Holten Heroes’ by Jan Braakman, translated by Pieter and Daria Valkenburg
November 1, 2023. A new book, published in English on October 27, 2023 was translated by us – Daria and Pieter Valkenburg. ‘Holten Heroes: Stories from a Canadian Field of Honour’ by Jan Braakman, was translated from the original Dutch book that Jan wrote: ‘Holtense Canadezen’.
Here is an excerpt from the media release:
Holten Heroes: Stories from a Canadian Field of Honour
– A book that pays tribute to Canadian soldiers
Tucked away in the rolling hills of the Dutch province of Overijssel is the Holten field of honour for Canadian soldiers who lost their lives in World War II.
For the first time since the cemetery was established, the buried soldiers are being honoured in a book: Holten Heroes: Stories from a Canadian Field of Honour. Holten Heroes describes the genesis of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery in Holten and tells stories of the soldiers buried there.
In 155 pages, the book takes you through the incredible journey Canadian soldiers made from Dieppe to German prisoner-of-war camps, you learn about the hardships they lived under, you read about the opposition they encountered during the liberation of The Netherlands and you become part of the grief felt by those left behind.
The book about the Holten cemetery marks the connection between Canada and The Netherlands since Canadian soldiers liberated the country from the Nazis in the spring of 1945.
The liberation of The Netherlands brought joy and sorrow. The Dutch people were delirious with joy when Canadian heroes gave them back their freedom. But that did not come without the sacrifice of thousands of lives Canadian young men who still had a bright future ahead.
They are the heroes to whom the book Holten Heroes pays tribute. The names of all of them are mentioned in Holten Heroes, many of them with a photo from the collection of the Canadian Cemetery Information Centre (ICB) in Holten. The book is a valuable gem for all bereaved Canadians.
The book’s sales will benefit the work of the Canadian Cemetery Information Centre (ICB) in Holten.
…..A bit about the author and translators….
Jan Braakman. (Photo credit: Paulus Maessen)
The Author: Jan Braakman (b. 1960) is a Dutch investigative journalist, and the author of several books in Dutch.
In 2012, his book The War in the Corner was published in Canada. During his research he discovered the truth behind the arrest that led to the death of his grandfather in 1944 in the concentration camp, Neuengamme, near Hamburg.
He has been working as a volunteer researcher for the Information Centre Canadian War Cemetery in Holten since 2014. In 2019, he produced the documentary Lest We Forget featuring Canadian bereaved families, who told of their loved ones buried in Holten (with Sander Jongsma, RTV Oost).
Daria and Pieter Valkenburg (Photo credit: Karen McKay)
The Translators: Canadian born Daria Valkenburg is a retired accountant, adult education instructor, and writer whose work has been published in several newspapers and journals. The Netherlands born Pieter Valkenburg served in the Dutch Air Force before going on to a career in the Dutch Foreign Service and 10 postings around the world. Pieter has been a volunteer researcher for the Information Centre Canadian War Cemetery in Holten since the fall of 2014.
Daria and Pieter’s research into Canadian soldiers is documented on this blog and in the ‘On The War Memorial Trail’ column in the ‘County Line Courier’, a newspaper on Prince Edward Island. Daria is also the author of ‘No Soldier Buried Overseas Should Ever Be Forgotten’ (https://nosoldierforgotten.com/).
…..Where is the book available?….
‘Holten Heroes: Stories from a Canadian Field of Honour’ is available through Amazon, and at the Cemetery’s Information Centre.
Please see the Amazon Canada entry for more information: https://www.amazon.ca/Holten-Heroes-Stories-Canadian-Honour/dp/B0CM25LRD3/ref=sr_1_1?crid=QEQCI0LBFLPK&keywords=holten+heroes&qid=1698840141&sprefix=holten+heroes%2Caps%2C207&sr=8-1
Do you have a story to tell? Email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or send a tweet to @researchmemori1.
© Daria Valkenburg
…Want to follow our research?….
If you are reading this posting, but aren’t following the blog, you are welcome to do so. Our blog address: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/
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 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.
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On The War Memorial Trail Research Project........ with Pieter and Daria Valkenburg 
Hello
By Dad’s Sergeant, Earl H. Carlbom from Sioux Lookout, Ontario, is buried in Holten.
My Dad, Lieutenant G. Calvin Banks (Lake Superior Regiment (Motor), 4th Armoured Brigade and Division) led a patrol across the Maas River the night of February 15th 1945 to rescue some soldiers who had not returned from a similar patrol the night before.
The Germans were expecting them and my Dad’s patrol was ambushed. Sergeant Carlbom died from his wounds and my Dad was severely wounded but recovered in a German POW hospital in Holland.
Mitch Banks
Burlington ON
Canada
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Dear Mitch, thank you for sharing this story about your father, Lt Calvin Banks, and his Sergeant, Earl Carlbom. You will be interested to know that this incident is related in Jan Braakman’s book. We are so glad to learn that your father survived and returned home…. Daria and Pieter
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Hello Daria and Peter
I am glad that we have made this contact.
I have ordered the book and am really looking forward to reading all of this Canadian/Dutch history and am so very pleased that my Dad’s and Earl’s story is included. It is a small world.
As an aside my Dad married my English/Londoner Mother in April 1944. She was one of the almost 45,000 English War Brides who emigrated to Canada after the war.
Regards
Mitch Banks
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Thank you for your reply, Mitch. Your parents must have shared some great stories with you about how they met and your mother’s experience as a war bride. You’ll enjoy the stories in the book. As your Dad returned home, you may be able to add to the story about your Dad and Earl, with more information than was available in the service files. Do please stay in touch. All the best, Pieter and Daria
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