October 17, 2022. We very much appreciate hearing from readers of ‘No Soldier Buried Overseas Should Ever Be Forgotten’.  We love seeing the photos that you send, your feedback, and where possible, having the opportunity to meet you.

…We love meeting readers of our book!….

Janet FitzGerald with book. (Photo courtesy of Janet FitzGerald)

Janet FitzGerald wrote to say that “….the work you two are doing is so important and amazing.  I am reading your book and loving every story in it.  May you both be blessed for the precious work you are doing….”

Janet’s uncle, WW2 airman Rowan Charles ‘Bunky’ FITZGERALD of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, was on the last flight of Halifax W1175 of the 405^th Squadron when it was hit by shellfire and crashed onto a sandbank in the Wadden Sea off the Dutch coast on June 28, 1942.  (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/10/12/on-the-war-memorial-trail-well-never-forget-uncle-bunky/)

Simone Comeau with book. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

We first met Simone Comeau and her sister Jacqueline in 2018 while researching a tragic drowning in which her uncle lost his life.  On a recent trip to Nova Scotia, we had a chance to meet up with Simone again.

Simone’s uncle, WW2 soldier Joseph ‘Ambroise’ COMEAU, from Lower Saulnierville, Nova Scotia, was one of 5 soldiers from the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment who drowned in a tragic accident on the Leda River during the Battle of Leer in Germany on April 28, 1945.  (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/05/17/on-the-war-memorial-trail-a-tragic-drowning-on-the-leda-river-in-germany-part-3/ and https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/11/10/on-the-war-memorial-trail-linking-the-past-with-the-present/)

…A short interview in North Bay….

In May we were in North Bay, Ontario for an Author Talk. I was interviewed by Clarke Heipel of YOUR TV North Bay prior to the talk I gave at the North Bay Public Library in North Bay, Ontario on May 19, 2022.

The Author Talk resulted in several postings about our North Bay visit and stories of several soldiers. Each posting in the North Bay series has links to previous stories. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/07/27/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-stretcher-bearer-whose-compassion-cost-him-his-life/)

At the time we hadn’t seen the interview, so we were very happy when Don Coutts received a copy of the interview clip.

Thank you to Simone Comeau and Janet FitzGerald for taking the time to share photos and comments.  Thank you to Don Coutts and YOUR TV North Bay for sharing the interview about the presentation in North Bay, Ontario.  Photos or information to share? Email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or tweet to @researchmemori1.

…..Upcoming Presentation….

• Friday, November 11, 2022 – Borden-Carleton, Prince Edward Island, short presentation ‘They Aren’t Just Names On A Cenotaph’ during the Inter-Faith Remembrance Day service at the Borden-Carleton Legion. Time: Service begins at 9:55 am.

…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://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/ or email me at dariadv@yahoo.ca and ask for an invitation to the blog.

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 on the book, please 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.

© Daria Valkenburg