July 22, 2023. Over the past years, the On The War Memorial Trail Research Project has been telling stories of those who have served our country.  Along the way, we’ve also introduced you to many of the families who contributed photos and stories.

Last week, we received word from Don Coutts that his mother Helen Coutts, sister of WWII pilot Elmer Bagnall MUTTART, passed away at the age of 101. (See https://www.humphreymiles.com/obituaries/Helen-Muttart-Coutts?obId=28481417)

The story of Elmer Muttart, who died after his plane was shot down over The Netherlands on October 12, 1941, has unfolded over several years, and began with this posting, one of the first stories on our blog: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2017/07/28/the-elmer-bagnall-muttart-story/. 

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)

We met Helen and Elgin Coutts and their son Don in 2017. A few years later, Helen’s husband Elgin passed away. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2019/08/14/in-memoriam/)

On October 12, 2019, a memorial panel to honour Elmer Muttart and his Halifax L9561 crew was placed near the crash site in Wons, The Netherlands. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2019/11/18/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-memorial-panel-in-wons-is-unveiled/) 

Two short documentaries were made by us about the memorial panel and how it became a reality. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2020/01/31/he-died-that-we-might-live-video-is-now-on-youtube/)

The group who came for the unveiling of the memorial panel also visited Elmer’s grave in Harlingen General Cemetery. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2019/10/15/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-visit-to-harlingen-general-cemetery/)

Left to right: Pieter Valkenburg, Annie Lee MacDonald, Don Coutts with flower bouquets for the visit to Elmer Muttart’s grave. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Among the remembrances were flower bouquets placed by us, family friends Annie Lee and Elmer MacDonald, and Don Coutts, Elmer’s nephew, on behalf of the Coutts family.  Don also placed small flags of Canada and Prince Edward Island by his uncle’s grave.

Thank you to Don Coutts for letting us know about his mother’s passing.  Our deepest condolences go to him and his wife Nora, and to his brother Peter and his wife Kathie, and their family.

Do you have a story to tell? Pieter encourages you to email him at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or tweet to @researchmemori1.    

© Daria Valkenburg

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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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