Month: February 2025

On The War Memorial Trail….. The POW Who Raised Horses In PEI Part 3….Three Years In A DP Camp Before Finally Finding Freedom

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Nikola Ostojic. (Photo courtesy of the Nikola Ostojic Family.  Photo colourization by Pieter Valkenburg)

February 28, 2025. In Part 1, the active WWI and WWII military service of Croatian-born Nikola ‘Nick’ OSTOJIC, grandfather of Bedeque resident Liz Hubert, came to a halt when the Royal Yugoslav Army surrendered on April 17, 1941 and Nikola became a prisoner of war in Germany. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/02/20/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-pow-who-raised-horses-in-pei-part-1-the-serbian-colonel-who-was-a-pow-in-oflag-xiii-b/)

In Part 2, Nikola spent 4 years in a German POW camp until he was among the POWs liberated on April 6, 1945 by American troops. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/02/23/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-pow-who-raised-horses-in-pei-part-2-four-years-as-a-pow-in-oflag-xiii-b/)

Now, in Part 3, Nikola’s story concludes with the long road ahead of him before finally finding freedom and a new life in Prince Edward Island, and later Ontario, in Canada. 

….Nikola became a Displaced Person in Austria….

After 4 years in a POW camp, Nikola had to make a decision once he was liberated – whether to return to Serbia – now part of Yugoslavia and under Communist rule, or refuse repatriation.  Nikola refused to be repatriated. 

Map shows location of Hammelburg where Oflag XIII B was located, Moosburg, where the liberated POWs marched towards, and St Johann im Pongau, where Nikola lived in a DP camp.  (Map source: Google maps)

After being liberated from the POW Camp Oflag XIII B on April 6, 1945, it appears that he went his own way, as many former POWs did.  According to a report on the Liberation of Stalag 7A in Moosburg, written by Col. Paul Goode, the Senior American Officer at Oflag XIII B, after liberation, the group of freed POWs “….stayed at Hammelburg about a week, and then was marched to Stalag A, Moosburg.  It took 15 days to cover about 90 miles. There was no particular attempt at control, and escape was extremely easy, and many officers did escape, and many more just wandered off to live in the country and were ultimately picked up by the SS…”

Liz believed that Nikola was among the officers who escaped “….with another officer and was then taken by the British Army….”  No record is left of what his plans were, but perhaps he had intentions of travelling towards Serbia to find his family.  If that was the case, he never got there.

On June 23, 1945 he entered Austria, and 2 days later became a resident of the UNDP-led Camp XVIII C in Markt-Pongau, now known as Sankt Johann im Pongau, a small town south of Salzburg.  According to the information provided when Nikola entered the camp, he spoke Serbo-Croatian, English, German, and Russian. 

As a displaced persons camp in the American Zone, Pongau had a large number of Jewish refugees, as well as former POWs, like Nikola, who didn’t want to be repatriated.  During WWII, it had been Stalag 18 C, a prisoner of war camp. 

The Markt-Pongau POW Camp in May 1945. (Photo source: http://www.stalag18a.org)

After WWII ended, the former Nazi territories had been divided into British, American, and French Zones.  (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allied-occupied_Austria)

Post WWII Austria Occupation Zones. Pongau fell under Salzburg.  (Map source:  https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=95563608)

….Nikola left Continental Europe….

Nikola remained in the camp in Pongau until April 21, 1948, when he was deemed eligible to immigrate to the United Kingdom.

Nikola arrived in Halifax aboard the ‘Neptunia’.  (Photo source: www. http://ssmaritime.com)

On May 24, 1952 he immigrated again, leaving Southampton, England aboard the Greek Line T.S.S. ‘Neptunia’, and arriving in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.  He was 55 years old. 

He most likely had been sponsored by Pero Bulat, who had been born in the same province of Banija, but immigrated to Canada in 1926, and became the publisher of ‘The Voice of Canadian Serbs’. On April 22, 1947, he’d visited Ottawa with Bishop Dionisije Milivojević to ask Canadian authorities to permit 10,000 out of the 80,000 displaced Serbs in Western Europe to enter Canada.  (See https://wikitia.com/wiki/Pero_Bulat)

….Nikola found peace of mind while raising horses….

Nikola (identified by red arrow) in St Peters Bay, Prince Edward Island.  (Photo courtesy of the Nikola Ostojic Family)

Once in Canada, Nikola moved to Prince Edward Island, where he settled on a farm in St Peters Bay, and raised horses. Liz explained that the quieter Island life and working with horses helped him find peace of mind.

He had never forgotten his wife and daughter.  He had “…connected with them only after he arrived to England. Once he got to PEI he sent for them. They traveled via boat to Canada….” said Liz.  “….My mother said they landed in Montreal by boat…”

While Nikola found peace of mind on the Island, his wife Marija found it too quiet. The family moved to Windsor, Ontario, where Pero Bulat lived.  “…In 1962 he was in Windsor.  Pero was very influential and a great supporter of my grandfather…”

Liz recalled that Nikola worked as a bartender into his early 70s, probably at Europe Tavern, one of the many businesses owned by Pero Bulat. Unfortunately, Nikola’s PTSD never left him.  “…Both my grandmother and mother said that his screaming at night never ceased….” 

Nikola died on September 17, 1972 at Hotel Dieu Hospital in Windsor, Ontario, aged 76, and is buried in the Windsor Memorial Gardens.  His 1972 obituary in the ‘Voice of Canadian Serbs’ summed up how so many felt about Nikola.  “….Everyone who knew him, thought that his zest for life, vitality, and physical endurance and strength were invincible…At the cemetery, final words to the Colonel were given by the famous Nationalist Pero Bulat with heartwarming words of the man who arrived in Canada and his lifework: ‘this is how we lost another unbeatable national fighter’….”

….Reflections from Nikola’s granddaughter….

Daria (standing) with Liz Hubert. (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

Researching the story of Nikola Ostojic was done with the active assistance of Liz Hubert and her brother Alexander.  Liz’s reaction was similar to that of what Pieter and I experienced when we researched my father’s WWII story.  “… It was so difficult to see, it’s so real now I feel like I’m living it….” 

As we came to the end of Nikola’s story, Liz expressed her “…reflecting thoughts on this experience with my grandfather….As a child, the towering presence of my Grandfather shone over me like a guiding beacon, inspiring awe and reverence. Throughout this process of discovery of the man he truly was, as an adult, I came to appreciate the complexity, struggles, triumphs, and passions of his life. Understanding him allowed me to understand myself, instilling a sense of responsibility, empathy, and gratitude…” 

Thank you to Liz Hubert for sharing photos and information on her grandfather, and translating his obituary into English. If you have a story or photo to share, please contact Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com or comment on the blog. 

© Daria Valkenburg

 ….Previous stories about WWII POWs….

To read previous stories about WWII POWs see:

 ….Want to follow our research?….

If you are reading this posting, but aren’t following our research, 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 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….. The POW Who Raised Horses In PEI Part 2….Four Years As A POW In Oflag XIII B

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Daria (standing) with Liz Hubert. (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

February 23, 2025. In Part 1, the active WWI and WWII military service of Croatian-born Nikola ‘Nick’ OSTOJIC, grandfather of Bedeque resident Liz Hubert, ended when the Royal Yugoslav Army surrendered on April 17, 1941. Nikola became a prisoner of war in Germany and had a long road ahead of him before finally finding freedom and a new life in Prince Edward Island, and later Ontario, in Canada. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/02/20/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-pow-who-raised-horses-in-pei-part-1-the-serbian-colonel-who-was-a-pow-in-oflag-xiii-b/)

Now, in Part 2, Nikola spent 4 years in a prisoner of war (POW) camp until he was among the POWs liberated on April 6, 1945 by American troops.

Nikola Ostojic. (Photo courtesy of the Nikola Ostojic Family.  Photo colourization by Pieter Valkenburg)

 ….Nikola was a POW in Oflag XIII B in Germany….

Nikola (identified by red arrow) with a group of fellow POWs at the Oflag in Nuremberg. (Photo source: https://krijgsgevangen.nl)

Oflag XIII B, the prisoner of war camp where Nikola spent the remainder of the war years, was originally in the Langwasser district of Nuremberg, Germany.

Oflag XIII B in Nuremberg, Germany, with barracks on either side of the road. (Photo source: https://krijgsgevangen.nl)

Conditions inside the Oflag were not luxurious, as can be seen in the photo below from inside one of the barracks.  The bunks were stacked 3 high, there was a small stove, and a wooden table. 

Inside one of the barracks in Oflag XIII B in Nuremberg, Germany.  (Photo source: https://krijgsgevangen.nl)

….Families of POWs generally received notification….

Liz explained that Nikola’s wife never knew that her husband was a POW.  “…She was told he was dead!…” It may be that she had received word that he was ‘missing and presumed dead’ and never got an update.  Perhaps, given that his homeland was occupied, Nikola did not feel it safe to contact his family.

Normally, families of POWs received a notice, in the language of the prisoner’s nationality, informing that they had been captured, and prisoners were allowed to write to their families.  As an example, Maria Wilhelmina Siersema-van Erp, the wife of Klaas “Niek” Siersema, a Dutch POW in the same Oflag as Nikola, received several notices from her husband, including one dated May 15, 1942.   

The front side of this Dutch notice provided instructions of what should be sent to her husband, including his uniform, hat, overcoat, shoes, underwear, etc., the weight limit accepted, the date it should be sent by, and how to address the parcel. The letter was signed by the prisoner (not shown in the sample below).

Notice to the family of Klaas Siersema on what would be allowed in a package to be sent to him. (Source: https://digitalkinblog.wordpress.com)

On the back side of the notice was an announcement that the Fuhrer of the German Empire had previously approved the release of officers in captivity, but that they were again being taken into custody because of their more recent actions against Nazi efforts.

Announcement with the justification for not releasing captive officers. (Source: https://digitalkinblog.wordpress.com)

A May 29, 1942 postcard from Klaas Siersema, written in German and Dutch, informed his family that he was a POW at the camp, that he was in good health, and advised that mail was not being received on a regular basis due to a camp reorganization. 

May 29, 1942 postcard from Klaas Siersema advising that he was a POW. (Source: https://digitalkinblog.wordpress.com)

…. Oflag XIII B moved from Nuremberg to Hammelburg in April 1943….

Nikola (identified by red arrow) with a group of fellow POWs. (Photo courtesy of the Nikola Ostojic Family.

In April 1943, about 3,000 officers, many who had been, like Nikola, members of the Yugoslavian General Staff, were moved to a site 3 km (1.9 miles) south of the town of Hammelburg, just north of Schweinfurt in Bavaria, Germany.  (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oflag_XIII-B)

Life in the POW camp was difficult, especially given the Nikola was 44 years old at the time of his imprisonment, and not a young man in his early 20s.  His 1972 obituary in the ‘Voice of Canadian Serbs’ noted that he “…endured severe abuse that led to a physical and psychological breakdown. …”

A March 25, 1945 report on conditions in the camp, prepared after a debriefing of the Senior American Officer at the camp, described the food allowed to prisoners: “….The German ration…consisted of coffee for breakfast, soup for lunch, made from barley, oatmeal, meat stock or dried vegetables, and at night the POWs were fed boiled potatoes and 1/10th of a loaf of bread, with a bit of margarine. They received a weekly issue of 4 or 5 tablespoons of sugar, and a small amount of jam once a week.  They were not issued any Red Cross parcels….”

…. Nikola was among the POWs liberated on April 6, 1945….

On April 6, 1945, Nikola was one of 1,300 prisoners of war liberated by the US Army’s 14th Armored Division, 19th Armored Infantry battalion, and tanks from the 47th Medium Tank Battalion, Combat Command B (CCB). 

As troops approached the Oflag, they came under sporadic fire from German machine guns. Infantry from of the 19th found the prison gates and forced an opening into the Oflag where they found a large contingent of Serbian and American officer prisoners.

You can watch a short YouTube video on the liberation here: 

While Nikola had suffered in the POW camp, Nikola’s wife and daughter, who remained at home in Serbia, found themselves in peril when Hungarian troops came to the farm in 1943, raided the farm of supplies, and abused his wife.  It wasn’t until 1945 that they received a letter advising that Nikola had survived the war years.

After 4 years in a POW camp, Nikola had to make a decision once he was liberated – whether to return to Serbia, now part of Yugoslavia and under Communist rule – or refuse repatriation.  In Part 3, Nikola’s story continues as, in a bid for freedom, he next ended up in a displaced persons camp in Austria, before finally immigrating to Canada.

Thank you to Liz Hubert for sharing photos and information on her grandfather, and translating his obituary into English. If you have a story or photo to share, please contact Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com or comment on the blog. 

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?….

If you are reading this posting, but aren’t following our research, 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 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. 

Never miss a posting!  Subscribe below to have each new story from the war memorial trail delivered to your inbox.

On The War Memorial Trail…..The POW Who Raised Horses In PEI Part 1….The Serbian Colonel Who Was A POW In Oflag XIII B

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February 20, 2025. Living on Prince Edward Island, it’s unusual to not only meet someone who has a shared Eastern European heritage, but whose family history was impacted by WWII. My father was taken at age 14 from his home in Western Ukraine to work in Germany and over several years, Pieter and I ‘walked in his footsteps’ in an attempt to understand what he experienced, and documented our findings in a 4 part series that saw him go from Germany to England and then finally to Canada:

My father was in Germany at the same time as Nikola ‘Nick’ OSTOJIC, grandfather of Bedeque resident Liz Hubert. While my teenaged father was a labourer, Liz’s grandfather was a prisoner of war.  After WWII ended, both ended up in displaced persons’ camps before finally finding freedom and a new life in Canada….but neither man was ever freed of the memories of what they had experienced.  

Daria (standing) with Liz Hubert. (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

….Nikola was born in Croatia….

Zirovac (indicated by red marker) is in the Banija region of Croatia, not far from Bosnia and Herzegovina border. (Map source: DuckDuckGo)

Born in the Serbian village of Zirovac, in what is now Croatia, but was then part of Austria-Hungary, on November 1, 1896, Nikola was the son of Mladen and Maria (nee Momic) Ostojic.  His father was an Orthodox bishop and a senator in pre-WWI Croatia.  According to Nikola’s 1972 obituary in the publication ‘Voice of Canadian Serbs’, in a family that had “…produced priests for 300 years…Nikola was supposed to continue the episcopal tradition, but he loved medicine….” (Translation from the original Russian by Liz Hubert)

The oldest child, with 9 younger sisters, Nikola became the head of the family after his father died when he was 18, and his mother died a year later.  Liz proudly noted that her grandfather “…sent money home to his sisters after he joined the army…” and made sure that “…all of his sisters were educated…”

….Nikola’s medical school training was interrupted by WWI….

The ‘Voice of Canadian Serbs’ obituary noted that 19 year old Nikola’s medical school training was interrupted in 1915 when he was “…mobilized by the Austro-Hungarian military…” and sent to a “…school for Officers in the Reserves. Upon completion of training, he was immediately sent in 1916 to the Russian front.  He deserted the Austro-Hungarian Army in Russia and joined the volunteer corps in Odessa, destined for the Salonika Front….”

Serbia had resisted the attacks of the Austro-Hungarian Army in the opening months of the First World War. But, in October 1915, the combined forces of Austria, Germany, and Bulgaria overwhelmed her armies and conquered the country.

As Serbia was an ally of Britain, a multi-national Allied force, under French command, with French, Serbian, British, Russian, and Italian troops, fought against the Bulgarians and their allies in what became known as The Salonika Campaign.

In 1918, when Nikola arrived in Salonika, he was “….deployed to the battle front. As a Major in the 6th division of the Drina Infantry, he participated in the breakthrough of the Salonika front, freeing his homeland…” 

Liz explained that Nikola received the Medal of Honour after being wounded during the rescue of soldiers trapped in trenches.   

The Salonika Campaign ended with an armistice signed by Bulgaria on September 28, 1918, and resulted in the defeat of Bulgaria, the liberation of Serbia and strategic exposure of Austria and Turkey. (For more information on The Salonika Campaign, see https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/salonika-campaign)

Salonika, today known as Thessaloniki, is a port in the northern Greek region of Macedonia, and is a city I’d visited many decades ago after I graduated from university.

….Nikola remained in the military post WWI….

Nikola Ostojic. (Photo courtesy of the Nikola Ostojic Family.  Photo colourization by Pieter Valkenburg)

After WWI ended, Nikola remained in the military, in the Royal Yugoslav Army, which existed from the establishment of Yugoslavia in December 1918 until its surrender on April 17, 1941 to an invading force of Germans, Italians, and Hungarians. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Yugoslav_Army#April_1941_Campaign)

Nikola Ostojic and Marija Lovas on their wedding day in 1938.  (Photo courtesy of the Nikola Ostojic Family)

Before that fateful day, Nikola had married Marija Lovas, who he’d met at a dance, in February 1938. Their daughter Radmilai, Liz’s mother, was born on July 28, 1939.  The family lived on a farm in Backi Petrovic in Serbia, near the Hungarian border.  Liz explained that the farm that Nikola grew up on had been sold prior to WWII after his sisters were no longer living there.

At the time of the surrender of the Royal Yugoslav Army, Nikola, now a Colonel, was, per the ‘Voice of Canadian Serbs’ obituary, on the “…main General Staff in Belgrade where he was serving as the head of a classified Intelligence unit…”

….Nikola became a POW and was sent to Oflag XIII B….

Liz’s research unveiled a Red Cross document summarizing what happened to Nikola when the Royal Yugoslav Army surrendered.  “….The Red Cross filed my Grandfather as captured in Sarajevo on April 17, 1941 and sent to OFLAG XIII B, POW # 99104. At this time he ranked as Pukovnik, which translated into Colonel…. He was captured by the German-Italian Military in Sarajevo…” 

An Oflag was a Prisoner of War (POW) Camp for officers, as opposed to a Stalag, which held mostly enlisted men. Oflag XIII B, opened for Yugoslav officers, was originally in the Langwasser district of Nuremberg.

Oflag XIII B in Nuremberg, Germany. (Photo source: https://krijgsgevangen.nl)

In April 1943, about 3,000 officers, many who had been, like Nikola, members of the Yugoslavian General Staff, were moved to a site 3 km (1.9 miles) south of the town of Hammelburg, just north of Schweinfurt in Bavaria, Germany. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oflag_XIII-B)

Life in the POW camp was difficult, and one that Nikola endured for 4 years.  In Part 2, Nikola’s story continues with his time in the POW camp until the camp was liberated on April 6, 1945 by American troops.

Thank you to Liz Hubert for sharing photos and information on her grandfather, and translating his obituary into English.  If you have a story or photo to share, please contact Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com or comment on the blog. 

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?….

If you are reading this posting, but aren’t following our research, 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 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. 

Never miss a posting!  Subscribe below to have each new story from the war memorial trail delivered to your inbox.

On The War Memorial Trail…..The WWII Soldier From Prince Edward Island Who Lost His Life In Germany Two Days Before His 21st Birthday

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February 12, 2025. Once you visit a Canadian War Cemetery and place down a flag by the grave of a soldier from the province where you live, it stays with you, and makes you wonder about the young man who is buried there. 

In 2017, when we visited the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands, with our friends Ad and Noor Scheepers, we had a list of soldiers from Prince Edward Island buried there, but only knew the story of one, George Preston SMITH, whose name is listed on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion.  (See On the War Memorial Trail ….. At The Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek and On the War Memorial Trail ….. PEI Soldiers Buried In The Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek and https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2018/03/21/another-photo-for-wwii-soldier-george-preston-smith/)

Ad and Noor Scheepers with Pieter (right) by the grave of Arthur Gaudet at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Since then, Pieter has researched and we’ve told the stories of 12 more Islanders buried in that Dutch cemetery. Our 14th story is about Arthur GAUDET of Mount Carmel, Prince Edward Island.  While Arthur had been on the list of Islanders buried in Groesbeek, he was not on the cemetery’s photo wish list as they had a photo of him. 

15 Pointe is a cape not far from Mount Carmel, Prince Edward Island.  (Map source: https://www.geodata.us/canada_names_maps)

Born February 28, 1924 in 15 Pointe, near Mount Carmel, Prince Edward Island, Arthur was the son of Joseph Stanley and Mary Jacqueline Gaudet.  He was one of 10 children, 8 of them still alive at the time that he enlisted at the No. 5 District Depot in Quebec City, Quebec on July 24, 1942.  His three older brothers were also in the Canadian Army.

Arthur Gaudet. (Photo courtesy of Alice van Bekkum, Chair of the Faces To Graves Foundation Groesbeek)

According to his Personnel Selection Record, Arthur spoke English, not French, and had completed Grade 9.  He was working as a labourer for the PEI Bag Company. (See https://atlanticbusinessmagazine.ca/web-exclusives/89-years-in-the-bag-and-counting-for-p-e-i-bag-company/)

After completing his basic training, Arthur was sent to No. 22 Canadian Army Educational (Basic) Training Centre in North Bay, Ontario on September 19, 1942.

He remained there until December 2, 1942, when he was transferred to A1 Canadian Artillery Training Centre (CATC) in Camp Petawawa, Ontario, for training as a gunner.  While still at A1 CATC, he qualified as a Driver i/c Class III wheeled vehicles on January 29, 1943. (The term ‘Driver i/c’ refers to ‘Driver, internal combustion’.  Class III meant he was qualified to drive heavy trucks and armoured cars, but not tanks.)

On February 8, 1943, he was granted embarkation leave until February 21, 1943, the last chance he would have to see his family before going overseas.

….Arthur left Canada for overseas service….

On March 24, 1943, Arthur left Canada for the United Kingdom.  Upon arriving on March 31, 1943 he was assigned to No. 3 Canadian Artillery Reinforcement Unit (CARU). 

On June 18, 1943, Arthur was transferred to No. 3 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery for Light Machine-Gun and Rifle training, and undertook various Tests of Elementary Training (TOET).

Arthur was allocated to the X-4 Reinforcement List of the Canadian Infantry Corps (CIC), part of the 10th Battalion, 21st Army Group, on June 21, 1944, in preparation for going to North West Europe.

….Arthur was transferred to Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal….

Arthur Gaudet joined Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal near Etavaux, France, indicated by the large red marker.  (Map source: Google maps)

On July 22, 1944 he left the United Kingdom for France, arriving a day later. On July 25, 1944, he was transferred to Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal, joining them in an area behind Etavaux in Normandy, France.

The Regiment remained in France until September 9, 1944 when it moved into Belgium.  Arthur received a promotion to Acting Corporal a few days later, on September 12, 1944.

.….Arthur was badly wounded during the Battle of the Scheldt ….

Map shows location of Kapellen and Brasschaat, not far from Antwerp in Belgium.  (Map source: DuckDuckGo)

On October 2, 1944, the Battle of the Scheldt began and involved Canadian forces advancing through northern Belgium, including areas like Kapellen, to clear German defenses and secure access to the port of Antwerp.

The municipality of Kapellen, in Belgium, was liberated on October 4, 1944 by Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal. The war diary entry for October 4, 1944 for Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal confirmed this.  “…Advance up to Brasschaat.  In the afternoon, advance towards Cappellan, which we taken, then sweep towards north-east of town.  Positions at night, anti-tank ditch 2 miles from Cappellan…”   Cappellan is the old spelling of Kapellen.

Arthur, who was in ‘A’ Company, was wounded by a bullet in the shoulder on October 5, 1944 and was evacuated to No. 9 Canadian General Hospital (CGH) in Horsham, England.  After a recuperation period of three months, Arthur left the United Kingdom on January 10, 1945, returning to Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal 2 days later.  He joined them in Mook, The Netherlands, which is near Nijmegen.

.….Arthur lost his life during Operation Blockbuster ….

By February 17, 1945, the Regiment was in Germany, in place for Operation Blockbuster, as part of the 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade, along with several other Canadian Regiments. The Operation was to begin at dawn on February 26, 1945. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Blockbuster)

Arthur Gaudet lost his life during a battle near Kalkar, Germany.  (Map source: DuckDuckGo)

On February 25, 1945, the war diary for Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal recorded that during a briefing of troops for Operation Blockbuster, the brigade’s task was “…to capture high ground west of Kalkar. The attack is to be made at night with troops mounted on tanks….”  Kalkar is a municipality in the district of Kleve, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, and is located near the Rhine River.

The war diary for February 26, 1945 described what happened.  “….The attack commenced at 0400 hrs under cover of an artillery barrage. Camerons of Canada regiment on our right encountered mines a few hundred yards from the FDL’s which caused the Commander’s tank to be knocked out resulting in considerable confusion. South Saskatchewan regiment on our left and our Battalion reached the objective…”  FDL refers to the French acronym for Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal.

During the February 26, 1945 attack, Arthur was wounded and died later that day.  He was two days short of his 21st birthday!

Arthur lost his life about a week before another soldier in the same Regiment, Joseph ‘Albert Noel’ LAMONTAGNE, whose story was previously told, lost his on March 3, 1945. See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/02/05/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-soldier-from-saint-basile-who-lost-his-life-during-the-advance-towards-xanten/

.….11 other soldiers died on February 26, 1945….

Arthur was one of 12 members of Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal who lost their lives on February 26, 1945.  The other 11 were:

  • Private Rosaire BELLERIVE of Ste Flore, Quebec, aged 19
  • Private Romeo BENOIT of Montreal, Quebec, aged 41
  • Private Joseph Wilfrid Rheal GUERTIN of Moose Creek, Ontario, aged 19
  • Private Marcel LAVIGNE of Henri, Montreal, Quebec, aged 19
  • Private Maurice PAQUETTE of Sherbrooke, Quebec, aged 22
  • Lieutenant Ovide Joseph PAQUETTE of North Bay, Ontario, aged 24
  • Private Paul Eugene PARENT of St. Honore, Beauce County, Quebec, aged 24
  • Private Alphie Raymond PELTIER, born in Chatham, Ontario, aged 30
  • Private Jean Marie ST ONGE of Amqui, Quebec, aged 23
  • Lieutenant Robert TALBOT of Quebec City, Quebec, aged 25
  • Private Vincent THIBODEAU of Maria, Bonaventure County, Quebec, aged 24

.….Arthur is buried in Groesbeek….

Arthur was initially buried in the Canadian Military Cemetery in Bedburg, Germany, before being reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands. 

Grave of Arthur Gaudet in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Thank you to Alice van Bekkum, Chair of the Faces To Graves Foundation Groesbeek, for sending Pieter that initial list of soldiers from Prince Edward Island who are buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands.  If you have a story or photo to share, please contact Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com or comment on the blog. 

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?….

If you are reading this posting, but aren’t following our research, 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 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….. The WWII Soldier From Saint-Basile Who Lost His Life During The Advance Towards Xanten

/ On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 4 Comments

February 5, 2025. We never know what a photo search might lead to once Pieter begins researching a soldier. In the case of a WWII soldier listed as being from New Brunswick, the search led to his birth in the province of Quebec, to his enlistment in Ontario, to the widow of his nephew, and finally to a Legion in New Brunswick where a shadow box with photos had been donated.

Joseph ‘Albert Noel’ LAMONTAGNE was born on December 25, 1918 in Saint-Basile, Quebec, the son of Joseph Lamontagne and Marie ‘Alexina’ Jacques. Saint-Basile is in Portneuf Regional County Municipality in Quebec, past Quebec City.  To our surprise, we realized we’d driven past the turn-off to Saint-Basile every time we travelled between our home in Prince Edward Island and Ottawa, Ontario!

Albert Noel Lamontagne was born in Saint-Basile, Quebec.  (Map source: Mapcarta)

…..Albert Noel enlisted under the NRMA in 1942….

Albert Noel originally enlisted under the National Resources Mobilization Act (NRMA) in North Bay, Ontario on January 8, 1942 and began basic training at No. 2 NRMA Clearing Depot, before joining the active army on January 20, 1942.   He took his basic training at No. 22 Canadian Army Basic Training Centre in North Bay. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Resources_Mobilization_Act)

Albert Noel Lamontagne in training.  (Photo courtesy of the Albert Joseph Chevarie Family)

At the time of his enlistment, he had been working as a labourer, having left school after completing Grade 3 in Quebec City.  He spoke French and had a basic knowledge of English. His father had died in 1920, and his mother had remarried, in 1928, to Emilien Chevarie.  His brother, Paul-Emile, was also in the Canadian Army. As well, he had a sister Rose-Aimée, a half-brother George, and a half-sister Juliette.

  ….George Chevarie’s son was the key to finding a photo of Albert Noel….

It was through Albert Noel’s half-brother, George Chevarie, that a photo of Albert Noel was found.  George’s son, Albert Joseph, had died in 2020. However, after Pieter spoke to Joyce Chevarie, the widow of Albert Joseph Chevarie, she told him that her husband had donated a shadow box with a photo of Albert Noel, a letter, and his medals to the Royal Canadian Legion branch in Richibucto, New Brunswick.

Pieter then got in contact with the Legion in Richibucto.  Legion Branch president Malcolm John took everything out of the shadow box donated by the family of Albert Chevarie, photographed each item, and emailed the photos to Pieter!  The next time we were in New Brunswick, we visited the Legion and met Malcolm.

Pieter with Malcolm John (right), President of the Richibucto Legion in New Brunswick.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

….Albert Noel served in Newfoundland….

On March 12, 1942, Albert Noel was sent to A23 Coast Defence and Anti-Aircraft Artillery Advanced Training Centre (CD & AA) in Halifax, Nova Scotia.  A23 was a Coast and Anti-Aircraft Artillery Training Centre established to train coast and anti-aircraft gunners.

Upon completing his training, Albert Noel was given embarkation leave on May 5, 1942, prior to being posted to Newfoundland with the 106th Coast Battery of the Royal Canadian Artillery (RCA) on June 1, 1942.  The Battery was part of Atlantic Command, tasked with strengthening and administering home defence facilities on Canada’s Atlantic Coast. 

Albert Noel was in Botwood, at a Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) base, which had aircraft patrolling the east coast of the Atlantic. Canadian Army personnel based at Botwood were charged with protection of military facilities that had been installed there. (See https://www.heritage.nf.ca/articles/politics/botwood-base.php)

Location of Botwood Military Base in Newfoundland. (Map source: http://postalhistorycorner.blogspot.com/2012/12/wwii-canadian-forces-in-newfoundland.html)

Albert Noel was in Newfoundland at the same time as two other soldiers whose stories have been told on this blog:

….Albert Noel volunteered for paratroop training….

In an interview for his Personnel Selection Record on September 30, 1943, while at Botwood, Albert Noel volunteered for Paratroop Training.  The interviewer recorded that Albert Noel “….has a good training record and seems a very dependable, reliable type, although badly handicapped by lack of education. Not suitable for Paratroops under present regulations which require Grade VI education…”  Albert Noel had only completed Grade 3.

On February 14, 1944, Albert Noel left Newfoundland for Shelburne, Nova Scotia and was transferred to the 104th Coast Battery of the Royal Canadian Artillery (RCA).

On May 1, 1944, Albert Noel was assigned to No. 1 Transit Camp in Windsor, Nova Scotia for final training and preparation before being sent overseas.  He then was transferred to No. 1 Infantry Training Battalion in Camp Debert, Nova Scotia on June 8, 1944.

While at No. 1 Infantry Training Battalion, he was re-interviewed on June 28, 1944 and again volunteered for Paratroop Training.  The response was the same: “…not suitable for Paratroops.  His education is lacking…”

On July 21, 1944, Albert Noel was sent to the Training Brigade Group in Debert, and granted 2 weeks embarkation leave, the last chance he had to see his family again.

Albert Noel Lamontagne in dress uniform.  (Photo courtesy of the Albert Joseph Chevarie Family)

….Albert Noel’s mother tried to have him released….

The embarkation leave in July must have been bittersweet, as after the death of Albert Noel’s stepfather in April 1944, his mother, who was living in St. Charles, New Brunswick, had contacted the Military Authorities in June 1944, asking that her son be returned home. 

She was interviewed on June 21, 1944 and explained that “….I am left alone with two children, one boy George Chevarie, 14 years of age, and one girl Julia Chevarie, 11 years of age…..The reason I want my son to come home is because I am sick, suffering from liver trouble…”

Although Mrs Chevarie had acute hepatitis and was unable to work, the military did not consider this grounds to release Albert Noel.  The report stated that her doctor was consulted, and in his opinion her son “…could not help her much, insofar as her sickness goes…” 

Therefore, the report concluded that “…if her son was home he could not help her very much, other than financial circumstances…” It was further pointed out that Mrs Chevarie was already was receiving a Dependents’ Allowance. Albert Noel remained in the Canadian Army.

….Albert Noel left Canada for overseas service….

On September 2, 1944, Albert Noel left Canada for the United Kingdom. Upon arriving on September 6, 1944 he was assigned to No. 3 Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit (CIRU). 

He continued his training for a few weeks before being transferred to the X-4 reinforcement list of the Canadian Infantry Corps (CIC), part of the 10th Battalion, on October 7, 1944.  The next day he was on his way to Northwest Europe, disembarking on October 9, 1944.

….Albert Noel was transferred to Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal….

Albert Noel joined Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal in Noordeinde, The Netherlands. (Map source: DuckDuckGo)

On October 18, 1944, Albert Noel was transferred to ‘C’ Company of Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal, joining them in Noordeinde, The Netherlands.

Then, on December 14, 1944, Albert Noel received a promotion, from Private to Lance Corporal. On February 15, 1945, he was promoted again, to Acting Corporal.

.….The battle to clear Xanten began in early March 1945 ….

By February 17, 1945, the Regiment was in Germany, in place for the Battle of Hochwald Gap, part of Operation Blockbuster, as part of the 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade, along with several other Canadian Regiments.  This offensive began on February 28, 1945 to clear the Germans from the Reichswald, a heavily forested area between the Maas and the Rhine Rivers, driving them back over the Rhine, taking the fight well into German territory.

On March 1, 1945 the war diary for the 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade stated that “…the task of clearing the high ground south of Calcar was completed…..Relief of 10 Canadian Infantry Brigade commenced at 0400 hours. Some mortaring and shelling reported during the takeover but relief completed by first light…”

This account matched the March 1, 1945 entry in the war diary for Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal. “….Battalion moves to a concentration …” near “….ESSEN to relieve 10 Cdn Inf Bde at first light 2 March 45…”

An update in the March 2 1945 war diary explained that “…6 Cdn Inf Bde relieves the Argyle and Sutherland Regiment which has been taking a severe beating by both small arms and gun fire which continue as we get in position with our companies…Enemy resistance is very stubborn and a screen of TIGERS and Self Propelled guns is reported….”

Sharon Adams wrote in the March 2022 Legion Magazine’s article ‘The Taking Of Xanten’ that  “…In early March, the Canadians were assigned to take Xanten, established by the Romans in about 15 B.C. and the place from which the German 256th Infantry Division launched its 1940 invasion of the Netherlands.

It began with opening approaches to the town by Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal. Resistance was stiff. On March 3, a direct hit took out the wireless radio set and operator in the lead company…”

.….Albert Noel lost his life on March 3, 1945 ….

The war diary for March 3, 1945 for the 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade reported that it was raining as troops moved into position.  “…Going was very hard due to the rise in ground, heavy growth of trees, and the well dug in positions of the enemy.  The enemy within the forest is not strong in numbers but equipped with many automatic weapons….

The Fusiliers Mont-Royal started on their way at 1400 hours.  Going was very hard with the advance being hampered by heavy shelling and mortaring from the south east….”

The March 3, 1945 war diary entry for Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal confirmed the challenges they faced. “….Enemy, although offering stubborn resistance in the gap, is reported to be withdrawing over the RHINE. Tac R reports the road Geldern – Wesel jammed with traffic moving north east and ferries at Wesel and Xanten very active. Enemy must hold line in front of Xanten until last possible moment to protect escape routes.

Muddy condition of country renders support task of tanks very difficult. Evacuation of wounded and transportation of rations to forward troops is a problem….”

At some point during March 3, 1945, Albert Noel lost his life during the battle, aged 26, one of 8 fatal casualties of the Regiment.  The other 7 men who died that day were:

  • Lionel BEAUDOIN of Magog, Quebec, aged 20
  • Wilbert FIOLA of Verdun, Quebec, aged 19
  • Henry Edward LACELLE of Massey, Ontario, aged 27
  • Lucien Joseph MASSON of Callender, Ontario, aged 25
  • Gerard PAQUETTE of Montreal, Quebec, aged 22
  • Roger TAILLEFER of Montreal, Quebec, aged 18
  • Philias ZASTE of Rose du Lac, Manitoba, aged 21

.….Albert Noel is buried in Groesbeek….

Albert Noel was initially buried in the Canadian Military Cemetery in Bedburg, Germany, before being reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands. 

The original grave for Albert Noel Lamontagne at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek. (Photo courtesy of the Albert Joseph Chevarie Family)

Grave of Albert Noel Lamontagne in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands.  (Photo source: Find A Grave)

Thank you to Joyce Chevarie for letting us know where to find a photo, to Malcolm John, President of RCL 30 in Richibuto for sharing the photos of Albert Noel Lamontagne, and to Shawn Rainville for newspaper research. If you have a story or photo to share, please contact Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com or comment on the blog. 

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?….

If you are reading this posting, but aren’t following our research, 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 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. 

Never miss a posting!  Subscribe below to have each new story from the war memorial trail delivered to your inbox.