August 14, 2019.  Over the past years, the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph Research Project has been telling the stories of the soldiers listed on the cenotaph.  Along the way, we’ve also introduced you to the families who have contributed photos and stories of these men.

Sadly this summer, three participants in the project have passed away.  We’d like to acknowledge their help and support by honouring their memories.

Harry Norton, left, with Pieter Valkenburg. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

On May 18, 2019, Harry Norton, brother of WW2 soldier Ernest Murray NORTON, passed away in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. (See link to obituary: https://www.theguardian.pe.ca/obituaries/harry-hv-norton-24050/) The poignant story of Ernest Murray Norton, who was killed in Italy, was told in the blog posting The Last Valentine From A WWII Soldier.

Terry and Greta Follett with Pieter. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

On July 17, 2019, Greta Follett, daughter of WW2 soldier  Everett Samuel FRANCIS, passed away in British Columbia.  The story of how her father, on his way to meet baby Greta for the first time, lost his life when his ship, the SS Caribou, was torpedoed off the coast of Newfoundland, was one of the first that Pieter researched.  (See The Cenotaph Research Project Begins)  At the time of that first article, we didn’t have a photo of Everett Samuel Francis. That changed once Greta learned about the project, and later we were able to visit and meet her and husband Terry.  (See The Face of Everett Samuel Francis)

Pieter (standing left) with Elgin Coutts (seated), Elgin’s wife Helen (centre) and son Donald (standing right) during a visit in 2017. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

On August 7, 2019, Elgin Coutts, brother-in-law of WW2 pilot Elmer Bagnall MUTTART, passed away in Toronto, Ontario. (See link to obituary: https://www.theguardian.pe.ca/obituaries/elgin-coutts-24809/) The story of Elmer Bagnall Muttart, who died after his plane was shot down over The Netherlands, has unfolded over the years, and began with this posting: The Elmer Bagnall Muttart Story.  This October, a memorial panel to honour Muttart and his crew will be placed near the crash site in Wons, The Netherlands.  (See Update For Those Intending To Go To The Netherlands For The Memorial Panel Unveiling In Wons To Honour the Crew of Halifax L9561)

We extend our condolences to the families of Harry Norton, Greta Follett, and Elgin Coutts, and thank them for their participation in and contributions to the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph Research Project.  If you have information and photos to share on the names on the Cenotaph, please contact Pieter at dariadv@yahoo.ca or comment on the blog.

© Daria Valkenburg