseas artillery regiments.

Albert boarded a ship on March 5, 1944 that left the following day from Halifax, Nova Scotia, arriving in the United Kingdom on March 15, 1944, and reported the next day to No. 1 Canadian Artillery Reinforcement Unit (CARU).

In an interview shortly after his arrival at No. 1 CARU, he was described as having an “…attractive personality, although a bit reserved…” and that he “…wishes to continue as Driver i/c and seems best suited for such work…”

Albert’s training continued, beginning with a 2 week basic refresher course, which he completed on April 5, 1944. On June 3, 1944, he qualified as a Driver i/c Wheeled Class ‘A’. Class ‘A’ referred to armoured and fighting vehicles, such as tanks and Universal Carriers.

A few weeks later, on June 24, 1944, he qualified as a Driver i/c (Tank) Class ‘B’. With this qualification, Albert would be responsible for steering, manoeuvring, and performing basic maintenance on the tracks and engine of a tank. Class ‘B’ meant that he had above-average mechanical aptitude, and would be tasked with both driving vehicles and executing minor field repairs, even under battle conditions.

….Albert left the UK for France in July 1944….

On July 7, 1944, Albert was transferred to ‘E’ Squadron of the 25th Canadian Armoured Delivery Regiment (CADR), which was preparing to go into France, attached to II Canadian Corps. He joined them in Seabrook, one of 3 reinforcements that arrived that day, along with 2 Staghounds (an armoured vehicle that could also be used as a scout car).

Over the next two days, personnel and vehicles began leaving by train towards a marshalling area, where they gathered until ready to move to their embarkation point.

On the evening of July 10, 1944, they boarded LST-414. (Note: LST refers to Landing Ship, Tanks). The following morning, the ship left England across the English Channel towards France, and, per the war diary for July 11, 1944, “…sighted land about 1900 hours, vehicles warmed up in preparation to land, large numbers of various types of craft in vicinity, all personnel in high spirits, dropped anchor 2000 hours…”

Map showing Courselles-sur-Mer on the coast of France, near Caen. ‘La Manche’ in French is what we call the ‘English Channel’. (Map source: https://www.viamichelin.fr)

After disembarking the following day, the Regiment slowly made it’s way to their temporary base on July 23, 1944 at an “…area situated in an apple orchard close to crossroads at Villons-les-Buissons…” which had been the site of intense fighting on June 7, 1944, a day after D-Day, until July 11, 1944.

‘E’ Squadron’s role was to serve as a vehicle pool attached for II Canadian Corps, responsible for maintaining, forwarding, and distributing replacement tanks, self-propelled guns, and modified armoured personnel carriers to front-line fighting units, as well as recovering them. As the Allies moved through France, so did ‘E’ Squadron.

As just one example, during Operation Totalize, an offensive designed to break through the German defences south of Caen and toward Falaise, fought between August 7-11, 1944, ‘E’ Squadron provided and issued specialized vehicles like the M7 Priest Kangaroos to infantry brigades to safely transport soldiers under heavy fire. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Totalize)

….Albert was transferred to the 6th Anti-Tank Regiment….

Albert Donald Ahlwardt (identified by yellow arrow) and an unidentified soldier warming up a meal by a campfire. (Photo courtesy of the McLean family on behalf of his sister Stella (Ahlwardt) McLean)

On August 28, 1944, Albert was transferred to the 6th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery, joining them in the area of Le Gros-Theil (now part of Le Bosc-du-Theil) in northern France. Equipped with towed 6-pounders and 17-pounder guns, this Regiment, part of II Canadian Corps, was in continuous frontline combat to supplement the anti-tank defenses of both the 2nd and 3rd Canadian Infantry Divisions.

Ram Mk II Kangaroo could carry 2 crew and up to 8 passengers, and was armed with a .30 calibre machine gun. (Photo source: Canadian War Museum)

The Regiment used turretless Ram tanks as gun tractors to tow their heavy 17-pounder anti-tank guns, as well as Armoured Personnel Carriers (Kangaroos). These converted vehicles, which Albert would be familiar with, provided essential mobility and armour.

Albert joined the Regiment during the advance in late August and early September 1944 to secure and clear the heavily fortified French coastal ports before pushing forward into Belgium and The Netherlands.

From September to November 1944, the Regiment provided crucial anti-tank and direct fire support to clear the vital shipping routes into Antwerp in northern Belgium and the southwest Netherlands during the Battle of the Scheldt. (See https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/history/second-world-war/scheldt)

6th Anti-Tank Regiment, as part of II Canadian Corps, held defensive lines in the Nijmegen Salient. (Map source: http://www.canadiansoldiers.com)

The Regiment spent the winter of 1944 and early 1945 holding defensive lines in the Nijmegen Salient area, while preparing for the upcoming fight in the Rhineland in February 1945, and supporting offensive thrusts along the German frontier.

….Albert lost his life during the Battle of Keppeln…

The 6th Anti-Tank Regiment’s War Diary entry for February 22, 1945 noted that “…message received today ordering us to have 24 Ram towers ready to move without further notice to the Reichswald to undertake a task for 2 Canadian Corps. Exact nature to the job not yet known. The Rams will be ready but the Batterys are hard put to it to find drivers and co-drivers with 72 or the 103 men still on guard….”

The Regiment was about to be involved in the upcoming Battle of Keppeln, with the objective of breaking the German Siegfried Line during Operation Blockbuster, the last part of Operation Veritable. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Blockbuster)

Map shows the location of the 4th Canadian Armoured Division, which the 6th Anti-Tank Regiment and the Lincoln and Welland Regiment supported, during the Battle of Keppeln on February 26, 1945. (Map source: Project 44)

The February 25, 1945 war diary entry stated that “…all is in readiness for the offensive and both Batterys will move to concentration areas this evening….The Rams will carry the infantry of the Lincs and Wellands in the attack on the Hochswald by the 4th Canadian Armoured Regiment….”

On February 26, 1945, the war diary entry recorded that “…the great Operation got under way today at 0430 hrs in wet and windy weather.…” Troops encountered heavy artillery and mortar fire in intense fighting from German paratroopers, and had to make their way through heavy mud and minefields. During the battle, “…one Ram was struck by shell fire and burnt up and Gunner Ahlwardt was slightly wounded and evacuated….”

The battle finally ended when Canadian troops used flame-throwing Wasp carriers to clear German-held houses in Keppeln. The village needed to be secured as part of a push towards Uedem. The capture of Keppeln allowed Canadian forces to clear the Kalkar Ridge and proceed towards the Hochwald Forest gap, and later to break through to the Rhine. Unfortunately, Albert didn’t live to see the end of this battle….

….What happened?….

Lance Corporal John SYMCHYCH of the Lincoln and Welland Regiment stated in an official report that on February 26, 1945, one of the Regiment’s platoons, commanded by Lt Robert Joseph MARKEY and which Pte Harry BIZNAR was in, had been tasked with defending a house located 9.1 metres (30 feet) from a slit trench. Visibility was poor due to smoke from machine gun and rifle fire. One Ram carrier had been struck by shell fire and burned, and a gunner, later identified as Albert Donald AHLWARDT of the 6th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery, had been slightly wounded and evacuated to the slit trench that L/Cpl Symchych was in.

Around 2 pm, “…Pte Biznar and Lt Markey pulled the driver of the Ram carrier out of L/Cpl Symchych’s slit trench and were taking him to the house 15 yards away. A shell lit four or five feet away from the three of them while L/Cpl Symchych was still in his slit trench. L/Cpl Symchych crawled to the house and remained in the house until relieved by RHLI Regiment between the hours of three or four o’clock of the morning of February 27th. The bodies of the three men were still there when L/Cpl Symchych returned to his slit trench for his equipment…” NOTE: RHLI refers to Royal Hamilton Light Infantry Regiment.

Albert, aged 22, lost his life on that afternoon of February 26, 1945, as Pte Biznar and Lt Markey tried to move him to safety.

NOTE: For an idea of some of the places that the Regiment travelled through in Germany, see https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2026/02/06/on-the-war-memorial-trail-we-follow-the-route-taken-into-germany-by-canadian-troops-in-1945/

….Albert is buried in Groesbeek…

Pieter at the grave of Albert Donald Ahlwardt after placing Canadian and Alberta flags. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Albert was initially buried in Keppeln, Germany before being reburied on February 25, 1946 in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands. During our 2025 European War Memorial Tour, Pieter placed Canadian and Alberta flags by his grave.

Thank you to Diane McLeaghn for finding a photo, and to Shawn Rainville for newspaper research.

The flags placed at Albert’s grave during our 2025 European War Memorial Tour were donated. Our thanks go to:

Alan Waddell, Constituent Assistant, on behalf of Heath MacDonald, MP for Malpeque, for the Canadian flag.
Marie Renaud, MLA St Albert, Alberta at the request of Roman Berezowsky, for the Alberta flag.

This concludes the 3 part Struck By Shellfire series. However, Pieter’s research efforts to find photos and families of soldiers continue. Do you have a story to tell? Can you identify the soldier in the photo with Albert? Email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, or comment on the blog.

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?…

If you are reading this posting, but aren’t following our research, you are welcome to do so. Our blog address: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter Valkenburg: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ591TyjSheOR-Cb_Gs_5Kw.

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On The War Memorial Trail…. Struck By Shellfire Part 2 The WWII Lieutenant From Saint John Who Lost His Life Trying To Get A Wounded Gunner To Safety

July 16, 2026 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

July 16, 2026. On February 26, 1945, the lives of three WWII soldiers intersected during the Battle of Keppeln in Germany. Private Harry BIZNAR, Lt Robert Joseph MARKEY, and Gunner Albert Donald AHLWARDT, all lost their lives when a shell burst near them as Private Biznar and Lt Markey were trying to get a wounded Gunner Ahlwardt to safety in a nearby house.

Now, in Part 2, the Struck By Shellfire series continues with Robert ‘Bob’ Joseph MARKEY.

Born November 15, 1919 in Saint John, New Brunswick, Robert was the son of Ernest Thomas and Marion Marguerite ‘Marie’ (nee Nugent) Markey. He graduated from Grade 11 at St. Vincent Boys’ High School in Saint John, continued on to Saint John High School for Grade 12, and then enrolled in the Nova Scotia Agricultural College in Truro, Nova Scotia in 1939. Winner of the Governor’s Award, 1941, Nova Scotia Agricultural College, he graduated in 1941 with a specialization in bacteriology.

Although Robert had a brother and two sisters, Pieter was unsuccessful in attempts to contact family members. However, archivists Creighton Barrett and Jennifer MacIsaac of Dalhousie University Libraries uncovered photos and information from the time he was at Nova Scotia Agricultural College, providing a picture of the man behind the soldier’s uniform.

….Robert was involved in student activities…

Robert Markey as a 1941 graduate. (Photo credit: Agricola Archives, Dalhousie University Archives)

A brief biography in the 1941 graduation issue of the student publication Agricola noted that over the past two years he had “…proven his ability as an all-around student, especially in public speaking and in basketball…”

Robert Markey was on the school’s basketball team, pictured here 4th from the left (red arrow) in the 1941 graduation booklet. (Photo credit: Agricola Archives, Dalhousie University Archives)

Robert, known as ‘Bob’ while a student, was involved in social activities of the College. “…Being very popular with his classmates, due to his wit and personality, he was elected chairman of the Social Committee for the first term of the year ’41. Bob also had the honour of being President of the Students’ Council while in his senior year…”

Robert was also known for being “…quite musical and full of jazz which was proven when he played the ‘Traps’ for the Sawfilers Orchestra at a few of the Saturday night dances…” Traps referred to drums, accompanied with other percussion instruments such as cymbals.

The account on Robert ended by stating that “… his main ambition is to specialize in Animal Husbandry but this coming summer he is joining the RCAF…”

….Robert enlisted on Boxing Day 1941 …

Robert never joined the RCAF. When he enlisted at the No. 7 District Depot’s recruiting office in Saint John, New Brunswick on December 26, 1941, it was noted that he had worked 3 summers at Atlantic Sugar Refinery in Saint John, New Brunswick. Just before enlistment, in the fall of 1941, he worked as an oiler and fireman, as well as a powerhouse technician in the plant where his father was employed as a superintendent. As a technician, he was responsible for testing the chemical content of water and keeping a log of engine efficiency, among other duties.

He began his basic training at No. 70 Canadian Army (Basic) Training Centre (CABTC) in Fredericton, New Brunswick, but was hospitalized with a bad cold from January 4 until January 20, 1942. He didn’t return back to No. 70 CA(B)TC until February 6, 1942, at which time he also received a promotion to Lance Corporal.

After completing his training, he was put on staff as an instructor at No. 70 CA(B)TC on May 16, 1942.

….Robert attended No. 30 Officers Training Centre in Brockville …

On September 2, 1942, an interviewer in Fredericton gave his assessment on Robert’s suitability as an Officer Candidate. He was described as a “….tall, lean, athletic type…” with a “….. pleasant, well-balanced personality...” and “…good leadership qualities, conscientious…” He had a “…history of commendable personal enterprise...” coupled with an “…above average level of learning ability…” and “…superior knowledge of tools and mechanical principles…” He was recommended for officer training and to remain in the Infantry as that was what Robert himself preferred.

On October 10, 1942, Robert was sent to No. 30 Officers’ Training Centre in Brockville, Ontario for 12 weeks of intensive training in preparation for going overseas. His time there would have overlapped with that of John ‘Weston’ CAMPBELL, from Prince Edward Island, who had arrived there in August for his 12 week course. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2024/09/30/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-soldier-from-clermont-killed-during-operation-veritable/)

After successfully completing his 12 week course, Robert was promoted to Provisional 2nd Lieutenant on January 16, 1943, and then sent for further training to A-17 Machine Gun Training Centre in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, a course that began on January 25, 1943 and ended on March 18, 1943….along with a promotion to Lieutenant.

….Robert was in Kiska as part of Operation Cottage …

On March 20, 1943, Robert was transferred to the 1st Battalion, Saint John Fusiliers (Machine Gun) and sent to Nanaimo, British Columbia. The battalion served in Canada in a home defense role as a part of the 18th Canadian Infantry Brigade which was first part of Pacific Command and then the 6th Canadian Infantry Division.

Summary of Canadian support for Operation Cottage in Kiska, Alaska. (Source: National Defence, National Defense University Press. Seen on the A Canadian Outlook FaceBook page)

On June 16, 1943, Robert was assigned to ‘C’ Company of the Saint John Fusiliers. On July 12, 1943, he was on ‘special duty’ as part of a planned Canadian support to Kiska, Alaska for the American led Operation Cottage. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Cottage and http://www.canadiansoldiers.com/history/operations/operationcottage.htm)

Map showing location of Kiska, part of the Aleutian Islands. (Map source: http://www.canadiansoldiers.com)

Map source: By of SVG: Kuara – Aleutian Islands, United States Army Center of Military History, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5209745

The intention was to liberate Kiska Island from Japanese forces, which had occupied it since June 7, 1942, after Japan seized Kiska and Attu in Alaska’s Aleutian Islands. However, no one seemed to be aware that the Japanese had left the Island on July 28, 1943, using fog as cover for their escape.

Kiska was unoccupied by the time Allied troops arrived on August 15, 1943, of which ‘C’ Company was a component of the 13th Canadian Infantry Brigade Group. They were sent into fog, surf, volcanic rock, confusion, and uncertainty. Expecting a brutal fight, the soldiers found the island empty of Japanese troops, but they had left behind reminders of their presence in the form of mines and booby traps.

As noted in Project 44’s Operation Cottage: Invasion of Kiska Island: “…Despite the lack of Japanese soldiers, there still were American and Canadian casualties. Some were wounded and killed in friendly fire as nervous soldiers fired into the fog amongst the confusion. Others were wounded and killed by enemy mines, booby-traps, and explosive ordinance left on the island. The Canadians sustained eight casualties, four dead and four wounded…” (See https://www.project44.ca/kiska)

While the Americans left Kiska by September 1, 1943, the Canadians remained for over 3 months longer.

C.P. Stacey’s ‘Official History of the Canadian Army in the Second World War: Volume I: Six Years of War: Canada, Britain and the Pacific’ recorded that troops lived “…in ‘winterized’ tents, and engaged in road and pier construction, transport fatigues, building and manning defences, and carrying on such training as conditions permitted. Fog, rain and wind made the island an acutely unpleasant residence, and the troops were heartily glad when the withdrawal to British Columbia began in November 1943. The last shipload of Canadians left Kiska on 12 January 1944….”

Robert returned to Canada on January 3, 1944, and given 30 days leave, from January 6 until February 4, 1944. ‘C’ Company disbanded on January 31, 1944, and when Robert returned to duty, he was assigned back to the 1st Battalion, Saint John Fusiliers (Machine Gun).

….Two soldiers whose stories have been told were also in Kiska …

Elie ANTONYSZYN: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/09/02/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-soldier-from-rorketon-whose-sister-never-forgot-him/
George Glenn ‘Dusty’ MILLAR: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/01/25/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-pilot-whose-spitfire-ran-out-of-fuel/

…Robert was sent for more training…

On February 11, 1944, Robert was sent for two courses at the S-17 Canadian School Of Infantry in Vernon, British Columbia. He began with a Junior Battle Wing Course. 10 days later, however, he was admitted to Vernon Military Hospital for 16 days with pneumonitis, an inflammation of lung tissue, typically caused by inhaling airborne irritants. (See https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24810-pneumonitis)

After completing the Junior Battle Wing Course, Robert next undertook a 4.2 Mortar Battle Wing course at S-11 Canadian Chemical Warfare School (CCWS) in Suffield, Alberta, which ran from April 16 to April 29, 1944.

….Robert qualified as a Driver for a flamethrower…

While in Suffield Robert took specialized carrier-driver training for a flamethrower-equipped variant of a Universal Carrier, qualifying as Driver i/c Class III (MC) on June 23, 1944. (The term ‘Driver i/c’ refers to ‘Driver, internal combustion’. Class III meant he was qualified to drive heavy trucks and armoured cars, but not tanks. MC meant he was also a qualified Motorcycle Despatch Rider.)

A June 16, 1944 Officers’ Survey report described Robert as “…a very good officer. A good leader. Has the confidence of all…” and noted that he “…speaks clearly and concisely….” with a “…self-composed manner and confident approach. Has a strong personality. Makes friends easily…”

Robert was keen to go overseas, and the report stated that he had “…volunteered for the British Army. Passed but not taken…” It went on to say that he “…now has special authority to go overseas with some forty or fifty men including his own Platoon who have volunteered to go active on the understanding he will go with them. This is a fulfillment of his wishes….” (NOTE: No mention was ever made if this happened when Robert ultimately left Canada for overseas service.)

On June 29, 1944, Robert returned to the S-17 Canadian School Of Infantry in Vernon, British Columbia for an Officers Refresher course, taken between July 1 and August 18, 1944.

The August 19, 1944 course assessment for the Junior Battle Wing Course noted that “…his knowledge and application of tactics was good. He has ability as a leader. His knowledge and handling of weapons were quite good….” but that “…at times he appeared disinterested and did not always put as much into the work as he could give…” The final comment was that with more experience, Robert would be “…a capable platoon commander…”

The August 19, 1944 assessment for the Mortar Battle Wing course was positive. “…This officer was interested and enthusiastic. He has quite a sound knowledge of the weapon and its tactical employment…” The final comment was that with further field experience, Robert “…should make a good mortar platoon commander…”

….Robert left Canada for overseas service…

Robert Joseph Markey. (Photo source: Canadian Virtual War Memorial. Photo restoration by Pieter Valkenburg)

From August 20 until August 26, 1944, Robert was granted embarkation leave, for what turned out to be the last time he saw his family.

On August 27, 1944, Robert reported to No. 1 Training Brigade in Debert, Nova Scotia, for final training and preparation before going overseas. The Brigade was a final staging point for troops waiting to cross the Atlantic Ocean.

On September 7, 1944, Robert boarded a ship that left the following day from Halifax, Nova Scotia, arriving in the United Kingdom on September 20, 1944. He was placed with No. 4 Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit (CIRU).

A few weeks later, on October 23, 1944, Robert was sent to No. 3 Wing (Weapons) Canadian Training School (CTS) for a Canadian Military Headquarters (CMHQ) Conversion Course at the Canadian Army Battle Drill School in Stansted Park in Rowland’s Castle, Hampshire, England. The 42 day course trained officers and NCOs to standardize infantry and joint-force tactics before deployment. After successfully completing the course, he returned to No. 4 CIRU, which had been re-designated at No. 3 CIRU, on December 2, 1944.

….Robert joined the Lincoln & Welland Regiment……

On January 11, 1945, Robert was transferred to the 13th Battalion’s X-4 Reinforcement List of the Canadian Infantry Corps (CIC). The following day he left for North West Europe, arriving on January 12, 1945.

On January 29, 1945, Robert was transferred to the Lincoln & Welland Regiment as a Platoon Officer in ‘C’ Company, joining them in the midst of Operation Elephant, also known as the Battle of Kapelsche Veer, a brutal and freezing battle to clear German paratroopers from Kapelsche Veer, a low-lying, water-logged island north of the Maas River in The Netherlands.

NOTE: Eli Ambrose SNAKE, whose story was previously told, had lost his life in the battle. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/12/13/on-the-war-memorial-trail-remembering-ww2-soldier-eli-ambrose-snake/)

Robert had survived his first active battle, and continued with the Regiment as they moved into Germany.

….Robert lost his life during the Battle of Keppeln…

Map shows location (green circle) where the Lincoln & Welland Regiment was in support of the 4th Canadian Armoured Division during the Battle of Keppeln on February 26, 1945. (Map source: Project 44)

On February 26, 1945, the Regiment was involved in the Battle of Keppeln, with the objective of breaking the German Siegfried Line during Operation Blockbuster, the last part of Operation Veritable. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Blockbuster) Troops encountered heavy artillery and mortar fire in intense fighting from German paratroopers, and had to make their way through heavy mud and minefields.

The war diary for February 26, 1945 noted the orders given for the battle. The 4th Canadian Armoured Brigade, which the Lincoln & Welland Regiment was part of, “….was divided into five forces….” ‘A’ and ‘C’ Companies of the Regiment were part of ‘JERRY FORCE’.

Movement began at 6 am, but “…the route from the area at KLEVE to the concentration area was through mud fields and was extremely heavy going for all vehicles. Heavy vehicles bogged down in the mud….”

By 9 am, “… JERRY FORCE moved into the attack passing through 2 Canadian Infantry Division….”

The battle finally ended when Canadian troops used flame-throwing Wasp carriers to clear German-held houses in Keppeln. The village needed to be secured as part of a push towards Uedem. The capture of Keppeln allowed Canadian forces to clear the Kalkar Ridge and proceed towards the Hochwald Forest gap, and later to break through to the Rhine. Unfortunately, Robert did not live to see the end of this battle….

….What happened?…

Lance Corporal John SYMCHYCH stated in an official report that on February 26, 1945, the platoon that Robert commanded was tasked with defending a house located 9.1 metres (30 feet) from a slit trench. Visibility was poor due to smoke from machine gun and rifle fire. One Ram carrier had been struck by shell fire and burned, and a gunner, later identified as Albert Donald AHLWARDT of the 6th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery, had been slightly wounded and evacuated to the slit trench that L/Cpl Symchych was in.

Robert, aged 26, lost his life on that afternoon of February 26, 1945, as he and Pte Harry Biznar tried to move Gunner Alwardt to safety.

NOTE: For an idea of some of the places that the Regiment travelled through in Germany, see https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2026/02/06/on-the-war-memorial-trail-we-follow-the-route-taken-into-germany-by-canadian-troops-in-1945/

….Robert is buried in Groesbeek…

Pieter placed Canadian and New Brunswick flags at the grave of Robert Joseph Markey. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Robert was initially buried in Keppeln, Germany before being reburied on February 25, 1946 in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands. During our 2025 European War Memorial Tour, Pieter placed Canadian and New Brunswick flags by his grave.

Thank you to Jennifer MacIsaac and Creighton Barrett of Dalhousie University Libraries for finding photos of Lt Markey while he was at Nova Scotia Agricultural College.

The flags placed at Robert’s grave during our 2025 European War Memorial Tour were donated. Our thanks go to:

Alan Waddell, Constituent Assistant, on behalf of Heath MacDonald, MP for Malpeque, for the Canadian flag.
Jean-Claude D’Amours, MLA for Edmundston-Madawaska Centre, Minister responsible for Military Affairs, with the help of Cécile LePage, Province of New Brunswick, for the New Brunswick flag.

…. to be continued…..

Coming up in Struck By Shellfire Part 3 will be about Albert Donald AHLWARDT of Olds, Alberta.

Pieter’s research efforts to find photos and families of soldiers continue. Do you have a story to tell? Email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, or comment on the blog.

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?…

If you are reading this posting, but aren’t following our research, you are welcome to do so. Our blog address: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/

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On The War Memorial Trail….Struck By Shellfire Part 1 The WWII Soldier Born To Ukrainian Immigrants Who Lost His Life Trying To Get A Wounded Gunner To Safety

July 3, 2026 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

July 3, 2026. It seems as though every time we go away for a short holiday, Pieter receives good news about a soldier he’s researching and in the search to find a photo and family. Last year, we were delayed by a week for our annual wedding anniversary getaway, but while in Moncton, New Brunswick on the first day of our trip, we found out that the Windsor Star had published Pieter’s Letter To The Editor, asking for help in finding family and a photo of WWII soldier Harry BIZNAR. (See Reader asks: Anyone in Windsor know family of WW2 vet Harry Biznar? | Windsor Star https://windsorstar.com/opinion/letters/reader-letter-dutch-veteran-asks-anyone-in-windsor-area-know-family-of-ww2-veteran-harry-biznar)

Harry’s story intersected with two other soldiers: Lt Robert Joseph MARKEY and Gunner Albert Donald AHLWARDT, as all three lost their lives when a shell burst near them as Harry and Lt Markey were trying to get a wounded Gunner Ahlwardt to safety in a nearby house.

….The Letter To The Editor was successful…

On our way to Moncton, we had spent much of the day in Memramcook (see https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/11/09/on-the-war-memorial-trail-remembrance-week-2025-reflections-and-updates/), so it wasn’t until we were settled in our hotel room and had a brief time to rest before dinner with two other couples that we noticed emails in reply to the Windsor Star letter.

One email from Carol Cox made Pieter’s heart beat faster! She wrote that “…a friend of mine who reads the Windsor Star faithfully sent me the letter this morning that you had printed in the newspaper regarding Harry Biznar.

It was very emotional for me to read the letter as I seem to have some kind of connection to him although I never met him. I did some research back in 2017 and found a great deal of information on Uncle Harry… It was like piecing together the life of a very young man who gave up his life for our freedom. I have 3 grown sons of my own so I suppose my gratitude is three fold as my sons did not have to leave home and go to war at such a young age.

My mother was Florence Ducharme, Harry’s sister. My mom was the last of the family to pass at the age of 94 in 2018….

I am truly touched and grateful for the effort that you and the Canadian War Cemeteries in the Netherlands are continuing to put into this important endeavour. May God Bless you….”

….Harry’s parents were Ukrainian…

Harry Biznar. (Photo courtesy of the Biznar Family)

Born February 8, 1917 in Montreal, Quebec, Harry was the son of Frederick ‘Fred’ (born Toader Dmitrievich Bezhenariu) and Katherine (nee Benec aka Binuk) Biznar. In addition to Harry, “… his sisters Lena, Dora, Mary and brother Mike were all born in Montreal. Sisters Florence and Irene were born in Windsor, Ontario….” Carol wrote. Mike also served during WWII, and survived the war.

Harry with his parents and sisters Dora (left), Mary (sitting), and Lena (right) in Montreal in 1921. (Photo courtesy of the Biznar Family)

Carol shared a number of photos, and explained that her grandparents – Harry’s parents – had met in Montreal, Quebec, but both were Ukrainian immigrants. Frederick had been born in Velykyi Kuchuriv (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velykyi_Kuchuriv) and Katherine in Chernivtsi (See https://www.britannica.com/place/Chernivtsi-Ukraine).

After completing Grade 8 at Gordon MacGregor School in Windsor, Ontario, Harry took a 2 year auto mechanics course at the Windsor Vocational School. He worked as a seasonal farm hand, and a machine operator for the printing press at a bag manufacturing company.

….Harry enlisted in 1942…

On January 10, 1941, Harry enrolled in the Essex Scottish Reserve Force militia. Then, on October 8, 1942, he enlisted under the National Resources Mobilization Act (NRMA) at the No. 1 NRMA Clearing Depot in London, Ontario. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Resources_Mobilization_Act)

At the time of his enlistment, Harry was employed as a machine operator by Bendix-Eclipse of Canada Ltd., a manufacturing facility and division of the Bendix Corporation that operated in Windsor, Ontario. During World War II, the Windsor plant was a vital part of the Canadian motor vehicle parts industry, manufacturing essential components for military vehicles and aircraft.

On October 31, 1942, Harry was sent to the No. 12 Canadian Army (Basic) Training Centre (CABTC) in Chatham, Ontario. His Personnel Selection Record noted that he spoke both English and Ukrainian, and that he enjoyed sports – boxing, baseball, rugby, soccer, and swimming. He was described by an interviewer as someone who “…makes friends easily…”

After completing his basic training, on January 6, 1943 he was sent for advanced training at A29 Canadian Infantry Training Centre at Camp Ipperwash, Ontario. A few weeks later, he was transferred to the Kent Regiment on January 25, 1943, and sent on a 6 Pounder Anti-Tank Gun course in Terrace, British Columbia.

He next was sent for a month to the Canadian Small Arms School (Western Canada) in Nanaimo, British Columbia, before returning to the Kent Regiment in Terrace on June 8, 1943.

Harry Biznar in December 1943. (Photo courtesy of the Biznar Family. Photo restoration by Pieter Valkenburg)

On June 17, 1944, he enlisted in the Active Army in Courtney, British Columbia, remaining with the Kent Regiment. His Personnel Selection Record was updated with an interviewer noting that Harry had “…trained as an anti-tank gunner…” and was “…presently in rifle company…”

The interviewer’s appraisal went on to say that Harry was “…keen on getting overseas. Impresses as the ‘strong and silent type’. Rather uncommunicative but gets along with his fellow soldiers. Well motivated and well adjusted to army life…” Harry was recommended for overseas service with the Canadian Infantry Corps.

….Harry wanted to join the paratroops…

Harry, however, was interested in joining the paratroops, and after being re-interviewed in July 1944, he was sent to the A35 Canadian Paratrooper Training Centre at Camp Shilo, Manitoba. He quickly realized he’d made a mistake. Shortly after arriving, he learned he’d have to retake the basic infantry training he’d already taken, and told an interviewer on August 9, 1944 that “…the nature and duration of training at A35 were misrepresented to him…” He asked to be transferred to A15 Canadian Infantry Training Centre (CITC) at Camp Shilo, a request which was granted.

….Harry returned to the infantry before leaving Canada for overseas service…

Harry’s final infantry training course in Canada took place at No. 1 Training Brigade in Debert, Nova Scotia from October 16 to October 30, 1944. The Brigade provided refresher courses and was a final staging point for troops waiting to cross the Atlantic Ocean. Harry’s training evaluation recorded him as being “…well trained and efficient…” with a “…knowledge of work and good judgment…”

On November 20, 1944, he left Canada for the United Kingdom, arriving on November 28, 1944, where he was assigned to No. 3 Canadian Infantry Training Regiment (CITR), and underwent more intensive training that included battle drills, tactical field exercises, and physical conditioning.

After being rated as fully qualified and operational, he was transferred to the X-4 Reinforcement List Infantry General Unit (IGU) of the Canadian Infantry Corps (CIC) on January 6, 1945. The following day he left for North West Europe, arriving on January 8, 1945.

….Harry joined the Lincoln & Welland Regiment…

On January 28, 1945 Harry was transferred to ‘C’ Company of the Lincoln & Welland Regiment, joining them in the midst of Operation Elephant, also known as the Battle of Kapelsche Veer, a brutal and freezing battle to clear German paratroopers from Kapelsche Veer, a low-lying, water-logged island north of the Maas River in The Netherlands.

NOTE: Eli SNAKE, whose story was previously told, had lost his life that same day in the battle. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/12/13/on-the-war-memorial-trail-remembering-ww2-soldier-eli-ambrose-snake/)

Harry had survived his first battle, and continued with the Regiment as they moved into Germany.

….Harry lost his life during the Battle of Keppeln…

Map shows area where the Lincoln & Welland Regiment was in support of the 4th Canadian Armoured Division during the Battle of Keppeln on February 26, 1945. (Map source: Wikipedia)

By 9 am, “… JERRY FORCE moved into the attack passing through 2 Canadian Infantry Division….”

The battle finally ended when Canadian troops used flame-throwing Wasp carriers to clear German-held houses in Keppeln. The village needed to be secured as part of a push towards Uedem. The capture of Keppeln allowed Canadian forces to clear the Kalkar Ridge and proceed towards the Hochwald Forest gap, and later to break through to the Rhine. Unfortunately, Harry did not live to see the end of this battle….

….What happened?….

Lance Corporal John SYMCHYCH stated in an official report that on February 26, 1945, Lt Robert Joseph MARKEY’s platoon, which Harry was in, was tasked with defending a house located 9.1 metres (30 feet) from a slit trench. Visibility was poor due to smoke from machine gun and rifle fire. One Ram carrier had been struck by shell fire and burned, and a gunner, later identified as Albert Donald AHLWARDT of the 6th Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery, had been slightly wounded and evacuated to the slit trench that L/Cpl Symchych was in.

Harry, aged 28, lost his life on that afternoon of February 26, 1945, as he and Lt Markey tried to move Gunner Ahlwardt to safety.

….Harry is buried in Groesbeek…

Harry was initially buried in Keppeln, Germany before being reburied on February 25, 1946 in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands. During our 2025 European War Memorial Tour, Pieter placed Canadian and Quebec flags by his grave.

Pieter at the grave of Harry Biznar after placing Canadian and Quebec flags. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Thank you to the Windsor Star for publishing the Letter To The Editor asking for a photo of Harry Biznar, to Debbie McGivney for sending us the published letter to the editor, to Harry Biznar’s niece Carol Cox for photos and information, plus niece Shelly French. This Letter To The Editor resonated with those who read it, and we thank all who took the time to get in touch with both us and Harry’s family.

Carol Cox, niece of Harry Biznar. (Photo courtesy of Carol Cox)

As the information and photos about Harry were being compiled, Carol Cox told Pieter that “….you have resurrected emotions and gratitude for our freedom that is too easy to take for granted….”

Another niece, Shelly French, also contacted us, writing to say “…thank you for your hard work in locating all this information and caring deeply about our lost souls….” Shelly explained that her mother, Irene Peleshok, was “…Harry’s sister….” and reflected that her grandmother “…never got over the loss of her son Harry. She cried many tears over his passing….”

The flags placed at Harry’s grave during our 2025 European War Memorial Tour were donated. Our thanks go to:

Alan Waddell, Constituent Assistant, on behalf of Heath MacDonald, MP for Malpeque, for the Canadian flag.
Mario Henry and his brother Etienne Henry, who donated the Quebec flag.

…. to be continued…..

Struck By Shellfire Part 2 will be about Robert Joseph MARKEY of Saint John, New Brunswick.

Pieter’s research efforts to find photos and families of soldiers continue. Do you have a story to tell? Email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, or comment on the blog.

….Want to follow our research?…

If you are reading this posting, but aren’t following our research, you are welcome to do so. Our blog address: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter Valkenburg: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ591TyjSheOR-Cb_Gs_5Kw.

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On The War Memorial Trail….The WWII Signalman From Charlottetown Buried In Tryon People’s Cemetery

July 1, 2026 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

July 1, 2026. In 2025, Pieter became a volunteer under the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC)’s National Volunteer Program, and was assigned 4 cemeteries in the South Shore area on Prince Edward Island. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/08/08/on-the-war-memorial-trail-cwgc-volunteer-at-cape-traverse-community-cemetery/)

The 4 cemeteries are:

Cape Traverse Community Cemetery (3 CWGC graves)
Tryon People’s Cemetery (2 CWGC graves)
Kelly’s Cross (St Joseph) Parish Cemetery (1 CWGC grave)
Seven Mile Bay (St Peter’s) Cemetery (4 CWGC graves)

….There are 2 CWGC graves at Tryon People’s Cemetery…

Pieter at the entrance to Tryon People’s Cemetery with Jack Sorensen, President of Tryon People’s Cemetery Board of Directors. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

There are 2 CWGC graves in Tryon People’s Cemetery, with the story of one soldier previously told on this blog:

WWI soldier Harry ROBINSON, of Augustine Cove, Prince Edward Island, contracted blood poisoning from a cellulitis infection while in Valcartier, Quebec for training, and died on June 27, 1916, aged 34. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/03/30/on-the-war-memorial-trail-a-photo-for-wwi-soldier-harry-robinson/ and https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2019/04/29/the-ww1-soldiers-who-never-left-canada/

The other grave is of WWII soldier William Thomas HENNESSEY, son of WWI veteran George Stanley HENNESSEY, whose story was told several years ago on this blog. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/02/14/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-ww1-soldier-who-served-in-the-1st-canadian-engineers-battalion/)

As part of his duties as a CWGC volunteer, Pieter snaps a photo of the grave of William Thomas Hennessey. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

….William enlisted with the No. 6 District Signals…

Born September 28, 1921 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, William was the son of George Stanley and Eleza May (nee Thomas) Hennessey. When he enlisted with the No. 6 District Signals of the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals in Charlottetown on October 27, 1939, he was only 18 years old and stated that he’d served as a member of the militia of that unit since May 1937. No. 6 District Signals was the regional home-defense and administrative unit for Military District 6, which had its headquarters in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and covered the Maritimes, including Prince Edward Island.

Prior to enlistment, William had worked for a short period for Chief Justice John Alexander Mathieson of the Court of Appeal of Prince Edward Island, a former Premier of the province. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Alexander_Mathieson)

William Thomas Hennessey. (Photo courtesy of Pam Ing)

When we were first in contact with Pam Ing about her grandfather, we asked if she had a photo of her Uncle William. “….I found the picture of William Hennessey – son of George Hennessey and brother of Harry Raymond ‘Ray’ Hennessey (my father)….” she wrote. “… He was quite the handsome guy for sure!...” Ray had also joined the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals in 1939, and served until 1945.

After completing his basic training, William was sent to the A14 Canadian Infantry Training Centre (CITC) at Camp Aldershot, Nova Scotia on January 13, 1940 for more intensive combat training in tactical firearm use and field exercises.

….William never fully recovered following surgery…

William’s time at Camp Aldershot was very short, as on January 24, 1940 he was admitted to Halifax Military Hospital with acute appendicitis. He was on sick leave until February 20, 1940, but a month later, on March 27, 1940, he was admitted to hospital with nephritis (a kidney infection). He remained in hospital until May 6, only to be readmitted a few weeks later, on May 29, with the same diagnosis. When he was discharged on July 22, 1940, his condition was assessed as ‘unimproved’.

On September 5, 1940, William was discharged from the army for reasons of being ‘physically unfit’ due to asthenia (a general weakness of the body). At the time of his discharge, he declared in writing that “…I was never sick until I joined the C.A.S.F. I was operated on for appendicitis in January. I have never been well since…” (C.A.S.F. refers to Canadian Active Service Force)

It could be that William’s appendix had burst prior to or during his operation, resulting in peritonitis, an inflammation in the peritoneum —the thin membrane that lines the inner abdominal wall and covers the organs. It most commonly occurs due to bacterial infections caused by a ruptured organ (like a burst appendix). If the infection never fully cleared up, it may be why he never completely recovered, but developed nephritis.

After his discharge, William worked on a temporary basis at a freight shed, but contracted pulmonary tuberculosis, and was admitted to the Provincial Sanatorium in Charlottetown. He died on June 7, 1944, aged 22, with the cause of death listed as pulmonary tuberculosis due to asthenia.

….William is buried next to his parents…

Pieter stands behind the grave of William Thomas Hennessey at Tryon People’s Cemetery. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

William was buried in Tryon People’s Cemetery in Tryon, Prince Edward Island, with his parents later buried next to him. In addition to his own separate gravestone, he is commemorated on his parents’ gravestone, a testament to a young life cut short, and who was never forgotten by his family.

Pam Ing, centre, with husband David on left, and Pieter on the right. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Thank you to Pam Ing for providing a photo of her uncle. Pieter’s research efforts to find photos and families of soldiers continue. Do you have a story to tell? Email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, or comment on the blog.

….Want to follow our research?…

If you are reading this posting, but aren’t following our research, you are welcome to do so. Our blog address: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter Valkenburg: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ591TyjSheOR-Cb_Gs_5Kw.

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On The War Memorial Trail…..The WWI Soldier From Piusville Who Enlisted In The Veterans Guard Of Canada in WWII

June 20, 2026 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 2 Comments

June 20, 2026. Since Pieter began the On The War Memorial Trail research project in 2014, we’ve met many families of those who served in one or more wars. Brenda Graves of North Tryon, Prince Edward Island, explained that her paternal grandfather served in WWI and then served in the Veterans Guard of Canada until his death during WWII.

Cyrus Joseph GALLANT was born in Piusville, Prince Edward Island on March 21, 1897, the son of Joseph ‘Joe Smoke’ and Marie Marguerite (nee Bernard) Gallant. He worked on the family farm until he was conscripted under the Military Service Act and sent for a medical exam in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, on November 29, 1917. However, he wasn’t drafted until months later.

…..Cyrus enlisted in the 1st Depot Battalion…..

Cyrus Joseph Gallant. (Photo courtesy of Brenda Graves)

Cyrus wasn’t drafted until July 4, 1918, when he enlisted with ‘H’ Company, 1st Depot Battalion, Nova Scotia Regiment, in Charlottetown, and began his basic training.

However, due to “…destruction of property caused by the Halifax Explosion in December 1917….” quarters for military personnel were in short supply, which is likely the reason why Cyrus didn’t have to enlist until months after passing his medical exam. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax_Explosion)

…..Cyrus left Canada for England…..

On August 2, 1918, Cyrus was transferred to the 102nd Draft Battalion Nova Scotia, one of 1,700 men to be sent overseas. An account in Nova Scotia’s Part In The Great War noted that the men “…paraded at 8 PM on August 3, 1918; the roll was called, documents checked, etc. The men were then dismissed and ordered to parade and entrain at 4:30 AM on August 4th….”

After leaving Halifax, Nova Scotia aboard SS Ixion, the ship arrived safely in Liverpool, England on August 15, 1918, with the men disembarking the following day.

Map showing routing from Liverpool to Bramshott. (Map source: Google Maps)

The 17th Reserve Battalion was a training and reinforcement depot based in England. Its primary role was to train newly arriving soldiers, and dispatch them to combat battalions.

By the time Cyrus arrived in England, just a few months before WWI ended on November 11, 1918, his time with the 17th Reserve Battalion never went beyond training. Instead of being sent to a frontline unit he stayed in England until returning home.

Map showing routing from Bramshott to South Ripon. (Map source: Google Maps)

…..Cyrus returned back to Canada in 1919…..

On June 28, 1919, Cyrus was on his way back to Canada aboard HMT (Hired Military Transport) Mauretania. He was officially discharged on July 3, 1919 in Charlottetown.

…..Cyrus raised a family in the inter-war years…..

After his return back to Prince Edward Island, Cyrus married Elizabeth ‘Lizzie’ Marie Gallant on November 22 1922 in Bloomfield, and they became the parents of 9 children. Cyrus ran a barber shop in Bloomfield and worked as a labourer.

…..Cyrus enlisted in the Veterans Guard of Canada in WWII…..

Cyrus Gallant in his Veterans Guard of Canada uniform, with his wife Lizzie, in 1941. (Photo courtesy of Brenda Graves. Photo restoration and colourization by Pieter Valkenburg)

On February 1, 1941, when Cyrus enlisted with 6A Company of the Veterans Guard of Canada in Charlottetown, his two youngest children were still toddlers. Mary Delma had been born in June 1938, and Joseph Walter in August 1939.

With a growing family, the pay that Cyrus received as a member of the Veterans Guard would have been very helpful. Volunteers for the Veterans Guard were WWI veterans that had served in Canadian or British forces, were fit, and had been honourably discharged. They received the same pay ($1.30 a day) and allowances as other soldiers. As a local defence force to guard against enemy attacks, and guard duties at internment and prisoner-of-war camps in Canada, Cyrus wouldn’t have been sent overseas. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Veterans_Guard_of_Canada)

He was posted to Valcartier, Quebec, but in July he ended up in hospital with stomach pains, and spent a month in Saint-Sacrament Hospital in Quebec City.

After his discharge from hospital, he was working at Camp B/70, an internment camp in Fredericton, New Brunswick, when he was hospitalized, again with stomach pains, in January 1942. (See https://powsincanada.ca/pows-in-canada/internment-camps/camp-70-fredericton/)

On February 21, 1942, he was sent to Camp Hill Hospital in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where he was diagnosed as having pancreatic cancer.

Cyrus was discharged from the Veterans Guard on March 2, 1942 for being medically unfit due to carcinoma. He remained at Camp Hill Hospital for post-discharged treatment before returning home, where he died on October 31, 1942, aged 45, at Prince County Hospital in Summerside, Prince Edward Island.

….Cyrus is buried in St. Anthony’s Roman Catholic Cemetery in Bloomfield…

Cyrus was buried on November 2, 1942 in St. Anthony’s Roman Catholic Cemetery in Bloomfield, Prince Edward Island.

Brenda Graves by the grave of her grandfather, Cyrus Joseph Gallant. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

One cloudy and wet Thursday in May of this year, Brenda and I travelled to St. Anthony’s Roman Catholic Cemetery, located just outside the church, to find her grandfather’s grave. Brenda’s father, Edmund Joseph, was one of the children born to Cyrus and Lizzie.

Lizzie remarried in 1954, to Fred Louie Arsenault. They are both buried in the same cemetery as Cyrus.

NOTE: Various records provide differing birth years for Cyrus. When he enlisted in the Veterans Guard in 1941, he stated that he was born on March 21, 1894. However, the regimental number and information he provided about his WWI service matched his WWI attestation where he stated he was born in 1897. His medical record lists him as aged 44 in 1941, confirming he was born in 1897, not 1894. Finally, his headstone incorrectly lists him as being born in 1898.

….Another soldier from Prince Edward Island in the 17th Reserve Battalion died of illness…

Also in the 17th Reserve Battalion was Bruce Sutherland MCKAY (MACKAY), who contracted scarlet fever during the voyage to England and died a short while later. Your can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2019/04/22/the-ww1-soldier-who-never-made-it-to-the-front/

Thank you to Brenda Graves for providing photos and information on her grandfather. Pieter’s research efforts to find photos and families of soldiers continue. Do you have a story to tell? Email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, or comment on the blog.

….Want to follow our research?…

If you are reading this posting, but aren’t following our research, you are welcome to do so. Our blog address: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/

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On The War Memorial Trail….. The WWII Soldier From The Pas Who Died When A Flame Thrower Hit A Mine In Germany

June 12, 2026 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

June 12, 2026. It’s wonderful when the search for a photo of a soldier takes flight, with many people actively involved in helping in this quest. That’s what happened when Pieter looked for a photo of WWII soldier Samuel George ENGEN of The Pas, Manitoba. It was a search that took 18 months and involved many family members.

Near the end of December 2024, while we were on our way to a winter vacation, we woke up in our hotel room in Virginia with the wonderful news that a photo of Samuel had been found, and sent to us by Ralph McLean, a researcher that we’d written to earlier in 2024, and Samuel’s nephews Eric and Wilfred Sanderson.

Eric explained that he’d received the photo from Ralph who “…got the picture from Devyn Rusk. … I was so excited to receive the photo. I hope Diane and I can make the journey to see my uncle’s grave site….” Eric and his wife Diane were the people Pieter first talked to about finding a photo of Samuel. At the time, Eric explained that the photos were lost when his mother’s house burned down.

But, the search continued amongst family members and eventually a photo was found. Devyn, a teaching assistant at a school in The Pas, Manitoba, is the great-granddaughter of Samuel’s brother Aaron. She explained that the photo had been found “…in an old album. It had all of Samuel’s Dad’s old post cards….”

…A cookbook connection with the Opaskwayak Cree Nation…

Born February 15, 1918 in The Pas, Manitoba, Samuel was the son of Louis Julius, a WWI veteran, and Mary Helen (nee Buck) Engen. His mother was a member of the Opaskwayak Cree Nation. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opaskwayak_Cree_Nation)

The search for a photo of Samuel had a personal connection. More years ago than I care to remember, I taught for one semester at Keewatin Community College (now called University College of the North) in The Pas, and one group of community leaders from the Opaskwayak Cree Nation learned basic computer skills that led to a practical outcome with the development of a cookbook. Eric told us that he was familiar with the names of some of the community leaders listed in the cookbook.

Cover of the Northern Cookbook designed and prepared by students from the Opaskwayak Cree Nation. (Photo courtesy of Valkenburg Family)

…Samuel enlisted in 1941…

Samuel had married Miriam Susan Pranteau on January 16, 1940, and was working for The Pas Lumber Company in The Pas, Manitoba, and as a trapper, when he enlisted at the No. 10 District Depot Recruiting Office in Dauphin, Manitoba on September 6, 1941.

On September 13, 1941, he was sent to No. 100 Canadian Army (Basic) Training Centre (CABTC) in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba. After successfully completing basic training, he went on to A15 Infantry Advanced Training Centre (Rifle) at Camp Shilo, Manitoba on December 4, 1941. His training included battle drill tactics, marksmanship, bayonet drill, and field exercises that simulated actual combat environments.

On January 6, 1942, Samuel was hospitalized in Winnipeg, Manitoba for 13 days with mumps, and returned to Camp Shilo upon recovery. After completing advanced training as a rifleman, he was posted to the A15 Canadian Infantry Training Centre, also located in Camp Shilo, on May 15, 1942.

…Samuel left Canada for overseas service…

In preparation for being sent overseas, Samuel given embarkation leave from May 29, 1942 until June 2, 1942, the last chance he had to see his family. In the end, Samuel didn’t report back to base until June 15, understandable considering the distance he would have had to travel to go so far up north and then back again.

On July 21, 1942, he left Canada for the United Kingdom, arriving on July 29, 1942, where he was assigned to No. 2 Canadian Divisional Infantry Reinforcement Unit (CDIRU).

A few weeks later, on August 21, 1942, Samuel was transferred to the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada (C of C), joining the regiment in Hassocks, Sussex. Training continued in anticipation of going into Normandy, France, and to implement lessons learned from other regiments that participated in Operation Jubilee, also known as the Dieppe Raid, on August 19, 1942. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dieppe_Raid)

On December 16, 1942, Samuel was admitted to hospital. Upon being discharged on January 14, 1943, he was assigned to No. 2 Canadian Divisional Infantry Reinforcement Unit (CDIRU). He was hospitalized again, from April 23, 1943 until May 27, 1943.

On June 25, 1943, he returned to the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada (C of C), to participate in Exercise ‘Smashex’, part of ongoing intensive amphibious and infantry training to prepare soldiers before being deployed to Normandy the following year.

Unfortunately, Samuel was hospitalized again, from July 30, 1943 until August 14, 1943, when he was discharged.

…Samuel joined the Lake Superior Regiment (Motor)…

Samuel George Engen. (Photo courtesy of the Engen Family. Photo restoration and colourization by Pieter Valkenburg)

On August 27, 1943, Samuel was transferred to the Lake Superior Regiment (Motor), the infantry component of an Armoured Brigade serving in an Infantry Division. Canada fielded only two such Motor battalions in WWII – Lake Superior Regiment (Motor) of the 4th Canadian (Armoured) Division was one and the other was the Westminster Regiment (Motor) of the 5th Canadian (Armoured) Division.

Map showing the Dieppe Raid in 1942, which marks the location of Red Beach. (Map source: https://cbf-fccb.ca/)

Training continued in Britain until July 26, 1944, when Samuel, along with the rest of the Lake Superior Regiment (Motor), left the United Kingdom aboard ‘SS Houston City’ and landed in Normandy, France as part of the 4th Canadian (Armoured) Brigade, 4th Canadian (Armoured) Division. Over the next two days, vehicles disembarked near Graye-sur-Mer on Red Beach, a codename for the heavily fortified Dieppe waterfront during the 1942 Dieppe Raid (Operation Jubilee), while the main battalion went ashore shortly after to join the Normandy campaign, which had begun on June 6, 1944 (D-Day).

They began active service on the front as of July 30, 1944, and over the next two months the Regiment battled its way through Normandy, Falaise, and across northern France into Belgium and The Netherlands. The men did whatever they could to increase the Regiment’s firepower with weapons, including those salvaged from destroyed Sherman tanks and 50 calibre machine guns from downed aircraft. These were fitted onto their universal carriers and other vehicles.

‘The Mad Dash’ on August 14, 1944 through the Falaise Pocket to surround the Germans as part of Operation Tractable fought from August 14-21, 1944. (Photo source: Posted by George Romick on Facebook page of Canadian Military Photos Lost and Found – Research Group)

…The Lake Superior Regiment (Motor) sank 3 German naval vessels in Zeeland…

By October 1944, the 4th Canadian (Armoured) Division was in The Netherlands, tasked with clearing the Germans from an area south of the Maas River. When fighting brought the Lake Superior Regiment into the village of Sint Philipsland in the province of Zeeland on November 4, Dutch civilians told troops that there were German naval vessels in the harbour of Zijpe on the island of Schouwen en Duiveland, just across the strait.

The Lake Superior Regiment (Motor) bombed German naval vessels in Zijpe’s harbour. (Map source: Google Maps)

The next day, with help from the tanks of the British Columbia Regiment, the Regiment bombarded the ships with their 6 pounder antitank guns and mortars. Within 15 minutes the Germans ceased fire. Due to high winds, it wasn’t until a day later that the Regiment’s boarding party later found a corvette burning and 3 other vessels sinking, with 20 fatalities and 80 wounded.

…The Lake Superior Regiment (Motor) advanced into Germany in 1945…

Most of February saw the Regiment based in the ‘s-Hertogenbosch area of The Netherlands as they continued their patrols, but on February 21, 1945, the Regiment began moving towards Germany for the upcoming Operation Blockbuster, which began at dawn on February 26, 1945. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Blockbuster)

By 2:00 am in the early morning of February 23, 1945 the Regiment had arrived at their initial position in the Reichswald Forest, just over the border from The Netherlands. The next afternoon the Regiment moved to Kleve.

On March 1, 1945, the war diary for the Lake Superior Regiment recorded that instructions had been received for “…the assault on the Hochwald Forest Gap….” This attack was codenamed Operation Churchill.

Clearing the very narrow Hochwald Gap was a difficult task, given that the weather was anything but cooperative. An early thaw meant that the tanks got bogged down in mud, making them ‘sitting ducks’ for German troops who were positioned to pick them off, one by one. Troops had no choice but to press on, as the Battle of Hochwald Gap, part of Operation Blockbuster, was the final push towards the Rhine River.

Miraculously, Samuel survived these difficult battles, and was with the Regiment when it returned to The Netherlands for a short rest, before going again into Germany at the end of March. The Regiment then fought battles in Meppen, Sögel, and Friesoythe.

The 4th Canadian (Armoured) Division crossed the Twente Canal on April 4, 1945 and reached the Ems River. However, flooded terrain made it difficult for the tanks to maneuver. On April 17, 1945, the Battle of the Küsten Canal began, with several Regiments involved in trying to capture and cross it. The Küsten Canal was a 30.5 metre (100 feet) wide obstacle that was a challenge to cross due to the soft ground and German defences. (See https://www.canadiansoldiers.com/history/battlehonours/northwesteurope/kustencanal.htm)

….Samuel lost his life right after the Battle for the Küsten Canal…

Map showing movement of troops towards Bad Zwischenahn along the Küsten Canal. NOTE: Date on map is incorrect – it should say 1945, not 1944. (Map source: ‘In The Face Of Danger – The History Of The Lake Superior Regiment’)

An account by author Lt-Col George Stanley of ‘In The Face Of Danger – The History Of The Lake Superior Regiment’ told what happened as Allied troops moved beyond the Küsten Canal towards Bad Zwischenahn. “….Lieutenant-Colonel Keane and several of his officers visited the bridgehead to get a clear idea of the tactical picture; for it was the Lake Sups who were expected to achieve the break out.

With the support of the tanks of the Canadian Grenadier Guards, they were to drive due north astride the road which led from Friesoythe to the little spa on the shores of Zwischenahn lake just ten miles away.

The next day the battalion began to move forward. The road had been badly damaged by gun fire and the holes hastily filled with rubble, thus making it passable for armoured vehicles. The fighting on the perimeter of the bridgehead was, however, very sticky and the Brigade commander decided that, rather than strike hard ahead over the mine strewn, body-littered fields ahead, the Lake Sups should stab eastwards along both sides of the Küsten Canal, in the hope, not only of widening the base of the bridgehead, but also of relieving some of the pressure upon the forward infantry battalions.

Thus it was that “B” Company, as soon as it crossed the Canal, struck immediately to the eastwards in company with a troop of Grenadier tanks and a Wasp flame-thrower. There was a road that ran along the north side of the Canal, but the going here was slow and halting.…

The first streak of daylight on April 23rd was the signal for “A” and “B” Companies to resume their drive eastwards along the Küsten Canal. On both sides the enemy was active …. There was no steady advance; rather the move took the form of a series of short bounds preceded by heavy firing and not inconsiderable battling. There were casualties… One of the Lake Superior flame-throwers was blown high into the air by a mine, both of its crew members being killed….”

Example of a Wasp flame thrower. (Photo source: http://www.canadiansoldiers.com)

The April 23, 1945 war diary entry for the Lake Superior Regiment verified that Samuel was one of the two crew members who died. “…At 0700 hours ‘B’ Company prepared to move forward…” of a crater “…to the road junction. The motor platoons went forward on foot with a Wasp flame thrower in support. Suddenly the flame thrower struck a mine and both members of the crew were killed, Pte Giving, R.V. and Pte Engen, S.G….” The other crew member mentioned was Royal Victor GIVING of Kenora, Ontario.

….Samuel is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten….

Grave of Samuel Engen with Canadian and Manitoba flags placed by Pieter. (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

Samuel was temporarily buried in Oldenburg, Germany at the “…right hand side of the road running North near a red brick building…” before being reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands on March 23, 1946. During our 2025 European War Memorial Tour, Pieter placed Canadian and Manitoba flags by his grave.

Pieter at the grave of Samuel Engen after placing Canadian and Manitoba flags. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

…..Samuel is listed on the National Métis Veterans Memorial Monument….

Samuel is listed on the National Métis Veterans Memorial Monument just outside of Batoche, Saskatchewan. (See https://www.metismuseum.ca/metisveteransmonument/)

His name can be found on Column 5 on the outside. Row 40. (See https://www.metismuseum.ca/metisveteransmonument/column.php?v=LWSBNZ)

…..Engen Lake is named in Samuel’s honour….

Engen Lake was named in Samuel Engen’s honour in 1961. (Map source: Google Maps)

Engen Lake in northwestern Manitoba, northeast of Reindeer Lake which straddles the Manitoba-Saskatchewan border, was named after Samuel in 1961.

Devyn Rusk. (Photo courtesy of Devyn Rusk)

Thank you to Ralph McLean, Devyn Rusk, Eric Sanderson, and Wilfred Sanderson for finding and sending a photo. Thank you to Judie Klassen for family history research.

The flags placed at Samuel’s grave during our 2025 European War Memorial Tour were donated. Our thanks go to:

Alan Waddell, Constituent Assistant, on behalf of Heath MacDonald, MP for Malpeque, for the Canadian flag.
Brad Robertson, Chief of Protocol, Government of Manitoba, on behalf of Wab Kinew, Premier of Manitoba, who donated the Manitoba flag.

Pieter’s research efforts to find photos and families of soldiers continue. Do you have a story to tell? Email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, or comment on the blog.

….Want to follow our research?…

If you are reading this posting, but aren’t following our research, you are welcome to do so. Our blog address: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter Valkenburg: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ591TyjSheOR-Cb_Gs_5Kw.

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….Edward enlisted in 1942…

….Edward left Canada for overseas service….

….Edward served in Italy….

….Edward left Italy for northwest Europe…

….Edward was in Germany with the CAOF….

….Edward died in a road accident in Germany…

….Edward is buried in Holten…

…..Edward will be listed on the National Métis Veterans Memorial Monument….

…..Munro Peninsula is named in Edward’s honour….

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….The leadup to the crash…

…. Lancaster KB914 didn’t have a safe arrival….

…. Lancaster KB914 wasn’t found until June….

….Why did the plane crash?…

….The crew of Lancaster KB914…

….A mass funeral was held for all 9 men in Greenwood…

….Donat is buried at Baie Egmont (St. Jacques) Cemetery…

….A memorial in Greenwood honours the crew of Lancaster KB914…

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….The Canadian National Vimy Memorial took 11 years to build….

….Previous stories about WWI soldiers listed on the Canadian National Vimy Memorial….

….Stories about our 2017 visit to Vimy Ridge….

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…..Stanley enlisted in the 1st Depot Battalion…..

…..Stanley left Canada for England…..

…..Stanley returned back to Canada in 1919…..

…..Stanley enlisted in the Veterans Guard of Canada in WWII…..

….Stanley is buried in Bedeque Cemetery…

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….Albert enlisted in 1943…

….Albert left Canada for overseas service…

….Albert left the UK for France in July 1944….

….Albert was transferred to the 6th Anti-Tank Regiment….

….Albert lost his life during the Battle of Keppeln…

….What happened?….

….Albert is buried in Groesbeek…

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….Robert was involved in student activities…

….Robert enlisted on Boxing Day 1941 …

….Robert attended No. 30 Officers Training Centre in Brockville …

….Robert was in Kiska as part of Operation Cottage …

….Two soldiers whose stories have been told were also in Kiska …

…Robert was sent for more training…

….Robert qualified as a Driver for a flamethrower…

….Robert left Canada for overseas service…

….Robert joined the Lincoln & Welland Regiment……

….Robert lost his life during the Battle of Keppeln…

….What happened?…

….Robert is buried in Groesbeek…

…. to be continued…..

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….The Letter To The Editor was successful…

….Harry’s parents were Ukrainian…

….Harry enlisted in 1942…

….Harry wanted to join the paratroops…

….Harry returned to the infantry before leaving Canada for overseas service…

….Harry joined the Lincoln & Welland Regiment…

….Harry lost his life during the Battle of Keppeln…

….What happened?….

….Harry is buried in Groesbeek…

…. to be continued…..

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….There are 2 CWGC graves at Tryon People’s Cemetery…

….William enlisted with the No. 6 District Signals…

….William never fully recovered following surgery…

….William is buried next to his parents…

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…..Cyrus enlisted in the 1st Depot Battalion…..

…..Cyrus left Canada for England…..

…..Cyrus returned back to Canada in 1919…..

…..Cyrus raised a family in the inter-war years…..

…..Cyrus enlisted in the Veterans Guard of Canada in WWII…..

***…..Edward will be* *listed on the National Métis Veterans Memorial Monument….***