Month: July 2025

On The War Memorial Trail…..Found – Engine Part From The Last Flight Of Halifax L9561

/ On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 3 Comments

Politiek Farm on the left with the village of Wons on the right. (Photo courtesy of Remko de Jong)

July 29, 2025.  After visiting 4 cemeteries in Friesland on the last day of April during our 2025 European War Memorial Tour, we were hot and tired, and faced a long drive back to where we were staying.  (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/07/23/on-the-war-memorial-trail-our-visit-to-4-cemeteries-in-friesland/)

However, we continued on to the village of Bolsward, as Makkum resident Remko de Jong had been informed that part of the engine from the last flight of Halifax L9561, which had been found on the Politiek Farm in Wons, was being displayed at an exhibition in the De Tiid (The Times) Museum in Bolsward. 

Map shows the location of the Politiek farm, the crash site where Halifax L9561 came down, and location of the Memorial Panel placed in 2019 in Wons.  (Map courtesy of Remko de Jong)

When we were at Harlingen General Cemetery earlier that day, we placed flags at the grave of RCAF Flight Sergeant Elmer Bagnall MUTTART of Cape Traverse, Prince Edward Island, who died on the night of October 12, 1941, at the age of 23, when the plane he was piloting was attacked by German nightfighters, and crashed near the village of Wons.  Elmer’s story has been well documented on this blog over the past years. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2017/07/28/the-elmer-bagnall-muttart-story/)

The burning plane had crashed on the Politiek Farm, which we had visited in 2017. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2018/02/07/on-the-war-memorial-trail-at-the-politiek-farm-in-wons/)

….Part of the engine from Halifax L9561 was found in 2023…

On October 22, 2023, Remko de Jong had sent photos, informing Pieter of a surprise discovery….. A piece of the engine from the last flight of Halifax L9561 had been found on the Politek farm in Wons. “… This is the front section attached to the main engine with the three propeller blades. … This engine was found five weeks ago on the land where Elmer Muttart’s Halifax crashed….I don’t yet know what will happen to it or where it will be displayed….”  (NOTE: Translation from the original Dutch)

Engine part from Halifax L9561 found on the Politiek farm in 2023.  (Photo courtesy of Remko de Jong)

On October 30, 2023, Douwe Drijver of the Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation informed Pieter that “…Mr. Cor Politiek from Wons recently informed us that a part of the Halifax had been found….” After photos were received, they were able to “….determine what was pulled from the clay. It’s the transmission from the engine to one of the propellers. The three blades were attached to this….”  (NOTE: Translation from the original Dutch) 

Any excitement about the find was tempered by uncertainty as to what would happen next. “…. If these are found at a depth of more than 30 centimetres, they are considered archaeological finds. This means they must be reported to the municipality or province. Mr. Politiek has since arranged this. There is now a chance that the transmission will be confiscated. Because the municipality responded with understanding, I advised everyone to do business with them….”  (NOTE: 30 cm is 11.8 inches)

….The engine part was sent to a museum in Bolsward…

Remko explained that the part had been found while using a metal detector, and that it was “….buried 1 to ½ metres below the ground…” on the Politiek farm.  “…Because of the depth at which the engine part was found, it was deemed the property of the province and therefore had to be sent to the museum in Bolsward….”  (NOTE: Translation from the original Dutch)

We heard nothing more about the find until this year, when Remko was informed that the engine would be displayed in an air exhibition at the regional museum in Bolsward towards the end of April.  He made an appointment for the three of us to visit the museum and to meet with the curator, as it turned out that no one in the museum was aware of the heroism displayed by Elmer Muttart in saving his crew and the village of Wons …. at the expense of his own life. 

Before we left for our trip, we shared the short documentary we’d made about the events that led up to a memorial panel being placed in Wons…..and we brought newspaper articles for the museum to have in its collection. See ‘He Died That We Might Live …the story of Halifax L9561(S1E2)’ …..

….The engine part was not on display in Bolsward…

When we arrived at the De Tiid Museum in Bolsward, we were met with disappointment.  The Air Exhibition did not display the engine part, nor did we see the curator.  Instead, one of the archivists, Nena Huizinga, came and showed us the engine part – which was on the floor in a closet, and not on display.

Nena Huizinga with Remko de Jong and Pieter beside the engine part sitting on the floor of a closet in De Tiid Museum in Bolsward.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Sketch of the engine part from Halifax L9561, as drawn by Daria Valkenburg

Nena explained that she had watched the video, and was interested in the newspaper articles, as the story about Halifax L9561 was not one that the archivists at the museum were familiar with.  She didn’t know why the engine part was not part of the Air Exhibition, but said she would find out what happened.

Pieter explaining to Nena Huizinga how the plane came down just outside Wons.  (Photo credit: Daria  Valkenburg)

….An explanation on why the engine part was not on display…

The next day, we received an email from Nena about the engine part and why it was sitting in a closet.  “….Today I asked the museum….why the engine block was not on display.…” It had originally been part of the Air Exhibition, but “…apparently it was too heavy and the engine block had fallen through the museum furniture….” on which it had been displayed.  “….It was also leaking oil….”  (NOTE: Translation from the original Dutch) 

She went on to explain that “…next week they will look at it again, and hope to find a solution so that it can still be included in the exhibition….” Remko is actively following up on this story but unfortunately, almost 3 months after our visit, the engine part is still not on display. 

This concluded our visit to Friesland.  We’ll continue to share the highlights of our adventures on the 2025 European War Memorial Trail on our journey of remembrance. 

The research work continues for Pieter. If you have photos or information to share about soldiers buried in The Netherlands or Belgium, please email him 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/

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…..Our Visit To 4 Cemeteries In Friesland

/ On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 2 Comments

July 23, 2025.  On a scorching hot sunny day, we travelled 2 hours to the province of Friesland, where we had planned to place flags at 4 cemeteries and to meet with Remko de Jong, a resident of Makkum, who coordinates the Christmas Eve Candle Lighting ceremony in his village and has shared photos with us for several years. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/12/31/2023-christmas-eve-candle-lighting-in-the-netherlands/)

….Flags placed at 11 graves in Harlingen General Cemetery…

Our first stop on the war memorial trail in Friesland was at Harlingen General Cemetery in Harlingen, where we placed flags at 11 graves, 9 of them the graves of Canadian airmen. 

Daria at Harlingen General Cemetery.  (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

Pieter snapped the above photo of me at Harlingen General Cemetery, one of the 4 small cemeteries we visited today in the province of Friesland.  You can see me with a clipboard with names of the men and the provinces they came from so we knew which graves to visit and which provincial flags to place.

Pieter placing flags of Canada and Prince Edward Island at the grave of Elmer Bagnall Muttart. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Our main reason for the trip to this cemetery was to place flags at the grave of RCAF Flight Sergeant Elmer Bagnall MUTTART of Cape Traverse, Prince Edward Island, who died on the night of October 12, 1941, at the age of 23, when the plane he was piloting was attacked by German nightfighters, and crashed near the village of Wons.  Elmer’s story has been well documented on this blog over the past years. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2017/07/28/the-elmer-bagnall-muttart-story/)

Grave of Elmer Bagnall Muttart.  (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

We also placed flags at the grave of an unknown airman, in tribute to Rowan Charles ‘Bunky’ FITZGERALD of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, who lost his life on June 28, 1942, when the plane he was on was attacked and crashed into the sea.  His body has never been identified.  It’s not known if he’s buried in an unknown grave in this cemetery, but we lay flags there as one crew member from Australia was identified and is buried in the row behind Elmer Muttart. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/10/12/on-the-war-memorial-trail-well-never-forget-uncle-bunky/)

We placed flags of Canada and Prince Edward Island at this unknown grave in honour of Rowan Charles ‘Bunky’ FitzGerald.  (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

In addition to visiting these two graves, we also placed flags at the graves of:

  • William Raymond James BROWN of Vancouver, British Columbia, died September 29, 1941 while serving in the RCAF
  • Donald Edward CAMPBELL of Rouleau, Saskatchewan, died June 26, 1943 while serving in the RCAF
  • Francis Arthur DAVIEAUX of Sioux Ste Marie, Ontario, died July 14, 1945 while serving in the Ontario Regiment
  • James MCDOWELL of Port Arthur (now part of Thunder Bay), Ontario, died May 16, 1943 while serving in the RCAF
  • Murray Hudley NESBITT of Toronto, Ontario, died May 13, 1943 while serving in the RCAF
  • John Beverley PLEASENCE of Chatham, Ontario, died July 22, 1942 while serving in the RCAF
  • William Maurice POPPLESTONE of Pilot Mound, Manitoba, died March 26, 1942 while serving in the RCAF
  • Thomas ‘Tommy’ Clayton REID of Toronto, Ontario, died July 22, 1945 while serving in the Sherbrooke Fusiliers
  • Robert WISHART of Hamilton, Ontario, died July 22, 1942 while serving in the RCAF

From Harlingen, we went towards Makkum, stopping at the Halifax L9561 Memorial Panel in Wons to place flags of Canada and Prince Edward Island in honour of the flight’s pilot and sole fatality, Elmer Bagnall MUTTART. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2019/11/18/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-memorial-panel-in-wons-is-unveiled/)

Pieter at the Memorial Panel in Wons, honouring the crew of the last flight of Halifax L9561.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

…..Flags placed at two graves in Makkum…

In Makkum we met with Remko de Jong for lunch, and he joined us in visiting the next 3 cemeteries.  First up was the Donia Protestant Church Cemetery (also known as Wonseradeel (Makkum) Protestant Churchyard) in Makkum.

38 airmen are buried in this cemetery, which is located by Lake Ijsselmeer in the province of Friesland.  Most of the airmen’s bodies were recovered from the foot of the dikes surrounding Makkum, pushed there from the sea by winds blowing in from the southwest. Others were recovered by fishermen from Makkum who brought the corpses to their home port for burial.  (See https://www.zzairwar.nl/dossiers/954.html for more information.)

One of the airmen buried in Makkum is RCAF Flying Officer John Francis Edward TABOR of Ottawa, Ontario, who lost his life when the plane he was in, Halifax LK879 crashed at sea on the night of December 16, 1944 into December 17, 1944.  Remko mentioned that he had a very poor quality photo of this airman and asked for help in finding a better photo.  Pieter will have to add this request to his research list!

Another of the Canadian airmen buried in Makkum is RCAF Air Gunner Sgt George David NISBET of Conquest, Saskatchewan, whose body was recovered from the sea on June 7, 1944, after being reported missing on May 24.  He was aboard flight Halifax W1217 which was shot down by a nightfighter.

….We placed flags at one grave in Witmarsum…

Remko de Jong and Pieter at the grave of Stanley Adolfson Bishop. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

From Makkum we travelled to the village of Witmarsum. Our destination was the Wonseradeel (Witmarsum) Protestant Churchyard, where we placed flags at the grave of Stanley Adolfson BISHOP of Quebec, an RCAF Flying Officer serving with 100 Squadron of the Royal Air Force, died May 28, 1943, aged 26, when Lancaster III ED821 HW-A was shot down over The Netherlands by a night fighter. Six of the crew perished, with one survivor who became a prisoner of war.

…..Flags placed at two graves in Kimswerd…

Pieter outside Laurentiuskerk, where the cemetery in Kimswerd is located.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Our last cemetery stop was in the village of Kimswerd, to place flags at the graves of two airmen from 101 (RAF) Squadron, buried in the poorly maintained Wonseradeel (Kimswerd) Protestant Churchyard.  Both men were aboard Wellington III X3654 SR-K, in which all 6 crew members lost their lives.  

Thomas MCBRIDE of British Columbia, an RCAF Warrant Officer serving with 101 Squadron of the Royal Air Force, died August 18, 1942, aged 33.

Pieter and Remko de Jong by the grave of Earl Herbert Brown. To the left is the grave of Thomas McBride. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Earl Herbert BROWN of Ontario, an RCAF Pilot Officer serving with 101 Squadron of the Royal Air Force, also died August 18, 1942, aged 26.

This concluded our visit to the 4 cemeteries in Friesland, but the day was not yet over! The three of us next travelled to De Tiid (The Times) Museum in Bolswerd, to look at an engine part belonging to the last flight of Halifax L9561, found at the crash site where Elmer Bagnall MUTTART lost his life. 

Over the next postings, we’ll continue to share the highlights of our adventures on the 2025 European War Memorial Trail on our journey of remembrance.  Next up – the visit to Bolsward.

The research work continues for Pieter. If you have photos or information to share about soldiers buried in The Netherlands or Belgium, or can contribute a photo of John Francis Edward TABOR, please email him 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/

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…We Attended The Ceremony at The Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek

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July 19, 2025.  Every year we receive an invitation to attend the annual commemoration ceremony in May at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands.  For the first time, however, we were able to accept the invitation as we would be in Europe.

Pieter made sure that flags had been placed ahead of the May 2, 2025 ceremony at all of the 120 graves on our research list at the cemetery, and we were very happy to see them all still in place.  (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/06/23/on-the-war-memorial-trail-2025-faces-of-groesbeek-exhibition-part-1-flags-placed-at-120-graves/)

….A beautiful ceremony…

On May 2, 2025, we were picked up by Henk Vincent, a volunteer at the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, which was near where we were staying.  Henk had offered us a ride, for which we were grateful as traffic was heavy and a 2 hour drive each way was not one we had been looking forward to. 

Pieter and I had assigned seating in the ‘Canadian contingent’ and were placed in the first row. I was next to a woman from Calgary, who was seated with her brother, a retired Assistant Commissioner of the RCMP.  She said there were 9 of them travelling together, all present to honour a soldier named MacDonald….and all were originally from Amaranth, Manitoba, which is near Lake Manitoba and not far from Riding Mountain National Park.  They were amazed to learn that I was also from Manitoba!  Pieter just shook his head.  He said I manage to meet someone from Manitoba everywhere I go.

The Canadian Forces Band marched past us as the ceremony began.  (Photo credit:  Daria Valkenburg)

The ceremony itself was beautiful, but it was very hot and sunny. At 30oC, sitting outside for hours, with the hot sun beating down on everyone, was very uncomfortable.  I ended up covering my head and shoulders with my sweater or I would have gotten heatstroke. 

I wasn’t alone.  There were a number of elderly WWII veterans – the oldest 101 – who had initially been placed in the front, but had to be moved into a shaded area. 

Alice van Bekkum, Chair of Faces To Graves Groesbeek Foundation at the podium, near the Cross of Remembrance, during the ceremony at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

….Caught on TV with a pink sweater on my head…

That evening, when we got back to the cottage we’d rented, there was an email from Don Coutts, saying that he had seen us briefly on CTV… and he sent the link.  Yes…. we were caught on camera…….me with a sweater on my head, and Pieter in a red polo shirt.

CTV National News: ‘You are not forgotten’: Canadians honoured on 80th anniversary of Netherlands liberation- —–Friday, May 2, 2025.  Stop the video at the 1 minute 5 second mark and see if you can spot us: https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/article/you-are-not-forgotten-canadians-honoured-on-80th-anniversary-of-netherlands-liberation/

….Pieter noticed a grave without a photo…

Grave of Donald Montgomery.  (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

Where we were seated, and while waiting for the ceremony to start, Pieter noticed that there was a grave in the row that didn’t have a photo beside it.  Always ready to do research, he took a photo of the grave and later looked up the soldier and found a photo. Donald MONTGOMERY of Prince Rupert, British Columbia, son of Malcolm and Catherine Montgomery, was serving with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry when he lost his life on March 2, 1945, aged 23.  

In a subsequent email to Alice van Bekkum, Chair of Faces To Graves Groesbeek Foundation, he explained what happened.  “….During the ceremony on May 2nd I was near the gravestone of a soldier without a photo, while in the same row most graves had a photo. 

This intrigued me and so I took a photo of the gravestone. It is Donald Montgomery, he is buried in: XXIV. A. 15. 

I found the accompanying photo on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial. So now he has a face….” 

Donald Montgomery.  (Photo courtesy of Canadian Virtual War Memorial)

In 2027, during the next Faces of Groesbeek Exhibition, Donald Montgomery will have a photo by his grave!

….A tobacco pouch was placed at the grave of John Henry Lavigne…

Grave of John Henry Lavigne, who was serving with 9 Field Ambulance of the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps when he died on August 21, 1945, aged 21. (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

Nova Wolf, Knowledge Keeper Musqueam First Nation, who was from Vancouver, was one of the first performers at the Commemoration Ceremony in Groesbeek.  He spoke about his grandfather, and he sang and danced. 

In his presentation, he mentioned how the Musqueam had fought the Haida First Nation in the past. Afterwards we spoke with him briefly, mentioning we had researched the story of Stanley Owen JONES, a WWII soldier and Haida Nation member of the Massett Band in British Columbia, who is buried in Holten. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/09/05/on-the-war-memorial-trail-remembering-wwii-soldier-stanley-owen-jones/)

He asked about Indigenous soldiers in the cemetery in Groesbeek, and we said there were several, including a soldier from Restigouche, Quebec, John Henry LAVIGNE, at whose grave we had placed a Lnu (Mi’kmaw) flag.  “…Where is the grave?…” he asked.  We took him to it, and were very touched when he placed a tobacco pouch at his grave.  What a thoughtful and kind young man!

Nova Wolf holds a tobacco pouch that he placed at the grave of John Henry Lavigne.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Thank you to the Faces To Graves Groesbeek Foundation for inviting us to attend the ceremony, and to Don Coutts for sending the CTV video clip.  Thank you also to Della Maguire who had provided Lnu (Mi’kmaw) flag on behalf of the Toney/Smith Family in memory of Pte Leo Francis TONEY (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mi’kmaq and https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/05/22/on-the-war-memorial-trail-remembering-ww2-soldier-leo-francis-toney/)

Over the next postings, we’ll continue to share the highlights of our adventures on the 2025 European War Memorial Trail on our journey of remembrance.

The research work continues for Pieter. If you have photos or information to share about soldiers buried in The Netherlands or Belgium, please email him 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/

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….2025 Faces of Groesbeek Exhibition Part 5: The Soldiers From Nova Scotia

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July 4, 2025. The 2025 Faces Of Groesbeek Exhibition, which ran from April 26 to May 18, 2025 at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, featured photos of soldiers that were placed by their graves. Photos are printed onto an aluminum backing, making them impervious to rain, and reusable. This year, 80% of the graves had a photo of the soldier.

The many volunteers from Faces To Graves Foundation Groesbeek, of which Alice van Bekkum is the Chair, worked tirelessly to make this exhibition possible. 

Pieter has been involved in finding photos of Canadians who are buried in all three Canadian War Cemeteries in The Netherlands since 2014, with many of their stories told on this blog. 

This was the third Faces Of Groesbeek Exhibition, with the first in 2021 and the second in 2023. Many of the graves with photos of soldiers, whose stories have been told in time for those Exhibitions, have been previously featured.

…Placing flags at graves was a labour of love and respect…

We were in The Netherlands and Belgium for the 80th Anniversary of Liberation Commemoration events, and placed flags at the graves of 383 soldiers in 14 cemeteries.  Yes, Pieter was on his hands and knees 383 times, placing flags at these graves, as you can see below….

Pieter placing flags at the grave of Marven Glenroy Harvey of North Noel Road, Nova Scotia.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Marven Glenroy HARVEY, of North Noel Road, Nova Scotia, was serving with the North Nova Scotia Highlanders when he was killed on March 25, 1945, during the Battle of Bienen in Germany, at the age of 19. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/03/26/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-battle-of-bienen-part-8-the-wwii-soldier-with-7-brothers-who-also-served/

Grave of Marven Glenroy Harvey after Pieter had placed Nova Scotia and Canadian flags. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

120 of the graves visited were in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek alone, including the graves of 34 soldiers from Nova Scotia.

…4 Soldiers From Nova Scotia Commemorated…

In Part 1, an overview of our day of flag placing at 120 graves was provided.  (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/06/23/on-the-war-memorial-trail-2025-faces-of-groesbeek-exhibition-part-1-flags-placed-at-120-graves/)

In Part 2, five soldiers from Prince Edward Island, whose stories have previously been told, were featured. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/06/26/on-the-war-memorial-trail-2025-faces-of-groesbeek-exhibition-part-2-the-soldiers-from-prince-edward-island/)

In Part 3, the graves and photos of 3 soldiers, from the provinces of Alberta, Manitoba, and Quebec, whose stories have previously been told, were featured. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/06/28/on-the-war-memorial-trail-2025-faces-of-groesbeek-exhibition-part-3-the-soldiers-from-alberta-manitoba-and-quebec/)

In Part 4, the graves and photos of 3 soldiers from New Brunswick, whose stories have previously been told, were featured. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/06/30/on-the-war-memorial-trail-2025-faces-of-groesbeek-exhibition-part-4-the-soldiers-from-new-brunswick/)

Now, in Part 5, the graves and photos of 4 soldiers from Nova Scotia, whose stories have previously been told, are featured. Like Marven Harvey, two of them lost their lives on the same day, during the Battle of Bienen on March 25, 1945.

Pieter at the grave of Austin Havelock Munroe.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Austin Havelock MUNROE from Little Dover, Nova Scotia, who was killed in action during the Battle of Bienen in Germany on March 25, 1945.  You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/05/14/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-battle-of-bienen-part-12-the-wwii-soldier-from-little-dover-who-lost-his-life-in-germany/

Grave of Lawrence Arthur Rudolph.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Lawrence Arthur RUDOLPH from Liscomb, Nova Scotia, was killed in action during Operation Blockbuster in Germany on February 27, 1945. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2024/01/06/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-soldier-from-liscomb-who-lost-his-life-due-to-sniper-fire-in-germany/

Pieter at the grave of John Lewis ‘Ducky Wallace.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

John Lewis ‘Ducky’ WALLACE from Canning, Nova Scotia, who was killed in action during the Battle of Bienen in Germany on March 25, 1945.  You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/05/14/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-battle-of-bienen-part-12-the-wwii-soldier-from-little-dover-who-lost-his-life-in-germany/

Grave of Harry Elwood Wright.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Harry Elwood WRIGHT, from Clementsvale, Nova Scotia, was killed in action in The Netherlands on April 17, 1945. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/08/20/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-trooper-from-clementsvale-who-lost-his-life-during-the-liberation-of-the-netherlands/

….All of the flags placed at graves were donated…

All of the flags placed at graves were donated.  For the flags placed at the graves of soldiers from New Brunswick, our thanks go to: 

  • Alan Waddell, Constituent Assistant, on behalf of Heath MacDonald, MP for Malpeque, for the Canadian flags.
  • Nova Scotia flags were sent by Kyle Graham, Research Officer, Military Relations, Nova Scotia Intergovernmental Affairs, on behalf of Premier Tim Houston, Province of Nova Scotia

May we never forget the sacrifices made by these soldiers.  Perhaps all of the known graves of Canadians buried in Groesbeek will have a photo displayed by their grave at the next Faces Of Groesbeek Exhibition in 2027.

More highlights of our adventures on the 2025 European War Memorial Trail will be featured in upcoming postings.

If you have a photo of a soldier buried at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek or one of the other cemeteries in The Netherlands, Pieter encourages you to email him at memorialtrail@gmail.com, or comment on the blog.

….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/

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.