On The War Memorial Trail…..The Bulger Brothers – Part 2:  The WWII Stretcher Bearer From Foxley River Killed During The Battle of Bienen

/ On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria

August 19, 2024. During WWII, the Bulger family of Foxley River, Prince Edward Island, suffered a double tragedy, losing two sons:  Harold ‘Hal’ Gabriel BULGER, who is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Adegem, Belgium, and Lawrence William BULGER, who is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands.

We were aware of Lawrence Bulger from last year’s series on soldiers from the North Nova Scotia Highlanders who lost their lives during the Battle of Bienen on March 25, 1945. Since his name was not on a photo wish list, we didn’t research his story at that time. The date of the Battle of Bienen was significant to Pieter as he was “…exactly one year old when this battle occurred….” and it’s why he made such an effort to research so many of the North Novies that died that day.

….Another story in the Battle of Bienen series….

This year, when we decided to tell the story of one more soldier killed during the Battle of Bienen, we asked Edison Smith for help in contacting a family member for Lawrence Bulger.  Edison’s grandfather, Edison Alexander SMITH, and great-uncle Ralph Schurman BOULTER, both lost their lives in the Battle of Bienen.  Edison put us in contact with Bev Jeffery, niece of the Bulger brothers.

In Part 1 of this two-part series, Hal’s story was told.  (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2024/08/05/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-bulger-brothers-part-i-the-wwii-soldier-from-foxley-river-killed-during-the-battle-of-moerbrugge/).  Now, in Part 2, we tell Lawrence’s story.

To learn more about the Bulger brothers, we were delighted to meet with Bev, the family’s historian, who explained that her “…mother was Harold and Lawrence’s sister Agatha….”

CIMG6828 May 27 2024 Bev Jeffery & Pieter Mill River Resort

Pieter with Bev Jeffery at Mill River Resort in Mill River, Prince Edward Island.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Born May 31, 1924 in Portage, Prince Edward Island, Lawrence was the son of Gabriel and Anne ‘Annie’ Marion (nee Milligan) Bulger of Foxley River, Prince Edward Island.  One of 16 children, Lawrence had two brothers and thirteen sisters. 

Lawrence Bulger with Guitar

Lawrence Bulger with his guitar at home on Prince Edward Island. (Photo courtesy of Bev Jeffery)

…Lawrence enlisted at the age of 17 ….

Before enlisting at the No. 6 District Depot in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, on March 10, 1942, Lawrence had worked on his family’s farm. He’d also worked at J.N. Kenny Contractors, a building contracting firm in Halifax, Nova Scotia until December 24, 1941.  He was only 17 when he enlisted, but tried to get around that by adding a year to his birth year, saying he was born in 1923. 

Lawrence Bulger colourized by RU

Lawrence Bulger, shortly after enlisting in 1942.  (Photo courtesy of Bev Jeffery.  Photo colourization by Pieter Valkenburg)

After completing his basic training at No. 62 Canadian Army (Basic) Training Centre (CABTC) in Charlottetown, Lawrence was transferred to the Princess Louise Fusiliers (Motor), an infantry regiment, in Halifax, Nova Scotia on July 14, 1942.   

Then, on November 21, 1942, his real age was discovered and he was sent to No. 6 District Depot in Halifax while a decision was made about his future in the army.  Lawrence was described as a “…quiet but friendly man...” who was “…accustomed to hard work…” It was also noted that he “…cannot drive a car….” and “…hasn’t had any trades experience of any kind…”  It was recommended that he be given infantry training.

On November 30, 1942, Lawrence was transferred to the Anti-Aircraft Artillery Formation Camp in Bedford, Nova Scotia.  He remained there until September 1, 1943, when he was sent to No. 61 Canadian Army (Basic) Training Centre (CABTC) in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia.  It was the second time he had to go through basic training.

…Lawrence was transferred from the Infantry to the Medical Corps ….

lawrence bulger Sep 1943 colourized

Lawrence Bulger in the fall of 1943.  (Photo courtesy of Bev Jeffery.  Photo colourization by Pieter Valkenburg)

On September 17, 1943, he was reallocated to the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps (RCAMC) and, once his basic training was complete, was transferred to A22 Canadian Army Medical Corps Training Centre in Camp Borden, Ontario on October 6, 1943.  While at Camp Borden, Lawrence received advanced training to prepare him as a stretcher bearer, with three key responsibilities when dealing with the wounded in a war zone: stop the bleeding, treat for shock, and evacuate. 

In an interview on October 26, 1943, it was noted that Lawrence was “…very disappointed about reallocation to RCAMC, as he was enthusiastic about the Infantry.  A sturdy active chap….”

…Lawrence married Violet May Bedgood ….

Violet(Bedgood) & Lawrence Bulger 1943 001

Violet May Bedgood and Lawrence Bulger in 1943.  (Photo courtesy of Bev Jeffery)

Just before his transfer to Camp Borden, Lawrence married Violet May Bedgood in Halifax, Nova Scotia on October 2, 1943, a few days after receiving permission to do so.  According to his application for permission to marry, they had known each other for a year.

Lawrence completed his advanced training in Camp Borden and was deemed ready for overseas service. He was granted special embarkation leave from December 15 to 23, 1943, the last extended period of time to visit with his wife and family.

On January 19, 1944, he was sent to No. 1 Training Brigade in Debert, Nova Scotia, for further training and in preparation for overseas service. 

….Lawrence left Canada for overseas service….

On March 6, 1944, Lawrence left Canada, arriving in the United Kingdom on March 13, 1944, where he was assigned to 1 Canadian General Reinforcement Unit (CGRU).  He was sent for further training while in the United Kingdom and worked as an orderly at No. 18 Canadian General Hospital.

Bev Jeffery had written that Violet was “…pregnant when Lawrence shipped out….” On May 16, 1944, their son Lawrence ‘Larry’ William was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia – a child that Lawrence would never meet in person.

Lawrence was transferred from RCAMC to No. 1 Canadian Infantry Training Regiment (CITR) on December 14, 1944.  As part of the Canadian Infantry Corps, he would be putting his training as a stretcher bearer to use in an infantry regiment in an active war zone.

….Lawrence was transferred to the North Nova Scotia Highlanders….

Screenshot 2022-11-07 at 10-07-46 Bienen

The North Nova Scotia Highlanders made their way from Xanten towards Bienen in Germany in March 1945.  (Map source: Mapcarta)

On February 17, 1945, Lawrence was sent by plane to northwest Europe as part of the CIC-X4 reinforcement troops, and then was assigned to the North Nova Scotia Highlanders on March 11, 1945, joining the Regiment as they left Xanten, Germany for the Reichwald forest.

The Regiment was in the midst of preparations for Operation Plunder, which began March 21, and involved Allied troops crossing the Rhine River to the north of the Ruhr industrial region in western Germany. With aerial and military support, this took place on the night of March 23, 1945 near Rees, a town situated on the right bank of the Rhine River, approximately 20 km (12.4 miles) east of Kleve. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Plunder)

…Lawrence lost his life in the Battle of Bienen ….

On the next afternoon, March 24, 1945, Allied troops encountered fierce German resistance near the village of Bienen. They got as far as Bienen, when troop movement stopped due to blown bridges across the Rhine in that area.

In ‘No Retreating Footsteps’ by Will Bird, he noted that the 7th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders had made “… three attempts …. to capture the village, but they were turned back by very heavy machine gun fire from the front of the village, supported by heavy mortar fire…”

On March 25, 1945, the North Nova Scotia Highlanders reached Bienen, Germany for the climax of 9 Canadian Infantry Brigade’s role in Operation Plunder. The Regiment was tasked with passing through the 7th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders who had been stopped in front of Bienen during the night. 

Bienen was a difficult challenge as the road through it was the only access point.  In ‘No Retreating Footsteps’ author Will Bird explained that it was “… an isthmus of solid land about half a mile wide with one road, the main Rees-Emmerich highway, which passed through Bienen exactly at the narrowest point…”

Aerial Bienen post-war

Post-war aerial of Bienen (view to the southeast towards Rees). The aerial clearly demonstrates the tactical importance of Bienen, laying astride the narrow neck of land. The main road from Rees to Emmerich (nowadays Emmericher Strasse) runs straight through Bienen. (Photo source: http://www.WW2Talk.com and identified as ‘Courtesy Becker’)

March 25, 1945 was Palm Sunday – one week before Easter. The battle began in the morning and didn’t end until late that evening.  Right from the start, troops were pinned down, “…suffering heavy casualties…” per the Regiment’s war diary for that day.  Worse, in terms of communications, “….contact between platoons was next to impossible because of the murderous fire and heavy mortaring….” 

The one day battle proved devastating in terms of casualties, both dead and wounded, as they fought in a deadly battle on open ground.  Among the casualties was 20 year old Lawrence William Bulger.  He was one of several stretcher bearers who lost their lives that day, killed by machine gun fire while attending to the wounded on the battlefield.

….Lawrence is buried in Groesbeek….

Like Clifford BATEMAN, John Joseph BOHON, Ralph Schurman BOULTER, Charles ‘Marshall’ CARSON, Harry William DOUCETTE, Marven Glenroy HARVEY, Kitchener ‘Kitty’ LANGILLE, Marvin William MCGREGOR, Austin Havelock MUNROE, Wilfred ‘Willy’ Joseph POWER, Louis Allan SEXTON, and John Lewis WALLACE, Lawrence was temporarily buried in the military cemetery in Rees, Germany. According to his military file, he was buried on April 5, 1945. The following year he was reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands.

In October 2019, Pieter and I visited the cemetery and placed Canadian and Prince Edward Island flags by Lawrence’s grave.  (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2019/12/04/on-the-war-memorial-trail-our-2019-visit-to-the-canadian-war-cemetery-in-groesbeek/)

CIMG3356 Oct 5 2019 Groesbeek Lawrence Bulger from Daria

Grave of Lawrence William Bulger in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

….Lawrence and his brother Hal are remembered on the Ellerslie Monument….

CIMG6817 May 27 2024 Pieter by Ellerslie Monument - Bulgers

Pieter points to the names of Lawrence and Hal Bulger on the Ellerslie Monument.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

In May 2024 we visited the Ellerslie Monument in Ellerslie, Prince Edward Island, just 13.4 km (8.3 miles) from Foxley River, where the names of Lawrence and his brother Hal, who lost his life on September 10, 1944 during the Battle of Moerbrugge in Belgium, are commemorated.  

This concludes the 2 part series on the Bulger Brothers. Thank you to Bev Jeffery for submitting photos and information on her Uncle Lawrence, and to Edison Smith for contacting the Jeffery family.

Do you have photos or information to share? Email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or tweet to @researchmemori1.

© Daria Valkenburg

….Previous stories about North Novies killed during the Battle of Bienen and buried in Groesbeek….

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