Author: On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria

On The War Memorial Trail….. Staghound Fatality Part 1: The WWII Trooper From Bagot Killed By A Mine During The Battle For The Küsten Canal

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Commemoration for Stewart Lyon Anderson. (Courtesy of the William Anderson family)

September 23, 2025.  While in Europe for the 80th Anniversary of Liberation Commemoration events, Pieter placed flags at the graves of 383 soldiers he’s researched over the years, which took us to 14 cemeteries in The Netherlands and Belgium. Out of this total, 156 flags were placed at the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands.  

Pieter’s research results are faster than I can keep up with, and so several of the graves we visited were for soldiers whose stories have yet to be told.  One of these is the subject of this posting:  Stewart Lyon ANDERSON, who was born in Rignold, Manitoba on November 22, 1919, the son of William and Isabella (nee Lyall) Anderson.

Map showing Rignold, Bagot, and Edwin.  (Map source: http://www.mapcarta.com)

Pieter’s search for a photo of Stewart ended when he got in contact with Lindsay Edmunds–Judson and her mother, Lana McCleary Edmunds, daughter of Stewart’s sister Agnes ‘Isabelle’.  “…Mum is so excited to be part of this!…” Lindsay wrote. “…How wonderful that your birth and upbringing has undoubtedly fostered your interest in this project which will be bringing joy to so many….”

Lana explained that “…two of Mum’s brothers and one sister served.  Stewart was killed.  Willie came home a broken man and died because of that.  Elizabeth showed us how to be the most wonderful aunt.  In Mum’s last days, she called for Stewart in her sleep- he had been the favourite I think….” Stewart’s brother William served with the Princess Patricia Light Infantry and was wounded in Italy.  His sister Elizabeth served at the First Base Post Office in London, England.

….Stewart enlisted in April 1941…

Stewart Lyon Anderson. (Courtesy of the William Anderson family)

Stewart grew up in Bagot, Manitoba, attended school in Edwin, and worked on his parents’ farm before enlisting under the National Resources Mobilization Act (NRMA) at the No. 10 NRMA Clearing Depot in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba on April 17, 1941 and began basic training at No. 100 Canadian Army (Basic) Training Centre (CABTC) in Portage La Prairie. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Resources_Mobilization_Act)

He was described as having red hair and blue eyes, that he was cheerful and neat, robust in appearance, and that he enjoyed swimming and playing softball.

A little over a month later, on June 25, 1941, Stewart enlisted in the Active Army at No. 10 District Depot in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and was immediately attached to A15 Canadian Infantry Advanced Training Centre (Rifle) at Camp Shilo in Shilo, Manitoba.

He remained there until September 4, 1941, when he returned to No. 10 District Depot in Winnipeg, and attached to the Tradesman Training Wing of the 18th (Manitoba) Reconnaissance Battalion, ‘D’ Company, for basic training.

From December 19, 1941 until January 7, 1942, Stewart was granted a furlough, for what turned out to be the last time he saw his family.

….Stewart was assigned to the 18th (Manitoba) Reconnaissance Battalion…

Stewart was transferred to 18th (Manitoba) Reconnaissance Battalion’s ‘D’ Squadron on February 2, 1942, and sent to Work Point Camp in Esquimalt, British Columbia. While Work Point Barracks served as the headquarters for Military District 11, which oversaw Canadian military operations in British Columbia, Stewart was there for a driver operator course. 

On February 5, 1942, the 18th (Manitoba) Reconnaissance Battalion was re-designated as the 18th (Manitoba) Armoured Car Regiment and was part of the Canadian Armoured Corps.

Stewart remained at Work Point Camp until May 4, 1942, when he returned to his unit at Otter Point in Sooke, British Columbia.   

….Stewart qualified as a driver operator…

On July 13, 1942, after qualifying as a Driver Operator Class III, Stewart and the rest of the  18th (Manitoba) Armoured Car Regiment moved to Debert, Nova Scotia, for final training and preparation before going overseas.

While at Debert, Stewart qualified as a Driver i/c Class III Wheeled on July 21, 1942. (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.)

….Stewart left Canada for overseas service….

On August 22, 1942, Stewart was aboard the ‘Letitia’ with the 18th (Manitoba) Armoured Car Regiment when they sailed from Halifax, Nova Scotia for the United Kingdom, as part of the Scotland bound convoy T-20. Upon arriving in Glasgow, Scotland on August 31, 1942, they remained on board until September 2.

While in the United Kingdom, the 18th (Manitoba) Armoured Car Regiment trained for their role as a reconnaissance unit for the II Canadian Corps. As a reconnaissance unit, its purpose would be to gather tactical information for its parent infantry division, scouting ahead and screening flanks.

Initially based in Aldershot, England, the Regiment trained in Bramley, Surrey, and other locations, from November 1942 to June 1943.  

On December 16, 1942, the regiment was re-designated the 18th Armoured Car Regiment (12th Manitoba Dragoons).

….Stewart landed in Normandy a month after D-Day…

On July 8, 1944, Stewart and his Regiment left England, landing the next day at Juno Beach in Normandy, France. They were reported to have brought 72 Staghounds with them, an armoured vehicle that could also be used as a scout car. 

T-17E1 Staghound armoured cars of “A” Squadron, 12th Manitoba Dragoons, in the Hochwald, Germany, March 2, 1945. The first car has tire chains on all four wheels. (Photo courtesy of Library and Archives Canada, taken by Jack H. Smith)

As a self-contained unit attached directly to II Canadian Corps, they had long range reconnaissance regiment, equipped with a wireless transmitting and receiving set, for their role as scouts in finding the best roads for the troops.  Providing route information over the radio was of great importance to the troops that followed in their path, often 50 or more kms behind.

In an entry on the ‘Flames of War’ website (see https://www.flamesofwar.com), John (Jock) Buckmaster wrote that as they reached Belgium, “….Nieuwport, Ostend and Bruges were all liberated by the Dragoons, with Bruges and Ostend naming roads and squares after the regiment…”

After the war ended, a memorial in Zeebrugge, Belgium was placed to honour the 18th Armoured Car Regiment (12th Manitoba Dragoons), who liberated the city on November 3, 1944.

Memorial of the liberation of Zeebrugge (Belgium) on November 3, 1944 by the 12th Manitoba Dragoons. (Photo courtesy of Wikipedia, taken by Marc Ryckaert)

The ‘Flames Of War’ entry went on to note that by late 1944, “…the front-line between German and Canadian troops was now the Maas River, and for three months the Dragoons patrolled the river in one of the coldest, wettest, winters to hit the region. The regiment ….. liberated multiple cities, including Lichtenvoorde, Leeuwarden, and Almelo…” in The Netherlands “…before heading into Germany….”

The Regiment experienced difficulties in Germany. “….Heading into the Hochwald forest proved difficult for the regiment, as the armoured cars did not fare well in the restricted terrain. The weight of the Staghounds proved to be a problem when recovering bogged-down vehicles…”  At one point, horses from a German village were needed “….to pull two 14-ton Staghounds from the mud…” The Regiment continued “…through Bad Zwischenahn, and further into the Hochwald forest…”

….Stewart lost his life during the Battle for the Küsten Canal…

Map showing location of Küsten Canal, and Esterwegen where Stewart Anderson was initially buried. (Map source: Google maps)

The next objective for Allied troops was the clearing of the 70 km (43 mi) long, 100-metre (330 ft) wide, Küsten Canal, a significant obstacle to Allied forces advancing from the Ems estuary into Germany.

In the ‘Regimental History of the 18th Armoured Car Regiment (12th Manitoba Dragoons)’, published in 1945, author Charles Eric Henry writes that “…the Regiment was detailed to take over a sector of the Küsten Canal 14 April 1945….The enemy did not seem to be overactive but did send over quite a few shells.  The main task seemed to be to remain on the southwest side of the canal until the friendly troops on the other side had worked their way along it to a point opposite our positions…”

Unfortunately, casualties still occurred, and on April 19, 1945, Stewart was one of 5 men who lost their lives during the Battle for the Küsten Canal.  The War Diary for that day recorded that “…17 Troop lost their Sgt’s Stag and all his crew on a mine today.  It took place at 14:33 hours…The mine completely destroyed the Stag and caused a crater 20 feet by 20 feet.  It must have been one of these marine mines containing some 500 pounds of explosives…”

In addition to Stewart, the rest of the crew that died were:

  • Sgt Alexander James BALFOUR of Lindsay, Ontario, aged 25
  • Trooper Patrick James DEVINE of North Bay, Ontario, aged 22
  • Trooper Merle Vincent HAMILTON of Brookfield, Colchester County, Nova Scotia, aged 26
  • Trooper Willard James MORRIS of St. James (now part of Winnipeg), Manitoba, aged 23

Another Manitoba soldier who lost his life on April 19, 1945 was Andrew KERELCHUK of Zbaraz, Manitoba, who was serving with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada.  You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/08/24/the-wwii-soldier-born-in-zbaraz-who-lost-his-life-during-the-battle-of-the-kusten-canal/

….Stewart is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten….

Stewart was temporarily buried in Esterwegen, Germany, before being reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands.

Pieter beside the grave of Stewart Lyon Anderson, after he’d placed flags of Canada and Manitoba. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

“…To visit his grave has been something I’ve always wanted to do….” Lana explained to Pieter. “…Thank you so much for your work with this project.  I hope you know how much it meant to Stewart’s three sisters to know his grave was tended. My imagination has me enjoying a flask of tea while I soak in the peace and beauty that resulted from the pain and loss of war….”

Stewart Lyon Anderson is remembered on the grave of his parents at Hillside Cemetery in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba. (Photo source: Find A Grave)

Thank you to Lana McCleary Edmunds and Lindsay Edmunds–Judson for providing photos and information on Stewart. 

The flags placed at Stewart’s grave were donated.  Our thanks go to: 

  • Alan Waddell, Constituent Assistant, on behalf of Heath MacDonald, MP for Malpeque, for the Canadian flag.
  • Brad Robertson, Chief of Protocol, Government of Manitoba, on behalf of Wab Kinew, Premier of Manitoba, for the Manitoba flag.

Staghound Fatality Part 2 will be about Merle Vincent HAMILTON of Brookfield, Nova Scotia.

Pieter encourages readers with photos to come forward so that eventually all the known graves of Canadians buried in Holten will have a photo displayed by their grave. Email him at memorialtrail@gmail.com. 

© 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….Indigenous Flags Donated To Holten Information Centre

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Pieter outside the Information Centre at the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

September 18, 2025.  Since 2014, Pieter has been involved in finding photos of Canadians who are buried in all three Canadian War Cemeteries in The Netherlands, with stories of many soldiers told on this blog. 

While we were in Europe for the 80th Anniversary of Liberation Commemoration events, he placed flags at the graves of 383 soldiers in 14 cemeteries. At the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands, 156 flags were placed.

Families of two Indigenous soldiers, Pte Leo Francis TONEY and Sapper Sanford Steven SAULIS, had sent flags to be placed at their graves.

In addition to Leo Toney and Sanford Saulis, the graves and photos of 6 more Indigenous soldiers, whose stories were previously told on this blog, were featured in our 2025 Faces of Holten Exhibition. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/09/10/on-the-war-memorial-trail-2025-faces-of-holten-exhibition-part-5-indigenous-soldiers/)

….The two Indigenous flags were donated to the Holten Information Centre…

While the Commonwealth War Graves Commission allowed displays to remain during the 3 week period in May for the 2025 Faces Of Holten Exhibition we were aware that they would soon be removed. The photo stands would be packed away until 2027, while the flags and other mementoes left behind by visitors would be discarded or scooped up by ‘souvenir hunters’. 

So that the Lnu (Mi’kmaw) flag and Wolastoqey Nation flag would not be lost, we decided to donate the flags placed at both graves to the Information Centre at the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten.  Both flags were presented to Henk Vincent, a long time volunteer.  (For more information on the Information Centre, see https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2018/01/17/on-the-war-memorial-trail-at-the-information-centre-at-holten-canadian-war-cemetery/)

Grave of Sanford Steven Saulis.  (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

Sanford Steven SAULIS, from Maliseet, New Brunswick, died of a brain hemorrhage in The Netherlands on August 10, 1945, aged 30, while serving with the 16th Field Company of the Royal Canadian Engineers. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/02/27/on-the-war-memorial-trail-remembering-sanford-steven-saulis/

Henk Vincent with the Wolastoqey Nation flag.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Pieter holds onto the personalized Lnu flag from the Toney family at the grave of Leo Francis Toney. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Leo Francis TONEY, born in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, was serving with the South Saskatchewan Regiment, when he was killed on Saturday, April 7, 1945, aged 21, while trying to cross the Schipbeek in The Netherlands at  a bridgehead that had been formed at a weir on the border of the municipalities of Bathmen and Holten. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/05/22/on-the-war-memorial-trail-remembering-ww2-soldier-leo-francis-toney/

Henk Vincent with the Lnu (Mi’kmaw) flag.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

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

All of the flags placed at graves were donated.  Our thanks go to: 

  • Della Maguire on behalf of the Toney/Smith Family in memory of Pte Leo Toney for the Lnu (Mi’kmaw) flag.
  • Conrad Saulis in memory of Sapper Sanford Steven Saulis, courtesy of Grand Chief Ron Tremblay, for the Wolastoqey Nation flag.
  • Alan Waddell, Constituent Assistant, on behalf of Heath MacDonald, MP for Malpeque, for the Canadian flags.
  • Armel ‘Mel’ Lanteigne, President of the Caraquet Legion in New Brunswick for the New Brunswick flag.
  • Kyle Graham, Research Officer, Military Relations, Nova Scotia Intergovernmental Affairs, on behalf of Premier Tim Houston, Province of Nova Scotia, for the Nova Scotia flag.

Our adventures on our 2025 European War Memorial Tour continue as we next follow the route of Canadian troops who participated in the Battle of Delfzijl in April 1945.  

Pieter encourages readers with photos to come forward so that eventually all the known graves of Canadians buried in Holten will have a photo displayed by their grave. Email him at memorialtrail@gmail.com. 

© 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 Holten Exhibition Part 6: Soldiers Killed In Battle In The Netherlands

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September 14, 2025.  Pieter has been involved in finding photos of Canadians who are buried in all three Canadian War Cemeteries in The Netherlands since 2014, with stories of many soldiers told on this blog. 

While in Europe for the 80th Anniversary of Liberation Commemoration events, he placed flags at the graves of 383 soldiers in 14 cemeteries. At the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands, flags were placed at 156.

Our visit coincided with The 2025 Faces Of Holten Exhibition, which ran for three weeks in May, showing photos of the soldiers by their graves. Visitors found it meaningful to see what the soldiers looked like.

—-Recap…..

In Part 1, soldiers who were killed near Posterenk in April 1945, were featured.  (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/08/24/on-the-war-memorial-trail-2025-faces-of-holten-exhibition-part-1-soldiers-killed-near-posterenk/)

In Part 2, the graves and photos of two soldiers listed on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion in Prince Edward Island, were featured.  (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/08/29/on-the-war-memorial-trail-2025-faces-of-holten-exhibition-part-2-the-soldiers-listed-on-the-cenotaph-in-borden-carleton/)

In Part 3, the graves and photos of two soldiers who lost their lives while travelling in military vehicles were featured. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/09/01/on-the-war-memorial-trail-2025-faces-of-holten-exhibition-part-3-soldiers-killed-while-travelling-in-vehicles/)

In Part 4, the graves and photos of six soldiers who lost their lives in the Battle of Leer during Operation Duck were featured. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/09/04/on-the-war-memorial-trail-2025-faces-of-holten-exhibition-part-4-soldiers-who-drowned-during-operation-duck/)

In Part 5, the graves and photos of 8 Indigenous soldiers were featured. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/09/10/on-the-war-memorial-trail-2025-faces-of-holten-exhibition-part-5-indigenous-soldiers/)

…7 soldiers are commemorated…

Now, the 2025 Faces of Holten Exhibition series concludes in Part 6, as we feature the graves and photos of seven more soldiers, whose stories have previously been told, who lost their lives in battles in The Netherlands.

Grave of Clive Elbert Steele Gerow.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Clive Elbert Steele GEROW, from Burk’s Falls, Ontario, was killed in action during the liberation of Deventer in The Netherlands on April 10, 1945 while serving with the 27th Armoured Regiment (Sherbrooke Fusiliers Regiment), aged 30.  You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/10/07/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-soldier-from-burks-falls-killed-during-the-liberation-of-deventer/

Pieter by the grave of Carman Edward Gillcash. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Carman Edward GILLCASH, from Glenwood, Prince Edward Island, was serving with the Cape Breton Highlanders when he lost his life on April 29, 1945 during the Battle of the Delfzijl Pocket in The Netherlands, aged 27. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/10/22/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-soldier-from-glenwood-killed-during-the-battle-of-the-delfzijl-pocket/

Daria and Pieter at the grave of Theodor ‘Ted’ Henschel. (Photo courtesy of Valkenburg Family)

Theodor ‘Ted’ HENSCHEL, who was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, but lived in Trail, British Columbia, was serving with the Canadian Scottish Regiment when he was killed in action during the Battle for Wagenborgen in The Netherlands on April 22, 1945, aged 28. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/08/14/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-soldier-from-trail-who-played-the-cornet/

Just as Pieter finished placing flags at Ted’s grave, an elderly Dutch lady approached us, and asked if she could take our photo by the grave!  We were a bit confused, but then wondered if she thought that we were relatives.  Pieter explained to her that we were not relatives, but were placing flags at graves of soldiers that he had researched.  She wanted a photo anyways, and so it’s one of only two photos of the two of us together by a grave at one of the cemeteries!  (The other photo had been taken in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek by a Faces To Graves Groesbeek volunteer.)

Grave of Gordon Frederick Johnson. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Gordon Frederick JOHNSON, from Truro, Nova Scotia, was serving with the North Nova Scotia Highlanders when he was killed in action, at the age of 33, on April 8, 1945, near Zutphen, The Netherlands, while trying to retrieve an anti-tank weapon that one of the members in his platoon had left behind. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/07/17/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-search-for-a-photo-of-gordon-frederick-johnson-is-over/

Grave of Michael Joseph ‘Joe’ McKenna. (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

Michael Joseph ‘Joe’ MCKENNA, from Newton Cross, Prince Edward Island, was serving with the Queen’s Own Rifles when was killed in The Netherlands on April 5, 1945 during the Battle of Rha, at the age of 26. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/09/22/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-soldier-from-prince-edward-island-killed-during-the-battle-of-rha/

Grave of Archibald Phillip ‘Archie’ McLean. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Archibald Phillip ‘Archie’ MCLEAN from Edmundston, New Brunswick, was serving with the the Carleton & York Regiment when he died from wounds received on April 13, 1945 during Operation Cannonshot in The Netherlands, aged 25. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/09/13/on-the-war-memorial-trail-archie-was-a-good-guy/

When Pieter was researching Archie’s story back in 2023, we met with Archie’s nephew, Donald Moore, who gave Pieter a poppy pin, and asked if Pieter would place it at his uncle’s grave next time we visited the cemetery in Holten.  Shortly after the story was published in the fall of 2023, Donald passed away. 

Pieter never forgot Donald’s request, and when we were preparing for our 2025 European War Memorial Tour, the poppy travelled with us. On May 1, 2025, Pieter affixed Donald’s poppy pin onto Archie’s grave.

Pieter places the poppy pin from Donald Moore onto the gravestone of Archibald Phillip ‘Archie’ McLean.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Pieter by the grave of Charles Borden Tuplin. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Charles ‘Charlie’ Borden TUPLIN, from Indian River, Prince Edward Island, was serving with the Black Watch when he was fatally wounded in The Netherlands, and listed as having died on December 8, 1944, aged 34. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/03/29/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-ww2-soldier-from-indian-river/

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

All of the flags placed at graves were donated.  Our thanks go to: 

  • Alan Waddell, Constituent Assistant, on behalf of Heath MacDonald, MP for Malpeque, for the Canadian flags.
  • Jean-Claude D’Amours, MLA for Edmundston-Madawaska Centre, Minister responsible for Military Affairs, with the help of Cécile LePage, Province of New Brunswick, for the New Brunswick flag.
  • Matt MacFarlane, MLA for District 19, Borden-Kinkora, for the Prince Edward Island flag. 
  • Don Coutts on behalf of the Muttart and Coutts families in memory of Flight Sergeant Elmer Bagnall Muttart for the Ontario flag.
  • Brad Robertson, Chief of Protocol, Government of Manitoba, on behalf of Wab Kinew, Premier of Manitoba, for the Manitoba flag.
  • Kyle Graham, Research Officer, Military Relations, Nova Scotia Intergovernmental Affairs, on behalf of Premier Tim Houston, Province of Nova Scotia, for the Nova Scotia flag.

This concludes the 2025 Faces Of Holten Exhibition series, featuring soldiers whose stories have been previously told on this blog. But our adventures are not over, as we continue with our 2025 European War Memorial Tour.

Pieter encourages readers with photos to come forward so that eventually all the known graves of Canadians buried in Holten will have a photo displayed by their grave. Email him at memorialtrail@gmail.com. 

© 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 Holten Exhibition Part 5: Indigenous Soldiers

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

September 10, 2025.  Pieter Valkenburg has been involved in finding photos of Canadians who are buried in all three Canadian War Cemeteries in The Netherlands since 2014, with stories of many soldiers told on this blog. 

While in The Netherlands and Belgium for the 80th Anniversary of Liberation Commemoration events, he placed flags at the graves of 383 soldiers in 14 cemeteries. At the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands, flags were placed at 156 graves. Our visit coincided with The 2025 Faces Of Holten Exhibition, which ran for three weeks in May.

—-Recap…..

In Part 1, the graves and photos of soldiers who were killed near Posterenk in April 1945 were featured. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/08/24/on-the-war-memorial-trail-2025-faces-of-holten-exhibition-part-1-soldiers-killed-near-posterenk/)

In Part 2, the graves and photos of two soldiers whose names are listed on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion were featured. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/08/29/on-the-war-memorial-trail-2025-faces-of-holten-exhibition-part-2-the-soldiers-listed-on-the-cenotaph-in-borden-carleton/)

In Part 3, the graves and photos of soldiers killed in vehicle accidents were featured. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/09/01/on-the-war-memorial-trail-2025-faces-of-holten-exhibition-part-3-soldiers-killed-while-travelling-in-vehicles/)

In Part 4, the graves and photos of soldiers who lost their lives in the Battle of Leer during Operation Duck were featured. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/09/04/on-the-war-memorial-trail-2025-faces-of-holten-exhibition-part-4-soldiers-who-drowned-during-operation-duck/)

…8 Indigenous soldiers are commemorated…

Now, in Part 5, the graves and photos of 8 Indigenous soldiers, whose stories have previously been told on this blog, are featured.

Grave of John Culbertson. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

John CULBERTSON was born in Oshawa, Ontario, and grew up on the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory near Belleville, Ontario. While serving with the Royal Canadian Engineers, he was killed in Germany on April 30, 1944 during the Battle of Edewecht, aged 33. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/02/04/on-the-war-memorial-trail-remembering-ww2-sapper-john-culbertson/

Grave of William ‘Willie’ Daniels.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

William ‘Willie’ DANIELS, from the Big River Reserve in Depton, Saskatchewan, was serving with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles when he was killed, aged 20, on April 22, 1945 as troops moved through Appingedam in The Netherlands at the very beginning of the Battle of the Delfzijl Pocket. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/07/23/on-the-war-memorial-trail-remembering-ww2-soldier-william-willie-daniels/

Pieter by the grave of Harry Henry Davis. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Harry Henry DAVIS, from Selkirk, Yukon Territory, was serving with the Lake Superior Regiment (Motor) when he died in The Netherlands, aged 23, on January 15, 1945 from wounds received the day before after being shot while on patrol east of Kerkdriel.  You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/09/30/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-only-yukon-territory-soldier-buried-in-holten/

Grave of Stanley Owen Jones. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Stanley Owen JONES, from Massett, British Columbia, drowned on September 8, 1945 in Germany when the carrier he was in overturned in a ditch, while serving with the Canadian Scottish Regiment, aged 20. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/09/05/on-the-war-memorial-trail-remembering-wwii-soldier-stanley-owen-jones/

Grave of Philip Laforte. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Philip LAFORTE, born in Lac du Bonnet, Manitoba, was serving with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles when he was killed on April 7, 1945 in The Netherlands, aged 33, as the Regiment crossed the Schipbeek, in order to establish a bridgehead as preparation for an assault on the city of Deventer by the 7th Canadian Brigade. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/03/22/on-the-war-memorial-trail-remembering-ww2-soldier-philip-laforte/

Grave of Sanford Steven Saulis.  (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

Sanford Steven SAULIS, from Maliseet, New Brunswick, died of a brain hemorrhage in The Netherlands on August 10, 1945, aged 30, while serving with the 16th Field Company of the Royal Canadian Engineers. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/02/27/on-the-war-memorial-trail-remembering-sanford-steven-saulis/

Grave of James ‘Jimmy’ Oliver Thomas. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

James ‘Jimmy’ Oliver THOMAS, born in St. Peters, Manitoba, died in Germany on May 2, 1945, aged 33, a few days after being liberated from the Stalag VII-A POW Camp in Moosburg, Germany. He had been taken prisoner of war on May 22, 1943, while serving with the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, during the breaking of the Hitler Line. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2024/02/18/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-soldier-from-manitoba-who-died-shortly-after-being-liberated-from-stalag-vii-a/

After sending photos of the grave to Rodd Cooper, great-nephew of Jimmy Thomas, he wrote us to say “…  I just wanted to express my infinite gratitude to you and your family on behalf of myself and my family for the work and the time you have invested in gathering the information not only for my resting family member but for the numerous others as well. 

The honour and respect you have brought and given to these men cannot be measured.  The gift that you have given my family and I is profound and we truly can’t thank you enough.  

Because of your work and dedication, my family and the future generations of my family, will be able to pay the respect to my Great Uncle Jimmy for his service and sacrifice by remembering him and telling his story.  

The gift you have given us is immeasurable.

On behalf of myself and the Thomas Family, Thank You….” 

We were immeasurably touched by his kind words. Pieter replied, saying that “…it’s important that we never forget the soldiers….and the families… who sacrificed so much for our ongoing freedom.  I’m grateful that the country of my birth continues to remember and honour their Allied liberators….” 

Grave of Leo Francis Toney. (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

Leo Francis TONEY, born in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, was serving with the South Saskatchewan Regiment, when he was killed on Saturday, April 7, 1945, aged 21, while trying to cross the Schipbeek in The Netherlands at  a bridgehead that had been formed at a weir on the border of the municipalities of Bathmen and Holten. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/05/22/on-the-war-memorial-trail-remembering-ww2-soldier-leo-francis-toney/

After sending a photo of the grave to Della Maguire, niece of Leo Toney, she wrote to say “…thank you so much, I looked at that picture all day. I am so grateful…”

Pieter holds onto the personalized Lnu flag from the Toney family at the grave of Leo Francis Toney. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

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

All of the flags placed at graves were donated.  Our thanks go to: 

  • Alan Waddell, Constituent Assistant, on behalf of Heath MacDonald, MP for Malpeque, for the Canadian flags.
  • Armel ‘Mel’ Lanteigne, President of the Caraquet Legion in New Brunswick for the New Brunswick flag.
  • Kyle Graham, Research Officer, Military Relations, Nova Scotia Intergovernmental Affairs, on behalf of Premier Tim Houston, Province of Nova Scotia, for the Nova Scotia flag.
  • Don Coutts on behalf of the Muttart and Coutts families in memory of Flight Sergeant Elmer Bagnall Muttart for the Ontario flag.
  • Wayne Ewasko, MLA for Lac Du Bonnet, Manitoba, Interim Leader of the Official Opposition, Province of Manitoba, for the Manitoba flag.
  • Della Maguire on behalf of the Toney/Smith Family in memory of Pte Leo Toney for the Lnu (Mi’kmaw) flag.
  • Conrad Saulis in memory of Sapper Sanford Steven Saulis, courtesy of Grand Chief Ron Tremblay, for the Wolastoqey Nation flag

Thank you to Rodd Cooper and Della Maguire for their heartfelt and kind words.  The comments we’ve received from families as we’ve shared photos showing how their loved ones were honoured during the commemoration events made all the hard work of visiting the cemeteries and placing flags worthwhile.

The 2025 Faces of Holten Exhibition concludes with Part 6, where the graves of a few of the many soldiers killed in The Netherlands and Germany will be featured as we continue with our 2025 European War Memorial Tour.

Pieter encourages readers with photos to come forward so that eventually all the known graves of Canadians buried in Holten will have a photo displayed by their grave. Email him at memorialtrail@gmail.com.

© 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 Holten Exhibition Part 4: Soldiers Who Drowned During Operation Duck

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Cross of Remembrance at the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

September 4, 2025.  Pieter has been involved in finding photos of Canadians who are buried in all three Canadian War Cemeteries in The Netherlands since 2014, with stories of many soldiers told on this blog. 

While in The Netherlands and Belgium for the 80th Anniversary of Liberation Commemoration events, he placed flags at the graves of 383 soldiers in 14 cemeteries. At the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands, flags were placed at 156 graves. Our visit coincided with The 2025 Faces Of Holten Exhibition, which ran for three weeks in May.

In Part 1, the graves and photos of soldiers who were killed near Posterenk in April 1945, and are buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, were featured. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/08/24/on-the-war-memorial-trail-2025-faces-of-holten-exhibition-part-1-soldiers-killed-near-posterenk/)

In Part 2, the graves and photos of two soldiers whose names are listed on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion were featured. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/08/29/on-the-war-memorial-trail-2025-faces-of-holten-exhibition-part-2-the-soldiers-listed-on-the-cenotaph-in-borden-carleton/)

In Part 3, the graves and photos of soldiers killed in vehicle accidents were featured. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/09/01/on-the-war-memorial-trail-2025-faces-of-holten-exhibition-part-3-soldiers-killed-while-travelling-in-vehicles/)

Now, in Part 4, six soldiers who lost their lives in the Battle of Leer during Operation Duck, whose stories have previously been told on this blog, are featured.  Four of these soldiers were in the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment, while two were with the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders.

…6 soldiers who drowned during Operation Duck are commemorated…

Grave of Joseph ‘Ambroise’ Comeau. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Joseph ‘Ambroise’ COMEAU, from Lower Saulnierville, Nova Scotia, was one of 5 soldiers from the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment who drowned in a tragic accident in the Battle of Leer in Germany on April 28, 1945, aged 21.  You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/05/17/on-the-war-memorial-trail-a-tragic-drowning-on-the-leda-river-in-germany-part-3/

After sending a photo of the grave with Ambroise’s photo to his niece, Simone Comeau, she not only thanked us, but a few days later wrote to say that “…my son, Delphis, has a pen pal in The Hague and he told him about your project and that he had a great-uncle buried in the Holten cemetery. That pen pal went to visit his tomb the week of the commemorations and he sent Delphis a photo almost identical to the one you sent me.

Afterwards he sent him another one and he had added two flowers, a red one to represent Canada and an orange one to represent Holland. Delphis was so pleased that he wanted me to tell you….”  What a lovely gesture by the pen pal!

Grave of Lewis Wilkieson Marsh. (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

Lewis Wilkieson MARSH, from Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia, was one of 5 soldiers from the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment who drowned in a tragic accident in the Battle of Leer in Germany on April 28, 1945, aged 19. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/05/18/on-the-war-memorial-trail-a-tragic-drowning-on-the-leda-river-in-germany-part-4/

RCMP piper Mike Ward played a lament at the grave of Lewis Wilkieson Marsh of Nova Scotia.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

While at the cemetery in Holten, we met others who were honouring the fallen, including an RCMP pipe band from Ottawa. One of the pipers noticed Pieter placing flags nearby at Lewis’s grave, and came over to play a lament. It was so hauntingly beautiful that I had tears in my eyes.

After sending a photo of the grave with the photo of Lewis to his niece, Burnie Reynaert, she wrote back to say “…Thank you, Daria and Pieter. My heart is full of gratitude for all you do. There are no words….”

Grave of Ruel Kitchener Matheson.  (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

Ruel Kitchener MATHESON, from Dundas, Prince Edward Island, was one of 5 soldiers from the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment who drowned in a tragic accident in the Battle of Leer in Germany on April 28, 1945, aged 29.  You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/05/18/on-the-war-memorial-trail-a-tragic-drowning-on-the-leda-river-in-germany-part-4/

Grave of Francis ‘Frank’ Eugene Munroe.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Francis ‘Frank’ Eugene MUNROE, from Halifax, Nova Scotia, was one of 19 men from with the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders who drowned during the crossing of the Ems River in Germany on April 28, 1945, at the age of 22, while participating in Operation Duck. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/03/11/on-the-war-memorial-trail-tragedy-on-the-ems-part-2-the-wwii-soldier-from-halifax-who-drowned-during-operation-duck/

Grave of Lloyd William Murray.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Lloyd William MURRAY, from Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia, was one of 5 soldiers from the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment who drowned in a tragic accident in the Battle of Leer in Germany on April 28, 1945, aged 27.  You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/05/16/on-the-war-memorial-trail-a-tragic-drowning-on-the-leda-river-in-germany-part-2/

Pieter by the grave of James Edward Sullivan.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

James Edward SULLIVAN, from Rexton, New Brunswick, one of 19 men serving with the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders who drowned during the crossing of the Ems River in Germany on April 28, 1945, at the age of 25, while participating in Operation Duck. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/03/05/on-the-war-memorial-trail-tragedy-on-the-ems-part-1-the-wwii-soldier-from-rexton-who-drowned-during-operation-duck/

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

All of the flags placed at graves were donated.  Our thanks go to: 

  • Alan Waddell, Constituent Assistant, on behalf of Heath MacDonald, MP for Malpeque, for the Canadian flags.
  • Matt MacFarlane, MLA for District 19, Borden-Kinkora, for the Prince Edward Island flag. 
  • Armel ‘Mel’ Lanteigne, President of the Caraquet Legion in New Brunswick for the New Brunswick flag.
  • Kyle Graham, Research Officer, Military Relations, Nova Scotia Intergovernmental Affairs, on behalf of Premier Tim Houston, Province of Nova Scotia, for the Nova Scotia flags.
  • La Société acadienne de Clare at the request of Simone Comeau for the Acadian flag.

Thank you to Simone Comeau and Burnie Reynaert for their kind words.  In Part 5, the graves and photos of Indigenous soldiers killed will be featured as we continue with our 2025 European War Memorial Tour.

Pieter encourages readers with photos to come forward so that eventually all the known graves of Canadians buried in Holten will have a photo displayed by their grave. Email him at memorialtrail@gmail.com. 

© 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 Holten Exhibition Part 3: Soldiers Killed While Travelling In Vehicles

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Pieter at the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands with the Cross of Remembrance in the background. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

September 1, 2025. Pieter has been involved in finding photos of Canadians who are buried in The Netherlands since 2014, and we’ve tried to tell as many of their stories as we can on this blog. 

While in Europe for the 80th Anniversary of Liberation Commemoration events, he placed flags at the graves of 383 soldiers in 14 cemeteries. At the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands, flags were placed at 156 graves.

Our visit coincided with The 2025 Faces Of Holten Exhibition, which ran for three weeks in May.  It was slow going to place flags as people continually came up to talk to us, curious about the various flags, and were thrilled when they discovered they didn’t have to practice their English as Pieter could talk to them in Dutch.

In Part 1, the graves and photos of soldiers who were killed near Posterenk in April 1945, and are buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, were featured.  (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/08/24/on-the-war-memorial-trail-2025-faces-of-holten-exhibition-part-1-soldiers-killed-near-posterenk/)

In Part 2, the graves and photos of two soldiers listed on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion, were featured. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/08/29/on-the-war-memorial-trail-2025-faces-of-holten-exhibition-part-2-the-soldiers-listed-on-the-cenotaph-in-borden-carleton/)

Now, in Part 3, the graves and photos of four soldiers who lost their lives while travelling in military vehicles, and whose stories have previously been told, are featured. 

…4 soldiers killed while travelling in military vehicles are commemorated…

Grave of Francis ‘Frank’ Ivan Dougan. (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

Francis ‘Frank’ Ivan DOUGAN from Donaldston was killed in The Netherlands, at the age of 26,  on May 16, 1946, while serving with the 48th Canadian General Transport Company of the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps (RCASC), part of the Canadian Army Occupation Force (CAOF) in Germany.  He died in a hospital in Nijmegen following a road accident, in which he was a passenger in a military vehicle, during very bad weather in Nijmegen, while he was on his way from Grave, The Netherlands to Oldenburg, Germany, where he was based. Mechanical failure in the steering mechanism led to the accident. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2024/07/13/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-soldier-from-donaldston-who-died-in-a-vehicle-accident-in-the-netherlands/

Pieter by the grave of Maurice James Hughes. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Maurice ‘Maw’ James HUGHES, from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, was serving with the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals (RCCS) when the jeep in which he was riding in hit a mine in Germany on May 2, 1945, killing him, aged 25.  Germany had signed an unconditional surrender, ending the war in Europe, on May 8, 1945, just a few days after Maurice lost his life.  You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2024/05/29/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-signalman-from-charlottetown-whose-jeep-ran-over-a-mine-6-days-before-the-war-ended/

Grave of James Gordon King. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

James Gordon KING, from Woodstock, New Brunswick, was serving with the Royal Canadian Artillery when he died in a road accident on August 5, 1945 in Germany, aged 34.  You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/01/16/on-the-war-memorial-trail-atlantic-canada-remembers-part-3/

Grave of John Rusnak. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

John RUSNAK, from Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, was attached to No. 4 Canadian Public Relations Group, Canadian Army Occupation Force (CAOF) as a despatch motorcycle rider.  He lost his life, at the age of 21, when his Harley Davidson motorcycle accidentally collided with a horse drawn wagon in Germany on November 22, 1945. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/08/28/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-despatch-rider-from-portage-la-prairie-who-lost-his-life-in-an-accident-in-germany/

While at the cemetery, we met Jane Kondakova, a Ukrainian refugee from the Kyiv region, currently living in the village of Holten with her two young children.  She was placing flags at the graves of soldiers of Ukrainian descent, including John Rusnak. This was her third year of placing flags, for the soldiers buried in the cemetery and for her husband, who is in the Ukrainian military.

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

All of the flags placed at graves were donated.  Our thanks go to: 

  • Alan Waddell, Constituent Assistant, on behalf of Heath MacDonald, MP for Malpeque, for the Canadian flags.
  • Matt MacFarlane, MLA for District 19, Borden-Kinkora, for the Prince Edward Island flags. 
  • Armel ‘Mel’ Lanteigne, President of the Caraquet Legion in New Brunswick for the New Brunswick and Acadian flags.
  • Brad Robertson, Chief of Protocol, Government of Manitoba, on behalf of Wab Kinew, Premier of Manitoba, for the Manitoba flag.

In Part 4, the graves of soldiers killed during Operation Duck will be featured as we continue with our 2025 European War Memorial Tour. Pieter encourages blog readers with photos to come forward so that eventually all the known graves of Canadians buried in Holten will have a photo displayed by their grave. 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 Holten Exhibition Part 2: The Soldiers Listed On The Cenotaph In Borden-Carleton

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Directional sign to the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

August 29, 2025.  Pieter has been involved in finding photos of Canadians who are buried in all three Canadian War Cemeteries in The Netherlands since 2014.  He first started with finding photos of soldiers from Prince Edward Island buried in The Netherlands. 

In 2015, he began researching the names of 48 soldiers listed on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion on Prince Edward Island.  Over the years, all 48 names were identified, each of their stories researched and told on this blog.  For most of the names, families and photos were found, and the Wall of Remembrance is in place at the Legion. 

Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

While in The Netherlands and Belgium for the 80th Anniversary of Liberation Commemoration events, he placed flags at the graves of 383 soldiers in 14 cemeteries. At the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands, flags were placed at 156 graves.

Our visit coincided with The 2025 Faces Of Holten Exhibition, which ran for three weeks in May. Photos were printed onto an aluminum backing, making them impervious to rain, and reusable. Each placard also had a QR code, allowing visitors with cell phones to scan the code and read a brief biography of the soldier.

In Part 1, soldiers who were killed near Posterenk in April 1945 and are buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, were featured. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/08/24/on-the-war-memorial-trail-2025-faces-of-holten-exhibition-part-1-soldiers-killed-near-posterenk/)

…2 soldiers listed on the Cenotaph in Borden-Carleton are commemorated…

Now, in Part 2, the graves and photos of William Douglas SHERREN and George Martin MCMAHON, whose stories have previously been told, are featured. Both are listed on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion. You can read their stories at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2018/01/20/on-the-war-memorial-trail-at-holten-canadian-war-cemetery/

Grave of William Douglas Sherren. (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

William Douglas SHERREN, from Crapaud, Prince Edward Island, was serving with the Royal Canadian Artillery and was severely injured when the vehicle he was travelling in drove over a land mine in Germany on April 25, 1945, just a few days before the end of WWII.  He died of his wounds on April 28, 1945, aged 30.  A month earlier, he had been recognized by King George VI as a Member of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, in recognition of gallant and distinguished service in North West Europe.

Grave of George Martin McMahon. (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

George Martin McMAHON, born in Emerald Junction, Prince Edward Island, and the father of 5 children, was serving with the Royal Canadian Artillery, and accidentally drowned when he fell into a canal in Amsterdam, The Netherlands on the night of August 11, 1945.  He was 32 years old.

….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 Islanders, our thanks go to:  Alan Waddell, Constituent Assistant, on behalf of Heath MacDonald, MP for Malpeque, for the Canadian flags. Prince Edward Island flags were provided by Matt MacFarlane, MLA for District 19, Borden-Kinkora. 

In Part 3, the graves of soldiers killed in vehicle accidents will be featured as we continue with our 2025 European War Memorial Tour. Pieter encourages readers with photos to come forward so that eventually all the known graves of Canadians buried in Holten will have a photo displayed by their grave. Email him at memorialtrail@gmail.com. 

© 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 Holten Exhibition Part 1:  Soldiers Killed Near Posterenk

/ On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

August 24, 2025.  Readers of this blog are aware that Pieter has been involved in finding photos of Canadians who are buried in The Netherlands since 2014. 

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.

Pieter at the entrance to the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

….Flags placed at the graves of soldiers from all 10 provinces and 1 Territory…

Over the next few postings, soldiers whose stories were previously told, and who are buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, the second largest Canadian War Cemetery in The Netherlands, will be featured. There are 1,394 burials here, of which 1,355 are Canadian.  Flags were placed by Pieter at 156 graves at this cemetery.  This was the final tally for the 156 graves:

  • 38 were from Nova Scotia
  • 46 from New Brunswick
  • 21 from Prince Edward Island
  • 3 from British Columbia
  • 5 from Saskatchewan
  • 20 from Manitoba
  • 2 from Alberta
  • 16 from Ontario
  • 3 from Quebec
  • 1 from Newfoundland
  • 1 from Yukon Territory

22 of the graves also received an Acadian flag, and 2 received Indigenous flags – one from the Mi’kmaq Nation, and one from the Wolastoqey Nation.  All of the graves received a Canadian flag.  Provincial flags were placed at all graves, with the exception of the soldiers from British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Yukon Territory, for which, unfortunately, we did not receive flags.

All of the flags placed on our war memorial tour had been donated, as mentioned in an earlier posting. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/06/04/on-the-war-memorial-trail-flags-and-pins-received-for-our-2025-european-war-memorial-tour/)

This year, for the 80th Anniversary, with photos having been found for 80% of the soldiers buried there, photos were placed at graves for the first time.  The 2025 Faces Of Holten Exhibition ran for three weeks in May.  Photos were printed onto an aluminum backing, making them impervious to rain, and reusable.  Each placard also had a QR code, allowing visitors with cell phones to scan the code and read a brief biography of the soldier.

…7 soldiers who died near Posterenk are commemorated…

In this posting, the graves and photos of seven WWII soldiers whose stories have previously been told are featured.  All were serving in the Carleton & York Regiment at the time of their death and died near Posterenk, The Netherlands.

Grave of François ‘Frank’ Gallant. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

François ‘Frank’ GALLANT, from Mount Carmel, Prince Edward Island, was killed during the Liberation of Posterenk in The Netherlands on April 13, 1945, aged 30.  He was one of 6 soldiers initially buried along the main road to Posterenk, a village near Zutphen. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2024/06/30/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-soldier-from-mount-carmel-killed-during-the-liberation-of-posterenk/

Pieter at the grave of Daniel ‘Dan’ Peter MacKenzie. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Daniel ‘Dan’ Peter MACKENZIE, from Victoria Cross, Prince Edward Island, died from wounds received on April 13, 1945 during the Liberation of Posterenk in The Netherlands, part of Operation Cannonshot. He had been taken to a Canadian hospital in Lochem, where he died that evening, aged 26, despite heroic efforts to save him.  You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/06/29/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-soldier-from-victoria-cross-fatally-wounded-during-the-liberation-of-posterenk/

Grave of James ‘Frank’ Mossey. (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

James ‘Frank’ MOSSEY, from Souris, Prince Edward Island, was killed in action on April 14, 1945 near Posterenk, The Netherlands, aged 25. He was one of 6 soldiers initially buried along the main road to Posterenk, a village near Zutphen. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/08/09/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-soldier-from-souris-killed-during-the-liberation-of-posterenk/

Pieter by the grave of Goldwin ‘Goldy’ Marven Pollick. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Goldwin ‘Goldy’ Marven POLLICK, from Minto, New Brunswick, lost his life on April 13, 1945 in Wilp-Achterhoek, near Posterenk, aged 24. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/01/07/on-the-war-memorial-trail-atlantic-canada-remembers-part-1/

Grave of Samuel Glazier Porter. (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

Samuel Glazier PORTER, from Dow Flat, Victoria County, New Brunswick, lost his life, at the age of 26, on April 15, 1945 as his Regiment advanced to the Apeldoorn Canal in The Netherlands. He was one of 6 soldiers initially buried along the main road to Posterenk, a village near Zutphen.  You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/11/28/on-the-war-memorial-trail-atlantic-canada-remembers-part-11/

Pieter by the grave of Harold Gordon Sabean. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Harold Gordon SABEAN, from Port Lorne, Nova Scotia, was killed on April 15, 1945, as his Regiment advanced to the Apeldoorn Canal in The Netherlands, aged 27.  He was one of 6 soldiers initially buried along the main road to Posterenk, a village near Zutphen. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/10/08/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-soldier-from-port-lorne-who-lost-his-life-during-the-advance-to-the-apeldoorn-canal/

Grave of Frederick Joseph Tait. (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

Frederick Joseph TAIT, from Grand Falls, New Brunswick, was killed on April 15, 1945, as his Regiment advanced to the Apeldoorn Canal in The Netherlands, aged 23.  He was one of 6 soldiers initially buried along the main road to Posterenk, a village near Zutphen. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/03/16/on-the-war-memorial-trail-atlantic-canada-remembers-part-8/

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

All of the flags placed at graves were donated.  Our thanks go to:

  • Alan Waddell, Constituent Assistant, on behalf of Heath MacDonald, MP for Malpeque, for the Canadian flags.
  • Matt MacFarlane, MLA for District 19, Borden-Kinkora, for the flags from Prince Edward Island.
  • Armel ‘Mel’ Lanteigne, President of the Caraquet Legion in New Brunswick for the New Brunswick flags and Acadian flags.
  • Kyle Graham, Research Officer, Military Relations, Nova Scotia Intergovernmental Affairs, on behalf of Premier Tim Houston, Province of Nova Scotia, for the Nova Scotia flags

The Dutch continue to stress the importance of remembrance to the next generation so they can continue to remember those who lost their lives in WWII.  ‘Opdat wij niet vergeten’ (Lest We Forget)

In Part 2, graves of soldiers from Prince Edward Island who are listed on the Cenotaph in Borden-Carleton, Prince Edward Island, and are buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, will be featured.

Pieter encourages readers with photos to come forward so that eventually all of the known graves of Canadians buried in Holten will have a photo displayed by their grave. Email him at memorialtrail@gmail.com. 

© 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…..The WWII Soldier From Kenora Who Lay In An Unknown Grave For 80 Years…. Part 2: The Grave Re- dedication Ceremony

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Arthur Vanance.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

August 22, 2025. The research file for WWII soldier Arthur VANANCE of Kenora, Ontario, who lost his life on February 15, 1945 while serving with the Lake Superior Regiment, remained open for several years because of the uncertainty as to whether he lay buried in an unknown grave – Plot XI, Row H, Grave 5 – in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands. 

Part 1 explained how after his story was sent to Dr. Sarah Lockyer, Casualty Identification Coordinator, Directorate of History and Heritage, Department of National Defence of the Government of Canada, everyone involved had to wait to see what the verdict would be.   (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/08/19/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-soldier-from-kenora-who-lay-in-an-unknown-grave-for-80-years-part-1-what-happened-to-arthur-vanance/)

On March 3, 2025 we were informed that Arthur was indeed buried in that unknown grave, and he would be receiving a new headstone. Now, in Part 2, we attended the grave re-dedication ceremony for Arthur Vanance on May 3, 2025, while on our 2025 European War Memorial Trail. 

….The new headstone for Arthur Vanance was waiting to be unveiled….

The new gravestone for Arthur Vanance was covered until the May 3, 2025 grave rededication ceremony.  The grave to the right is that of Harold Frederick Hilderley. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

On May 1, 2025, we were at the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten to begin placing flags at what turned out to be 156 graves of servicemen that Pieter has researched over the years.  When we saw the covered headstone at what was once an unknown grave, we couldn’t wait for the re-dedication ceremony on May 3!

Arthur is buried next to Harold Frederick HILDERLEY of Stratford, Ontario, with Earl Herbert CARLBOM of Sioux Lookout, Ontario lying in the grave beside Harold Hilderley.  All three men died on February 15, 1945.

….The grave re-dedication ceremony was dignified….

On Saturday, May 3, 2025 a number of us gathered at the Holten Information Centre in anticipation of the grave re-dedication ceremony.  Shortly after 10 am we made our way to the cemetery and briefly spoke with His Excellency, Hugh Adsett, the Canadian Ambassador to The Netherlands, who mentioned he was from Petitcodiac, New Brunswick.  Paul Ledwell, the Deputy Minister of Veterans Affairs, also stopped by to chat.  As well, Pieter spoke with a representative from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in the United Kingdom. 

Pieter with Master Warrant Officer Brian Keene.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

We had a chance to meet Master Warrant Officer Brian Keene of the Directorate History and Heritage (3-3) – Dress and Ceremonial, of the Canadian Armed Forces, who’d been our contact for the date and time of the ceremony.  He said he worked closely with Dr Sarah Lockyer, who we’d originally contacted regarding Arthur Vanance. 

Formation of soldiers for the re-dedication ceremony at the grave of Arthur Vanance.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

No family members were present, but there was a large turnout of Canadian military, including members of the Lake Superior Regiment, the Canadian Armed Forces Band, as well as the dignitaries, volunteers from the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, media….plus us.  We had expected a much smaller event!

Soldiers and the Canadian Armed Forces Band wait for the re-dedication ceremony to start. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

The Military Chaplain of the North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment was the Master of Ceremonies for this very dignified event.  A biography of Arthur Vanance was read out by Captain Corey Nieminen of the Lake Superior Regiment. The poem ‘In Flanders Fields’ and the Act of Remembrance were read out by Chief Warrant Officer Jon O’Connor, also of the Lake Superior Regiment.  Paul Ledwell also said a few words.

Members of the Lake Superior Regiment by the grave of Arthur Vanance. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Wreaths were laid, ‘O Canada’ and ‘God Save The King’ were played, as well as ‘The Last Post’ and ‘Reveille’.  After the ceremony, Pieter placed flags of Canada and Ontario at the grave.

Pieter placing flags of Canada and Ontario at the grave of Arthur Vanance. (Photo credit: Bastien Sjoerts)

Pieter with Captain Corey Nieminen (left) and Chief Warrant Officer Jon O’Connor (right) by the grave of Arthur Vanance.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Following the ceremony, we had a chance to meet and speak with other attendees, but were among the first to leave, as we had another commitment in another town, over 1 ½ hours away.

The following day, Mitch Banks, son of Lt George Calvin ‘Cal’ BANKS, was at the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten with his wife Linda, for the annual commemoration service.  “….The ceremony was very moving, especially when the young children laid white roses on each of the headstones. It brought tears to our eyes….”

While in Holten, Mitch and Linda visited the graves of three members of his father’s platoon: Arthur VANANCE, Harold Frederick HILDERLEY, and his father’s close friend, Earl Herbert CARLBOM.

Mitch Banks by the grave of Earl Herbert Carlbom.  (Photo courtesy of Mitch Banks)

After 80 years of lying in a grave marked as unknown, Arthur Vanance has a headstone that identifies him.  His story has come full circle!

Thank you to Bastien Sjoerts for taking a photo of Pieter placing flags by Arthur Vanance’s grave, and to Mitch Banks for sharing photos about his visit to Holten.  As well, thank you to the following for donating the flags that were placed at Arthur’s grave:

  • Alan Waddell, Constituent Assistant, on behalf of Heath MacDonald, MP for Malpeque, Prince Edward Island, for the Canadian flag.
  • Don Coutts on behalf of the Muttart and Coutts families in memory of Flight Sergeant Elmer Bagnall MUTTART for the Ontario flag.

More highlights of our adventures on the 2025 European War Memorial Trail will be featured in upcoming postings.  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 Kenora Who Lay In An Unknown Grave For 80 Years…. Part 1: What Happened To Arthur Vanance?

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Arthur Vanance.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

August 19, 2025.  Sometimes research into a soldier takes years to unfold before the file can be closed.  Often a file remains open while a photo is being sought, or additional information.  When it drags on for too many years, it’s often deemed a Cold Case File.  (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/our-cold-cases/)

Other times, a file remains open because of special circumstances.  This happened in the case of WWII soldier Arthur VANANCE of Kenora, Ontario, whose story was written in ‘Holtense Canadezen’, Jan Braakman’s book (in Dutch) about some of the soldiers buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands, which we translated in 2021. 

….Arthur was in the Lake Superior Regiment….

Born January 5, 1919 in Kenora, Ontario, Arthur Vanance (surname also spelled Vanasse) was the son of Emmanuel Joseph and Annie Rosie (nee Halley) Vanance.  After his father died in April 1934, his mother remarried and moved to Powell River, British Columbia.

Before enlisting with the Lake Superior Regiment on July 11, 1940 in Kenora, Arthur worked as a truck driver.

On October 2, 1940, he married Rita Margaret Meservier in Port Arthur (now Thunder Bay), Ontario. Rita had a son, Allan Glenn McGuire, who had been born on July 21, 1939 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.  Rita and Arthur’s son, Arthur Henry Vanance, was born on December 27, 1941 in Thunder Bay.  (After Arthur’s death, Rita married Clayton (Mickey) McGuire, Allan’s father.)

By August 22, 1942, Arthur was in the United Kingdom with his Regiment, and remained there until July 21, 1944, when they were sent to Northwest Europe.  

Pieter in Bokhoven in 2010.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

In February 1945, the Lake Superior Regiment was near Bokhoven, The Netherlands, a place we knew very well, as Pieter’s maternal ancestor, Willem Kremers, lived there and died, along with his daughter Maria Anna, on the night of February 21-22, 1799. Strong winds had pushed up ice floes from the Maas River, and caused the collapse of a barn near a castle, where Willem and Maria Anna had been sheltering, but ended up being buried under the rubble. 

246 years later, on February 15, 1945, the area also proved to be unlucky for Arthur and three other soldiers from the Lake Superior Regiment.

……Arthur lost his life on February 15, 1945…….

An excerpt from ‘Holten Heroes: Stories from a Canadian Field of Honour’, from the chapter ‘Mission across the Maas’ gave an account of what happened on February 15, 1945…..

Map showing location of Bokhoven, Hedel, Zaltbommel, and Ammerzoden. (Map source: Mapbox)

“….In February 1945, his regiment was stationed near Bokhoven, on the south bank of the Maas, north of Hertogenbosch. And there he was deployed early in the morning for the fateful patrol on February 15, 1945. Such patrols were undertaken by both sides. The Germans tried to penetrate the Canadian lines on the Maas at Empel, Crevecoeur, and Gewande. Meanwhile, Canadians crossed the river to carry out reconnaissance of the north side and to check whether the Germans were still occupying their positions. Prisoners of war were captured by both sides during the skirmishes.

After the war, Lieutenant Colonel H.H.A. Parker of the Lake Superior Regiment explained what had happened to the patrol that Vanance was part of. “On the night of 14-15 February, B-Company had a patrol across the River Maas . . . ran into trouble on the way back with the result that only about half of the men got back to our side.” The patrol returned battered. One soldier (Walter Russell Lahoda) had been killed, ten were wounded, and three had fallen into the hands of the enemy. Among them – probably – was Arthur Vanance.

Parker stated in a letter to relatives of the deceased Earl Carlbom that a rescue operation was set up. ‘Sergeant Carlbom, along with Lieutenant Banks and Sergeant Boomhower decided to cross the river again and search for the missing men from their platoon. Unfortunately, they were ambushed, Lieutenant Banks and your son being wounded. Sergeant Boomhower managed to make his escape and he told us that there was little doubt that your son had been taken prisoner, but apparently, his wounds must have been more serious than they appeared. We have twice carried out a search of the whole area but have been unable to locate his grave.’

What happened to Arthur Vanance after that remains unclear. One of the soldiers, W.R. Marsh, later reported that Lance-Corporal Hilderley had been fatally wounded, and that they had been unable to recover his body due to intense enemy fire. But, said the same soldier, if they had had two stretchers, they could have picked up Hilderley and Vanance.

Banks told Marsh that another NCO, Carlbom, would take care of that. But Carlbom was also ambushed and killed. After the war it turned out that Carlbom had been buried by the Germans in the cemetery in Zaltbommel. Hilderley had been buried in occupied Ammerzoden, along with an unidentified Canadian soldier. Where Arthur Vanance had gone was unclear: he was missing. Hilderley’s body was exhumed after the war and reburied in Holten Canadian War Cemetery, in Plot XI, Row H, Grave 6. Carlbom was also reburied in Plot XI, Row H, Grave 7 in the same cemetery. The unidentified Canadian from Ammerzoden also ended up in Holten Canadian War Cemetery, in Plot XI, Row H, Grave 5….”

……The other casualties ……

Private Arthur Vanance wasn’t the only casualty that night….

  • Sgt Earl Herbert CARLBOM of Sioux Lookout, Ontario, aged 27
  • Lance-Corporal Harold Frederick HILDERLEY of Stratford, Ontario, aged 19
  • Private Walter Russell LAHODA of Winnipeg, Manitoba, aged 27

Carlbom and Hilderley are buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten.  Lahoda is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek.

Lt. George Calvin ‘Cal’ Banks. (Photo courtesy of Mitch Banks)

Lt. George Calvin ‘Cal’ BANKS survived.  His son, Mitch Banks, wrote to let us know that “….Private Arthur Vanance is part of my Father’s story as he was his Platoon commander that fateful night on February 15th 1945 when Private Vanance and three others of Dad’s platoon were killed. My Dad was severely wounded and taken prisoner….”

Mitch explained that “…having learned his friend Sergeant Carlbom was killed and Dad having lost a lot of blood, he would have been in a state of shock and probably not sure where he was initially taken….” 

In the Liberated Prisoner of War Questionnaire that was completed after the war ended, Cal stated that he had been captured near Hedel on February 15, 1945, then initially taken to a hospital in Apeldoorn until March 31, 1945, followed by a hospital in Haarlem, where he remained until May 8, 1945.  

……Was Arthur buried in that unknown grave? ……

Was Arthur Vanance in Plot XI, Row H, Grave 5 in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten? (Photo courtesy of the Information Centre Canadian Cemetery Holten)

The account in Jan Braakman’s book ended with the belief that it was Arthur who lay buried in Plot XI, Row H, Grave 5 in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, and was so compelling that the translated excerpt was sent to Dr. Sarah Lockyer, Casualty Identification Coordinator, Directorate of History and Heritage, Department of National Defence of the Government of Canada. 

In a subsequent phone conversation, Dr Lockyer asked if a family member had been found, as that would be very helpful.  Pieter immediately began his research and it wasn’t long before he was in contact with Paulette Alcock of Alberta, who wrote to say that “…I can confirm that Arthur Vanance was my dad’s half-brother.  He spoke of him being missing in the war and remembers his mom receiving a medal. He was young, so it was tough, and my dad has also been gone for over 30 years. If I can help in the further steps, let me know.  It would be nice to have my uncle Arthur as a known soldier….”   Paulette agreed to have her contact information shared with Dr Lockyer, which was done.  

We heard nothing for several years, but did keep Dr Lockyer updated, such as when the translated book was published in English in October 2023 as ‘Holten Heroes: Stories from a Canadian Field of Honour’.  (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/11/01/new-book-about-soldiers-buried-in-the-canadian-war-cemetery-in-holten-the-netherlands/ ) 

In March 2024, Jan Braakman submitted the English language chapter about Arthur Vanance to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), which can be read at: https://www.cwgc.org/stories/stories/private-arthur-vanance-lake-superior-regiment-mission-across-the-river-maas/ 

….The Directorate of Heritage and History wrote to inform us that Arthur’s grave was no longer unknown ….

Then, a year later, on March 3, 2025, we received the following email from Dr. Lockyer:

“….Good morning Mr. and Mrs. Valkenburg,

I am delighted to inform you that the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces have publicly announced the identification of Private Arthur Vanance. His case was adjudicated and accepted at the December 2024 Casualty Identification Review Board and his next of kin was recently notified by the Canadian Armed Forces. I have attached a letter from the Acting Director of History and Heritage thanking you for your submission that ultimately made this happen.

The URLs for the News Release are found below….

ENGLISH: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/news/2025/03/canadian-soldier-of-the-second-world-war-identified.html

FRENCH: https://www.canada.ca/fr/ministere-defense-nationale/nouvelles/2025/03/identification-dun-soldat-canadien-de-la-seconde-guerre-mondiale.html

The Canadian Armed Forces are aiming to conduct his rededication ceremony in early May to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands commemorative events hosted by Veterans Affairs Canada at Holten Cemetery.

Thank you for your help in making this happen. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

Cheers,

Sarah

Sarah Lockyer, PhD….”

The March 3, 2025 letter to us from Captain Ken Ingram, Acting Director of History and Heritage, Department of National Defence of the Government of Canada, provided the same information as Dr Lockyer, and thanked us for the small part we played in this story:

“….We are pleased to inform you that following extensive research undertaken by both the CWGC and Directorate of History and Heritage (Canadian Armed Forces), the information you submitted was accepted in December 2024 by the Casualty Identification Review Board.

We sincerely thank you for submitting your report to the CWGC. Your excellent research helped to enable this incredible outcome.…”

Media coverage picked up this wonderful outcome…. see https://www.ctvnews.ca/northern-ontario/article/grave-of-missing-northern-ont-solider-identified-after-80-years/

….The Re-dedication Ceremony was planned for May 3, 2025 …

Towards the end of March, we were informed by both Henk Vincent, volunteer at the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, and by Adjum/MWO Brian Keene, Directorate History and Heritage (3-3) – Dress and Ceremonial, of the Canadian Armed Forces that the re-dedication ceremony for Arthur’s grave would be held on the morning of May 3, 2025.  As we would be in The Netherlands during the period, we were able to attend this special event.

Coming up in Part 2….we attend the grave re-dedication ceremony for Arthur Vanance, one of the highlights of our adventures on the 2025 European War Memorial Trail. 

Thank you to Mitch Banks for the information and photos about his father, Lt Banks, and to Yannic Wethly for sending us the Liberated POW Questionnaire.  Thank you to Jan Braakman for permission to quote from his book, with translation into English by Pieter and Daria Valkenburg

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.