March 31, 2026. 111 years ago, on June 13, 1915, 1,148 soldiers – 42 officers and 1,106 other ranks – from the 26th New Brunswick Battalion boarded the Anchor Line Steamship ‘Caledonia’ and left the Saint John, New Brunswick harbour, enroute to the United Kingdom, for military service in the WWI battlefields in Europe.
Scene at embarkation of 26th Battalion and ammunition column CEF, St. John, New Brunswick, June 13, 1915. No. 9. (Photo source: D. Smith Reid, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)
When the battalion returned home at the end of the war, only 4 of the original 42 officers and 113 of the original 1,106 other ranks were still with the battalion. The others had been killed, wounded, or transferred to other battalions.
One of the soldiers who never returned home was Private Arthur Clinton ROBINSON of Tryon, Prince Edward Island, who was born July 20, 1896, the son of Albert James Robinson and Flora P. Scruton. 110 years ago, on March 27, 1916, he was killed during the Actions of St Eloi Craters when shell fire hit the trenches southeast of Kemmel, which is only 10 km (6 miles) south west of Ypres. He was buried at La Laiterie Military Cemetery in Belgium.
One of the names listed on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion in Prince Edward Island, we have not yet found of a photo of him, and neither has his family.
….The ‘Caledonia’ arrived in Canada from Egypt …
But, in 1915, most of the soldiers preparing to go overseas didn’t know what horrors of war lay ahead of them. When the S. S. ‘Caledonia’ arrived in Saint John, an article in the June 12, 1915 edition of the St. John Standard newspaper reported that it had arrived the day before from Sydney, Nova Scotia. It had travelled from Alexandria, Egypt after delivering wounded Australian soldiers from Turkey. “…The Caledonia has been transporting troops since early in December and spent some time in the Dardanelles…” and was in the midst of heavy fighting. The Dardanelles is a narrow strait of northwestern Turkey that divides Europe from Asia. (See https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/a-short-history-of-the-dardanelles-campaign)
After the ‘Caledonia’ left Saint John at 11:30 am on Sunday, June 13, 1915, it sailed to Halifax, Nova Scotia, arriving the next day, where 250 members of the Heavy Artillery, 50 from Nova Scotia Cycle Corps, and 250 reinforcements from the 10th Nova Scotia Battalion, joined the ship for its voyage to Plymouth, England.
The ship didn’t leave Halifax until the following morning, as recorded in the Plymouth Evening Mail newspaper on June 24, 1915. “…The troops at once went aboard the transport, but there was a large quantity of ammunition to put aboard and there were the 4.7 guns and howitzers. In consequence the Caledonia remained at pier until 9:30 the next morning when she sailed down the harbour, followed by the best wishes of the thousands of loyal people…”
….The voyage of the ‘Caledonia’…
The ‘Caledonia’ travelled from Saint John, New Brunswick to Halifax, Nova Scotia, and then across the Atlantic Ocean to Plymouth, England. (Map source: Google maps)
A description of the voyage in the July 20, 1915 Caledonia Telegraph Journal included excerpts from the diary of Corporal Clarence Beverley SMITH of the 26th Battalion. “…June 17. Very rough weather, many very sick. June 18. Weather smoother, but not calm. Most of the men too sick for any actual drill; most lying around decks. June 19. Weather very smooth. Expect to get to England about Wednesday evening. June 20. Weather very calm. The ocean is just like a river and the boat makes good progress. June 21. Weather very calm. Received orders of absolute quiet and silence with no lights at night. June 22. Weather very calm and very warm. June 23. We were picked up by a British destroyer which stood by us until we arrived at Devonport about 10 am. June 24. We were boarded by the doctor and other officials and tied up at the wharf. About 2 pm we were put on board a train and got into Sandling Camp 1 am on June 25. Altogether, the voyage was a very pleasant one…”
Private William John SWETKA, with the Signalling Division of the 26th Battalion, gave a similar account, published in the July 14, 1915 edition of the St. John Standard newspaper. He had a bit more to say as the ship arrived in Plymouth, England on June 24, 1915. “…About six o’clock passed Eddystone lighthouse. In about an hour entered Plymouth harbour. Several steamers with invalids from the Dardanelles were there. They cheered us. We were towed into the inner harbour. There are quite a few cruisers, destroyers, etc in dock being repaired. Harbour is full of war vessels of all kinds…”
The soldiers were in England only for a short period, as by the end of August 1915, the 26th Battalion began preparations for a move into France. On September 13, 1915 an advance party left England, followed 2 days later by the troops, who arrived in Boulogne, France in the early hours of September 16, 1915.
….More about Arthur Clinton Robinson…
Unlike Arthur Robinson, Clarence Smith and William Swetka survived WWI and returned home. To read more about Arthur, see:
Thank you to Shawn Rainville for newspaper searches about the Caledonia’s voyage in 1915. Meanwhile, Pieter’s research efforts to find photos and families of soldiers continue. Do you have a photo of Arthur Clinton Robinson to share, please email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, or comment on the blog.
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/
December 24, 2025. 2025 was another busy year for us, and we remain committed to the On The War Memorial Trail research project. As of today, since this project began, Pieter has been able to cross 359 photo search requests from the three Canadian War Cemeteries in The Netherlands off of their photo search lists.
In addition, he has found photos for an additional 111 soldiers – for WWI and WWII soldiers buried in Belgium, listed on a memorial wall in the United Kingdom, airmen buried in municipal cemeteries in The Netherlands, and soldiers from Prince Edward Island who are buried in Canada. I have written stories for many of these soldiers, with many more stories still to come.
While several long-standing searches for photos were successful, allowing Pieter to complete his files for those soldiers, many files still remain open. In most cases, family members were found, but no photo was available for one reason or another.
The files in which Pieter has had zero luck in finding photos continue to be placed on the Cold Case Filespage on the On The War Memorial Trail website. We started this page in 2023 and have been lucky to have several names cleared off of the list. Perhaps 2026 will see more names removed! (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/our-cold-cases/)
New research files were added, and Pieter was able to finish his research for many files. As always, there is a lag between him completing his work and me documenting his research, but that is on my very optimistic ‘to do’ list for this winter.
This spring we were in Europe for 5 weeks on our 2025 European War Memorial Tour. Among the highlights of our trip, Pieter placed flags at 383 graves in 14 cemeteries in The Netherlands and Belgium. We attended the commemoration service for the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of The Netherlands at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek.
As well, we visited several memorials in The Netherlands and Germany, attended the grave re-dedication ceremony of a WWII soldier from Ontario, and, with the help of GPS coordinates on a trench map, we found the location of the original burial of a WWI soldier from Prince Edward Island who was killed during the Battle of Passchendaele in October 1917.
Pieter became a volunteer under the National Volunteer Program for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), and was assigned four local cemeteries which have CWGC gravestones. A photo of him was even featured on a postcard promoting volunteers!
The project to upload photos to the Canadian Virtual War Memorial website, which began in the fall of 2023, continues. Pieter advises that he plans to continue this project into 2026.
This year, we were able to meet several families, which we very much appreciated – this year in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. We are grateful that so many families have come forward to share photos and information, and are thankful for help from the media in helping to find photos. What follows in the rest of this posting is a summary of what happened in 2025 with this research project.
… Statement about Pieter in the Senate of Canada….
Matthew B. MacFarlane, MLA for District 19, Borden-Kinkora, Leader of the Green Party of Prince Edward Island, informed us that he’d given a brief statement about us in the legislature on November 4, 2025. We had no idea he’d done this until he sent us the link! (https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1Ame5ppZio/)
…DariaHonoured With PEI Senior Islander of the Year Award….
Left to right: Honourable Barb Ramsay, Daria, Peter Holman. (Photo credit: Matthew B. MacFarlane)
PEI Seniors Secretariat slide shown during the readout of Daria’s biography
On October 1, 2025, Daria received the PEI Senior Islander of the Year Award from the Seniors Secretariat of Prince Edward Island, for her involvement with Hear PEI, a volunteer organization that works to build awareness of hearing loss issues, and in the ongoing research and writing of stories connected to the On The War Memorial Trail Research Project, sharing the untold stories of brave Canadians who served in the two World Wars, all based on her husband Pieter’s research.
…. Pieter Appointed Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau….
On July 2, 2025, by Royal Decree of His Majesty Willem-Alexander, King of The Netherlands, Pieter was appointed Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau. The decoration was presented to Pieter by Her Excellency Margriet Vonno, Ambassador of The Netherlands to Canada, in a beautiful ceremony hosted by His Honour, Dr Wassim Salamoun, Lt Governor of Prince Edward Island.
His Honour Dr Wassim Salamoun, Lt Governor of Prince Edward Island, Pieter Valkenburg, Her Excellency Margriet Vonno, Ambassador of The Netherlands to Canada. (Photo credit: Matthew B. MacFarlane)
Order of Orange-Nassau. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)
….Pieter and Daria Honoured With Faces To Graves Groesbeek Foundation Certificate and ‘Coin’….
Daria and Pieter Valkenburg hold the Faces To Graves Coin and Certificate that was presented to them by Alice van Bekkum, Chair of Faces To Graves Groesbeek Foundation. (Photo credit: Kim Huvenaars)
….‘Holten Heroes: Stories from a Canadian Field of Honour’ Added To PEI Library Catalogue….
Crapaud Public Library and Kinkora Public Library Branch Library Technician Elsie Hovey holds the book ‘Holten Heroes’, with translators Daria and Pieter Valkenburg on either side of her. (Photo credit: Brenda Graves)
‘Holten Heroes: Stories from a Canadian Field of Honour’ by Dutch journalist Jan Braakman was translated by Pieter and Daria Valkenburg from the original Dutch language book ‘Holtense Canadezen’. A compilation of stories about many of the 1,394 Canadians buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands, the book was added to the Prince Edward Island Library Catalogue this fall. For more information on the book, see https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/11/01/new-book-about-soldiers-buried-in-the-canadian-war-cemetery-in-holten-the-netherlands/
‘Holten Heroes’ displayed on a bookshelf in the Crapaud Public Library. (Photo credit: Elsie Hovey)
.....Pieter now a volunteer under CWGC’s National Volunteer Program….
Postcard promoting CWGC’s National Volunteer Program included a photo of Pieter (top left) that Daria took at Cape Traverse Community Cemetery.
When the Commonwealth CWGC asked for volunteers across Canada to be part of the National Volunteer Program to visit local cemeteries and gather information about the condition of CWGC war graves, Pieter applied and was accepted as a volunteer. After receiving training on how to inspect headstones, how to report a grave in need of repair, and how to safely clean headstones where required, he was assigned 4 cemeteries in the South Shore area on Prince Edward Island. The 4 cemeteries are:
Seven Mile Bay (St Peter’s) Cemetery (4 CWGC graves)
Shortly after Pieter began his inspection of the cemeteries, a photo that I took of him at Cape Traverse Community Cemetery was chosen to be used on a postcard promoting the National Volunteer Program.
…Presentation At The Annual Remembrance Service At Crapaud Community Hall….
Pieter needed a few seconds to regain his composure following the heartfelt introduction by Senator Robinson. (Photo credit: Matthew B. MacFarlane)
…Presentation At The Annual Remembrance Service At Borden-Carleton Legion….
Pieter was the guest speaker during the Remembrance Day service at Borden-Carleton Legion. (Photo credit: Matthew B. MacFarlane)
On November 11, 2025, Pieter was the guest speaker at the Annual Remembrance Service at the Borden-Carleton Legion in Borden-Carleton, Prince Edward Island. Similar to his presentation a few days earlier at Crapaud Community Hall, Pieter spoke about what Remembrance Day means to him, and based his speech around 5 words: Gratitude… Sorrow ….Thankfulness…. Respect….. and Admiration…
…. Uploading photos to the Canadian Virtual War Memorial website ……
In 2023, he began with uploading photos of 3 WWII soldiers. As of the end of 2024, Pieter uploaded photos for 20 WWI soldiers and 195 WWII, for a total of 218 soldiers. This year, he uploaded photos of:
1 WWI soldiers
9 WWII soldiers and airmen
This resulted in a total contribution of 228 soldiers.
…. Soldiers Listed On The Cenotaph Outside Borden-Carleton Legion …….
This year we added more information on soldiers whose stories had previously been told:
While in Belgium this spring, we found the location of the original burial of WWI soldier Vincent Earl CARR of Prince Edward Island who was killed during the Battle of Passchendaelein October 1917.
After a 10 year search we received a photo for WWI soldier Harry ROBINSON of Augustine Cove, Prince Edward Island, who died on June 27, 1916 after contracting blood poisoning from a cellulitis infection.
… WWII Related Stories….
We shared a story about the 2024 candle lighting at graves of Canadian soldiers at the Canadian War Cemetery in Adegem, Belgium.
We shared the story about the successful search for a photo of WWII soldier Peter HYDICHUK, from Saskatchewan, who lost his life in The Netherlands on March 31, 1945, while serving with the South Saskatchewan Regiment.
We shared the story about the successful search for a photo of WWII soldier Garnet Joseph GALLANT, from Nova Scotia, who lost his life in Germany on February 18, 1945 during the Battle of Moyland Wood, while serving with the Regina Rifles Regiment.
…. Stories About Servicemen From The Maritimes…
We also featured stories about servicemen from The Maritimes:
WWII soldier Azade BOUDREAU from New Brunswick, who drowned in a canal in Ghent, Belgium on December 15, 1944.
WWII soldier George Allan BUCHANAN from Nova Scotia, who was severely wounded on April 10, 1945 in Sögel, Germany and died of his wounds upon arriving at a military hospital in The Netherlands.
WWI soldier John Joseph FOY from Prince Edward Island, who survived WWI and moved to New Brunswick, where he became a rural mailman until his death on July 1, 1964.
WWII soldier Joseph Stephen GALLANT from Prince Edward Island, who was serving with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles when he lost his life on October 11, 1944 during the Battle of the Leopold Canal.
WWII soldier Arthur GAUDET from Prince Edward Island, who was killed in action during Operation Blockbuster in Germany on February 26, 1945.
WWII soldier Merle Vincent HAMILTON from Nova Scotia, one of 5 men killed on April 19, 1945 when the armoured car they were in hit a mine in Germany during the Battle for the Küsten Canal.
WWII soldier David ‘Lloyd’ George HOPE from New Brunswick, one of 7 men from the 23rd Field Company of the Royal Canadian Engineers who lost their lives during the crossing of the Lower Rhine River in The Netherlands on September 25-26, 1944 while participating in Operation Berlin – the attempt to save survivors of the British 1st Airborne after the disastrous Operation Market Garden and at the end of the Battle of Arnhem/Oosterbeek.
WWII Knights of Columbus Auxiliary Services Supervisor Joseph Augustine MACKENNA from Prince Edward Island, who drowned in a canal in Ghent, Belgium. Although he was last seen on the evening of June 12, 1945, his death was ‘arbitrarily determined’ to be June 20, 1945, and his death ‘confirmed’ on June 21, 1945.
WWII soldier Francis ‘Frank’ Eugene MUNROE from Nova Scotia, one of 19 men from his Regiment who drowned during the crossing of the Ems River in Germany on April 28, 1945 while participating in Operation Duck.
WWII soldier James Edward SULLIVAN from New Brunswick, one of 19 men from his Regiment who drowned during the crossing of the Ems River in Germany on April 28, 1945 while participating in Operation Duck.
WWII soldier John Peter ‘JP’ WHITE from Prince Edward Island, who died in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, following an operation on December 15, 1945.
…. Stories About Servicemen From Outside The Maritimes…
WWII soldier Stewart Lyon ANDERSON from Manitoba, one of 5 men killed on April 19, 1945 when the armoured car they were in hit a mine in Germany during the Battle for the Küsten Canal.
WWII soldier John Lewis HUGHES from Manitoba, who was killed at a beach dressing station during Operation Infatuate on Walcheren Island in The Netherlands on November 2, 1944, when 3 Allied tracked vehicles exploded after being hit by German shellfire.
WWII soldier Joseph ‘Albert Noel’ LAMONTAGNE from Quebec, who was killed in action during the advance towards Xanten in Germany on March 3, 1945.
WWII soldier Omer VINCENT from Manitoba, who was slain in a barn in the municipality of Bronkhurst in The Netherlands, during a patrol on April 13, 1945.
…In Conversation And Features…
We featured the 3-part story of Croatian-born WWI and WWII veteran Nikola ‘Nick’ OSTOJIC, who spent 4 years as a POW in Germany after the Royal Yugoslav Army surrendered, then 3 years in a Displaced Persons camp in Austria, before finally finding freedom before finally finding freedom and a new life in Prince Edward Island, where he raised horses, and later Ontario, in Canada.
We featured the 2-part story of Nova Scotia born Dr. James ‘Alton’ ROSS, based on his WWII diary while serving as a doctor aboard the hospital ship HMHS Lady Nelson.
We featured multiple stories about our 5 week 2025 European War Memorial Tour, during which Pieter placed flags at 383 graves at 14 cemeteries in The Netherlands and Belgium. We attended the commemoration service for the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of The Netherlands at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek. As well, we visited several memorials in The Netherlands and Germany, attended the grave re-dedication ceremony of Arthur VANANCE – a WWII soldier from Ontario – and, with the help of GPS coordinates on a trench map, we found the location of the original burial of a WWI soldier from Prince Edward Island who was killed during the Battle of Passchendaele in October 1917.
We were asked to find family of WWII soldier John Graham MUSTARD of Saskatchewan, who died February 20, 1945, aged 24, while serving with the Fort Garry Horse and is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands. The Cemetery had been asked to find family by a man whose parents had adopted the soldier’s grave back in 1946, and which he has kept up with visiting. He had letters that the soldier’s family wrote to the family in The Netherlands and wanted to repatriate them. With the help of Judie Klassen, a nephew was found, and the two men were put in contact with each other.
We featured the May 24, 2025 ceremony in The Netherlands, where we were presented with a Certificate and a Faces To Graves ‘coin’ by the Faces To Graves Groesbeek Foundation, for research into Canadian soldiers buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands.
We reported on Pieter’s new role as a volunteer with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) National Volunteer Program, and his assignment to monitor and clean CWGC graves at 4 cemeteries in Prince Edward Island, beginning with Cape Traverse Community Cemetery.
We featured the July 2, 2025 ceremony in Charlottetown, where, by Royal Decree of His Majesty Willem-Alexander, King of The Netherlands, Pieter was appointed Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau.
We featured the October 1, 2025 ceremony in Charlottetown, where Daria received the PEI Senior Islander of the Year Award.
We expressed our sadness at the passing of Dr. Tim Cook, Chief Historian at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.
We reported on how volunteers at the Borden-Carleton Legion in Prince Edward Island honour deceased veterans by placing flags at the graves and monuments in the area served by the Legion.
As part of our Remembrance Week 2025 feature, we wrote about the visits that members of the Borden-Carleton Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion made to three schools on Prince Edward Island for Remembrance Services.
As part of our Remembrance Week 2025 feature, we shared updates on previous stories of WWII soldiers, a visit to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in Ottawa, a visit to the Memramcook Veterans Park in Memramcook, and a visit to the Beach Grove Memorial Forest in Charlottetown.
As part of our Remembrance Week 2025 feature, we wrote about the Remembrance Service at Crapaud Community Hall, where Pieter was the guest speaker.
As part of our Remembrance Week 2025 feature, we wrote about the Remembrance Day ceremonies we attended at the Legion in Borden-Carleton, and at the memorial in Kinkora, Prince Edward Island.
…. Interviews To Highlight Search For Photos and More….
Pieter was interviewed by Kevin Rollason of the Winnipeg Free Press, about the successful search for a photo of WWII soldier John Lewis HUGHES, and the new photo search for WWII soldier Charles ‘Gordon’ ERICKSON. The article ‘Searching for a hero: Faces to Graves project hunts for photo of Winnipeg soldier who died in the Netherlands’ ran online on November 10, 2025. This search was successful.
Pieter was interviewed by Taylor O’Brien for CBC PEI Radio’s Island Morning With Mitch Cormier The 7 minute interview ran on August 7, 2025. ‘Pieter Valkenburg of North Tryon has spent more than a decade researching Canadian soldiers buried in the Netherlands. Now, he’s being honoured by the King of the Netherlands for his dedication to preserving their stories.’ (You can listen here: https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-30-island-morning/clip/16162199-islander-knighted-king-netherlands)
Pieter was interviewed by Josh Lewis of the Eastern Graphic about receiving a knighthood of the Order of Orange-Nassau by royal decree of His Majesty Willem-Alexander, King of The Netherlands. The article, ‘Valkenburg knighted for preserving stories of fallen soldiers’, ran in the newspaper on July 16, 2025.
.... Letters To The Editor For Photo Searches….
Letters to the editor in various newspapers were written in the quest for a photo for:
WWII soldier Lorne Mart COLFORD of Nova Scotia, who is buried in The Netherlands. On October 29, 2025, a letter to the editor was published online in the Chronicle Herald, ‘May We Never Forget’. (See https://letterstoeditor.com/index.php/chronicle-herald/) Up to now, this search has been unsuccessful.
WWII soldier Valmont PERRY of Prince Edward Island, who is buried in Belgium. On October 15, 2025, a letter to the editor was published in the West Prince Graphic, ‘Searching For Soldier’s Photo’. Up to now, this search has been unsuccessful.
WWII soldier Harry BIZNAR of Ontario, who is buried in The Netherlands. On July 5, 2025 a letter to the editor was published in The Windsor Star. (See Reader asks: Anyone in Windsor know family of WW2 vet Harry Biznar? Windsor Star https://share.google/MruypoLEAt5LwRfqG) This search was successful.
… Successful Search For Photos …..
Many WWII soldiers are buried in cemeteries in Europe. Pieter continues to work with photo wish lists from Canadian War Cemeteries for WWII soldiers buried in The Netherlands. This year we also received photos and information on soldiers buried in Belgium, Canada, and on a memorial wall at Runnymede in the United Kingdom.
Photos of soldiers buried in Dutch cemeteries were forwarded to researchers there for their digital archive. Whenever possible, stories are featured on the blog but there is such a backlog due to the success of Pieter’s research that I can’t keep up! This year, photos were found for:
Buried in Holten Canadian War Cemetery in The Netherlands:
Stewart Lyon ANDERSON
Thomas William BOUCHER
Bramwell Ernest CHURCHILL
Samuel George ENGEN
John ‘Jack’ Lewis HUGHES
Edward Alexander MUNRO
Buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery in The Netherlands:
Albert Donald AHLWARDT
Georges Joseph ARSENAULT
Lionel Beaudoin
Harry BIznar
Leslie Alban ‘Les’ Cross
Alfred Edward Stanley FORD
Garnet Joseph GALLANT
Harry Griffin
Peter HYDICHUK
Merrill Perez LLOYD
Donald MONTGOMERY
George Austin NORDVALL
Joseph Renaud Thomas OUELLETTE
William VERASKY
Buried in Bergen Op Zoom Canadian War Cemetery in The Netherlands:
Edward Walter BAIRD
George Edwin John CLACY
Wilfred Earl CLEMENTS
Howard Ralph DRAKE
Francis John DUFFY
Charles ‘Gordon’ ERICKSON
Stephen Joseph FEDAK
Joseph Henry FRASER
John Arthur GALLERY
Gerald Vincent JORGENSEN
Hans Karl GRAFFUNDER
Melvin Robert James GRAHAM
Robert Francis HAYMAN
Dave HIEBERT
Kenneth George HUGHES
Con Nicholas HUTZCAL
Norman Hubert JAMES
Lloyd JOHNSON
Gerald Vincent ‘Vin’ JORGENSON
Joseph ‘Joe’ Julius Augustus LAWRENCE
David LIVINGSTON
James Hawthorne LOVE
Frank Arnold LOWE
William Murray MAJURY
Roy Stanley MARTIN
Clifford Lloyd MILLER
William Gerald NAYLEN
Alexander NODRICK
Marion PODBOROCHINSKI
Edward James REID
Joseph Frederick STANLEY
John Harold Francis STEEDS
Norman Lawrence STEELE
Basil STILLMAN
Arthur Percival THOMPSON
Ray Camille WATERMAN
Buried in Rhenen General Cemetery in The Netherlands:
David Lloyd George HOPE
Buried in Adegem Canadian War Cemetery in Belgium:
Charles John ACORN
Joseph Stephen ‘Steve’ GALLANT
Joseph Augustine MCKENNA
Buried in Berks Cemetery Extension in Belgium:
George Pigrum BOWIE
Buried in Tryon People’s Cemetery in Canada:
Harry ROBINSON
Buried in Kelly’s Cross (St Joseph) Parish Cemetery in Canada:
Michael Cecil STORDY
Buried in Seven Mile Bay (St Peter’s) Cemetery in Canada:
John Peter ‘JP’ WHITE
Listed on Runnymede Memorial in United Kingdom:
Richard Albert John BENNETT
Photo Search For Airmen For Air Research Drenthe Foundation in The Netherlands:
One of the projects of the Air Research Drenthe Foundation in The Netherlands is to install information panels near WWII air crash sites. While many of the airmen lost their lives and are buried in The Netherlands or just across the border in Germany, other airmen survived the crash and were in prisoner of war camps until the war ended. It can be difficult to find photos and families of airmen that survived, but Pieter took up the challenge. Family was found for:
Flight Lt Owen Horace MORGAN, of Rosedale, Alberta, navigator aboard Special Duties Hudson T9405 MA-K that was shot down on February 22, 1945 near Meppen, Germany. He survived the crash and became a POW in Stalag VIC in Linden, Germany until the camp was liberated on April 7, 1945.
… The Cold Case Files …..
Not all searches have been successful, for one reason or another. Below is a list of outstanding files for which research has been done, but no photo has been found. If you can help with a photo, please let us know. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/our-cold-cases/ for the complete list)
Clifford Alexander BLAKE of Toronto, Ontario, son of William C. and Sarah L. Blake, husband of Ferne E. Blake, died February 16, 1945, aged 23, while serving with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles.
John BROWN of London, Ontario, son of Mary T. Brown, died April 14, 1945, aged 26, while serving with the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders.
James LymanCAMERON, born in Victoria-By-The-Sea, Prince Edward Island, son of Edward H. and Susan (Harrington) Cameron, died July 24, 1916, aged 23, while serving with the 7th Canadian Infantry Battalion (1st British Columbia). (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
Leigh HuntCAMERON, born in Albany, Prince Edward Island, son of Alexander Walter Cameron and Phoebe Ann (nee Murray) Cameron, died May 5, 1916, aged 17, shortly after enlisting with the 105th Battalion, C Company. (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
William Galen CAMPBELL, born in Wellington, Prince Edward Island, son of John G. and Grace Emma Campbell, died April 24, 1953, aged 55, many years after being discharged from the 8th Siege Battery of the 3rd Brigade Canadian Garrison Artillery. (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
Karl CHRISTENSEN, from Alberta, but born in Starheim, Nordfjord, Norway, son of Kristian Kristiansen Hafsas and Marie K. Hafsas, died April 10, 1945, aged 41, while serving with the 8th Field Squadron, Royal Canadian Engineers.
Richard Alfred CLINE, from Saint John, New Brunswick, son of Emma J. Cline, died October 5, 1944, aged 21, while serving with the Essex Scottish Regiment. NEW!
Roy Henri COATES, of Morris, Manitoba, but born in Winnipeg, son of James Henry and Lydia Jane Coates, died May 2, 1945, aged 23, while serving with Royal Canadian Army Service Corps – – 3rd Casualty Clearing Station. NEW!
Lorne Mart COLFORD of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, but born in Chezzetcook, Nova Scotia, son of Howard and Jeanette Colford, died April 14, 1945, aged 22, while serving with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry.
Bazil CORMIER, born in Tignish, Prince Edward Island, son of Joseph Cormier and Mary Arsenault, died August 12, 1918, aged 20, while serving with the 26th (New Brunswick) Battalion. (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
Eric John CRUE of Moncton, New Brunswick, son of John and Margaret Crue, died April 6, 1945, aged 23, while serving with the Algonquin Regiment.
James Frank DOLMAN of Flatlands, New Brunswick, son of Frank Dolman and Lydia Thompson, husband of Henriette Gertrude Lyons, died April 14, 1945, aged 32, while serving with the New Brunswick Rangers -10th Independent Machine Gun Company.
Douglas Bernard FARROW of Amherst, Nova Scotia, died April 26, 1945, aged 27, while serving with the Algonquin Regiment.
Clifford Glen FORSYTH, born in Brandon, Manitoba, son of Alexander ‘Sandy’ Forsyth and Margaret McDougall, died April 11, 1945, aged 20, while serving with the Lake Superior Regiment.
Ernest Ramey GALLANT, born in Borden (now Borden-Carleton), Prince Edward Island, son of John P. and Mary Blanche Gallant, died May 20, 1943, aged 27, while serving with the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment. (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
Robert Cecil HARVEY of Centre Burlington, Nova Scotia, son of Douglas and Myrtle B. Harvey, died April 22, 1945, aged 23, while serving with the British Columbia Regiment – 28th Armoured Regiment.
William James ‘Jimmy’ Sutherland HOLE, born in Carman, Manitoba, grandson of William and Eva Alise Hole, son of Daisy Hole, died April 22, 1945, aged 20, while serving with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles.
Gordon John HOPPER of London, Ontario, son of Gordon and Vera Mae Hopper, died April 16, 1945, aged 19, while serving with the Lincoln and Welland Regiment.
George Mcdonald JOHNSTON of Toronto, Ontario, son of William and Annie Johnston, died April 2, 1945, aged 27, while serving with the Lake Superior Regiment.
Wesley Robert JOHNSTON of Red Bank, New Brunswick, son of Robert A. and Janette ‘Jennie’ (nee Simpson) Johnston, died March 3, 1945, aged 24, while serving with the Royal Regiment of Canada. NEW!
Wallace Herbert LARLEE of Perth, New Brunswick, died April 24, 1945, aged 19, while serving with the North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment.
Albert George LE RUE of Halifax, Nova Scotia, son of William and Catherine Le Rue, died March 7, 1945, aged 24, while serving with the Algonquin Regiment.
Logan ElwoodLESLIE, born in Oxford, Nova Scotia, died April 9, 1945, son of John J. and Georgie Mary Leslie of Moncton, New Brunswick, while serving with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry.
Charles W. LOWTHER, born in North Carleton, Prince Edward Island, son of Bessie Lowther, died September 25, 1918, aged 21, while serving with the 25th Battalion, Canadian Infantry. (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
Harry Donald MACPHERSON, from Vancouver, British Columbia, son of Alex Mann Macpherson and Jane Bell Macpherson, husband of Gwendolyn Eva Macpherson, died April 29, 1945, aged 33, while serving with the Canadian Scottish Regiment.
John Redmond MAHONEY, born in Port Elgin, New Brunswick, son of John J. and Gertrude C. Mahoney, died April 12, 1945, aged 30, while serving with the New Brunswick Rangers-10th Independent Machine Gun Company.
Wilbert Harold MOORE, born in Fredericton, New Brunswick, son of Jessie Louise and Hugh Irving Moore, died June 16, 1945, aged 28, while serving with the 3rd Division Works Transport Company, Royal Canadian Army Service Corps.
Walter MUNRO, born in Kelwood, Manitoba, son of John Alexander and Lavina (nee McLaughlin, widow of Robert Jamieson) Munro, husband of Hazel Mary Bird, died December 31, 1944, aged 31, while serving with the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps. NEW!
Archibald Henry NELSON, born in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, son of William Henry and Winnifred Frances Nelson, died April 18, 1945, aged 34, while serving with the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment.
Valmont PERRY, of St. Louis, Prince Edward Island, son of Peter M. and Mary Ann Perry, and husband of Rose Doucette, died October 21, aged 26, while serving with the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders. NEW!
Arthur ClintonROBINSON, born in Tryon, Prince Edward Island, son of Albert J. and Flora P. Scruton Robinson, died March 27, 1916, aged 19, while serving with the 26th (New Brunswick) Battalion. (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
Wilfred ROY, of Robertville, Gloucester County, New Brunswick, son of Camille and Catherine Roy, died October 28, 1945, aged 38, while serving with the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps.
Charles Patrick SHEFFIELD of Sundridge, Ontario, son of Charles and Mrs Sheffield, husband of Bessie Alice Butler from Botwood, Newfoundland, and father of Patrick William Wallace Sheffield, died May 4, 1945, aged 24, while serving with the Algonquin Regiment.
Charles Bernard STAFFORD of Halifax, Nova Scotia, son of Charles Bernard and Blanche Stafford, husband of Winifred Leitha Stafford of Intake, Sheffield, England, died April 18, 1945, aged 28, while serving with the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps – 9th Field Ambulance.
Frank Peter VARDIG of St. John, New Brunswick, son of Charles and Lily Vardig, died June 12, 1945, aged 23, while serving with the Carleton & York Regiment.
Charles Joseph YOUNES, born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, son of Albert Charles and Susan Younes, died March 30, 1945, aged 24, while serving with the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada. NEW!
….Case Closed!….
The following files were completed and removed from the Cold Case List in 2025:
Harry BIZNAR of Windsor, Ontario, but born in Montreal, Quebec, son of Fred and Katherine Biznar, died March 26, 1945, aged 28, while serving with the Lincoln and Welland Regiment. Action: After a Letter to the Editor ran in The Windsor Star on July 5, 2025, a photo was provided by Biznar’s niece, Carol Cox. Thank you Carol!
Douglas Gordon BLACK of Amherst, Nova Scotia, son of Sherman and Alice Black, died March 3, 1945, while serving with the Algonquin Regiment. – Action: Photo found by his grave at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands, when we were at the cemetery to lay flags.
Bramwell Ernest CHURCHILL, of London, Ontario, son of David and Agnes C. Churchill, husband of Eva Blanche Churchill, died May 1, 1945, aged 40, while serving with the 5th Anti-Tank Regiment of the Royal Canadian Artillery.– Action: Newspaper photo found by Alan Campbell, newsletter editor forthe Lambton County Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society. Thank you Alan!
Leslie Alban CROSS, of Newcastle, New Brunswick, son of Archibald and Laura Cross, died April 19, 1945, aged 30, while serving with the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps. Action: Photo sent by the Crocker family.
Samuel George ENGEN of The Pas, Manitoba, son of Louis Julius Engen and Mary Helen (nee Buck) Engen, husband of Miriam Susan Pranteau, died April 23, 1945, aged 27, while serving with the Lake Superior Regiment. – Action: After a 3 year search by various family members, a photo was found by Clover Rusk in an album that had belonged to her great-grandfather Aaron, the older brother of Samuel. Thank you Clover!
Garnet Joseph GALLANT of Amherst, Nova Scotia, son of Charles and Mary (nee Gautreau) Gallant, died February 18, 1945, aged 22, while serving with the Regina Rifles Regiment.– Action: Photo sent by niece Janet Lowerison, on behalf of the Gallant Family. Thank you Janet!
John Arthur GALLERY of Saint John, New Brunswick, son of William and Grace Gallery, died October 13, 1944, aged 22, while serving with the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada. – Action: Newspaper photo found by Etienne Gaudet. Thank you Etienne!
Peter HYDICHUK of Theodore, Saskatchewan, son of Alex and Ann Hydichuk, died March 31, 1945, aged 27, while serving with the South Saskatchewan Regiment. – Action: Photo sent by Garry Bodnaryk, whose mother had been the soldier’s girlfriend….and who had kept the photo as a remembrance all her life. Thank you Garry!
John Lewis HUGHES, born in Eriksdale, Manitoba, son of Ebenezer George and Ellen (nee Rogan) Hughes, husband of Irene (nee Goodwin) Hughes of Winnipeg, Manitoba, died November 2, 1944, aged 28, while serving with the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corp – 10th Field Dressing Station. – Action: Photo of soldier sent by Judy Gleich from the collection of Jim and Kay Forsyth. Thank you Judy!
Francis Leslie MULCAHY of Halifax, Nova Scotia, son of Daniel and Mary Mulcahy, died April 24, 1945, aged 21, while serving with the North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment. – Action: Photo and newspaper obit of soldier sent by Henk Vincent of the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten. Thank you Henk!
Edward Alexander MUNRO of Birch River, Manitoba, son of Thomas Henry and Margaret ‘Maggie’ (nee Moore) Munro, died October 6, 1945, aged 27, while serving with the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps, 219 Infantry Brigade Company.– Action: Photo sent by Glenda Foster of the Swan Valley Legion Branch #39 in Manitoba. Thank you Glenda!
George Austin NORDVALL of Birch River, Manitoba, died February 21, 1945, while serving with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles. – Action: Photo sent by nephew Ed Nordvall after Pieter got in contact with Ed’s sister, Donna McIsaac, and Donna’s brother-in-law, Don McIsaac. Sometimes it takes a village! Thank you Ed, Donna, and Don!
HarryROBINSON, born in Augustine Cove, Prince Edward Island, son of Thomas and Sarah Robinson, husband of Clara J. Robinson, died June 27, 1916, aged 34, while serving with the 105th Battalion, C Company. (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)– Action: After a 10 year search, a photo was sent by Elaine McCormick, who said she and her brother, Carl Robinson, found the photo of their great-uncle, brother of their grandfather John Joseph Robinson, in a photo album belonging to their late aunt Beulah Robinson Thomson. Thank you Elaine and Carl!
Harry WHITE of Halifax, Nova Scotia, son of Wilfred and Mary White, died May 19, 1945, aged 27, while serving with the West Nova Scotia Regiment. – Action: Photo found by his grave at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands, when we were at the cemetery to lay flags.
…Thank you for your support and encouragement of this research project!…
As 2025 comes to an end, we would like to thank all who helped with researching these stories and contributed photos. We also thank readers of this blog, and the On The War Memorial Trail column in the County Line Courier newspaper, who suggested some of the stories you’ve read. A big thank you goes to Mike and Isabel Smith, owners of the County Line Courier.
Thank you to all the families that contributed photos and stories. Thank you to Judie Klassen, Judy Gleich, and Shawn Rainville who volunteered their time to help find families of soldiers through newspaper and online searches. Thank you to Etienne Gaudet for helping to find photos of New Brunswick soldiers on our behalf.
Thank you to the media who helped publicize the search for photos and information – CBC PEI Radio, Chronicle Herald,Eastern Graphic, Portage Online, WestPrince Graphic, Winnipeg Free Press, and The Windsor Star.
Last, but not least, the YouTube channel and videos would not be possible without the invaluable support of post-production editor Wendy Nattress. Wendy also designed and manages the book website: https://nosoldierforgotten.com/
….HappyHolidays…
Pieter and I wish you all the best for the holidays and in 2026. May we never forget those who gave their lives for our freedom.
Pieter’s research work continues. If you have photos or information to share, please email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com or comment on the blog.
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/
December 22, 2025. The very first story uncovered by Pieter, when he began researching the names on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion, was that of WWI soldier Vincent Earl CARR, who lost his life on October 30, 1917 during the Battle of Passchendaelein Belgium. Born May 3, 1894 in North Tryon, Prince Edward Island, Vincent was the son of Robert and Catherine (nee McLeod) Carr, and the husband of Bessie Carr (who died exactly a year later!)
Photo: Vincent Carr in 1915, in the uniform of the 55th Battalion. (Photo courtesy of Delbert Carr collection. Photo colourization: Pieter Valkenburg)
….Why were 3 WWI Canadian Soldiers were buried side by side?…
Vincent is buried in Cement House Cemetery in Langemark, Belgium, which we visited in 2017. During that visit, Pieter noticed that the graves on either side of him were Canadians from the same unit as Vincent, and that they had died on the same day.
Photo at Cement House Cemetery of Bellas, Carr, and Willson. (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)
While in Passchendaele, a brochure ‘Did Your Granddad Fight in Passchendaele 1917?’ from the Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917 invited people to submit names and photos. In return, museum staff would send a trench map with the approximate place where the person was killed.
….A trench map showed that Vincent Carr and 4 other soldiers were buried in Abraham Heights…
It took almost 2 years before we received the trench map in October 2019, along with more information on what happened on October 30, 1917. On that fateful day, Vincent Carr, and two soldiers from Ontario, Jack Bingham WILLSON and Robert BELLAS, were all killed by the same high explosive shell on Abraham Heights. They had been buried in the same grave on Abraham Heights, where they lost their lives, along with 2 British soldiers.
The Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917 wrote us that: “…According to the War Diary of the 1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade, three machine gun companies were in the field around October 30. ‘A’-Battery from the 28th till the 31st of October, ‘B’-Battery from the 29th till the 31st of October and the ‘Eaton’-Battery from the 30th October till the 1st of November. Although the positions on Abraham Heights (28.D.15.b.7.4.) were abandoned on the 29th to take up new positions just north of Tyne Cot Cemetery (28.D.16.b.6.9.), many runners were sent to the supply stores behind the front to resupply the machine guns on the front line. It’s likely that the men were killed by shellfire while hauling equipment between the gun positions and the back areas….” (Note: The numbers and letters in brackets beside Abraham Heights and Tyne Cot Cemetery are the GPS coordinates.)
Trench map showing the coordinates where Carr, Willson, and Bellas were originally buried on Abraham Heights. (Map: courtesy of Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917)
….Where EXACTLY had the men been buried?…
While in Belgium, Pieter’s cousin François Breugelmans and his wife Mieke de Bie joined us for this portion of our 2025 European War Memorial Tour. We drove to Zonnebeke, home of the Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917, hoping that someone would be able to decipher the coordinates on the trench map sent to us in 2019…which of course we’d brought with us, along with articles from the County Line Courier newspaper about Vincent’s story to date. Could we find the exact location?
François and I were excited to figure out the trench map coordinates. Pieter thought it was a fool’s errand after over 100 years, and pointed out that since I’m directionally challenged (ie get lost everywhere), it would be a miracle if we found out where it was. He and Mieke decided to sit on a couch and wait for the results of the discussion with the museum receptionist.
Mieke and Pieter left the trench map discussion to François and Daria. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)
The museum receptionist was astonished by the question posed, but was so interested she said to wait while she made a phone call. One of the archivists was called in to help. “…I remember this map!…” he exclaimed.
François Breugelmans (left) with the Museum receptionist, and the young archivist (right) who figured out the coordinates on the trench map. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)
The archivist overlaid the trench map with a Google map, found the location, and then showed us a street view of how it looks today…..in a farm field near Beecham Farm.
Side by side view – the trench map (left) and Google map (right) was shown to us on the archivist’s laptop. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)
A red circled arrow marked the location of where the trench was on Google Street View Maps. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)
….We searched for the location that was on the map…
We thanked the museum personnel and immediately went to the location marked on the map, finding out it was just outside Zonnebeke. We got excited when we saw a sign indicating that we were beside Beecham Farm. It still existed!
Beecham Farm was still in existence! (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)
We could see Tyne Cot Cemetery (see yellow arrow) across the road from Beecham Farm. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)
Tyne Cot was listed on the original trench map, so we knew were in the right location! A field belonging to Beecham Farm was the location of the trench where Vincent Carr was originally buried.
The trench where Vincent Carr was originally buried was in this field on Beecham Farm. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)
I felt like a detective who’d solved a mystery, while standing beside the field at Beecham Farm where Vincent Carr was originally buried! (Photo credit: François Breugelmans)
….We celebrated our success in Ypres…
Flush with the victory of finding the original trench location….not bad for 4 seniors… we decided to celebrate with a well-earned snack and rest in Ypres before continuing on with our 2025 European War Memorial Tour in Belgium. It was over 30oC and very humid, and we needed a break!
We enjoyed a drink and bitterballen in Ypres. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)
Of course, no trip to Ypres was complete without a stop at the Peter de Groote chocolate shop! I never pass up their delicious ginger chocolates!
Daria, Mieke, and Pieter at the chocolate shop in Ypres. (Photo credit: François Breugelmans)
Thank you to the staff at Memorial Museum Passchendaele 1917 in Zonnebeke for helping us in our quest to find the trench location. Thank you also to François Breugelmans and Mieke de Bie for joining us on our Belgian adventures.
Our adventures continue as we share the highlights of our 2025 European War Memorial Tour.
If you have a story or photo to share, please contact Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com or comment on the blog.
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/
November 17, 2025. A cool but dry day on Tuesday, November 11, 2025 here on Prince Edward Island was very welcome for those standing outside during Remembrance Day services at Borden-Carleton Legion in Borden-Carleton and in Kinkora. It seemed as though more people were in attendance than in previous years.
….Remembrance Day Service At Borden-Carleton Legion….
Pieter was the guest speaker during the Remembrance Day service at Borden-Carleton Legion. (Photo credit: Matt MacFarlane)
Remembrance Day at the Borden-Carleton Legion began with an inter-faith service, with Reverend Barbara Cairns of the United Church in Bedeque, and Father Babu A. Jesuraj of St. Malachy’s Roman Catholic Church in Kinkora. Father Jesuraj, who is from the Tamil Nadu province in India, explained that he had only been assigned to the parish in Kinkora for a month. Trish Taylor spoke about the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII and invited dignitaries from the area to say a few words about remembrance.
Flag lowered by Arthur Ranahan during the playing of ‘The Last Post’ by the Cenotaph at the Legion in Borden-Carleton. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)
Wreath laid on behalf of the Government of Canada by the Cenotaph at the Legion in Borden-Carleton was placed by Pieter and carried by Danny Bernard. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)
Following the Remembrance Day Service, everyone was invited inside the Legion for a light lunch and a much needed cup of coffee or tea. We also had a chance to look at the posters prepared by members of the local 4-H club, which were on display in the Legion hall.
Posters for Remembrance Day from the 4-H club were displayed in the Borden-Carleton Legion. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)
….Remembrance Day Service by the Memorial in Kinkora….
The Remembrance Day service was over in Borden-Carleton by the end of the morning, but Legion members made their way to the memorial in Kinkora in the afternoon for a service there.
Wreath carried by Pieter Valkenburg and placed by Cenotaph in Kinkora by The Honourable Heath MacDonald, MP for Malpeque, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)
Wreath carried by Brian O’Connor and placed by Cenotaph in Kinkora by Matt MacFarlane, MLA for District 19, Borden-Kinkora Leader of the Green Party of PEI. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)
Following the service in Kinkora, Pieter (centre) posed for a photo with Matt MacFarlane (left) and Heath MacDonald (right). (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg
Following the Remembrance Day Service, everyone was invited inside the community hall for a bowl of chile or chicken corn chowder and a much needed cup of coffee or tea.
….Statement by Matt MacFarlane in the PEI Legislature….
Matt MacFarlane, MLA for District 19, Borden-Kinkora, Leader of the Green Party of Prince Edward Island, informed us that he’d given a brief statement about us in the legislature on November 4, 2025. We had no idea he’d done this until he sent us the link! (https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1Ame5ppZio/)
Thank you to the Legion members who participated in the various Remembrance Week events, and to the volunteers at the Borden-Carleton Legion and Kinkora Community Hall for preparing the snacks and hot drinks.
May we never forget all those who served, and continue to serve! The work of remembrance of those who served continues. More Remembrance Week stories to come.
If you have a story to tell, please let Pieter know. You can email him at memorialtrail@gmail.com, or comment on the blog.
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/
November 7, 2025. On November 4, 2025, members of the Borden-Carleton Legion in Prince Edward Island were present for Remembrance Services at three schools: Somerset Consolidated in Kinkora, Kinkora Regional High School in Kinkora, and Amherst Cove Consolidated School in Borden-Carleton.
…. Remembrance Service at Somerset Consolidated School….
On a cold and rainy Tuesday, the day of school visits began in the morning in Kinkora, at the Somerset Consolidated School. Each grade participated with a poem or reading and the choir sang John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’.
The flag bearers for the colour parade carried the Canadian flag and the Borden-Carleton Branch Legion flag.
This year’s flag bearers were: Arthur Ranahan (left) and George Palmer (right). Sergeant-At-Arms Mario Henry is in the centre. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)
Following the service, a group photo was taken with the Legion members, Principal Angela Griffiths, and music teacher Devin Krauskopf.
Somerset Consolidated School: Left to right: George Palmer, Pieter Valkenburg, Trish Taylor, Kathy Henry, Principal Angela Griffiths, Teacher Devin Krauskopf, Sgt At Arms Mario Henry, Arthur Ranahan. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)
…. Remembrance Service at Kinkora Regional High School….
Following the service at Somerset Consolidated School, the Legion members made their way to Kinkora Regional High School, which is also in Kinkora. A PowerPoint presentation showed students from the school who visited France, Belgium, and the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom in The Netherlands this past May.
Four cadets who are students at the school participated in the Remembrance Service. Oscar Bulman, Maika MacLean and Lucas Somers – all three with the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets, RCSCC 85 Summerside, and Lochlain Dunn of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets, 53 CE Monty DFC Summerside.
Following the service, a group photo was taken with the Legion members, cadets, Principal Ryan McAleer, and Vice-Principal Matt Killeen.
Kinkora Regional High School: Left to right: Sgt At Arms Mario Henry, George Palmer, Maika MacLean, Lochlain Dunn, Pieter Valkenburg, Vice-Principal Matt Killeen, Trish Taylor, Kathy Henry, Brian O’Connor, Principal Ryan McAleer, Oscar Bulman, Lucas Somers, Arthur Ranahan. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)
Students at the school annually offer a light lunch to the Legion members after the Remembrance Service is concluded, a gesture that is much appreciated. This year, we were offered sandwiches, as well as an assortment of cookies, plus coffee or tea. All the food was prepared by students.
…. Remembrance Service at Amherst Cove Consolidated School….
In the afternoon, members of the Borden-Carleton Legion were present for a Remembrance Service at Amherst Cove Consolidated School in Borden-Carleton. At this school, three cadets participated in the Remembrance service: Sylvia Cochrane and Alex MacPhee – both with PEI Regiment 17th Recce, and Vivian Dunn of the Royal Canadian Air Cadets, 53 CE Monty DFC Summerside.
Left to right: Sylvia Cochrane (cadet with PEI Regt 17th Recce), Alex MacPhee (cadet with PEI Regt 17th Recce), Vivian Dunn (cadet with Royal Cdn Air Cadets 53 CE Monty DFC Summerside.) (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)
The band at Amherst Cove Consolidated was a pleasure to listen to! The students and their Band Director, Gráinne Howman, are to be commended!
Amherst Cove School Band, under the direction of Band Director Gráinne Howman. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)
Following the service, a group photo was taken with the Legion members, cadets, Vice-Principal Johnny Martin, and Band Director Gráinne Howman.
Amherst Cove Consolidated School: Left to right: George Palmer, Pieter Valkenburg, Band Director Gráinne Howman, Sgt At Arms Mario Henry, Vice-Principal Johnny Martin, Barry Bernard, Alex MacPhee, Trish Taylor, Vivian Dunn, Danny Bernard, Kathy Henry, Sylvia Cochrane, Arthur Ranahan. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)
Thank you to the officials and students at all three schools for the work they put into the Remembrance Services. May we never forget all those who served, and continue to serve!
If you have a story to tell, please let Pieter know. You can email him at memorialtrail@gmail.com, or comment on the blog.
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/
Postcard promoting CWGC’s National Volunteer Program included a photo of Pieter (top left) that Daria took at Cape Traverse Community Cemetery.
September 28, 2025. One of the cemeteries that Pieter was assigned when he became a volunteer under the National Volunteer Program for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) was Seven Mile Bay (St Peter’s) Cemetery in Seven Mile Bay, Prince Edward Island. There are 4 CWGC war graves at this cemetery.
…3 soldiers buried in Seven Mile Bay are listed on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion…
Pieter at Seven Mile Bay (St Peter’s) Cemetery. Can you spot the Confederation Bridge in the background? (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)
Three of the WWII soldiers buried in this cemetery are listed on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion in Borden-Carleton, Prince Edward Island. Their stories have been previously told on this blog….
Frank Lewis ARSENAULT of Kinkora, Prince Edward Island, was serving in the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps, Home War Establishment Unit, and based at the Petawawa Military Hospital in Ontario, when he drowned accidentally in the Ottawa River on September 30, 1942, aged 29. His body wasn’t found until a month later. He left behind a wife and 4 children. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2019/12/14/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-ww2-soldier-who-drowned-in-quebec/)
John Daniel ‘Jack’ FERGUSON of Borden (now Borden-Carleton), Prince Edward Island, was serving in the Royal Canadian Navy Reserve, and on patrol duty out of Halifax, Nova Scotia. After becoming ill while serving aboard the patrol ship ‘Ross Norman’, he was sent to Camp Hill Hospital in Halifax on August 19, 1942. On August 30, 1942 he went into shock from peritonitis. Despite treatment, he died on September 6, 1942, aged 19. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2020/03/04/the-ww2-able-seaman-who-died-of-peritonitis/)
…1 soldier buried in Seven Mile Bay did not have a CWGC headstone…
Grave of John Peter ‘JP’ White. (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)
The fourth grave, that of John Peter ‘JP’ WHITE, was listed as a CWGC grave, but did not have the distinctive CWGC headstone, and the name of the soldier was unfamiliar to Pieter. Instead, the headstone listed the soldier, and his wife, Frances (nee Smith), who had died 3 years earlier.
His curiosity aroused, Pieter decided to research the soldier and look for a family member. It wasn’t long before he came in contact with JP’s niece, Alice Cash Blakeney, and we had a chance to meet her in Summerside. “….My mother was his sister Martina, and she always referred to him as JP…” Alice explained.
Pieter with Alice Cash Blakeney, who is holding a photo of her uncle, JP White. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)
…JP grew up in Emerald Junction.…
The family homestead where JP White grew up. (Photo courtesy of Alice Cash Blakeney and Estate of Bernadette White Adler)
Born in Emerald Junction, Prince Edward Island, on June 2, 1912, JP was the son of John Thomas and Janie Josephine (nee Cameron) White. JP had 2 brothers and 4 sisters, and although their father was a carpenter, the family also ran a small farm.
Front row, left to right: JP, Martina, Dave, Bernadette. Back row, left to right: Matthew, Agnes, John Thomas, Janie Josephine, Mary Catherine. (Photo courtesy of Alice Cash Blakeney and Estate of Bernadette White Adler)
….JP enlisted in 1942…
After completing Grade 8, JP began working as a carpenter. On February 4, 1942, he married Frances Teresa Smith in Charlottetown. “…The Whites were noted as being great dancers, so it’s likely that JP met his wife Frances Smith at a dance….” Alice reflected.
JP originally enlisted under the National Resources Mobilization Act (NRMA) at the No. 6a NRMA Clearing Depot in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island on August 27, 1942 and began basic training at No. 62 Canadian Army Basic Training Centre in Charlottetown. At the time, he stated he had been a carpenter for the past 10 or 12 years, having learned the trade from his father. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Resources_Mobilization_Act)
Just as JP was completing his basic training, tragedy struck on October 1, 1942. Alice said that “…JP’s wife died in childbirth….”
On October 30, 1942, JP was sent to A1 Canadian Artillery Training Centre (CATC) in Petawawa, Ontario for infantry training as a gunner.
While in Petawawa, JP tried to enlist as ‘Active’, but was “…advised to remain…” under the NRMA, as he was considered “…unsuitable for operational duty…” due to bad knees.
In January 1943, he was granted a 2 week furlough, allowing him to return home to Prince Edward Island. The furlough was then extended by another 11 days, after which he returned to Petawawa.
John Peter ‘JP’ White in January 1943 during his return to Prince Edward Island while on furlough. (Photo courtesy of Alice Cash Blakeney and Estate of Bernadette White Adler)
….JP was transferred to the 10th LAA for a short period in June 1943…
After qualifying as a Carpenter Group ‘B’ on April 26, 1943, JP was transferred to the 10th Light Anti-Aircraft (LAA) Regiment of the Royal Canadian Artillery (RCA) on June 15, 1943, and sent to Tracadie, New Brunswick. The 10th LAA was part of the 7th (Home Defence) Division and JP was posted to the 8th Light Anti-Aircraft Battery RCA in Saint John, New Brunswick.
He spent the next months working as a carpenter, but starting in August 1943, he had medical issues, resulting in brief hospitalizations. Health issues ended his assignment with the 10th LAA and on October 28, 1943 he was transferred to No. 6 District Depot in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
In a November 30, 1943 interview that was recorded in his Personnel Selection Record, he was described as “…a mature serious-minded soldier of steady judgement….” It went on to state that JP “…wished to remain in the service and would prefer duty in his trade…” and that his knee condition “…should not impair his efficiency as a tradesman…” It was recommended that he be transferred to a suitable Home War Establishment (HWE) for duty as a carpenter.
….JP was assigned to the Royal Canadian Engineers as a carpenter…
John Peter ‘JP’ White. (Photo courtesy of Alice Cash Blakeney and Estate of Bernadette White Adler)
On January 19, 1944, JP was transferred to No. 6 Field Company of the Royal Canadian Engineers in Debert, Nova Scotia. He remained there until May 24, 1944 when he was granted 6 weeks of spring farm leave in order to return to Prince Edward Island and work on the family farm. His father had died in 1936, meaning that JP and his brothers had to help out his mother.
Upon his return back to duty on July 29, 1944, he was assigned to No. 6 Engineer Survey and Works (ES&W) Company of the Royal Canadian Engineers in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and continued to work as a carpenter.
Unfortunately, he had another medical issue on November 28, 1944, when he was hospitalized for 3 weeks in the Military Hospital in Debert, Nova Scotia with appendicitis.
He was discharged from hospital on December 19, 1944 and sent to No. 5 Casualty Retraining Centre (CRC) in Sussex, New Brunswick for 71 days for further recovery. On January 19, 1945, he was hospitalized again, this time at the Sussex Military Hospital.
On March 8, 1945, he was deemed ‘fit for duty’. A report on his condition in the Supplement To Personnel Selection Record stated that JP was “…pleasant and straightforward….” and had “…cooperated well and followed the training in all grades at this Centre making satisfactory recovery…” He was assessed as remaining “…suitable for employment in RCE for base duties…” as a carpenter.
….JP enlisted in the Active Army in April 1945…
On March 21, 1945, JP was again sent to No. 6 District Depot in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in preparation for his change in status when he was deemed fit enough to enlist in the Active Army on April 5, 1945. He returned to No. 6 Field Company of the Royal Canadian Engineers in Halifax on April 29, 1945, where it was noted that JP requested to return to No. 6 Engineer Survey and Works (ES&W) Company of the Royal Canadian Engineers.
No sooner had JP been assigned to No. 6 Engineer Survey and Works (ES&W) Company than he requested a 3 month leave of absence without pay for compassionate farm leave. This was granted from June 28, 1945 until September 27, 1945.
When he returned back to duty, however, it was to No. 6 District Depot in Halifax. On October 2, 1945, a few days after returning to duty, he applied again for farm leave without pay, which was granted until April 1946.
….JP died following an operation in December 1945…
JP never returned to his army duties. While back on Prince Edward Island for the farm leave that had been granted to him, he was hospitalized in Charlottetown, and died following an operation on December 15, 1945, aged 33.
JP was buried alongside his wife Frances in Seven Mile Bay (St Peter’s) Cemetery in Seven Mile Bay, Prince Edward Island.
A note on his death record noted that he would not receive a separate Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone unless the family applied for it. It further stated that ‘next of kin does not answer correspondence’.
JP’s family was overwhelmed, not only by his death, but by the death of his mother in March 1946, leaving his brother Matthew, who lived in Charlottetown and had a family of his own, in addition to managing the farm, as the next-of-kin.
Thank you to Alice Cash Blakeney for providing the photos and information on her uncle. Do you have a story to tell? Email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com or comment on the blog.
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/
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.
Grave of William Douglas Sherren. (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)
William DouglasSHERREN, 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.
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/
CWGC Volunteer Pieter trying to activate the Work App at Cape Traverse Community Cemetery. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)
August 8, 2025. Anyone who has visited a War Graves Cemetery managed by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) can attest to how well the graves are cared for and the incredible work done by the gardeners in ensuring that flowers and small shrubs are planted in each row of graves.
And yes, the grass is kept green and well-watered, as we ourselves experienced while visiting one of the Canadian War Cemeteries in The Netherlands on a very hot day. It wasn’t that I minded getting drenched, but I didn’t appreciate my carefully written spreadsheet of the graves to visit getting water-soaked!
We knew that the CWGC commemorates and cares for the graves of men and women of the Commonwealth that died during WWI and WWII, but were astounded to learn that this involves 1.7 million graves. Six member countries make up the CWGC– the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, and South Africa.
According to the CWGC website, “… 23,000 locations in over 150 countries and territories….” are covered with “…. over 2,000 ‘constructed’ war cemeteries the largest being Tyne Cot in Belgium….” – which we had visited in 2017.
….Who is commemorated in a CWGC grave?…
CWGC commemorates personnel who died between August 4, 1914 and August 31, 1921 for WWI and September 3, 1939 and December 31, 1947 for WWII, while serving in a Commonwealth military force or specified auxiliary organization.
CWGC also commemorates those who died in the same WWI and WWII time period as above, after they were discharged from a Commonwealth military force, if their death was caused by their wartime service.
Commonwealth civilians who died between September 3, 1939 and December 31, 1947 as a consequence of enemy action, Allied weapons of war, or while in an enemy prison camp are also commemorated.
….Pieter is now a volunteer under CWGC’s National Volunteer Program…
Not all Canadians who died during WWI or WWII are buried overseas. They may have died of illness or accidents and were buried in Canada, but still have a CWGC gravestone. Recently the CWGC asked for volunteers across Canada to be part of the National Volunteer Program and visit local cemeteries and gather information about the condition of CWGC war graves.
Having visited so many CWGC cemeteries, as well as CWGC graves in municipal cemeteries, in Europe, Pieter applied and was accepted as a volunteer. After receiving training on how to inspect headstones, how to report a grave in need of repair, and how to safely clean headstones where required, he was assigned 4 cemeteries in the South Shore area on Prince Edward Island. The 4 cemeteries are:
Seven Mile Bay (St Peter’s) Cemetery (4 CWGC graves)
….There are 3 CWGC graves at Cape Traverse Community Cemetery…
Pieter with Rev Kent Compton outside the Free Church of Scotland in Cape Traverse. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg
Cape Traverse Community Cemetery, formerly known as the Free Church of Scotland Cemetery, was first on Pieter’s list. A sub-committee of the Cape Traverse Ice Boat Heritage Incorporated maintains the cemetery on behalf of the Free Church of Scotland. “…The church is still responsible for the cemetery and owns the land….” explained Reverend Kent Compton.
Jim Glennie (left) and Andrew MacKay (right) with Pieter Valkenburg (centre). (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)
“…This is the third summer that we’re cutting the grass at the cemetery…” reflected Andrew MacKay. Andrew and Jim Glennie, two volunteers with the organization, said that the organization had been approached for help by older parishioners in the community.
….Three CWGC graves were inspected at Cape Traverse Community Cemetery…
There are 3 CWGC graves in this cemetery, whose stories have all been told over the years on this blog:
18 year old WWII soldier Harold ‘Lloyd’ LEFURGEY of North Bedeque was undergoing basic infantry training at No 70 Canadian Infantry (Basic) Training Centre in Fredericton, New Brunswick, when he fell ill with acute appendicitis. He was rushed to Fredericton Military Hospital on March 17, 1945, but died on the operating table before the operation actually started. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2020/05/23/the-young-ww2-soldier-who-lost-his-life-on-the-operating-table/)
WWI soldier Elmyr KRUGER was born in Melita, Manitoba, but moved to Saskatchewan with his family as a child. While serving with the 232rd Battalion, he was assigned to the 6th Battalion Canadian Garrison Regiment for escort duty, overseeing German Prisoners of War from the Amherst Internment Camp, who were assigned to a work detail for the railway in Borden. Being forced to live in unheated and filthy rail cars and with inadequate food, Kruger was one of several guards who fell ill in October 1918. He died October 21, 1918 of pneumonia after contracting Spanish flu, aged 21. Two other guards died of the same condition. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2018/10/25/the-forgotten-ww1-soldier/)
Step 5 – Gently brush dirt off of the sides and back of Elmyr’s grave. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)
Step 6 – Wash the sides and back of Elmyr’s grave with water. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)
….Over 100 years old but a very clean grave now…
Rev Kent Compton and Pieter by the WWI grave of Elmyr Kruger. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)
The grave of Elmyr Kruger has been in place in the cemetery since October 1918, and now looks almost like new after being cleaned! Rev Compton and Pieter visited Elmyr’s grave a few days after it was cleaned.
….Can you help with finding photos?…
While a photo of Harold ‘Lloyd’ Lefurgey was provided by family years ago, no photo has yet been found for Elmyr Kruger or Leigh Hunt Cameron. If you can help with finding a photo, please email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com or comment on the blog.
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/
March 30, 2025. When Pieter began researching the names on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion in 2015, he hoped to be able to put a face and story to each of the 48 names. Over the years he researched each name, and we’ve told the story of each one, plus shared our visits made to the graves or memorials for many of them.
Unfortunately, photos for several have yet to be found. The Cenotaph Wall of Remembrance in the Borden-Carleton Legion, which displays the photos of the men listed on the Cenotaph, has empty frames for those photos waiting to be found.
…The 10 year search for a photo of WWI soldier Harry Robinson…
Empty frame awaiting a photo of WWI soldier Harry Robinson. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)
One of those for which a photo was missing was Harry ROBINSON, born July 9, 1881 in Augustine Cove, the son of Thomas and Sarah (nee Campbell) Robinson. Harry was a widower at the time he enlisted on April 28, 1916 with the 105th Battalion. He’d lost his daughter Merilla in 1911, and his wife Clara Wadman in 1912.
Harry’s body was brought back to Prince Edward Island for burial in the Tryon People’s Cemetery in Tryon, not far from where we live.
Grave of Harry Robinson at the Tryon People’s Cemetery in Tryon, Prince Edward Island. (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)
…At long last, a photo of Harry was found…
We keep an updated Cold Case List on this blog (see https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/our-cold-cases/). From time to time, we list the names of those from Prince Edward Island in a newspaper article in the County Line Courier newspaper.
Harry Robinson. (Photo courtesy of the Robinson family)
After the most recent article, which ran in the County Line Courier’s February 5, 2025 issue, we were contacted by Elaine McCormick of Chelton, Prince Edward Island, who submitted a photo of Harry Robinson! Harry was the “….son of Thomas and Sarah Robinson, brother of John Joseph Robinson (our grandfather). My brother Carl Robinson and I found the photo going through my late Aunt’s pictures. My aunt was Beulah Robinson Thomson…”
Elaine went on to explain that during WWI “…my grandfather John Joseph was at dry dock in Halifax…” in Nova Scotia. “…My grandmother was dying of cancer and my dad and aunt Beulah were in the Halifax orphanage….” Elaine’s grandfather “…brought them all home in 1917, a few months before the Halifax Explosion…” on December 6, 1917. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax_Explosion)
After Elaine’s grandmother “…. passed away...” Harry and John Joseph’s mother “…Sarah Robinson looked after…” Elaine’s father and aunt until she herself passed away. The family had more than their share of tragedy!
…Harry’s photo is now on the Cenotaph Wall of Remembrance at the Borden-Carleton Legion….
Elaine McCormick and Pieter Valkenburg with the photo of Elaine’s great-uncle Harry Robinson. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)
A few days ago, we met with Elaine McCormick and her husband at the Borden-Carlton Legion, in order to place a photo of Harry Robinson in the empty frame.
…7 photos are still to be found for the names on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion….
With the photo of Harry Robinson now on the Legion’s Cenotaph Wall of Remembrance, Pieter hopes that eventually all of the empty frames will be filled. “…Photos for 6 from WWI and 1 from WWII have yet to be found….” he said. Can YOU help with this photo wish list?
Names still without faces from WWI
Leigh HuntCAMERON, born in Albany
James LymonCAMERON, born in Victoria
William GalenCAMPBELL, born in Wellington
BazilCORMIER, born in Tignish
CharlesLOWTHER, born in North Carleton
Arthur ClintonROBINSON, born in Tryon
Name still without a face from WWII
Ernest RameyGALLANT, born in Borden
Thank you to Elaine McCormick and Carl Robinson for providing a photo on behalf of the family, and to the County Line Courier newspaper for publishing the article about our Cold Case List. If you have photos or information to share about Harry Robinson or any of the names still on the Cold Case List, please email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, or comment on the blog.
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/
December 24, 2024. 2024 was another busy year for us, and we remain committed to the On The War Memorial Trail research project. As of today, since this project began, Pieter has been able to cross 312 photo search requests from the three Canadian War Cemeteries in The Netherlands off of their photo search lists. In addition, he has found photos for an additional 101 soldiers, with some WWII soldiers buried in Belgium, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom, airmen buried in municipal cemeteries, several soldiers from WWI, and soldiers from Prince Edward Island that survived WWI or WWII. I have written stories for many of these soldiers, with many more stories still to come.
While a few long-standing searches for photos were successful, allowing Pieter to complete his files for those soldiers, many files still remain open. In most cases, family members were found, but no photo was available for one reason or another.
The files in which Pieter has had zero luck in finding photos have been placed on the Cold CaseFiles page on the On The War Memorial Trail website. We started this page last year and have been lucky to have a few names were cleared off of the list. Perhaps 2025 will see more names taken off of this list! (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/our-cold-cases/)
New research files were added, and Pieter was able to finish his research for many files from 2023. As always, there is a lag between him completing his work and me documenting his research, but that is on my very optimistic ‘to do’ list for this winter.
Pieter’s new project, to upload photos to the Canadian Virtual War Memorial website, which began in the fall of 2023, was continued into 2024. He advises that he plans to continue this project into 2025.
This year, we were able to meet several families, which we very much appreciated – this year in Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. We are grateful that so many families have come forward to share photos and information, and are thankful for help from the media in helping to find photos. What follows in the rest of this posting is a summary of what happened in 2024 with this research project.
…Pieter awarded the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation….
Pieter with the Minister of Veteran Affairs Commendation, presented to him by The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Veterans Affairs. (Photo courtesy of Veterans Affairs Canada)
…Presentation for75th NATO Anniversary Commemoration At Seacow Head Lighthouse….
Left to right: John Yeo, Pieter Valkenburg, Clare Hutchinson. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)
Among the NATO representatives were John Yeo, Atlantic Regional Director for NATO Veterans of Canada; guest speaker Pieter Valkenburg, Public Relations Officer for Borden-Carleton Legion; and keynote speaker Clare Hutchinson, former NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for Women, Peace, and Security.
…Presentation At The 105th Annual Remembrance Service At The Cornwall Cenotaph….
Pieter at the podium in Cornwall, with the WWII Cenotaph on the left, and the WWI Cenotaph on the right. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)
On September 22, 2024, Pieter was the keynote speaker at the 105th Annual Remembrance Service at the Cornwall Cenotaph in Cornwall, Prince Edward Island. Pieter briefly spoke about why he researches Canadian soldiers, gave a brief description of how the 4 names listed on the WWII Cenotaph lost their lives, and mentioned the importance of preserving photos and the individual stories of those who served. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2024/09/26/on-the-war-memorial-trail105th-annual-remembrance-service-at-cornwall-cenotaph/)
…. Uploading photos to the Canadian Virtual War Memorial website ……
Pieter did a test run last fall, uploading photos of three WWII soldiers. This year, he uploaded photos of:
20 WWI soldiers
195 WWII soldiers and airmen
This resulted in a total contribution of 218 soldiers.
… WWI Related Stories….
We prepared a 5 part-series based on letters written by WWI soldier Lawrence Ivy MARSHALL from Prince Edward Island, who returned home with a war bride, Evelyn Martha Williams.
… WWII Related Stories….
We shared a story about the 2023 candle lighting at graves of Canadian soldiers in The Netherlands.
We provided an update to the 2021 story about WWII soldier Percy ‘Dexter’ HIGGINS, from Nova Scotia, who lost his life in The Netherlands on April 4, 1945, during the Battle of Warnsveld, while serving with the North Nova Scotia Highlanders. On April 4, 2024, Higginsstraat was named in his honour near where he lost his life.
…Indigenous Soldiers….
We were able to tell the story of the service by one WWII Indigenous soldier:
WWII Indigenous soldier James ‘Jimmy’ Oliver THOMAS from Manitoba, who died in Germany on May 2, 1945, a few days after being liberated from the Stalag VII-A POW Camp in Moosburg, Germany.
…. Stories About Servicemen From The Maritimes…
We also featured stories about servicemen from The Maritimes:
WWII soldier Harold ‘Hal’ Gabriel BULGER from Prince Edward Island, who was killed during the Battle of Moerbrugge in Belgium on September 10, 1944.
WWII soldier Lawrence William BULGER from Prince Edward Island, who was killed during the Battle of Bienen in Germany on March 25, 1945.
WWII soldier John ‘Weston’ CAMPBELL from Prince Edward Island, who was killed during Operation Veritable in Germany on February 14, 1945.
WWII soldier Donald Roy CARTER from New Brunswick, who was killed in action during the Attack on the Goch-Calcar Road in Germany on February 20, 1945.
WWII soldier Edward ‘Ed’ Dalton CHISHOLM from Nova Scotia, who was killed in action during the Battle for the North Shore of the Scheldt in Belgium on October 20, 1944.
WWII soldier Francis ‘Frank’ Ivan DOUGAN from Prince Edward Island, who was killed in a road accident in The Netherlands on May 16, 1946.
WWII soldier François ‘Frank’ GALLANT from Prince Edward Island, who was killed during the Liberation of Posterenk in The Netherlands on April 13, 1945.
WWII soldier François ‘Frank’ GUIMOND from New Brunswick, who was killed in action during the Attack on Weener in Germany on April 24, 1945.
WWII soldier Edgar M. GUITARD from New Brunswick, who was killed by German mortar fire in The Netherlands on January 15, 1945.
WWII soldier Maurice James HUGHES from Prince Edward Island, who was killed when the jeep he was riding in hit a mine in Germany on May 2, 1945.
WWII soldier Ange Aimé LECLAIR from New Brunswick, who was killed by artillery fire in Germany during the Battle of Hochwald Gap on March 2, 1945.
WWII soldier Joseph Taylor MACLEOD from Nova Scotia, who was killed in action during the Battle of Groningen on April 13, 1945.
WWII soldier Stanley Leigh MCBEATH from New Brunswick, who was killed in action in Germany on April 21, 1945.
WWII soldier Sydney Guy MOSHER from Nova Scotia, who was killed in action during the Attack on Weener in Germany on April 24, 1945.
WWII soldier Edward Gabriel PERRY from Prince Edward Island, who lost his life after being fatally wounded during the Battle of Hochwald Gap in Germany on March 2, 1945.
WWII soldier Lawrence Arthur RUDOLPH from Nova Scotia, who was killed in action during Operation Blockbuster in Germany on February 27, 1945.
WWII soldier Ronald ‘Ronnie’ Eugene SMITH from Nova Scotia, who was killed in action during Operation Cannonshot in The Netherlands on April 14, 1945.
WWII soldier Ralph Kenneth SILLIKER from Prince Edward Island, who was killed in action during Operation Churchill in Germany on March 2, 1945.
WWII soldier William Ernest STONE from Prince Edward Island, who was killed in action during the Attack On Hoogerheide in The Netherlands on October 10, 1944.
…. Stories About Servicemen From Outside The Maritimes…
WWII soldier Thomas ‘Tom’ Alfred BROWN from Alberta, who was killed in action during the Battle of Moyland Wood in Germany on February 17, 1945.
…In Conversation And More….
In an 80th Anniversary of D-Day blog, we shared some anecdotes about the Normandy landings and highlighted previously told stories of 11 servicemen who were present in Normandy on June 6, 1944. All survived D-Day, but only 1 survived WWII and returned home.
We wrote about the 80th Anniversary of D-Day wreath laying ceremony that we attended by the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion on June 6, 2024.
We wrote about the 75th NATO Anniversary Commemoration at Seacow Head Lighthouse in Fernwood, Prince Edward Island on June 10, 2024. Pieter was one of the guest speakers at this event.
We wrote about meeting WWII veteran Lois Maud BROWN of Kensington, Prince Edward Island, after being asked by Scott Masters, a history teacher at Crestwood Preparatory College in Toronto, Ontario, for help in finding WWII veterans to interview for the Crestwood Oral History Project.
We wrote about the 105th Annual Remembrance Service at the Cornwall Cenotaph in Cornwall, Prince Edward Island on September 22, 2024. Pieter was the keynote speaker at this event.
We reported on how volunteers (including Pieter) at the Borden-Carleton Legion in Prince Edward Island honour deceased veterans by placing flags at the graves and monuments in the area served by the Legion.
As part of our Remembrance Week 2024 feature, we shared updates on previous stories of WWII airmen who served in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and about our visit to the Air Force Heritage Park in Summerside, Prince Edward Island.
As part of our Remembrance Week 2024 feature, we shared updates on previous stories of WWII soldiers, a visit with families of two airmen from Halifax DT630, a visit to the Sagkeeng War Memorial in Manitoba, and we featured a unique Remembrance Plaque project in Sarnia, Ontario.
As part of our Remembrance Week 2024 feature, we wrote about the visits that members of the Borden-Carleton Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion made to three schools on Prince Edward Island for Remembrance Services.
As part of our Remembrance Week 2024 feature, we wrote about the Remembrance Day ceremonies we attended at the South Shore Villa in Crapaud and at the Legion in Borden-Carleton, two Prince Edward Island communities.
As part of our Remembrance Week 2024 feature, we wrote about our visit to six Acadian memorials in New Brunswick.
…. Interviews To Highlight Search For Photos….
Pieter did the following interviews:
Kevin Rollason of the Winnipeg Free Press wrote about Pieter’s search for a photo of WWII soldier William James ‘Jimmy’ Sutherland HOLE, born in Carman, Manitoba, who died during in The Netherlands on April 22, 1945, and is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands. The article, ‘A Name Without A Face’, ran online on Friday, November 8, 2024 and in the print edition on Saturday, November 9, 2024. See https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2024/11/08/a-name-without-a-face-2 Up to now, this search is unsuccessful.
Charlotte MacAulay of the Eastern Graphic wrote about the successful photo search for WWII soldier Kevin Joseph DELORIE, who is buried in the Moro River Canadian War Cemetery in Italy. The article, ‘Remembering Kevin Delorie’, ran in the newspaper on November 6, 2024.
Pieter was interviewed by Charlotte MacAulay of the Eastern Graphic about the photo search for WWII soldier Kevin Joseph DELORIE, who was killed in Italy on December 20, 1943, while serving with the 48th Highlanders of Canada. The article, ‘Searching for photo of fallen soldier Kevin Delorie’, ran in the newspaper on October 23, 2024. This search was successful.
… Successful Search For Photos …..
Many WWII soldiers are buried in cemeteries in Europe. Pieter continues to work with photo wish lists from Canadian War Cemeteries for WWII soldiers buried in The Netherlands. This year we also received photos and information on soldiers buried in Belgium, Italy, France, and the United Kingdom.
Photos of soldiers buried in Dutch cemeteries were forwarded to researchers there for their digital archive. Whenever possible, stories are featured on the blog but there is a backlog due to the success of Pieter’s research. I can’t keep up! This year, photos were found for:
Buried in Holten Canadian War Cemetery in The Netherlands:
George Alan BUCHANAN
John Woodrow COLBURN
Louis ‘Philippe’ COUTLEE
Lorenzo Joseph DUBE
Claude Pearley HUBLEY
Howard Arnold JONES
Lloyd Edward KITCHING
James ‘Jim’ John George KOSOWAN
Wilfred ‘Frank’ LEBLANC
Philip Arthur MARZOFF
William Hector MATHESON
Norman Wesley ROBINSON
Arthur SINFIELD
Roger SIROIS
Joseph Millerand WHITE
Lionel VALLEY
Buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery in The Netherlands:
John Leonard ANDERSON
John Frederick BARTLETT
Martin Seymour CARROLL
Donald Roy CARTER
Gene Boyd CLEROUX
John Edward COLEMAN
Leo Joseph DUPUIS
Harold Francis GOLDSMITH
Arnold John HICKS
Ronald Stuart KERMAN
Harold LAVIGNE
Raymond Joseph LEBLANC
Ange Aimé LECLAIR
Robert Joseph MARKEY
Dougal Kennedy MATHESON
Roderick William MCQUEEN
Wilfred Joseph MELANSON
Ernest ‘Ermos’ Giuseppe MONACO
Aloysius Theophile MORELL
Ervin Cline MYERS
Sam PROKOPCHUK
Henri ROY
Walter Paul SAMPSON
William Owen SELDON
Charles Allan TOLSON
Doran VENEAU (VIENNEAU)
Frank ‘Frankie’ William VICKERS
Frederick Leslie VOLLETT
Everett Edward YOUNG
Buried in Bergen Op Zoom Canadian War Cemetery in The Netherlands:
Lawrence Herbert ANNIS
Robert Earl BAKER
Norman Leslie BROWN
Joseph Wilfred CAMPBELL
Edward Dalton CHISHOLM (missed in 2023)
Frank William CHRISTOPHER
Winton Bruce COOK
Omer Zoel DONELLE
Arthur Francis DOUCETTE
James Benjamin ENGLEHART
George Raymond FLINT
Gilbert FOURNIER
Calixte GAUVIN
Ernest Cornelius GIBBS
Edward Patrick HALEY
Albert Leslie HARRIS
Reginald Ratchford HARRISON
Arthur James HICKMORE
John James HIGNEY
Verdun HONSBERGER
Albert Hayton HUNT
Lloyd Warren HUTCHINGS
Harold Stanley INGRAHAM
William Charles IONSON
Albert James LOUNSBURY
Lorne Henry KINCADE
Gordon Henry Earl KITCHEN
Allan James LEFURGEY
Alexander Chisholm LOGIE
Adam Joseph MACDONALD
James MACFARLANE
Douglas Earl MACLEAN
Victor John MANN
John Neill MARSHALL
Earl Henry MCALLISTER
Raymond George MCGIVNEY
Leo John MELANSON
George B. MERRICK
Clive Austin MILLS
Herbert William NORRIS
John Charles PIRIE
Harold RENTON
Joseph Wilfred ‘Arthur’ RIOUX
William Ernest STONE
Sylvestre THOMAS
Leo Joseph Ferdinand TOURVILLE
Douglas Laurt VAN BUSKIRK (missed in 2023)
Douglas Walker VOLLETT
Ronald Sidney WATERHOUSE (missed in 2021)
Buried in Adegem Canadian War Cemetery in Belgium:
Azade BOUDREAU
Eugene FrederickMCBRIDE
Buried in Ostend New Communal Cemetery in Belgium:
Donald David Mackenzie TAYLOR
Buried in Brettville-Sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery in France:
Ernest TOURVILLE
Buried in Dunfermline (Douglas Bank) Cemetery in the United Kingdom:
Duncan Alexander MACDONALD
Buried in Moro River Canadian War Cemetery in Italy:
Kevin Joseph DELORIE
Buried in Cesena War Cemetery in Italy:
Roy REYNOLDS
Photo Search For Airmen For Air Research Drenthe Foundation in The Netherlands:
One of the projects of the Air Research Drenthe Foundation in The Netherlands is to install information panels near WWII air crash sites. While many of the airmen lost their lives and are buried in The Netherlands or just across the border in Germany, other airmen survived the crash and were in prisoner of war camps until the war ended. It can be difficult to find photos and families of airmen that survived, but Pieter took up the challenge. A photo was found for:
Arthur Alexander Jaffray LOW, of Hamilton, Ontario, bomb aimer on Halifax NP945, which crashed December 6, 1944.
… The Cold Case Files …..
Not all searches have been successful, for one reason or another. Below is a list of outstanding files for which research has been done, but no photo has been found. If you can help with a photo, please let us know. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/our-cold-cases/ for the complete list)
Douglas Gordon BLACK of Amherst, Nova Scotia, son of Sherman and Alice Black, died March 3, 1945, while serving with the Algonquin Regiment.
Clifford Alexander BLAKE of Toronto, Ontario, son of William C. and Sarah L. Blake, husband of Ferne E. Blake, died February 16, 1945, aged 23, while serving with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles.
John BROWN of London, Ontario, son of Mary T. Brown, died April 14, 1945, aged 26, while serving with the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders.
James LymanCAMERON, born in Victoria-By-The-Sea, Prince Edward Island, son of Edward H. and Susan (Harrington) Cameron, died July 24, 1916, aged 23, while serving with the 7th Canadian Infantry Battalion (1st British Columbia). (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
Leigh HuntCAMERON, born in Albany, Prince Edward Island, son of Anna Cameron, died May 5, 1916, aged 17, shortly after enlisting with the 105th Battalion, C Company. (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
William Galen CAMPBELL, born in Wellington, Prince Edward Island, son of John G. and Grace Emma Campbell, died April 24, 1953, aged 55, many years after being discharged from the 8th Siege Battery of the 3rd Brigade Canadian Garrison Artillery. (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
Karl CHRISTENSEN, from Alberta, but born in Starheim, Nordfjord, Norway, son of Kristian Kristiansen Hafsas and Marie K. Hafsas, died April 10, 1945, aged 41, while serving with the 8th Field Squadron, Royal Canadian Engineers.
Bramwell Ernest CHURCHILL, of London, Ontario, son of David and Agnes C. Churchill, husband of Eva Blanche Churchill, died May 1, 1945, aged 40, while serving with the 5th Anti-Tank Regiment of the Royal Canadian Artillery.
Lorne Mart COLFORD of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, but born in Chezzetcook, Nova Scotia, son of Howard and Jeanette Colford, died April 14, 1945, aged 22, while serving with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry.
Bazil CORMIER, born in Tignish, Prince Edward Island, son of Joseph Cormier and Mary Arsenault, died August 12, 1918, aged 20, while serving with the 26th (New Brunswick) Battalion. (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
Leslie Alban CROSS, of Newcastle, New Brunswick, son of Archibald and Laura Cross, died April 19, 1945, aged 30, while serving with the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps.
Eric John CRUE of Moncton, New Brunswick, son of John and Margaret Crue, died April 6, 1945, aged 23, while serving with the Algonquin Regiment.
James Frank DOLMAN of Flatlands, New Brunswick, son of Frank Dolman and Lydia Thompson, husband of Henriette Gertrude Lyons, died April 14, 1945, aged 32, while serving with the New Brunswick Rangers -10th Independent Machine Gun Company.
Samuel George ENGEN of The Pas, Manitoba, died April 23, 1945, aged 27, while serving with the Lake Superior Regiment.
Douglas Bernard FARROW of Amherst, Nova Scotia, died April 26, 1945, aged 27, while serving with the Algonquin Regiment.
Clifford Glen FORSYTH born in Brandon, Manitoba, son of Alexander ‘Sandy’ Forsyth and Margaret McDougall, died April 11, 1945, aged 20, while serving with the Lake Superior Regiment.
Ernest Ramey GALLANT, born in Borden (now Borden-Carleton), Prince Edward Island, son of John P. and Mary Blanche Gallant, died May 20, 1943, aged 27, while with the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment. (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
John Arthur GALLERY of Saint John, New Brunswick, son of William and Grace Gallery, died October 13, 1944, aged 22, while serving with the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada.
Robert Cecil HARVEY of Centre Burlington, Nova Scotia, son of Douglas and Myrtle B. Harvey, died April 22, 1945, aged 23, while serving with the British Columbia Regiment – 28th Armoured Regiment.
William James ‘Jimmy’ Sutherland HOLE born in Carman, Manitoba, grandson of William and Eva Alise Hole, son of Daisy Hole, died April 22, 1945, aged 20, while serving with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles.
Gordon John HOPPER of London, Ontario, son of Gordon and Vera Mae Hopper, died April 16, 1945, aged 19, while serving with the Lincoln and Welland Regiment.
John Lewis HUGHES, born in Eriksdale, Manitoba, son of Ebenezer George and Ellen (nee Rogan) Hughes, husband of Irene (nee Goodwin) Hughes of Winnipeg, Manitoba, died November 2, 1944, aged 28, while serving with the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corp – 10th Field Dressing Station.
Peter HYDICHUK of Theodore, Saskatchewan, son of Alex and Ann Hydichuk, died March 31, 1945, aged 27, while serving with the South Saskatchewan Regiment.
George Mcdonald JOHNSTON of Toronto, Ontario, son of William and Annie Johnston, died April 2, 1945, aged 27, while serving with the Lake Superior Regiment.
Wallace Herbert LARLEE of Perth, New Brunswick, died April 24, 1945, aged 19, while serving with the North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment.
Albert George LE RUE of Halifax, Nova Scotia, son of William and Catherine Le Rue, died March 7, 1945, aged 24, while serving with the Algonquin Regiment.
Logan ElwoodLESLIE, born in Oxford, Nova Scotia, died April 9, 1945, son of John J. and Georgie Mary Leslie of Moncton, New Brunswick, while serving with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry. (added in 2023)
Charles W. LOWTHER, born in North Carleton, Prince Edward Island, son of Bessie Lowther, died September 25, 1918, aged 21, while serving with the 25th Battalion, Canadian Infantry. (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
Harry Donald MACPHERSON, from Vancouver, British Columbia, son of Alex Mann Macpherson and Jane Bell Macpherson, husband of Gwendolyn Eva Macpherson, died April 29, 1945, aged 33, while serving with the Canadian Scottish Regiment.
John Redmond MAHONEY, born in Port Elgin, New Brunswick, son of John J. and Gertrude C. Mahoney, died April 12, 1945, aged 30, while serving with the New Brunswick Rangers-10th Independent Machine Gun Company.
Wilbert Harold MOORE, born in Fredericton, New Brunswick, son of Jessie Louise and Hugh Irving Moore, died June 16, 1945, aged 28, while serving with the 3rd Division Works Transport Company, Royal Canadian Army Service Corps.
Francis Leslie MULCAHY of Halifax, Nova Scotia, son of Daniel and Mary Mulcahy, died April 24, 1945, aged 21, while serving with the North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment.
Archibald Henry NELSON, born in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, son of William Henry and Winnifred Frances Nelson, died April 18, 1945, aged 34, while serving with the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment.
George Austin NORDVALL of Birch River, Manitoba, died February 21, 1945, while serving with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles.
Arthur ClintonROBINSON, born in Tryon, Prince Edward Island, son of Albert J. and Flora P. Scruton Robinson, died March 27, 1916, aged 19, while serving with the 26th (New Brunswick) Battalion. (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
HarryROBINSON, born in Augustine Cove, Prince Edward Island, son of Thomas and Sarah Robinson, husband of Clara J. Robinson, died June 27, 1916, aged 34, while serving with the 105th Battalion, C Company. (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
Wilfred ROY, of Robertville, Gloucester County, New Brunswick, son of Camille and Catherine Roy, died October 28, 1945, aged 38, while serving with the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps.
Charles Patrick SHEFFIELD of Sundridge, Ontario, son of Charles and Mrs Sheffield, husband of Bessie Alice Butler from Botwood, Newfoundland, and father of Patrick William Wallace Sheffield, died May 4, 1945, aged 24, while serving with the Algonquin Regiment.
Charles Bernard STAFFORD of Halifax, Nova Scotia, son of Charles Bernard and Blanche Stafford, husband of Winifred Leitha Stafford of Intake, Sheffield, England, died April 18, 1945, aged 28, while serving with the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps – 9th Field Ambulance.
Frank Peter VARDIG of St. John, New Brunswick, son of Charles and Lily Vardig, died June 12, 1945, aged 23, while serving with the Carleton & York Regiment.
Harry WHITE of Halifax, Nova Scotia, son of Wilfred and Mary White, died May 19, 1945, aged 27, while serving with the West Nova Scotia Regiment.
….Case Closed!….
The following files were completed and removed from the Cold Case List:
John Frederick BARTLETT of Moreton’s Harbour, Newfoundland, son of Alfred and Jessie Bartlett, died February 27, 1945, aged 47, while serving with the South Alberta Regiment. – Action: Photo identified by great-nephew Gerald Bartlett from a South Alberta Regiment Squadron group photo, taken in England in February 1943, that the family had in its possession. Thank you Gerald!
John Edward COLEMAN of Moncton, New Brunswick, son of Edward J. and Florence Coleman, husband of Della Coleman, died June 17, 1945, aged 32, while serving with the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. – Action: Newspaper photo found by Etienne Gaudet. Thank you Etienne!
Arnold John HICKS of Midgic Station, New Brunswick, son of John A. and Minnie Hicks, died March 8, 1945, aged 21, while serving with the Lincoln and Welland Regiment. – Action: A day after this soldier’s name was placed on the Cold Case List, his photo was submitted by Marcia Giller! Thank you Marcia.
Claude Pearley HUBLEY of Chipman, New Brunswick, son of Joshua and Adelia Hubley, husband of Agnes Myrtle Hubley, died April 25, 1945, aged 29, while serving with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry. – Action: Newspaper photo and obituary from the Saint John Telegraph Journal of May 24, 1945 was submitted by David Archer from Operation Picture Me, saying “…I saw your cold case wish list and I have this clipping that may interest you…” Thank you David.
Lloyd Edward KITCHING of Winnipeg, Manitoba, son of Robert Burns Lloyd Kitching, and stepson of Eva L. Kitching, died May 1, 1945, aged 25, while serving with the Royal Canadian Artillery – 6th Field Regiment. – Action: Newspaper photo found.
…Thank you for your support and encouragement of this research project!…
As 2024 comes to an end, we would like to thank all who helped with researching these stories and contributed photos. We also thank readers of this blog, and the On The War Memorial Trail column in the County Line Courier newspaper, who suggested some of the stories you’ve read. A big thank you goes to Mike and Isabel Smith, owners of the County Line Courier.
Thank you to all the families that contributed photos and stories. Thank you to Judie Klassen and Shawn Rainville who volunteered their time to help find families of soldiers through newspaper and online searches. Thank you to Etienne Gaudet for helping to find photos of New Brunswick soldiers on our behalf, and for translating letters from French into English.
Thank you to the media who helped publicize the search for photos and information – Eastern Graphic, and the Winnipeg Free Press.
Last, but not least, the YouTube channel and videos would not be possible without the invaluable support of post-production editor Wendy Nattress. Wendy also designed and manages the book website: https://nosoldierforgotten.com/
….HappyHolidays…
Pieter and I wish you all the best for the holidays and in 2025. May we never forget those who gave their lives for our freedom.
Pieter’s research work continues. If you have photos or information to share, please email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com or comment on the blog.
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/
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/
On The War Memorial Trail Research Project........ with Pieter and Daria Valkenburg 