August 18, 2021. After reading the posting about WW2 Soldier Clarence Wilfred Wakegijig, Pieter was contacted by Willy van Ee of Sas-van-Gent, The Netherlands, who explained that he is the son of Indigenous soldier Walter MEKAJI of the Sagamok Anishnawbek First Nation and Hendrike Herber of The Netherlands.  “…My father also came from Wikwemikong and met my mother in Utrecht during the liberation of The Netherlands…”

Willy’s compelling story has been extensively told.  See:

• https://www.manitoulin.com/dutch-father-and-son-celebrate-wiky-roots/
• https://www.aptnnews.ca/investigates/lost-canadian-to-finally-receive-citizenship/
• https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/dutch-love-child-fathered-by-first-nations-canadian-veteran-finds-lost-identity-gets-citizenship

In a translation of Willy’s email exchange with Pieter, he wrote “…I live 20 km from the Adegem Canadian War Cemetery in Belgium.  Every year, on the second weekend of September, there is a ceremony with many VIPs, and a lot of people.  This year it’s on September 12. I’ve been going there for about 40 years, because of a veteran from Vancouver Island, Art BRIDGE, who has visited us a number of times.  His friend L MORGAN is buried there....”   Most likely, Willy is referring to Lionel Albert MORGAN, son of Reuben and Pearl Morgan, of Toronto, Ontario, who died on September 8, 1944 while serving with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise’s).

Willy wanted to let Pieter know that he believed that 7 Indigenous soldiers are buried in Adegem Canadian War Cemetery.  He visited the cemetery and sent the names:

• Maurice BELLEGARDE, son of Moise and Margaret Bellegarde, of Abernethy, Saskatchewan. Died November 3, 1944 while serving with the Regina Rifle Regiment.

• Jacob Shelby BRANT, born February 12, 1925 in Hagersville, Ontario, son of Austin and Bessie Brant.  Died September 11, 1944 while serving with the Lincoln and Welland Regiment, aged 19.

• Harvey DREAVER, born November 29, 1914 in Leask, Saskatchewan, son of Joseph and Evelyn Dreaver of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Husband of Mary Dreaver of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Died October 6, 1944 while serving with the Regina Rifle Regiment, aged 29.

• Joseph HENRY, son of Thomas and Philomene Henry. Husband of Alice Henry, of Roseau River Reserve, Manitoba.  Died October 2, 1944 while serving with the Algonquin Regiment, aged 22.

• Roland David RIEL, born December 8, 1925 in St Vital (now Winnipeg), Manitoba, son of Henry and Yvonne Mary Eugenie Riel.   Died October 15, 1944 while serving with the Regina Rifle Regiment, aged 18.

• Kenneth SCRIBE, son of John and Jessie Scribe, of Norway House, Manitoba. Died October 11, 1944 while serving with the Highland Light Infantry of Canada, aged 23.

• Charles William Myers ST GERMAINE, son of John and Lillian St. Germaine, of Rama, Ontario. Died September 16, 1944 while serving with the South Saskatchewan Regiment, aged 23.

Thank you to Willy van Ee for sharing his story and letting us know about the soldiers buried in Adegem Canadian War Cemetery.  If you have photo or information to share about any of the men mentioned in this posting, or other Canadian soldiers, please contact Pieter at dariadv@yahoo.ca, comment on the blog, or send a tweet to @researchmemori1.

.….Soldiers buried in Adegem Canadian War Cemetery featured on this blog….

To read about other soldiers buried in Adegem Canadian War Cemetery, see:

• https://bordencarletonresearchproject.wordpress.com/2021/01/07/on-the-war-memorial-trail-atlantic-canada-remembers-part-1/ re Edison Reynolds SMITH
• https://bordencarletonresearchproject.wordpress.com/2021/01/13/on-the-war-memorial-trail-atlantic-canada-remembers-part-2/ re Alexander Fraser MACDONALD
• https://bordencarletonresearchproject.wordpress.com/2021/01/27/on-the-war-memorial-trail-atlantic-canada-remembers-part-5/ re Arthur Brambel ‘Jack’ TAYLOR

….Indigenous soldiers featured on this blog….

To read about Indigenous soldiers featured on this blog, see

• https://bordencarletonresearchproject.wordpress.com/2021/08/09/on-the-war-memorial-trail-remembering-ww2-soldier-clarence-wilfred-wakegijig/
• https://bordencarletonresearchproject.wordpress.com/2021/07/23/on-the-war-memorial-trail-remembering-ww2-soldier-william-willie-daniels/
• https://bordencarletonresearchproject.wordpress.com/2021/05/22/on-the-war-memorial-trail-remembering-ww2-soldier-leo-francis-toney/
• https://bordencarletonresearchproject.wordpress.com/2021/05/05/commemorating-liberation-day-at-the-canadian-war-cemetery-in-groesbeek/

To read an APTN article on Pieter’s search, see https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/dutch-born-p-e-i-man-on-a-mission-to-find-photos-of-first-nations-soldiers-killed-overseas-in-wwii/

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© Daria Valkenburg