November 15, 2021.  Since the January 2021 interview with CTV’s Atlantic Live at 5, the response was heartening and we are just finishing up the last of the research and stories that came out of that appeal for photos of soldiers buried in The Netherlands. 

On November 9, 2021, CTV’s Atlantic Live At 5 did a follow-up interview, which you can watch here: https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=2318376&jwsource=em

As well, Bruce Frisko wrote a web article, which also has a link to the interview: https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/forever-grateful-dutch-canadian-tries-to-put-faces-to-names-of-soldiers-who-fell-liberating-the-netherlands-1.5659567

…How many photos are still on the photo wish lists?…

Out of the original photo wish lists from the 3 Canadian War Cemeteries in The Netherlands the outstanding requests for photos of soldiers from the Maritimes are:

• 90 from Nova Scotia
• 71 from New Brunswick (one cemetery has not yet identified soldiers from this province)
• 1 from Prince Edward Island (family was found, but no one in the family has a photo)

Better quality photos and information from families were received for soldiers NOT on the photo wish list, plus photos were received of soldiers who died in the Battle of the Scheldt and were buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Adegem, Belgium. 

In addition to the 3 Canadian War Cemeteries in The Netherlands, several servicemen are buried in municipal cemeteries, most of them from air crew that crashed during WW2.

…How many stories were told following the January 2021 interview?….

We also received a few photos for soldiers from the Maritimes buried in other European cemeteries.  As a direct result of the CTV interview we were able to tell several stories of soldiers from the Maritimes:

• 32 soldiers buried at in Holten, The Netherlands
• 16 soldiers buried in Groesbeek, The Netherlands
• 7 soldiers buried in Bergen Op Zoom, The Netherlands
• 4 soldiers buried in Adegem, Belgium
• 1 soldier buried in Montecchio War Cemetery in Italy
• 1 chaplain buried at the Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery in France

….Response following the November 9, 2021 interview…

Following the November 9, 2021 interview, we received several responses, which will lead to more stories about soldiers buried in The Netherlands and Belgium.  We thank all who responded.  Pieter’s research agenda for this coming winter is full!

We also received several comments, of which two are included below:

Simone Comeau, whose uncle’s story was told earlier this year, wrote:  “… I am writing to congratulate you Pieter in being awarded that well deserved medal. If I may speak for all families of WWII casualties, we cannot thank you enough for your tireless efforts to honour our dearly departed servicemen and women….”  (See https://bordencarletonresearchproject.wordpress.com/2021/05/17/on-the-war-memorial-trail-a-tragic-drowning-on-the-leda-river-in-germany-part-3/)

Roman Berezowsky wrote: “…Congratulations, Pieter, for the dedication and perseverance. And also to you, Daria. You have both done wonders to enrich and comfort the lives of so many people. Just remarkable. We will be sharing this clip with several others who we know will also appreciate it…” 

Thank you to both Simone Comeau and Roman Berezowsky for these kind words.  We hope it will help encourage more people to submit photos and stories about Canadian soldiers!

Thank you to Bruce Frisko, Jayson Baxter, Maria Panopalis, and all at CTV’s Atlantic Live At 5 for featuring this quest of remembrance. If you can help with a photo or information, please email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or tweet to @researchmemori1. 

…Want to follow our research?….

If you are reading this posting, but aren’t following the blog, you are welcome to do so.  See https://bordencarletonresearchproject.wordpress.com or email me at memorialtrail@gmail.com and ask for an invitation to the blog. 

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

© Daria Valkenburg