On The War Memorial Trail…..The WWII Signalman From Charlottetown Who Died In A Vehicle Accident In The Netherlands 6 Weeks After WWII Ended In Europe

March 15, 2026 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

March 15, 2026. In going through the last few names on a photo wish list for soldiers from New Brunswick who are buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, Pieter’s initial research found that one of the names was of a soldier from Prince Edward Island.

Charlottetown, the capital of Prince Edward Island, is on the east coast of Canada. (Map source: Google)

Alfred Edward Stanley FORD was born February 12, 1918 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, son of Alvin Chester and Ethel Maud (nee Roebuck) Ford. He was one of two children in the family and Pieter at first thought it would be a challenge to find a photo.

However, an obituary for Alfred’s sister Marjorie led him to the Cummins family, and he was soon in contact with Marjorie’s son Dave, who wrote to Pieter, saying “….I greatly appreciate all the work you and your wife are doing on the memories of our fallen soldiers…” And yes, he did have a photo of his uncle.

….Alfred worked as a waiter and butler…

Alfred Edward Stanley Ford. (Photo courtesy of Cummins/Ford archives. Photo restoration and colourization by Pieter Valkenburg)

When Alfred enlisted at the No. 4 District Depot in Montreal, Quebec on December 3, 1941, he stated that he had served in the Reserve Formation of the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals (RCCS) in Prince Edward Island for 2 years, from July 1936 until July 1938.

After leaving school at aged 16, he’d worked as a waiter at various hotels between 1933 and 1936, and then was a butler for the Polish Consul-General, Dr. Sylwester Gruszka, in New York City between 1936 and 1939. (A career diplomat, Dr. Gruszka was the Consul-General from 1935–1940. For more information, see https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylwester_Gruszka)

Alfred’s time working for the Consul-General resonated with us, as decades later Pieter worked in the Consulate in New York and later in the Embassy in Warsaw, Poland, during his career in the Dutch Foreign Service.

While working for Dr. Gruszka, Alfred took a short order-barman course and received a diploma for successfully completing a course at the Fanny Farmer School of Cooking in 1937.

From 1939 to 1941, Alfred worked as a barman and later as a waiter in New York.

….Alfred was drafted one country and enlisted in another….

On October 16, 1940, he was required to fill out a US Draft Card Registration. At the time, he was between jobs in New York City, and living with a friend. Although the USA didn’t officially enter World War II until December 8, 1941, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt had signed into law in October 1940 the first peacetime selective service draft in US history because of rising world conflicts.

Since he was living in the USA, Alfred was required to register for the US Draft, but never joined the US Army as he subsequently moved to Montreal, Quebec and enlisted in the Canadian Army.

During his interview, Alfred expressed an interest in becoming a lineman with the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals, and it was noted that he played hockey as a sport. The interviewer described Alfred as “…respectful, cheerful, and neat in appearance...” and noted that 23 year old Alfred had “…done well in civilian life…”

….Alfred was trained as a Signalman….

Alfred Edward Stanley Ford during basic training. (Photo courtesy of Cummins/Ford archives. Photo restoration by Pieter Valkenburg)

Alfred’s military career began when he was sent for basic training to No. 41 Canadian Army (Basic) Training Centre (CABTC) in Huntingdon, Quebec on December 8, 1941.

After completing his basic training, he was transferred to A7 Canadian Signal Corps Training Centre at Camp Barriefield, Ontario on March 12, 1942 for advanced training. He remained there until May 5, 1942 when he was posted to the 6th Light Anti-Aircraft (LAA) Regiment Signals Section, Royal Canadian Artillery, in Petawawa, Ontario as a Signalman.

As a Signalman, Alfred would have been trained to manage radio (wireless), telephone, and visual signaling, and to ensure that his Regiment received air raid warnings and to relay gun target information.

On November 2, 1942, Alfred was given embarkation leave until November 15, 1942, the last chance he had to see his family.

….Alfred left Canada for overseas service….

Shortly after returning from his embarkation leave, Alfred was on his way overseas, leaving Canada on December 12, 1942. Upon arriving in the United Kingdom on December 18, 1942, he was assigned to No. 1 Canadian Base Staging Camp (CBSC) in Colchester.

On March 6, 1943, Alfred was sent on an Operators Course at No. 1 Canadian Signals Reinforcement Unit (CSRU), located at the Blandford Camp in Cove, Farnborough, Hampshire.

Alfred was transferred to the Canadian Signals Reinforcement Unit (CSRU) on April 2, 1943. His training continued and on July 29, 1943, he qualified as a Lineman Group ‘C’ Class 3. A Lineman would be involved in constructing and repairing overhead telephone and telegraph lines to support military communications.

A month later, on August 26, 1943, he was transferred to the 1st Canadian Line of Communications Signals (L of C Sigs), a key unit within the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals (RC Sigs) during WWII. Formed in England, this unit was responsible for maintaining communications along the supply and transport routes (lines of communication) supporting the Canadian Army’s overseas operations in Europe.

As training and preparations began for Operation Overlord (the invasion of Normandy), which began on what we know as D-Day (June 6, 1944), Alfred was transferred to the 16th Canadian Anti-Aircraft (CAA) Operations Room Signal Section in Womenswold in Kent on May 2, 1944, along with another linesman. The war diary for May 2, 1944 noted that “…2 Line Detachments arrived today from L of C Signals….”

This unit provided communication and signaling support for anti-aircraft operations, and training and exercises continued ahead of being sent to France after D-Day. They would be part of the signals composition of the Canadian Army Overseas.

….Alfred and his unit were sent to France in August 1944…

Liberty ship ‘Samarina’. (Photo source: Ships Nostalgia)

On August 1, 1944, Alfred and other members of the 16th Canadian Anti-Aircraft (CAA) Operations Room Signal Section travelled to London, for the move into France as part of the 21st Army Group. The following day they boarded the Liberty ship ‘Samarina’, along with their vehicles and equipment. They set sail for France on August 3, 1944.

Map showing Courselles-sur-Mer on the coast of France, near Caen. ‘La Manche’ in French is what we call the ‘English Channel’. (Map source: https://www.viamichelin.fr)

Per the August 5, 1944 war diary, they arrived at 9:10 pm “…at the anchorage off Courcelles…” but had to wait until August 7 to disembark. On August 8, 1944, “…the unit arrived Bény-sur-Mer….” and “…established communications with Brigade HQ…” The unit arrived in the midst of Operation Totalize, fought between August 7-11, 1944, in an offensive designed to break through the German defences south of Caen and toward Falaise. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Totalize)

They had their work cut out for them once they reached Caen and took over from 51 Anti-Aircraft Operations Room (AAOR). As recorded in the war diary for August 12, 1944, the unit “…controlled 16 AA guns in defence of Caen from 1800 hours today. Line communications are difficult as some of the line has been badly laid and not maintained. All broadcasts must go down to guns by line and upward intelligence must go up the same way. This is not satisfactory….”

On August 28, 1944, they were ordered to leave Caen and move to Lisieux. The war diary entry for August 29, 1944 recorded that at 8 am “…AAOR handed over to 152 and moved to concentration area at Lisieux….” However, by 6 pm that same day, there was a change. “… Unit was ordered to deploy from concentration area Lisieux for the defence of Brienne….”

Map shows location of Esquelbecq (purple circle) in France, near the Belgian border. (Map source: Google maps)

By September they had moved up through France near the Belgian border, and were based in Esquelbecq, responsible for the Gun Operations Room (GOR) in the Dunkirk area. Linesmen like Alfred worked in difficult and dangerous conditions, as evidenced in just one line from the September 21, 1944 war diary. “…Linemen found that laying lines in the forward area became a bit tricky with snipers and machine gun fire near vicinity….”

An unidentified lineman laying a telephone line in France in September 1944 gives an idea of what Alfred Ford did as a lineman. (Photo Credit: Lieut. Donald I. Grant / Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-174411)

Alfred was twice admitted to hospital, first from November 17 until December 18, 1944 at No. 16 Canadian General Hospital in Saint Omer, France, and then from January 6 to 18, 1945 at No. 2 Canadian General Hospital in Bruges, Belgium. The war diary reported that several men had been ill with colds and flu, and perhaps this is what happened to Alfred, as there was no report of an accident or being wounded by enemy action. He returned back to his unit, which was still in France, but now in Wormhout, just a short distance from Esquelbecq, on January 28, 1945.

On February 9, 1945, the unit moved to Desselgem, Belgium, located between Ypres and Ghent. They remained there until February 28, 1945 when they moved to Hallaar, not that far from the Dutch border, where the Operations Room for the unit would be temporarily based, during Operation Blockbuster. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Blockbuster).

On March 12, 1945, the unit moved again, to Linden, The Netherlands, 10 kms (6 miles) south of Nijmegen, and near the German border. On March 13, 1945, the war diary recorded that “…as the Ops Room Section…is going to be deployed in the defence of Kleve, a Recce party went to that almost completed ruined city and found a site for the Ops Room, and billets in partially demolished houses nearby…” The unit moved to Kleve, Germany 10 days later.

On April 14, 1945, the war diary reported that “…line party across Rhine to lay line to Units under this Unit from proposed new location of AAOR…” Two days later, they moved to Oldenzaal, The Netherlands, near the German border.

On May 7, 1945, a day before the official end of WWII hostilities in Europe, the unit moved to Oldenburg, Germany, before being redirected to Wilhelmshaven on May 10, 1945, and placed on temporary guard duty. The war diary for May 24, 1945 noted another upcoming move. “…Guard commitments to be turned over by midnight of the 25 May 1945. This unit will move to Arnhem area where it will come under command 2 Canadian Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment…”

The move was delayed a few days. On May 26, 1945, the war diary recorded that “…we are to move at 0700 hours tomorrow to Otterlo in Holland where we come under Command of I-Corps and are attached to 2 Canadian Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment…” In Otterlo they camped in an old Dutch barracks in the woods.

The war diary summarized May 1945 by stating that “…except for four days the entire month has been spent in Germany with the unit personnel doing guard duties for a greater portion of that period….”

On June 7, 1945, Alfred was given 11 days leave to the United Kingdom, returning on June 18, 1945, just in time to learn, on June 19, 1945, that the 16th Canadian Anti-Aircraft (CAA) Operations Room Signal Section was to be disbanded immediately. The next few days were spent packing up all the equipment and vehicles.

On June 22, 1945, most of the unit moved to the Artillery Reallocation Centre 13 Canadian Base Reinforcement, located south of Nijmegen. However, the Signals detachment, which Alfred was part of, remained at Otterloo for the night, as they had been assigned to HQ 1st Canadian Army Signals for cross postings, and were scheduled to report there on June 23, 1945.

….Alfred died of injuries from a vehicle accident…

Alfred and the Signals Detachment were camped in a barracks in the woods outside Otterlo (green circle). The vehicle he was in was going in the direction of Apeldoorn (purple arrow). (Map source: Google maps)

However, Alfred never arrived at his next posting as he died in a vehicle accident on June 22, 1945. The circumstances of what happened are unclear. According to a witness, Lance Corporal R. A. MacDonald of the Canadian Provost Corps, who was on traffic patrol duty at the Arnhem-Apeldoorn Highway, around 9:15 pm a vehicle travelling in the direction of Apeldoorn approached him “…at a fast rate of speed. The vehicle was unsteady in its course, weaving as if out of control….”

As it neared the witness, the vehicle veered to the right, likely because the driver suddenly noticed him and lost control of the vehicle in trying to avoid an accident. Unfortunately, it crashed into a tree beside the road. The driver was 27 year old Alfred, who died from head injuries sustained in the crash. He was alone in the vehicle, and no one knew why he was driving a vehicle from another unit, as he was not assigned to be on duty at the time. A Court of Inquiry ruled it as an accidental death.

….Alfred is buried in Groesbeek….

Grave of Alfred Edward Stanley Ford in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands. (Photo source: Find A Grave)

Alfred was temporarily buried in Jonkerbos Cemetery in Nijmegen, The Netherlands, before being reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek on August 2, 1945.

Dave Cummins provided photos of his uncle Alfred. (Photo courtesy of Dave Cummins)

Thank you to Dave Cummins for providing photos and information on his uncle, and to Chris Cummins for notifying Dave of the photo search request. “…Thank you Pieter, my family appreciates all you have done for Alfred…” Dave wrote. “…Keep up the good work….”

Pieter’s research efforts to find photos and families of soldiers continue, doing his part to ensure that each individual soldier is remembered. If you have photos or information to share about soldiers buried in The Netherlands or Belgium, please email him at memorialtrail@gmail.com, or comment on the blog.

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?…

If you are reading this posting, but aren’t following our research, you are welcome to do so. Our blog address: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/

4 countries, 6 weeks, 7,000 km – an unforgettable war memorial journey in Europe…. Daria’s book ‘No Soldier Buried Overseas Should Ever Be Forgotten‘ is available in print and e-book formats. Net proceeds of book sales help support research costs and the cost of maintaining this blog. For more information see https://nosoldierforgotten.com/

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On The War Memorial Trail…. The WWII Soldier From Kingsclear Who Lost His Life During Operation Suitcase

March 8, 2026March 8, 2026 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

Pieter and Daria (right) with Larry Stewart, Uta Stewart, and Manuelle Bibeau. (Photo courtesy of Valkenburg Family)

March 8, 2026. Sometimes we learn about a soldier in the most unexpected ways. A few months ago I was at dinner with two audiologists who would be giving an information session on cochlear implants, part of the outreach we do at Hear PEI. Pieter came along with me for dinner, and Larry Stewart came with his wife, audiologist Uta Stewart. The two men got along like a house on fire, and when Larry mentioned that his friend, psychotherapist Robert Leek, had an uncle who is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom, the discussion turned serious about the sacrifices of so many families during WWII.

Kingsclear is near Fredericton, New Brunswick. (Map source: Google maps)

Larry emailed Robert while we were at the restaurant, and within minutes we saw a photo of his uncle, Albert John LEEK, who was born on April 21, 1925 in Kingsclear, New Brunswick, the son of WWI and WWII veteran Earle McCarthy Leek and his wife Mary Gertrude (nee Howe).

Albert John Leek. (Photo source: Identification card in the service file)

Robert said that his 90 year old aunt, Albert’s youngest sister Gertrude, lives in Fredericton, and that Albert’s father Earle served in both WWI and WWII. Albert was the oldest in the family, with 3 brothers and 4 sisters. “…My father Mauncell, who served in the RCAF, was the next oldest boy…”

Albert’s parents Earle and Mary Gertrude (nee Howe) Leek. (Photo courtesy of Robert Leek)

“…The Leeks were Loyalists who came to Canada, most likely from the Carolinas…” after the American War of Independence, Robert explained. “…Most of my relatives live in Bangor, Maine, and my father was born there…” He thought that Albert’s mother had “…Indigenous roots through the Maliseet…” (Maliseet are now referred to as the Wolastoqey Nation.)

Albert’s father “…re-enlisted during WWII at the same time as Albert so he could protect his son, but they ended up in different units…”

….Albert first enlisted in December 1940…

Albert John Leek during his first enlistment. (Photo source: Canadian Virtual War Memorial)

When he enlisted at the No. 7 District Depot in Fredericton, New Brunswick on April 22, 1942, Albert stated he had been born in 1924 (a year earlier than his actual birth year) and had worked as a carpenter for the Department of National Defence.

This was his second time enlisting at the No. 7 District Depot. He had first enlisted on December 30, 1940, at the age of 15. After completing his basic training and a 3 month Motor Mechanics Course in Kingston, Ontario, he had finished taking advanced army training when his mother found his name on an overseas draft listing….and notified the authorities that he was underage. Albert’s initial military career ended when he was discharged on September 8, 1941 due to being underage.

Albert was tall, at 6 feet 1 inch, so it wasn’t a surprise that he had been able to pass as older. When his nephew Robert was asked why his uncle would have enlisted so young, he explained that his uncle “…was desperate to leave his home situation and make something of himself…”

….Albert was sent for artillery training…

When he enlisted for the second time, Albert stated that he had worked on his parents’ farm after leaving school, and listed his interests as boxing, skating, ice hockey, and softball.

On May 16, 1942, he was sent to No. 70 Canadian Army Basic Training Centre (CABTC) in Fredericton, where he had to undergo basic training again. After completing this training, he was transferred to the X-A-1 Canadian Artillery Training Centre (CATC) in Petawawa, Ontario. This was a major training facility for the Royal Canadian Artillery (RCA), where artillery soldiers were trained in gunnery, routines, and military customs.

A subsequent interview while in Petawawa recommended that he be trained as a Driver i/c but that never happened. (The term ‘Driver i/c’ refers to ‘Driver, internal combustion’.) Instead, Albert was promoted to Lance Bombardier on May 1, 1943 and received final training in preparation for overseas service.

….Albert left Canada for overseas service ….

On July 24, 1943, Albert left Canada, arriving in the United Kingdom on July 28, 1943, where he was placed with No. 2 Canadian Artillery Reinforcement Unit (CARU).

In an interview with a Captain McCormick on August 9, 1943, he was described as “…a tall, husky, active lad…” with “…pleasant features and a pleasant personality…” The interviewer quoted Albert as saying that he “…used to pick up some extra money boxing in civilian life…” and that he had expressed a wish to “…transfer to the Black Watch Regiment to join a younger adopted brother of his father whom he practically grew up with…”

Albert stated that he “…likes Infantry Service…” and the interviewer thought that he “…should make a good commando…”

Training continued. On October 14, 1943, Albert reverted to the rank of Gunner at his own request. As part of his ongoing training, he was sent to an Army Physical Training Corps (APTC) course from December 3, 1943 until December 24, 1943. Training would have been focused on fitness for specific purposes, and would have included unarmed hand-to-hand combat, bayonet fighting, and specialized assault courses, strength exercises using ammunition boxes, and combat-oriented activities.

On January 9, 1944, Albert was sent on for a Commando Physical Training course. Unfortunately, while at the Jasper Whitley Centre in Surrey, he fell on January 27, 1944 during physical training, and injured his feet. In the accident report, he stated that he had “…climbed up a rope and was crossing a beam. The beam slipped and I fell, landing on my feet….”

Although he seemed all right initially, he had difficulty walking and was taken to hospital on February 2, 1944, due to suspected fractures of his feet. He remained in hospital until March 2, 1944, after which he was sent to a convalescent hospital until July 29, 1944.

On August 12, 1944, Albert was transferred to the Canadian Infantry Corps, exchanging the rank of Gunner for the equivalent rank of Private. He left England on September 6, 1944 for France, arriving the following day and assigned to the X-4 Reinforcement List of the 11th Battalion, part of the 21st Army Group. Once in northwest Europe, he was with 58 Company, 13th Battalion, 2nd Canadian Base Reinforcement Group (CBRG). 2nd CBRG was responsible for receiving, training, and holding personnel to reinforce combat units in the field.

….Albert lost his life during Operation Suitcase…

Albert was subsequently transferred to the Lincoln & Welland Regiment on September 22, 1944, joining them in Maldegem, Belgium, where he was assigned to ‘A’ Company. He was one of a large number of reinforcements sent to the Regiment.

Map showing Camp De Brasschaat and Maria-ter-Heide in Belgium. (Map source: Google maps)

The Regiment moved towards Camp De Brasschaat, just north of Antwerp and near the Dutch border, arriving on October 19, 1944. The war diary entry for October 19, 1944 recorded that the Commanding Officer “…issued information and orders regarding the Lincoln & Welland Regiment’s next attack. The Battalion objective was to clear the wood north of Camp De Brasschaat and to gain control of the main road leading northwest of the town. Typhoons were to cover the roads and harass enemy defences in the area….” (Typhoons were single-seat fighter-bomber aircraft, heavily used by the RCAF during WWII.)

On October 20, 1944, Operation Suitcase, a Canadian offensive to isolate German forces on Walcheren Island in The Netherlands began. The Lincoln & Welland Regiment was part of this operation, advancing from Maria-ter-Heide and the Brasschaat airfield. (See https://canadianbattlefieldtours.ca/operation-suitcase/)

According to the war diary entry for October 20, 1944, it was “….overcast with heavy rain…” that day. “…As the troops crossed the start line the Typhoons appeared on the scene. The carrier recce, which had patrolled the main road, reported it clear, but heavy minefields lined the east side of the road. The troops advanced in the following order: ‘A’, ‘C’, and ‘B’ Companies, ‘D’ Company remaining in reserve.

‘A’ Company was pinned down by small arms and mortar fire 500 yards from their objective. The tanks supported them across the open stretch to their objective in the area of Groote Heide…”

Close to midnight, the war diary recorded that “…our casualties for the day were four killed and twenty-four wounded….” One of the fatalities was 19 year old Albert.

….Albert is buried in Bergen Op Zoom…

Grave of Albert John Leek in the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom, The Netherlands with a Christmas Eve candle. (Photo courtesy of Caroline Raaijmakers)

Albert was temporarily buried on October 31, 1944 in Maria-ter-Heide Civil Cemetery in the municipality of Brasschaat, before being reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom, The Netherlands on May 1, 1945.

….Albert is commemorated on the Fredericton War Memorial…

Fredericton War Memorial. (Photo courtesy of John S. Brehaut)

Albert’s name is listed on a panel on the Fredericton War Memorial in Fredericton, New Brunswick. The Leek family has served Canada – Albert’s father Earle served in WWI and WWII, Albert gave his life during WWII, and his younger brother Mauncell served in the RCAF. “…I broke the mold…” Robert said, “…as I became a psychotherapist, rather than a soldier….”

Left to right: Robert Leek, Larry Stewart, and Pieter. (Photo credit: Uta Stewart)

We are always happy to meet family of the soldiers that Pieter researched, and were especially pleased when we met with both Robert Leek and his friends Larry and Uta Stewart. Thank you to Robert Leek for providing photos and information on his uncle, and to Larry and Uta Stewart for telling us about Robert and his uncle Albert.

If you have photos or information to share about soldiers buried in The Netherlands or Belgium, please email him at memorialtrail@gmail.com, or comment on the blog.

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?…

If you are reading this posting, but aren’t following our research, you are welcome to do so. Our blog address: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter Valkenburg: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ591TyjSheOR-Cb_Gs_5Kw.

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On The War Memorial Trail…..The WWII Soldier From Caledonia Who Lost His Life During The Struggle To Capture The Goch-Calcar Road

February 19, 2026 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

Sign for the community of Caledonia, Queen’s County, Nova Scotia. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

February 19, 2026. As Pieter works his way through the various photo wish lists he receives from the Canadian War Cemeteries in The Netherlands, he tends to be methodical. Occasionally, however, he decides to throw a ‘wild card’ and asks me to choose a soldier to research.

My process is definitely not methodical – I pick a soldier based on something that triggers a memory – either through a surname or place of residence or even because Pieter previously researched a soldier from the same Regiment who lost his life on the same day. This time around, I chose a soldier who came from Caledonia, Nova Scotia. Why? I remembered that when I was in school and we studied British history that Scotland was often referred to as Caledonia, its Latin name during the Roman period. Caledonia made me think of my late mother, who loved anything Scottish. (See https://www.britannica.com/place/Caledonia-ancient-region-Britain)

….The search for family of William Owen Seldon was successful…

Caledonia, located in Queens County, Nova Scotia is 151 kms (94 miles) from Halifax. (Map source: Google maps)

Pieter just shook his head, but dutifully began his research into William Owen SELDON, born January 2, 1917 in Caledonia, Nova Scotia, son of Roland Chivers and Effie Bond (nee Doggett) Seldon. William had lost his life in Germany on February 19, 1945 while serving with the Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment).

It wasn’t long before Pieter was in contact with retired schoolteacher, Wilma Shupe, the daughter of William’s sister Rhoda Irene Forrest….and received a photo from her. Wilma explained that “…My mother always called him William. They were very close. They went to dances together as he could drive, and he used a truck with a flat bed, like was used for hauling logs, etc. They would pick up people along the way and go to dances in a neighbouring community...”

William Owen Seldon. (Photo courtesy of the Seldon Family)

In addition to his sister Rhoda, William had a brother, George Roland, and another sister, Roseanna May. “…Two nephews were named for him. Rose and George, his younger siblings, named their sons after him…” Wilma noted. “….The farm where William grew up was purchased by Dutch immigrants in the 1950s and are well known to this day as Van Dyk blueberries…” (See https://vandykblueberries.ca/)

….William enlisted in 1942…

William originally enlisted under the National Resources Mobilization Act (NRMA) at the No. 6 NRMA Clearing Depot in Halifax, Nova Scotia on July 24, 1942 and joined the 54th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery of the Royal Canadian Artillery (RCA) in Bedford, Nova Scotia. At the time, he stated that he’d left school at the age of 17 after completing Grade 9, and had been working ever since. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Resources_Mobilization_Act)

Wilma had mentioned that “…William worked in the woods and on the family farm before he enlisted…”

His personnel file for his occupational background noted that he had been “…driving horses for 6 months. Truck driver for 3 months. Gold miner for 1 ½ years and coal mining for 3 or 4 years. …Can operate car and truck and effect minor repairs….”

His interests included “…playing softball, dancing, movies, fishing, playing cards, and recitation and dialogue…”

On November 5, 1942, William enlisted in the Active Army with the 54th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery of the Royal Canadian Artillery (RCA).

….William served in Newfoundland…

Atlantic Coast Defences during WWII. (Source: https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/UN/Canada/CA/SixYears/maps/SixYears-1.jpg)

After completing his basic training, William was transferred on August 6, 1943 to the 25th Anti-Aircraft Regiment, based in St. John’s-Torbay, Newfoundland as part of Atlantic Command, and tasked with strengthening and administering home defence facilities on Canada’s Atlantic Coast and Newfoundland. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_Command_(Canadian_Army))

Before travelling to Newfoundland, however, he received a furlough from August 6 to 23, 1943. (NOTE: Newfoundland and Labrador became part of Canada on March 31, 1949.)

….William briefly returned to Canada before travelling overseas…

William remained in Newfoundland until April 26, 1944, when he was transferred to No. 1 Transit Camp in Windsor, Nova Scotia. Then, on May 20, 1944, he was reallocated to the No. 1 Training Battalion of the Canadian Infantry Corps (CIC) in Debert, Nova Scotia, and received further training before being transferred to the Training Brigade Group in preparation for overseas service.

….William left Canada for overseas service …

On July 19, 1944, William left Canada, arriving in the United Kingdom on July 27, 1944, where he was placed with No. 3 Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit (CIRU).

The following day after arrival he was interviewed and recommended for training as a Driver I/C for the Infantry. (The term ‘Driver i/c’ refers to ‘Driver, internal combustion’.) However, that training never happened, as a few weeks later he was transferred to the X4 Reinforcement List for the Royal Regiment of Canada, part of 21st Army Group, on August 10, 1944 and sent to France the following day, arriving on August 12, 1944.

In France he was transferred to the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada on August 15, 1944, joining them as preparations were made for the upcoming Battle of Falaise Gap. On August 18, 1944, he was sent to HQ No. 5 Canadian Infantry Brigade (CIB).

William was wounded in his right leg by mortar fire on August 22, 1944, and taken to No. 102 Field Dressing Station (FDS). After being discharged on September 11, 1944, he was put on the X4 Reinforcement List of the 13th Battalion, where he remained until November 28, 1944, when he was transferred to No. 5 Canadian Infantry Brigade (CIB) Ground Defence Platoon (Lorne Scots Regiment), joining them in The Netherlands. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5th_Canadian_Infantry_Brigade)

Then, on January 19, 1945, he was transferred to the 4th Infantry Brigade Ground Defence Platoon (Lorne Scots Regiment). The Lorne Scots role was to mobilize units to fulfill defence and employment requirements for the Canadian Army. This included various support roles, focusing on logistical and defensive operations rather than front-line combat.

….William was attached to the Essex Scottish Regiment for an attack on the Goch-Calcar Road …

Although officially with the Lorne Scots (Peel, Dufferin and Halton Regiment), William was attached, for all purposes, to the Essex Scottish Regiment on February 8, 1945. On February 16, 1945, the Essex Scottish Regiment left The Netherlands and crossed the border into Germany, at Kleve. The following day, the war diary reported that the battalion “…moved off to an assembly area between Kleve and Calcar….” in preparation for an attack on the Goch-Calcar Road, which was subsequently delayed until February 19, 1945. (Calcar in English is Kalkar in German)

….Heavy fighting along the Goch-Calcar Road proved deadly….

Moyland Wood and the Goch-Calcar Road, 16-21 February 1945 (Map source: HyperWar: The Victory Campaign [Chapter 18] ibiblio.org)

An account of the role played by No. 4 Canadian Infantry Brigade during the struggle for the Goch-Calcar Road on February 19-20, 1945 was provided by Brigadier Frederick Norman CABELDU on February 28, 1945. (See https://matthewkbarrett.com/2024/07/17/brig-f-n-cabeldu/)

His report began by stating that “…prior to the attack made by 4 Cdn Inf Bde on 19 Feb 1945, the enemy controlled the main Goch-Calcar road, southwest of Calcar…The enemy held a line on the outskirts of Calcar that included Moyland,…” a wooded area, “…and that continued to the southwest. The latter portion of this line ran parallel to, and about a mile north-west of, the main Goch-Calcar road…”

A description of the attack, which began just after noon, followed. “…The attack involved an advance over open country, and sufficient ‘Kangaroos’…were used….” Kangaroos are turret-less tanks with a platform for carrying troops.

Things didn’t go according to plan, as “…movement over the soft ground was difficult and ….several ‘Kangaroos’ and tanks became bogged down…” They were sitting ducks. “…It soon became evident that the enemy had a screen of anti-tank defences, including many 88 mm guns…” German positions were held by “…fresh troops of 12 Parachute Recce Regiment…” and in the rear of these positions were “…elements of Panzer Lehr Division….”

The Essex Scottish Regiment’s war diary for February 19, 1945 noted that the attack on the Goch-Calcar Road resulted in the Regiment fighting “….under a heavy hail of shrapnel and small arms fire. Casualties were fairly heavy….Communications were difficult. Vehicles became bogged in the soft mud, casualties were difficult to evacuate, and guns and ammunition could not get up where they were required. Battalion HQ moved into a group of buildings which were later surrounded and demolished by tanks…”

William, who was attached to the Essex Scottish Regiment, was one of the fatal casualties that day. Also killed in the attack on the Goch-Calcar Road, but on the following day, was Donald Roy CARTER. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2024/06/09/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-soldier-from-central-blissville-killed-along-the-goch-calcar-road/)

….William is buried in Groesbeek…

Grave of William Owen Seldon with Canadian and Nova Scotia flags placed by Pieter. (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

William was initially buried in the Canadian Military Cemetery in Bedburg, Germany, before being reburied on September 11, 1945 in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands. During our 2025 European War Memorial Tour, Pieter placed flags of Canada and Nova Scotia by his grave.

Pieter at the grave of William Owen Seldon after placing flags of Canada and Nova Scotia. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

….We met William’s family when we visited Caledonia…

We are always happy to meet family members of the soldiers that Pieter researches, and so we were delighted to have the chance to visit Caledonia and meet Wilma Shupe and her husband Tom.

Pieter with Wilma and Tom Shupe. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Tom and Wilma showed us the Cenotaph in Caledonia, on which William is listed on the Roll of Honour.

Tom and Wilma Shupe (left), with Pieter pointing to William Seldon’s name on the Roll of Honour on the Cenotaph in Caledonia. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Thank you to Wilma and Tom Shupe for providing photos and information, and a warm welcome during our visit.

The flags that were placed by Pieter at William’s grave were donated. Our thanks go to:

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

Pieter encourages readers with photos or stories of Canadian soldiers buried in The Netherlands or Belgium to email him at memorialtrail@gmail.com or comment on the blog.

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?…

If you are reading this posting, but aren’t following our research, you are welcome to do so. Our blog address: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/

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On The War Memorial Trail…..Our 2025 Visit To Freedom Museum Zeeland

January 31, 2026 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

January 31, 2026. Last spring we were in The Netherlands and Belgium for the 80th Anniversary of Liberation Commemoration events, and placed flags at the graves of 383 soldiers in 14 cemeteries.

After visiting the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom (see https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2026/01/12/on-the-war-memorial-trail-our-2025-visit-to-the-canadian-war-cemetery-in-bergen-op-zoom/) and the Canadian War Cemetery in Adegem (see https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/12/08/on-the-war-memorial-trail-a-visit-to-the-canadian-war-cemetery-in-adegem/), we were very interested in learning more about the Battle of the Scheldt, as so many of the men buried in these two cemeteries lost their lives in this battle.

….Why was the Battle of the Scheldt so important?…

Map shows Battle of the Scheldt in The Netherlands. (Map source: http://www.canadiansoldiers.com)

The Battle of the Scheldt’s objective was to free up the way to the Port of Antwerp in Belgium for supply purposes. Canadian soldiers suffered almost 8,000 casualties (wounded and dead) in what turned out to be the battle with the most Canadian casualties in The Netherlands. (See https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/history/second-world-war/scheldt)

….The Freedom Museum Zeeland focuses on the Battle of the Scheldt…

One sunny Saturday in May 2025 we visited the Freedom Museum Zeeland (Bevrijdingsmuseum Zeeland in Dutch) in the very small village of Nieuwdorp. This is a privately run museum that focuses on the Battle of the Scheldt. We found it very informative, with lots of displays and panels in 4 languages – Dutch, English, French, and German.

Site map from the Museum’s pamphlet.

The Museum pamphlet stated that the museum “…takes you through the eventful years in the province of Zeeland during World War II. The ‘Battle of the Scheldt’ is the central thread of this story. The fierce battle fought in the autumn of 1944 between the Allied and German troops for command over the Western Scheldt, the main waterway to the already liberated port of Antwerp. A battle that is often forgotten, despite its crucial significance for the ensuing liberation of Western Europe….”

While the battle isn’t forgotten in Canada, as it cost so many Canadian soldiers their lives, we were unaware that the struggle for control of the Scheldt began years earlier, with French forces trying to help protect Zeeland in May 1940.

A panel explained that “…on 16 May 1940 German SS troops cross the South Beveland Canal, taking the French by surprise. Come evening the Germans have already reached the Sloedam, the only connection with Walcheren island by land. The defence of the Sloedam is not impossible, so the French entrench themselves to stop the Germans….”

Unfortunately, on May 17, the Germans prevailed. “…Despite fierce resistance, the Germans succeed in crossing the Sloedam, thanks to heavy air support…”

The Mayor of Middelburg had “…anticipated the military violence and already advised citizens to leave town on 14 May. He was proved right because on 17 May a large part of the old town centre of Middelburg goes up in flames….”

The French retreated to Vlissingen, and boarded ships to leave. “…Dutch capitulation is reported to the Germans, who then invade Middelburg…” Zeeland was the last province of The Netherlands to be occupied, and remained under German occupation until November 1944.

The harrowing story of the effect of German occupation on Dutch citizens, and the struggle to liberate Zeeland in the fall of 1944 is vividly told through displays and information panels.

….We saw military equipment that had been featured in many of our stories…

Pieter stands in front of a Sherman tank. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

After completing the circuit of information panels and displays indoors, we went outside to look at more displays and military equipment, including a Sherman tank.

Pieter inside a German one-man bunker. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

One object that intrigued us was a German one-man bunker, made of reinforced concrete. An information panel explained that this “…Splitterschutzzelle (splinter protection cell) offered protection against shelling, air raids, and bombardments. They were often placed in residential districts, near factories or military installations….” While it offered some protection, the one-man bunker was not able to withstand a direct hit.

….We were able to drive across a Bailey bridge…

We were delighted to see a Bailey bridge, which we’d never seen in real life before. Pieter of course went across it, but it was a bit too far away for me to tackle. The bridge was in an area that was only for pedestrian traffic, and not for vehicles.

After seeing all of the exhibits and the military equipment, we returned to the parking lot. Just as we reached our vehicle, a man in a jeep pulled up and asked if we were the Canadians. When we’d paid the entrance fee for the museum, we’d mentioned that we were from Canada. The man in the jeep was Kees Traas, who owns the museum, and wanted to meet us.

Pieter with Kees Traas in his WWII era jeep. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Kees was very happy that Pieter spoke Dutch and the two of them became very engaged in conversation about the museum and how it began. Kees became my hero when he told Pieter to take the car and drive it across the Bailey bridge so that I could see it, and to make sure we stopped in at the church, which had a story about a Canadian soldier.

Pieter asked if the bridge could hold the car. “…Oh yes…” said Kees, “…it can hold 3 tons….” So an overjoyed Pieter got to experience travelling over a ‘temporary’ bridge that we’d only read about in war diaries.

A Bailey bridge, named after it’s British inventor, was “…an emergency bridge to replace bridges that were destroyed, or as an alternative next to bridges that did not have enough bearing capacity….”

Pieter drove our vehicle across the Bailey bridge. The building seen on the right is a chapel. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

We went back and forth across the bridge, so that I could experience it, and then once more with just Pieter in the car, while I took photos of the crossing.

….The chapel featured the story of Jean-Maurice Dicaire….

Display case in the chapel featured Pte Jean-Maurice Dicaire. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

We also visited the chapel that Kees had mentioned to us, which had a display case featuring the story of Jean-Maurice DICAIRE, born in Hawkesbury, Ontario, who was serving with Le Régiment de Maisonneuve, when he lost his life on October 29, 1944, aged 23.

Jean-Maurice Dicaire was featured on an information panel in the chapel.

An information panel explained that the original grave marker had been found near a garbage container and given to the museum. Unlike many Canadian soldiers who were reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom, Jean-Maurice’s body was never removed from the Kloetinge General Cemetery.

The original grave marker was likely discarded as his surname was incorrectly spelled. The wooden marker was replaced with a stone at his grave that has his correct surname. Today the grave marker with the incorrect spelling is in the chapel at the Freedom Museum Zeeland, as part of the memorabilia that features this young soldier.

Thank you to Kees Traas, Chair of the Freedom Museum Zeeland Foundation, for allowing us to drive over the Bailey bridge.

After arriving back at our hotel, we enjoyed a delicious and relaxing dinner. After visiting 383 graves in 14 cemeteries, in 2 countries, plus the Halifax L9561 memorial panel in Wons, we wanted to celebrate the completion of our goal.

But we still weren’t finished! More adventures awaited as we continued with our 2025 European War Memorial Tour to visit a special Indigenous Exhibit at the Freedom Museum in Groesbeek.

The research work continues for Pieter. If you have photos or information to share about soldiers buried in The Netherlands or Belgium, please email him at memorialtrail@gmail.com, or comment on the blog.

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?…

If you are reading this posting, but aren’t following our research, you are welcome to do so. Our blog address: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter Valkenburg: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ591TyjSheOR-Cb_Gs_5Kw.

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On The War Memorial Trail….The WWII Soldier From Winnipeg Who Was Recognized For His Heroism During The Dieppe Raid But Died During The Battle Of The Scheldt

January 21, 2026 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 2 Comments

January 21, 2026. For the past several years, in the week before Remembrance Day, the Winnipeg Free Press newspaper features a soldier on one of the photo search lists that Pieter gets from the Canadian War Cemeteries in The Netherlands. For the November 2025 feature, journalist Kevin Rollason asked if Pieter had a soldier on his list from Winnipeg, my home town.

Pieter said yes, and asked if Kevin would feature a soldier, buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom, The Netherlands, who overcame a traumatic childhood and was recognized for ‘gallant and distinguished service’ during the Dieppe Raid (Operation Jubilee) on August 19, 1942, before losing his life on October 27, 1944, aged 22, during the Battle of the Scheldt. The search for a photo of the soldier was still active when Kevin’s story ‘Searching For A Hero’ was published on November 10, 2025. (See Searching for a hero by Kevin Rollason)

Charles ‘Gordon’ ERICKSON was born July 27, 1922 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the son of Frank and Helen (Ellen) Gordon (nee Grant) Erickson. According to their marriage record, Frank was born in USA, and Helen in Scotland. Gordon was the middle child, with an older sister, Hazel Francis, and a younger sister, Barbara ‘Nancy’.

….Gordon and his sister Nancy ended up in the care of the Children’s Aid Society…

It’s unclear exactly what happened, but before Gordon turned 5, the family had fractured. A Free Press Evening Bulletin notice from July 5, 1927 stated that Gordon and Nancy would be put into care of the Children’s Aid Society as of July 27, 1927. The two children had been adopted by two different families. Unfortunately, both adoptions failed, putting them into care.

In the end, the two were separated from each other and didn’t reconnect until both were in service during WWII. The fate of their older sister Hazel was unknown to them.

Shortly after the Winnipeg Free Press article was published, Nancy’s son, Gordon Barker, contacted Pieter. He explained that Frank “….worked on railroad and abandoned his wife and children, and it was believed that he returned to the USA. Helen travelled to Minneapolis to look for him, had a nervous breakdown, and ended up in a mental institution, where she is thought to have died, circa 1966….”

…. Gordon lied about his age upon enlistment…

Life was not easy for Gordon during his childhood. When he enlisted on January 2, 1940 with the No. 5 General Hospital, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps (RCAMC), Canadian Active Service Force (CASF), he wrote that he was born in 1918. This was later changed to 1919, which was still incorrect as he was born in 1922.

His next of kin was originally listed as his father, but this was then changed to his Children’s Aid Society Guardian, Joseph Dumas. When asked if he had ever worked before enlistment, he stated that, from 1932 up to the date of enlistment, he had worked as a farmhand at the Smallicombe farm in Holland, Manitoba, receiving a weekly wage of $6 and his ‘keep’ (food and a place to sleep). He had finished Grade 8 and listed soccer, swimming, and softball as sports he enjoyed.

….Gordon left Canada for overseas service…

Gordon worked as a medical orderly at No. 5 General Hospital in Winnipeg for almost the entire month of January. On January 29, 1940, he boarded a ship in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and with other members of his unit, left Canada for the United Kingdom on January 30, 1940, sailing from Halifax, and disembarking in Gourock, Scotland on February 9, 1940.

No. 5 Canadian General Hospital in Taplow. (Photo source: Eton Wick History)

Once in Great Britain, Gordon continued as a medical orderly, at the 600 bed No. 5 Canadian General Hospital in Taplow, Buckinghamshire, until March 28, 1941. This wartime hospital, which looked after wounded soldiers, was established by the Canadian Red Cross in 1940 and had been built on land donated by the Astor family at their Cliveden Estate.

….Gordon was transferred to the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada…

On March 28, 1941, Gordon was transferred to the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada and sent for advanced infantry training. Then, on January 15, 1942, he was assigned to No. 2 Division Infantry Reinforcement Unit (DIRU) for additional training in preparation for the upcoming Dieppe Raid. On May 1, 1942, he returned to the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada.

Map showing the Dieppe Raid. (Map source: https://cbf-fccb.ca/)

On August 18, 1942, Gordon travelled to France with the Regiment, and was part of the combined attack for the Dieppe Raid, known as Operation Jubilee, on August 19, 1942. This was a disastrous Allied amphibious attack on the German-occupied port of Dieppe in northern France. (See https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/military-history/second-world-war/dieppe-raid and https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/dieppe-raid)

In the battle plan, the South Saskatchewan Regiment was to land in the first wave of the attack on Green Beach to secure the beach at Pourville, the right flank of the operation. The Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada would then land in the second wave and move inland along the eastern bank of the Scie River to meet up with the tanks of the Calgary Regiment coming from Dieppe and capture the airfield at Saint-Aubin-sur-Scie. They would then clear the Hitler Battery and attack the suspected German divisional headquarters.

Things didn’t go as planned. While the attack began on time (at 04:50 am) the South Saskatchewan Regiment landed west of the river, instead of in front of it. This didn’t pose a problem for the force aiming to clear the village and attack the cliffs to the west, but for the other force it meant they had to move through the village, cross the exposed bridge over the river before attempting to get on the high ground to the east.

The resulting delay gave the Germans had time to react and deploy, just as the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada came along in their landing craft as the second wave to attack on Green Beach. As they reached 910 metres (1000 yards) off Green Beach, German shore batteries, machine guns, and mortars opened fire.

….Gordon was wounded during the Dieppe Raid…

The main landing at Dieppe had been unsuccessful, and the failure of tanks to arrive made it impossible for the Regiment to gain its objectives. With increased German opposition and no communication with headquarters, the Regiment, which had advanced once reaching the beach, began to fight back to Pourville, carrying their wounded. They made it back and re-established contact with the South Saskatchewan Regiment, only to learn that there was an hour’s wait for the landing craft to return for re-embarkation.

Both the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada and the South Saskatchewan Regiment fought desperately during the wait, but there were too many casualties. At 11:00 am the landing craft began to arrive, taking grievous losses on the approach into the beach. More men were killed and wounded as they tried to board the landing craft under enemy fire. Five landing craft and one tank landing craft managed to rescue men from the shallows and cleared the beach with full loads, but within half an hour, no further rescues were possible.

Of 503 Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada who participated in the raid, 346 were casualties: 60 were killed in action, 8 died of wounds after evacuation, and 167 became prisoners of war (with 8 POWs dying from their wounds). 268 returned to England, 103 of them wounded.

Evacuation of casualties from Dieppe to England on August 19, 1942. (Map source: ‘Official History Of The Canadian Medical Services 1939-1945’)

Gordon was one of the men wounded during re-embarkation. He was evacuated to No. 15 Canadian General Hospital in Bramshott, United Kingdom, with a shrapnel wound to his left ear. According to his hospital file the “….wound penetrated to the bone….” with “…some slight retraction of eardrum… Probably slight concussion as result of artillery fire….” He remained in hospital until August 31, 1942, when the wound healed, and he was able to return to duty.

For his actions during the Dieppe Raid, King George VI was “…graciously pleased to approve that ….” Gordon “…be mentioned in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the combined attack on Dieppe…” On December 8, 1942, Gordon was promoted to Lance Corporal, remaining in the United Kingdom for further training.

…. Nancy’s son Gordon had a photo of his uncle…

Charles ‘Gordon’ Erickson. (Photo courtesy of Gordon Barker)

Gordon and his sister Nancy were reunited while both were serving in England. Her son Gordon explained that his mother had joined the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) on August 14, 1942, and served as a secretary for the military in London, England during the war, working on soldiers’ duty assignments and other administrative tasks. He had photos of both his mother and his uncle, who he was named after.

Nancy Erickson in England in 1942. (Photo courtesy of Gordon Barker)

….Gordon was very highly regarded…

Gordon quickly received another promotion, to Corporal, on January 31, 1943. In June 1943, he was sent to No. 5 (Battle) Wing Canadian Training School at Rowland’s Castle, Hampshire, England, for a 4 week Battle Drill course which trained Canadian soldiers in how to react when coming under enemy fire. (See https://www.southdowns.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/The-Canadian-Army-Battle-Drill-School-Stansted-Park-1942.pdf)

The course tried to mimic combat conditions, using obstacle courses and simulated battlefields, live rounds fired over the heads of students, controlled explosions, target practice, and dummies to bayonet.

One of Gordon’s instructors may have been Ralph Schurman BOULTER, whose story was previously told on this blog. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/03/07/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-battle-of-bienen-part-2-the-wwii-battle-drill-instructor-from-oleary/)

A September 21, 1943 interviewer wrote in Gordon’s service file that he had “….very high learning ability, a good appearance, and a pleasant personality….” It further noted that Gordon requested “…any courses on supporting infantry weapons…”

….Gordon and the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada arrived in France in July 1944….

The Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada Regiment disembarked in Graye-sur-Mer and made their way towards Caen. (Map source: Google maps)

Gordon and the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada Regiment continued training while in the United Kingdom, but on July 5, 1944, a month after D-Day, they left aboard USOS ‘Will Rogers’ from Newhaven, Sussex for Normandy, as part of the as part of the 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Infantry Division, arriving in Graye-sur-Mer, Calvados, France 2 days later.

By July 12, 1944, Battalion headquarters was based in an orchard near Rots, France, and the troops were dispersed outside of Caen, with the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada sent to Carpiquet. The war diary for that day noted that “…the town was completely demolished. Battalion takes up defence position…”

The Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada Regiment were west of Caen in Carpiquet. (Map source: Google maps)

….Gordon was injured during the Battle of Saint André-sur-Orne….

The Battalion was ordered to capture the village of Saint André-sur-Orne, located south-west of Caen. They reached it on July 20, 1944, with rain hindering operations. The Allies faced stiff resistance as they began Operation Spring, a major bombardment that took place on the night of July 24-25, to capture the heights of Verrières Ridge, which overlooks the area between Caen and Falaise. (See https://www.canadiansoldiers.com/history/battlehonours/northwesteurope/verrieresridge.htm)

Part of Operation Spring was the Battle of Saint André-sur-Orne, a village on the starting line of the offensive. It was captured by the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada (6th Infantry Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division) Canadians to the north.

At some point during the battle, Gordon was wounded and evacuated to the United Kingdom for treatment. He remained in the United Kingdom from July 26 to September 23, 1944, after which he returned to his Regiment on September 24, 1944. By now, the Regiment had left France and was in the vicinity of Sint-Job-in-‘t-Goor, in the province of Antwerp, Belgium.

Gordon arrived just after a failed offensive, where Canadian and British troops had tried to secure an undamaged bridge over the Turnhout-Schoten Canal on September 23, 1944. Due to fierce German resistance Allied troops were unable to prevent the enemy from blowing up the bridge.

….The Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada were involved in the Battle of the Scheldt….

The Regiment next began preparing to participate in the upcoming Battle of the Scheldt, which began officially on October 2 and lasted until November 8, 1944. The Battle of the Scheldt’s objective was to free up the way to the Port of Antwerp in Belgium for supply purposes. Canadians suffered almost 8,000 casualties (wounded and dead) in what turned out to be the battle with the most Canadian casualties in The Netherlands. (See https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/history/second-world-war/scheldt)

Map shows location of South Beveland and Walcheren Island in The Netherlands. (Map source: http://www.canadiansoldiers.com)

The War Diary for October 25, 1944 stated that at 9 pm they were ordered to move the next day to an area “…in the Beveland Causeway…”

The Beveland Causeway, also known as the Sloedam, was a narrow land link between South Beveland and Walcheren Island in The Netherlands, crucial for gaining access to the port of Antwerp, and the site of brutal, costly battles in 1944 as Canadian forces fought to secure it against German defenders. This narrow strip, bracketed by marshes, was a heavily defended bottleneck, becoming the focus of fierce assaults.

The War Diary for October 26, 1944 described the challenges faced as they moved into position and were attacked by 88 mm German guns. “…Enemy 88 mm lays direct fire on crossroads as Battalion embusses…..” There were no casualties at this point, but one vehicle was damaged. However, as they moved along the road onto the Beveland Causeway, the convoy was “…mortared as it proceeded…” resulting in a few non-fatal casualties. At 3 pm they were ordered to reverse direction towards the village of Yerseke.

….Gordon lost his life during the Battle of the Scheldt….

The Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada moved back from the Beveland Causeway towards Yerseke. (Map source: Google maps)

The War Diary for October 27, 1944 continued to document the struggles faced by the Battalion as they entered Yerseke and took up positions north of the village. The day was “…overcast, visibility poor, light mist, light rain….Battalion enters Yerseke at first light…” They were ordered to cross the canal at a “…small footbridge one company at a time…” The plan was for “…two companies to form bridgehead while two companies push out to take Wemeldinge…”

Things didn’t go according to plan. “…It was found impossible to cross footbridge due to mortars and one 88 mm gun….” At 6:30 pm, Plan B called for “…companies to take up positions along canal bank. Battalion will try crossing by assault boat at 2100 hours…”

While waiting for the assault boats, the men were hit by “…enemy mortars and shells….6 wounded, 2 killed…” The crossing by assault boats didn’t go well, as the 10:30 pm report in the War Diary recorded. “…Battalion attack across canal repulsed by enemy mortar and heavy machine gun fire. Two companies landed on island … All boats but one sunk, that one boat retired two companies to East bank under heavy fire…”

22 year old Gordon was among the fatalities that day, likely one of the two men killed while waiting for the assault boats to arrive.

….Gordon is buried in Bergen Op Zoom…

Grave of Charles ‘Gordon’ Erickson in the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom, The Netherlands with a Christmas Eve candle. (Photo courtesy of Caroline Raaijmakers)

Gordon was temporarily buried on October 31, 1944 in the cemetery in Sint-Maartensdijk, before being reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom, The Netherlands on September 5, 1945.

Gordon’s younger sister, Nancy Erickson Vincent, survived the war, had two sons, and lived in Espanola, Ontario until her death in 2014. His older sister, Hazel Francis Erickson Kerr, lived in St Thomas, Ontario, but had died by the time she was found by Nancy’s son Gordon Barker in 2006.

By then, Nancy had fallen ill with dementia. “….I didn’t tell her that I found her sister because her sister had already passed away by that time….” he said. “…With the dementia and everything going on, I didn’t want to cause her any more pain…”

Thank you to Shawn Rainville for newspaper searches, and to Judy Noon of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 39 in Espanola, Ontario for contacting Gordon Barker. A big thank you goes to Gordon Barker for providing photos and information, and to Kevin Rollason for writing a newspaper article highlighting the search for a photo.

Gordon Barker in Bogor, Indonesia. (Photo courtesy of Gordon Barker)

If you have photos or information to share about soldiers buried in The Netherlands or Belgium, please email him at memorialtrail@gmail.com, or comment on the blog.

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?…

If you are reading this posting, but aren’t following our research, you are welcome to do so. Our blog address: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter Valkenburg: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ591TyjSheOR-Cb_Gs_5Kw.

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On The War Memorial Trail…..Our 2025 Visit To The Canadian War Cemetery In Bergen Op Zoom

January 12, 2026 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 2 Comments

Entrance to the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom. Pieter can be seen in the distance carrying the bag of flags! (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

January 12, 2026. Readers of this blog are aware that Pieter has been involved in finding photos of Canadians who are buried in The Netherlands since 2014. Last spring we were in The Netherlands and Belgium for the 80th Anniversary of Liberation Commemoration events, and placed flags at the graves of 383 soldiers in 14 cemeteries.

….Flags placed at the graves of soldiers from 5 provinces…

After visiting a number of cemeteries in The Netherlands and Belgium during our 2025 European War Memorial Tour, we travelled back to The Netherlands to visit the last cemetery on our list – the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom.

Many Canadians who are buried here lost their lives during the Battle of the Scheldt. Others were reburied here from other cemeteries, while some, mostly airmen, had drowned and their bodies washed up.

There are 1,119 WWII Commonwealth burials, 968 of them Canadian. There are also 109 casualties from the United Kingdom, 6 from New Zealand, 5 from Australia, and 31 that are unidentified. Flags were placed by Pieter at 51 graves at this cemetery:

14 were from Nova Scotia
21 from New Brunswick
7 from Prince Edward Island
1 from Saskatchewan
8 from Ontario

9 of the graves also received an Acadian flag. All of the graves received a Canadian flag. Provincial flags were placed at all graves, with the exception of the soldier from Saskatchewan, for which, unfortunately, we did not receive flags.

.…This was our second visit to Bergen Op Zoom…

We’d first been to the cemetery in 2019. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2019/12/07/on-the-war-memorial-trail-our-2019-visit-to-the-canadian-war-cemetery-in-bergen-op-zoom/)

The cemetery was an hour’s drive from our hotel in Tilburg. In The Netherlands, no one talks kms, it’s all about the time it takes to get to a destination….and that varies depending on the time of day, if it’s a weekend or holiday, or a normal weekday. Distances aren’t far by North American standards, but traffic is so congested – and drivers so impatient and aggressive – that it can take an hour or longer to travel a distance that would take 10 or 15 minutes back home.

As always, when we are in a war cemetery, we write an entry in the visitors’ book. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Whenever we visit a war cemetery, we always make time to write in the visitors’ book, and this time I wrote that we were here to place flags at 51 graves.

….A surprise encounter led to one more grave receiving a Canadian flag…

While in the cemetery, we met a family from Calgary, Fred and Tasha Best, and their two children, who’d come to visit Fred’s great-uncle, Hans Karl GRAFFUNDER, a soldier from British Columbia who died on October 1, 1944, aged 23, while serving with the Calgary Highlanders.

Standing behind the grave of Hans Karl Graffunder, from left to right: Tasha, Samantha, Fred (the soldier’s great-nephew), and Nate Best of Calgary, Alberta. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Pieter contributed a Canadian flag to be placed by the grave. After Pieter explained about the search for photos of soldiers, they immediately emailed a photo of Hans Karl to us, which was then shared with Caroline Raaijmakers, Chair of Faces To Graves Bergen Op Zoom. If only it was that easy to get all the photos on the wish lists!

Fred Best explained that originally it was thought that his great-uncle was a German soldier, due to his surname, blond hair, and blue eyes, but once he was identified as Canadian, he was buried in Bergen Op Zoom.

….It took us 2 hours to place flags…

It was not as hot and humid as in previous days, and as the cemetery is smaller than the other two Canadian War Cemeteries in The Netherlands, we were finished in 2 hours, an amazing feat.

Pieter stands behind the grave of Albert James Lounsbury. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

When we visited the grave of WWII soldier Albert James LOUNSBURY, of Petitcodiac, New Brunswick, we brought a photo of him with us. Pieter placed the photo at the grave along with flags of Canada and New Brunswick. The photo was later given to Caroline Raaijmakers. While serving with the Black Watch of Canada, Albert lost his life on October 13, 1944, aged 36. His story will be coming up in a future posting.

Pieter stands behind the grave of Gregory Philip Anthony McCarthy. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

WWII soldier Gregory Philip Anthony MCCARTHY, born in Grand Falls, New Brunswick, was serving with the 10th Independent Machine Gun Company, New Brunswick Rangers when he killed in The Netherlands, aged 22, on January 19, 1945, when the company’s own mortar misfired and exploded. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/03/16/on-the-war-memorial-trail-atlantic-canada-remembers-part-8/)

Pieter stands behind the grave of Arnold Ernest ‘Ernie’ Thornton. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

WWII soldier Arnold Ernest ‘Ernie’ THORNTON, born in Amherst, Nova Scotia, was serving with the Calgary Highlanders when he killed in Belgium, eight days before his 23rd birthday, on September 22, 1944, during the Battle of the Scheldt. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/01/16/on-the-war-memorial-trail-atlantic-canada-remembers-part-3/)

….An invitation to lunch…

We finished placing flags a few minutes before we were scheduled to meet Caroline Raaijmakers and her husband Han. They invited us to their home for lunch, where we enjoyed a delicious bowl of white asparagus soup and sandwiches.

Caroline Raaijmakers, Daria, Pieter, and Han Raaijmakers. Pieter holds a plaque from the family of Alvah Leard, a soldier from Prince Edward Island. (Photo credit: Dorus Raaijmakers)

Caroline showed us some of the material left at graves by Canadian students visiting the cemetery a few weeks before us. They saved everything as otherwise it would have been discarded or ruined by rain. It was amazing! Some students had painted pictures to be placed by graves. Plaques, photos, letters to the deceased soldiers, pins, and little ceramic animals were also left.

All of the material will be saved for the upcoming Visitors Centre, located between the Canadian and British War Cemeteries, and which is scheduled to open in May 2026.

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

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

Alan Waddell, Constituent Assistant, on behalf of Heath MacDonald, MP for Malpeque, for the Canadian flags.
Matt MacFarlane, MLA for District 19, Borden-Kinkora, for the flags from Prince Edward Island.
Kyle Graham, Research Officer, Military Relations, Nova Scotia Intergovernmental Affairs, on behalf of Premier Tim Houston, Province of Nova Scotia, for the Nova Scotia flags.
Don Coutts on behalf of the Muttart and Coutts families in memory of Flight Sergeant Elmer Bagnall Muttart for the Ontario flags.
Jean-Claude D’Amours, MLA for Edmundston-Madawaska Centre, Minister responsible for Military Affairs, with the help of Cécile LePage, Province of New Brunswick, for the New Brunswick flags.
La Société acadienne de Clare at the request of Simone Comeau for the Acadian flags.

Thank you to Caroline and Han Raaijmakers for inviting us for lunch, and letting us see what the Canadian students had left at the graves they visited. Thank you also to the Best family for sending a photo of Hans Karl Graffunder.

We arrived back at our hotel after 4:30 pm, and enjoyed an early dinner and relaxing evening. More adventures awaited this droopy but dynamic duo as we continued with our 2025 European War Memorial Tour.

Meanwhile, long after our return home, the research work continues for Pieter. If you have photos or information to share about soldiers buried in The Netherlands or Belgium, please email him at memorialtrail@gmail.com, or comment on the blog.

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?…

If you are reading this posting, but aren’t following our research, you are welcome to do so. Our blog address: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/

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2025 Christmas Eve Candle Lighting At The Canadian War Cemetery In Bergen Op Zoom

January 10, 2026 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 2 Comments

January 10, 2026. For decades, it’s been a Christmas Eve tradition in Europe to light candles by the graves of Allied soldiers who are buried in War Cemeteries or in municipal cemeteries.

These candles are funded by various non-profit groups at each cemetery participating in the candle-lighting ceremony. In many of the cemeteries, children are active participants, placing candles at each grave.

This year, we include photos of the candlelit graves for 8 soldiers – that Pieter has researched and whose stories have been previously told – who are buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom, The Netherlands. This cemetery began the tradition of lighting candles on Christmas Eve in 1991, with candles placed by many volunteers.

The photos are courtesy of Faces To Graves Bergen Op Zoom Chair Caroline Raaijmakers, who arranged to send us photos of the graves of the soldiers we wanted to feature this year.

…8 graves from Bergen Op Zoom are featured….

Candles were placed at all 1,119 graves at the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom. 8 of them are featured in this posting….

Candle placed at the grave of James ‘Walter’ Auld. (Photo Courtesy of Caroline Raaijmakers)

WWII soldier James ‘Walter’ AULD, born in Glenwood, Prince Edward Island, was serving with the Algonquin Regiment when he killed in The Netherlands, aged 21, on November 1, 1944 during Operation Suitcase, one of the actions during the Battle of the Scheldt. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2020/07/07/on-the-war-memorial-trail-a-face-for-james-walter-auld/)

Candle placed at the grave of Edward ‘Ed’ Dalton Chisholm. (Photo Courtesy of Caroline Raaijmakers)

WWII soldier Edward ‘Ed’ Dalton CHISHOLM, from Hallowell Grant, Nova Scotia, was serving with the Algonquin Regiment when he was killed in action during the Battle for the North Shore of the Scheldt in Belgium on October 20, 1944. He was 19 years old, only two weeks away from his 20th birthday. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2024/07/24/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-soldier-from-hallowel-grant-who-lost-his-life-during-the-battle-for-the-north-shore-of-the-scheldt/)

We were pleased to see a photo of Ed and a few mementos at his grave, placed by his family during a visit. Last summer, Ed’s nephew Martin Sullivan wrote about an upcoming visit he and his wife Claire planned to make. “….I was very touched to see you have been awarded the Knight of the Order of the Orange Nassau. You both have given so much to so many families who lost loved ones overseas. Edward is now a part of our family conversations to all the Chisholms and Sullivans. I look forward to completing the second leg of our journey in late October to see where Edward gave his life fighting near Kruisstraat along with the Dutch Orange Brigade and the Belgian White Brigade. We will be thinking of you both as we travel along his route with the Algonquins from Antwerp to Bergen op Zoom….”

Candle placed at the grave of Adam Klein. (Photo Courtesy of Caroline Raaijmakers)

WWII soldier Adam KLEIN, from Disley, Saskatchewan, was serving with the Algonquin Regiment, when he died in The Netherlands while crossing the Maas River on January 18, 1945, aged 21. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/07/20/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-soldier-from-disley-who-lost-his-life-while-swimming-across-the-maas-river/)

Candle placed at the grave of Milton Evangeline Livingtone. (Photo Courtesy of Caroline Raaijmakers)

WWII soldier Milton Evangeline LIVINGSTONE, born in Gladstone, Prince Edward Island, was serving with the Lincoln & Welland Regiment when he was accidentally killed, aged 26, on November 6, 1944 when a fellow soldier’s gun was fired in a house in Steenbergen, The Netherlands. Milton was sitting at a kitchen table reading a Dutch-English dictionary when he was fatally shot. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/08/05/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-soldier-who-died-while-reading-a-dutch-english-dictionary/)

Candle placed at the grave of Harold Edward Roy Martin. (Photo Courtesy of Caroline Raaijmakers)

WWII soldier Harold Edward Roy MARTIN, born in Caradoc, Ontario, was serving with the Essex Scottish Regiment when he was killed in The Netherlands during the Battle of the Scheldt on October 14, 1944, aged 32. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/02/11/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-soldier-remembered-by-his-daughters-friend/)

Candle placed at the grave of Leonard William Porter. (Photo Courtesy of Caroline Raaijmakers)

WWII soldier Leonard William PORTER from Moncton, New Brunswick, was serving with the Calgary Highlanders when he was killed in action during the Battle of Walcheren Causeway in The Netherlands on November 1, 1944, aged 26. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/11/20/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-soldier-from-moncton-who-lost-his-life-during-the-battle-of-walcheren-causeway/)

Candle placed at the grave of Russell Richard Soble. (Photo Courtesy of Caroline Raaijmakers)

WWII soldier Russell Richard SOBLE, born in Ameliasburg, Ontario, was serving with the Essex Scottish Regiment when he died on October 6, 1944, aged 20, one of 12 members of the regiment killed in action in Putte, a town on the Dutch-Belgian border, in a fight on October 5, 1944 that marked the beginning of the Battle of the Scheldt. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/01/13/on-the-war-memorial-trail-atlantic-canada-remembers-part-2/)

Candle placed at the grave of William Ernest Stone. (Photo Courtesy of Caroline Raaijmakers)

WWII soldier William Ernest STONE, from Clyde River, Prince Edward Island, was serving with the Black Watch of Canada, when he was killed during a fierce battle during the Attack On Hoogerheide in The Netherlands on October 10, 1944, at the age of 25. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2024/10/12/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-soldier-from-clyde-river-who-lost-his-life-during-the-attack-on-hoogerheide/)

Thank you to Caroline Raaijmakers for arranging to send us these photos from the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom, The Netherlands.

If you have a story or photo to share about Canadian military personnel buried in The Netherlands or Belgium, please contact Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com or comment on the blog.

© Daria Valkenburg

…Previous postings about Christmas Eve Candle Lighting…

…Want to follow our research?….

If you are reading this posting, but aren’t following our research, you are welcome to do so. Our blog address: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/

4 countries, 6 weeks, 7,000 km – an unforgettable war memorial journey in Europe…. Daria’s book ‘No Soldier Buried Overseas Should Ever Be Forgotten‘ is available in print and e-book formats. Net proceeds of book sales help support research costs and the cost of maintaining this blog. For more information see https://nosoldierforgotten.com/

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Happy Holidays From The Valkenburgs – And Our Year In Review!

December 24, 2025 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 2 Comments

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 Files page 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….

On October 8, 2025 a statement about Pieter was made by Senator Mary Robinson in the Senate of Canada: See https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2025/sen/Y3-451-23-eng.pdf page 763

… Statement about us in the PEI Legislature….

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/)

…Daria Honoured 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.

The plaque was presented by the Honourable Barb Ramsay, Minister for the Department of Social Development and Seniors, and Peter Holman, Chairperson, PEI Seniors Secretariat, in a ceremony at the Rodd Charlottetown Hotel in Charlottetown. (See https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/news/older-islanders-celebrated-with-senior-islander-of-the-year-award and https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/10/23/daria-honoured-with-pei-senior-islander-of-the-year-award/)

…. 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.

Pieter received his knighthood in recognition of the military research he’s done (and continues to do) to help ensure that Canadian soldiers buried in The Netherlands are not forgotten, and that their stories are told. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/08/11/pieter-valkenburg-appointed-knight-of-the-order-of-orange-nassau/ and https://www.saltwire.com/prince-edward-island/pieter-valkenburg-of-p-e-i-appointed-knight-of-the-order-of-orange-nassau and https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-30-island-morning/clip/16162199-islander-knighted-king-netherlands)

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’….

On May 24, 2025, Pieter and Daria were presented with a Certificate and a Faces To Graves ‘coin’ by Alice van Bekkum, Chair of Faces To Graves Groesbeek Foundation, for their research into Canadian soldiers buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands, finding families and sharing photos of over 100 of the soldiers. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/05/30/on-the-war-memorial-trail-pieter-and-daria-honoured-by-faces-to-graves-groesbeek-foundation/)

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:

Cape Traverse Community Cemetery (3 CWGC graves)
Tryon People’s Cemetery (2 CWGC graves)
Kelly’s Cross (St Joseph) Parish Cemetery (1 CWGC grave)
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)

On November 9, 2025, Pieter was the guest speaker at the Annual Remembrance Service at Crapaud Community Hall in Crapaud, Prince Edward Island. After being introduced by The Honourable Mary Robinson, Senator, Pieter spoke about what Remembrance Day means to him, and based his speech around 5 words: Gratitude… Sorrow ….Thankfulness…. Respect….. and Admiration… (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/11/12/on-the-war-memorial-trail-remembrance-week-2025-remembrance-service-at-crapaud-community-hall/)

…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 ……

Pieter continued the project he began in the fall of 2023, to upload photos to the Canadian Virtual War Memorial website. For more information on this excellent resource, see https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/

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 Passchendaele in 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 did the following interviews:

Pieter was interviewed by Maryssa McFadden of Portage Online, about the photo search for WWII soldier Walter MUNRO. The article ‘Researcher searches for photo of Manitoba soldier buried overseas’ ran online on November 17, 2025. See https://portageonline.com/articles/researcher-searches-for-photo-of-manitoba-soldier-buried-overseas Up to now, this search has been unsuccessful.
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 Lyman CAMERON, 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 7^th Canadian Infantry Battalion (1^st British Columbia). (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
Leigh Hunt CAMERON, 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 105^th 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 3^rd 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 8^th 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 Elwood LESLIE, 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 25^th 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 Clinton ROBINSON, 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 for the 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!
Harry ROBINSON, 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 105^th 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, West Prince 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/

….Happy Holidays…

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.

…Want to follow our research?…

If you are reading this posting, but aren’t following our research, you are welcome to do so. Our blog address: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/

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On The War Memorial Trail…..Remembrance Week 2025 – The WWII Nursing Orderly Killed When 3 Tracked Vehicles Exploded Near A Field Dressing Station On Walcheren Island

December 4, 2025January 15, 2026 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 2 Comments

December 4, 2025. One of the hardest searches for a photo took several years, and, in spite of dedicated help in looking for family members to contact, newspaper and archive searches, and even a November 10, 2023 article in the Winnipeg Free Press (see a Picture of compassion Winnipeg Free Press Article re John Lewis Hughes Nov 10 2023), we struck out each time.

It was difficult to understand as the soldier in question came from a large family, was married, and had worked for 12 years in a hospital in his hometown. Only one niece responded, saying she remembered that her mother, the soldier’s sister, had a photo, but after she passed away, her effects were put in the basement and were later destroyed in a flood. We had zero luck with the family of the soldier’s wife, who had remarried. There was also no response from the local Legion branch, nor from the hospital where he had worked.

Eventually we ran out of leads to contact, and so, although we never gave up the search, we reluctantly put John Lewis HUGHES on our Cold Case List. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/our-cold-cases/)

…. The Winnipeg Free Press article caught the interest of a local historian…...

Shortly after the Winnipeg Free Press article was published, we had been contacted by local historian Judy Gleich. “…This project is of great interest to me...” she wrote. Her husband is from Eriksdale and “…I was born at E.M. Crowe Memorial Hospital and lived most of my life in the Lundar MB area…” She explained that, unlike many small communities, “…there was no local paper in Eriksdale at that time….” and so there was no local coverage of soldiers from the area. Like us, she also contacted someone she knew at the local Legion but no photo was found.

Judy also told us that “…E.M. Crowe hospital is no longer run locally – but is under the umbrella of the Interlake Eastern Regional Health Authority…which covers about 1/5 of the province….”

Judy explained why she was interested to help find a photo. “…When I read the first article by Kevin Rollason and saw that one of the photos Pieter was looking for was of a veteran from Eriksdale– I was interested although I was not familiar with the Hughes family. I made a couple of phone calls and asked a couple of friends and came up with nothing.….” (NOTE: A short photo appeal had initially been made in the Winnipeg Free Press in November 2022.)

“….After the second article by Kevin Rollason appeared in the Winnipeg Free Press with more information about the Hughes family it piqued my interest again. I figured if someone like Pieter was putting that much effort into this project that I would try to help him….”

…. The photo search led to a hockey photo 2 years after the Winnipeg Free Press article was published…...

Like us, Judy found that “…most of the older Hughes family members had passed on and we were getting nowhere with their families….”

Then, two years later, Judy learned about a 1936 hockey photo. “… Knowing several of the men on the team I was sure that some of their family members might have the photo…. A few more phone calls and BINGO – success at last….” It was nothing short of a miracle!

The man with the photo of the 1936 Eriksdale Hockey Team was John Forsyth, whose father Jim was a member of the team.

Back Row L-R: Johnnie Mills, Bill Smith, Gordon Smith, Stan Mills, Johnnie Forsyth, Lawrence Whitney. Front Row L-R: Don Goodridge(?), Johnnie Hughes, Murray Cox, Jim Forsyth. (Photo courtesy of the Collection of Jim and Kay Forsyth)

We now knew what John Lewis Hughes looked like! (Photo courtesy of the Collection of Jim and Kay Forsyth)

….John was from Eriksdale in Manitoba…

Eriksdale is in the Interlake Region of central Manitoba, near the eastern shore of Lake Manitoba. (Map source: Google maps)

Born January 17, 1916 in Eriksdale, Manitoba, John was the son of Ebenezer George and Ellen (nee Rogan, previously married name Johanson) Hughes. Both parents came from the United Kingdom – his father in 1911 and his mother in 1914 with two daughters who had been born in Wales. 6 more children were added to the Hughes family, in addition to John – 3 daughters and 3 sons.

Before enlisting with the No. 3 Field Ambulance of the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps (RCAMC) on July 5, 1940, John had worked for 12 years as a medical orderly in the E.M. Crowe memorial hospital in Eriksdale. On June 22, 1940, a few weeks before enlistment, he married Irene Goodwin.

On October 5, 1940, John was transferred to No. 100 Canadian Militia Training Centre (CMTC) in Portage La Prairie, Manitoba. He was then assigned to No. 100 Non-Permanent Active Militia (NPAM) Training Centre on November 15, 1940, while still attached to No. 100 CMTC. (No. 100 CMTC and No. 100 NPAM were re-designated as No. 100 Canadian Army (Basic) Training Centre in February 1941.)

John remained in Portage La Prairie until April 30, 1941, when he was transferred to what the service file termed Fort Osborne Military Hospital, RCAMC, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. This was likely Deer Lodge Military Hospital, as during WWII, Winnipeg’s military hospital function was not at Fort Osborne Barracks, which had moved in 1920. Deer Lodge Military Hospital took over the former hospital facilities from Fort Osborne at that time.

….John left Canada for overseas service….

On June 8, 1941, John was transferred to No. 1 Motor Ambulance Convoy, RCAMC, Active Force, and sent to Camp Shilo, Manitoba for final training before going overseas.

With other members of his unit, John left Canada for the United Kingdom on June 19, 1941, sailing from Halifax, Nova Scotia, disembarking in Greenock, Scotland on July 2, 1941, before moving on to Sussex, England.

Per the ‘Official History Of The Canadian Medical Services 1939-1945’, edited by Lt Col Dr W. R. Feasby, the RCAMC “…..order of battle included not only the medical units of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Divisions, and the 1st Army Tank Brigade, but also the following Corps Troops medical units: No. 18 Field Ambulance, No. 5 Field Hygiene Section, Nos. 4 and 5 Casualty Clearing Stations, No. 1 Motor Ambulance Convoy, and No. 1 Advanced Depot Medical Stores….”

The function of No. 1 Motor Ambulance Convoy was to transport wounded from main dressing stations to casualty clearing stations. Transport was by vehicles of the Motor Ambulance Convoy, supplemented by trucks for walking wounded or by railroad when available.

John and his unit were kept busy with training and in transporting wounded soldiers who arrived in the United Kingdom for treatment.

One of the largest operations came following the Dieppe Raid, known as Operation Jubilee, on August 19, 1942, a disastrous Allied amphibious attack on the German-occupied port of Dieppe in northern France, in which 505 Canadian soldiers were wounded and 916 lost their lives. (See https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/military-history/second-world-war/dieppe-raid and https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/dieppe-raid)

Evacuation of casualties from Dieppe to England on August 19, 1942. (Map source: ‘Official History Of The Canadian Medical Services 1939-1945’)

On the morning of August 19, 1942, the medical units under the 2nd Canadian Division were “… responsible for the reception and evacuation of casualties disembarked in the Portsmouth area, where the bulk of them was expected. Two sections of No. 1 Motor Ambulance Convoy were made available … for the transport of casualties from the Portsmouth area to No. 15 General Hospital at Bramshott, and from the Newhaven-Shoreham area to No. 1 at Horsham and No. 14 at Horley…”

On January 14, 1943, No. 1 Motor Ambulance Convoy, RCAMC, became a unit of the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps (RCASC).

….John was transferred to No. 10 Canadian Field Dressing Station….

On January 21, 1944, John was transferred to No. 10 Canadian Field Dressing Station, and later sent to France, arriving on July 10, 1944, a month after D-Day. As noted in the ‘Official History Of The Canadian Medical Services 1939-1945’ “…with the formation of the 2nd Canadian Corps in France, the medical services were greatly increased. For the coming attack it was decided to constitute a massed medical centre at the Secqueville-en-Bessin area. In addition, No. 6 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station was located at Cazelle, under command of 2nd Canadian Corps, with No. 10 Canadian Field Dressing Station sited alongside….”

The ‘coming attack’ referred to the Battle of the Falaise Pocket (also called Battle of the Falaise Gap), part of the Battle of Normandy, and which was fought between August 12 and 21, 1944. (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falaise_pocket)

In addition to a large number of battle casualties from engagement with German troops, a bombing error on August 14, 1944 resulted in more casualties when “… the Royal Air Force and the Royal Canadian Air Force bombed behind our own lines, causing 200 casualties…” placing enormous strain on Casualty Clearing Stations. “…The bombing casualties arrived in a sudden rush about four o’clock….” making it impossible to find “…shelter for all the wounded…”

In addition to 537 admitted to the Casualty Clearing Stations, “….Nos. 9 and 10 Canadian Field Dressing Stations in the same area admitted 569 and were so rushed that it was necessary to open both No. 6 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station and No. 33 British Casualty Clearing Station at Cazelle where a further 694 casualties were taken for treatment….”

No. 10 Canadian Field Dressing Station, along with other medical units, moved just behind troops as they advanced through France, into Belgium, and then into The Netherlands. John was very experienced by now and on September 11, 1944, he qualified as a Nursing Orderly ‘C’, which meant he was responsible for initial treatment in the most forward battlefield areas and stretcher-bearing, while working under the direction of medical officers.

…. John’s unit was assigned to British Commandos for an attack on Walcheren Island during the Battle of the Scheldt…...

John Lewis Hughes was killed on Walcheren Island (top left), near Westkappelle, on November 2, 1944. (Map source: ‘Official History Of The Canadian Medical Services 1939-1945’)

On October 21, 1944, a number of Canadian medical units were “…put under command of the 4th Special Service Brigade….” of the Royal Marines (United Kingdom) “…for training to support the amphibious operation of the brigade….” No. 17 Light Field Ambulance Company, Nos. 8 and 9 Canadian Field Surgical Units, No. 5 Canadian Field Transfusion Unit, and No. 10 Canadian Field Dressing Station were involved.

Operation Infatuate, part of the Battle of the Scheldt, was the codename for the attack on German batteries on Walcheren Island in The Netherlands, located at the mouth of the Scheldt River. German fortification of the island blocked Allied access to the captured port of Antwerp, Belgium. The Belgian port was crucial in order to supply advancing Allied armies as they moved towards Berlin.

“…Training for the operation against Walcheren continued until the end of October when units embarked at Ostend and began to move towards their objective. At three o’clock on the morning of 1 November the flotilla of landing craft sailed out of Ostend harbour….” Ostend is in Belgium.

“…Just before dawn, they met their supporting warships, turned and bore down on Westkapelle. The assault was to be made in daylight on either side of a gap blown in the Westkapelle dyke, and just before “H” hour (9.45 a.m.) the guns of Warspite, Roberts, and Erebus opened up and flights of rocket-firing Typhoon aircraft went to work on the shore batteries….”

In ‘Towards Victory In Europe: The Battle For Walcheren’, J. O. Forfar, Medical Officer, 47 Marine Commando, explained that “…Commander Pugsley and Brigadier Leicester had been informed on leaving Ostend that due to fog in England the Lancaster bombers which were to carry out a preliminary bombardment of the Walcheren defences while the assaulting craft moved in were grounded…”

The two men decided to go ahead with the operation, which resulted in high casualties, but the Battle for Walcheren was ultimately successful. “…The Germans had sown sea mines in the approaches to the island; the beaches were laced with barbed wire, landmines, and covered by machine guns firing from cement pill boxes. Five minutes before they were due to touch down the two landing craft which had been prepared as hospital ships were sunk by mines. Immediately after this the assault began…” with shelling from cannons at the battery in Dishoek.

“…One section of No. 17 Canadian Light Field Ambulance landed with No. 41 Commando on the left of Westkapelle gap and another section with No. 48 Commando on the right of Westkapelle gap. Of the 25 close support naval craft engaged in the operation only six were left by mid-afternoon, and 172 of those on board had been killed and 210 wounded. Casualties among those who got ashore in the face of stiff enemy resistance were heavy….” The medical teams had to work in close proximity of the fighting.

…. No. 10 Field Dressing Station set up on the beach on the afternoon of November 1, 1944…...

Beach dressing station of No. 10 Field Dressing Station being set up by personnel of No. 10 Field Dressing Station at Westkapelle. (Photo source: Provincial Archives of Alberta, Donald Carson fonds, PR2011.0001/14)

“…Casualties on the left of the gap were given first aid and collected into a shell hole on the edge of the dyke until Westkapelle was clear, when they were moved into a house in the village. On the other side of the gap the casualty collecting post was set up on the inside of the sea wall, and casualties were held until No. 10 Canadian Field Dressing Station came ashore at 2 pm and set up a beach dressing station….”

Most of those wounded on November 1, 1944 were taken off the Island during the night and returned to No. 6 Canadian Field Dressing Station at Ostend. Meanwhile the medical teams prepared for the next day.

…. John was killed in the afternoon of November 2, 1944 …...

No. 8 Canadian Field Surgical Unit, a medical operation team of around 10 people, was attached to No. 10 Field Dressing Station, and was the field hospital located behind the No. 10 Field Dressing Station.

The November 2, 1944 War Diary entry for No. 8 Canadian Field Surgical Unit relates what happened when they came ashore with landing tracked vehicles, which the diary writer referred to as Alligators. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landing_Vehicle,_Tracked) “…The morning of November 2nd dawned bright and clear….About 0900 the Alligators moved to the beach and there we met the rest of our unit. I was relieved to find in spite of many harrowing experiences they were all quite safe. We off loaded the vehicles onto the beach….The beach head was under intermittent fire but the greatest worry we had was mines…”

Tragedy struck in the early afternoon. “…A salvo of shells hit 3 Alligators in front of the dugout and the Alligators caught on fire. Each Alligator had 7 tons of ammunition on board and this all exploded during the next ¾ of an hour. About 20 men were killed, including the Quartermaster and one Other Rank of No. 10 FDS….” The ‘Other Rank of No. 10 FDS’ was John Lewis Hughes.

Caroline Raaijmakers, Chair of the Faces To Graves Bergen Op Zoom Committee, told us that “….on the same spot….” where John was killed, “…Doctor Captain Frank Sidney Manktelow was Wounded In Action on 2-11-1944 and he died on 3-11-1944…..”

Dr. Frank Sidney MANKTELOW, of Pointe aux Trembles, Quebec, son of Frederick Sidney and Mary Jane (nee MacKay) Manktelow, and husband of Laura Francise (nee Quinn) Manktelow, was serving with the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps when he died, at the age of 30.

Both men were initially buried in a temporary cemetery in Zoutelande on Walcheren Island.

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

Pieter stands behind the grave of John Lewis Hughes in Holten, The Netherlands. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

On September 9, 1946, John was reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands. We visited his grave this spring when we were in The Netherlands for our 2025 European Memorial Tour, and Pieter placed flags of Canada and Manitoba by his grave. His was one of 383 graves in 14 cemeteries that we visited on this trip.

….Hughes Hill in northern Manitoba named in John’s honour…..

Hughes Hill in northern Manitoba was named after John ‘Jack’ Lewis Hughes. (Map source: Mapcarta)

Hughes Hill in northern Manitoba, northeast of Wither Lake, was named after him in 1995.

….A great deal of research happened before a photo was found…

Many people assume that it’s easy to find family and photos of soldiers who are buried overseas. Unless you are lucky enough to stumble across someone else’s research, or a media appeal is seen by the right person with a photo, it can be an onerous and long drawn out process.

The search for a photo of John Lewis Hughes took several years. Thank you to Judie Klassen for going above and beyond to find family and reference material, to Shawn Rainville for newspaper searches, and to Judy Gleich for continually contacting people from Eriksdale. Thank you to Robert Catsburg for sending the war diary entry for November 2, 1944 and to both Robert Catsburg and Caroline Raaijmakers for excerpts from Dutch accounts.

Thank you to John Forsyth for the hockey photo that included a photo of John. And a big thank you to Kevin Rollason of the Winnipeg Free Press for writing the article about the photo search.

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

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

The work of remembrance of those who served continues as do our adventures on the next leg 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.

….Want to follow our research?…

If you are reading this posting, but aren’t following our research, you are welcome to do so. Our blog address: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter Valkenburg: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ591TyjSheOR-Cb_Gs_5Kw.

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On The War Memorial Trail…..Remembrance Week 2025 – The WWII Soldier From Amherst Whose Photo Was Sent A Few Days Before What Would Have Been His 103rd Birthday

November 21, 2025November 30, 2025 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 2 Comments

November 21, 2025. Once in a while, serendipity smiles on Pieter in his quest to find photos of soldiers. During Remembrance Week he twice received photos of soldiers as a result of him trying to help the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands to find photos of a few soldiers for which research had already been done, but no photo could be found. The first photo was for Peter HYDICHUK of Theodore, Saskatchewan. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/11/15/on-the-war-memorial-trail-remembrance-week-2025-the-wwii-soldier-who-was-never-forgotten-by-his-girlfriend-and-her-family/)

On Remembrance Day, Pieter received a photo of Garnet Joseph GALLANT of Amherst, Nova Scotia….just a few days before what would have been Garnet’s 103rd birthday! (You can read Jim Little’s story about Garnet here: https://www.facestograves.nl/LifeStories/GALLANT%20Garnet%20Joseph-JLE-bio-EN.pdf)

Born November 15, 1922, Garnet was the son of Charles and Mary (nee Gothreau) Gallant, of Amherst, Nova Scotia. While serving with the Regina Rifle Regiment, he lost his life on February 18, 1945, aged 22, during the Battle of Moyland Wood in Germany. (See https://legionmagazine.com/clearing-moyland-wood/)

Map shows location of Amherst, Nova Scotia. (Map source: Google maps)

Pieter had decided to look for a photo of Garnet after seeing that he was from Amherst, Nova Scotia, which is just over the Northumberland Strait from us, about a 45 minute drive from our house.

….The photo search led to a nephew who loved horses….

He quickly found a nephew, Daniel ‘Garnet’ Gallant, the son of Garnet’s brother Clifford, who had an interest in genealogy. Unfortunately, he’d passed away in August 2024 – just a few weeks before Pieter began his investigation.

Daniel ‘Garnet’ Gallant visited his uncle’s grave in 1994. (Photo courtesy of the Janet Lowerison)

A keen horseman, the soldier’s nephew Garnet had represented Canada at the World Equestrian Games in The Netherlands in 1994, and had visited his uncle’s grave during that trip.

In Garnet’s obituary, Pieter read that a memorial trail ride to honour Garnet’s life was planned at Waugh River Stables in Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia on October 27, 2024. Surely one of the family members in attendance would know of a photo, he thought, and contacted the owner of the stable, asking if a message could be left for family members. The owner agreed.

A few days later, Pieter received a phone call from Garnet’s sister, Janet Lowerison, who explained that she was “….trying to track the pic down of Uncle Garnet….” She confirmed that her “….brother Garnet had it…” but she wasn’t sure what happened to his albums. She explained that she lives in Alberta, and “…. unfortunately we did not get home for the celebration of life as my husband was sick….”

Not long afterwards, Janet informed Pieter that Garnet’s son threw out all of his father’s albums after he died, but other family members were looking for a photo.

We heard nothing more and so, as a last resort, Garnet Joseph Gallant went on our Cold Case List. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/our-cold-cases/)

….A Remembrance Day surprise….

Garnet Joseph Gallant. (Photo courtesy of the Gallant Family. Photo colourization by Pieter Valkenburg)

Then, on Remembrance Day 2025, Janet sent a photo! “….I was so happy when my nephew found this. And the work you do is amazing. But thank you again for all you do !!!…”

Janet included a copy of the original photo, in which Garnet was one of 4 people. Unfortunately, no one could identify who the other man and the two women were.

Group photo. Garnet Joseph Gallant is on the top right. (Photo courtesy of the Gallant Family)

….Captain Sunstrum wrote a letter to Garnet’s parents….

The Regina Rifle Regiment had left The Netherlands for Germany on February 8, 1945, as part of Operation Veritable, part of a pincer movement to cut into Germany in order for Allied troops to advance towards Berlin. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Veritable)

The Regiment had moved into Kleve, Germany on armoured personnel carriers. As of February 16, 1945, they began clearing the Moyland Wood of German troops, encountering fierce resistance.

On February 18, 1945, Garnet lost his life. Captain Kenneth A. J. SUNSTRUM of the Regina Rifle Regiment wrote to Garnet’s parents, explaining the circumstances of his death….

“….You will by now have received the sad news of Garnet’s death. He was evacuated after an action on 18th February in which the carrier of which he was a crew member struck a German mine. Garnet was severely wounded and considerably shaken up as the blast had instantly killed the other members of his crew.

He was immediately evacuated out of our unit area to where facilities were available for better medical attention under quieter conditions. We knew his condition was critical, but the news of his death came as no less a shock to every member of our platoon….”

Captain Sunstrum wrote that Garnet had been buried “…with full rites of the Roman Catholic Church…” and then went on to say that “… as an efficient soldier and comrade he is and will continue to be greatly missed.

Though only in his very early twenties he was in many respects one of our most experienced veterans, as since joining our unit on 11 June he has been in on every action of which our carrier platoon took part. He never failed to acquit himself in every way as a good and true soldier….”

….Garnet was originally buried in Kleve, Germany…..

We travelled through Kleve, Germany during our 2025 European War Memorial Tour. (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

Garnet was originally buried “….by the side of the road…” in Kleve, according to his service file. We were in Kleve this spring as part of our 2025 European War Memorial Tour, following the route so many Canadian soldiers had taken in 1945.

….Garnet was reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek….

Pieter stands behind the grave of Garnet Joseph Gallant in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

On February 21, 1946, Garnet was reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek. We visited his grave this spring when we were in The Netherlands for our 2025 European Memorial Tour, and Pieter placed flags of Canada and Nova Scotia, plus an Acadian flag, by his grave. His was one of 383 graves in 14 cemeteries that we visited on this trip.

…..Stories of soldiers who lost their lives during the Battle of Moyland Wood….

Thomas ‘Tom’ Alfred BROWN: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2024/01/25/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-successful-search-for-a-photo-of-wwii-soldier-thomas-alfred-brown-left-us-with-a-mystery/
Norman Victor Holgate BUCHANAN: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/11/08/on-the-war-memorial-trail-a-monument-in-st-claude-led-to-a-photo-of-a-wwii-soldier/
Donald Roy CARTER: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2024/06/09/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-soldier-from-central-blissville-killed-along-the-goch-calcar-road/
Alfred Louis PITAWANAKWAT (PITWANAKWAT): https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/09/06/on-the-war-memorial-trail-remembering-ww2-soldier-alfred-louis-pitawanakwat-pitwanakwat/

Thank you to Janet Lowerison for finding a photo of her uncle, Garnet Joseph Gallant. If anyone recognizes the other people in the group photo that includes Garnet, please let us know.

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

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

The work of remembrance of those who served continues. One more Remembrance Week story to come…

If you have a story or photo to share, please contact Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com or comment on the blog.

….Want to follow our research?…

If you are reading this posting, but aren’t following our research, you are welcome to do so. Our blog address: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter Valkenburg: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ591TyjSheOR-Cb_Gs_5Kw.

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….Alfred worked as a waiter and butler…

….Alfred was drafted one country and enlisted in another….

….Alfred was trained as a Signalman….

….Alfred left Canada for overseas service….

….Alfred and his unit were sent to France in August 1944…

….Alfred died of injuries from a vehicle accident…

….Alfred is buried in Groesbeek….

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….Albert first enlisted in December 1940…

….Albert was sent for artillery training…

….Albert left Canada for overseas service ….

….Albert lost his life during Operation Suitcase…

….Albert is buried in Bergen Op Zoom…

….Albert is commemorated on the Fredericton War Memorial…

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….The search for family of William Owen Seldon was successful…

….William enlisted in 1942…

….William served in Newfoundland…

….William briefly returned to Canada before travelling overseas…

….William left Canada for overseas service …

….William was attached to the Essex Scottish Regiment for an attack on the Goch-Calcar Road …

….Heavy fighting along the Goch-Calcar Road proved deadly….

….William is buried in Groesbeek…

….We met William’s family when we visited Caledonia…

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….Why was the Battle of the Scheldt so important?…

….The Freedom Museum Zeeland focuses on the Battle of the Scheldt…

….We saw military equipment that had been featured in many of our stories…

….We were able to drive across a Bailey bridge…

….The chapel featured the story of Jean-Maurice Dicaire….

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….Gordon and his sister Nancy ended up in the care of the Children’s Aid Society…

…. Gordon lied about his age upon enlistment…

….Gordon left Canada for overseas service…

….Gordon was transferred to the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada…

….Gordon was wounded during the Dieppe Raid…

…. Nancy’s son Gordon had a photo of his uncle…

….Gordon was very highly regarded…

….Gordon and the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada arrived in France in July 1944….

….Gordon was injured during the Battle of Saint André-sur-Orne….

….The Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada were involved in the Battle of the Scheldt….

….Gordon lost his life during the Battle of the Scheldt….

….Gordon is buried in Bergen Op Zoom…

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….Flags placed at the graves of soldiers from 5 provinces…

.…This was our second visit to Bergen Op Zoom…

….A surprise encounter led to one more grave receiving a Canadian flag…

….It took us 2 hours to place flags…

….An invitation to lunch…

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

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…8 graves from Bergen Op Zoom are featured….

…Previous postings about Christmas Eve Candle Lighting…

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… Statement about Pieter in the Senate of Canada….

… Statement about us in the PEI Legislature….

…Daria Honoured With PEI Senior Islander of the Year Award….

…. Pieter Appointed Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau….

….Pieter and Daria Honoured With Faces To Graves Groesbeek Foundation Certificate and ‘Coin’….

….‘Holten Heroes: Stories from a Canadian Field of Honour’ Added To PEI Library Catalogue….

.....Pieter now a volunteer under CWGC’s National Volunteer Program….

…Presentation At The Annual Remembrance Service At Crapaud Community Hall….

…Presentation At The Annual Remembrance Service At Borden-Carleton Legion….

…. Uploading photos to the Canadian Virtual War Memorial website ……

…. Soldiers Listed On The Cenotaph Outside Borden-Carleton Legion …….

… WWII Related Stories….

…. Stories About Servicemen From The Maritimes…

…. Stories About Servicemen From Outside The Maritimes…

…In Conversation And Features…

…. Interviews To Highlight Search For Photos and More….

.... Letters To The Editor For Photo Searches….

… Successful Search For Photos …..

… The Cold Case Files …..