On The War Memorial Trail….. The Battle of Bienen – Part 2: The WWII Battle Drill Instructor From O’Leary

March 7, 2023September 2, 2023 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

March 7, 2023. After Alice van Bekkum, Chair of the Groesbeek Cemetery Faces To Graves Foundation, sent Pieter a list of 39 soldiers from the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment who were killed during the Battle of Bienen in Germany on March 25, 1945, we realized that we had attended a graveside commemoration at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands in 2017 for two soldiers from this list: Ralph Schurman BOULTER and Edison Alexander SMITH, both from Prince Edward Island.

CIMG9004 Sep 15 2017 sign giving directions to Groesbeek Cemetery

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

….The 2017 Commemoration at Groesbeek…..

On September 15, 2017, we were invited by Alice van Bekkum to be present when Nova Scotia resident Harriet Jenereux, the daughter of Smith, came to visit her father’s grave plus the grave of Boulter, her mother’s brother. We accepted the invitation and made sure we placed flags at the graves of both men, as well as on the graves of several men who were on our list. (See the original posting at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2017/12/25/on-the-war-memorial-trail-at-the-canadian-war-cemetery-in-groesbeek/)

CIMG8944 Sep 15 2017 Groesbeek cemetery grave of Ralph Schurman Boulter

Grave of Ralph Schurman Boulter at Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

….Ralph enlisted with the PEI Highlanders in 1940…..

A Christmas baby, Ralph Schurman BOULTER was born December 25, 1917 in O’Leary, Prince Edward Island, the son of Mcneil ‘Neil’ Amos and Ella May (nee Schurman) Boulter. When he enlisted with the PEI Highlanders in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island on July 10, 1940, he stated he was born in 1917.

However, upon his death, his mother stated he was born in 1918 in the Estate Form. This would be incorrect, as when Ralph married Mary Catherine MacEachern in Armdale, Nova Scotia on February 7, 1942, he was 24 years old – consistent with a birth year of 1917.

Ralph Schurman Boulter. (Photo courtesy of Canadian Virtual War Memorial)

After enlisting, Ralph remained with the PEI Highlanders for basic training, before being transferred to No. 6 Depot in Halifax, Nova Scotia on October 15, 1941.

He applied for permission to marry, which was granted. Unfortunately, the couple didn’t have a long time together, as Ralph was sent overseas two months later, leaving Halifax on April 9, 1942 and arriving in the United Kingdom on April 19, 1942.

….Ralph was a Battle Drill instructor in the UK…..

Upon arrival in the United Kingdom he was allocated to the Cape Breton Highlanders for a week, before transferring to No. 5 Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit (CIRU) Armoured Division.

Ralph at No. 5 (Battle) Wing Canadian Training School in the UK. ((Photo courtesy of Canadian Virtual War Memorial)

On May 1, 1942 he was seconded as a Battle Drill instructor to No. 5 (Battle) Wing Canadian Training School at Rowland’s Castle, Hampshire, England, which trained Canadian soldiers in Battle Drill, a course which taught men how to react when coming under enemy fire.

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.

Unidentified infantrymen taking part in a training exercise, No.5 (Battle) Wing, Canadian Training School (Canadian Army Training Centres and Schools), Rowland’s Castle, England, 8 June 1943. (Photo source: Library and Archives Canada/Department of National Defence fonds/a132776)

Ralph remained there until November 9, 1944, when he was transferred to No. 3 Canadian Infantry Training Regiment (CITR).

….Ralph went from Battle Drill instructor to actual combat…..

He left the United Kingdom for Northwest Europe on December 31, 1944, arriving the following day. On February 13, 1945 he was transferred to the North Nova Scotia Highlanders, joining the Regiment in Germany, where he would have been reunited with his brother-in-law, Edison Alexander Smith.

On February 12, the Regiment had reached Kellen, Germany near Kleve, just on the other side of the border with The Netherlands. On February 14, using amphibious vehicles, the North Novies evacuated Warbergen as they made their way to Emmerich.

Next, the Regiment participated in Operation Blockbuster. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Blockbuster).

On March 6, 1945, Ralph received a promotion to Lance Corporal. Meanwhile, the Regiment prepared for Operation Plunder, which began March 21, 1945 and ended April 1, 1945, and involved the crossing of the Rhine River to the north of the Ruhr industrial region in western Germany. With aerial and military support, this took place on the night of March 23, 1945 near Rees, a town situated on the right bank of the Rhine River, approximately 20 km (12.4 miles) east of Kleve. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Plunder)

…Ralph lost his life in the Battle of Bienen ….

On the next afternoon, March 24, 1945, they encountered fierce German resistance near the village of Bienen. On March 25, 1945, the North Nova Scotia Highlanders were in Bienen, Germany for the climax of 9 Canadian Infantry Brigade’s role in Operation Plunder. The one day battle proved devastating in terms of casualties, both dead and wounded, as they fought in a deadly battle on open ground.

Plunder 015 Aerial of Bienen from 23 March 45, just prior to the Rhine Crossing (Courtesy Becker) ww2talk

Aerial view of Bienen taken on March 23, 1945, just prior to the Rhine Crossing (Map source: http://www.WW2Talk.com and identified as ‘Courtesy Becker’)

It was Palm Sunday, one week before Easter. The war diary for March 25, 1945 noted the challenges the North Novies faced. “….The weather – sunny and clear. The day of the battle, 25 March 1945. …. The battalion objective was to be the town of BIENEN… code name ASTOR, which was formerly the objective of the 7th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. They had penetrated as far as farm buildings … but had had two attacks on BIENEN beaten off with heavy casualties.

BIENEN was of tremendous importance to the Germans because it was the focal point of a narrow bottleneck controlling two main roads, the one to EMMERICH… and the other to MILLINGEN. Secondly, it was of extreme importance that the narrow bridgehead was expanded quickly North and North-East to protect it from enemy mortaring and shelling and allow bridging to be put up.

The enemy were strongly dug in around and in BIENEN itself. They were fresh troops of the 115 Panzer Grenadier Regiment, and fighting fanatically to hold this vital objective. The approach was over 300 yards of flat open country with only a dyke running from the Start Line up the left hand edge of the town….”

Right from the start, troops were pinned down, “…suffering heavy casualties…” Worse, in terms of communications, “….contact between platoons was next to impossible because of the murderous fire and heavy mortaring….”

During the heavy fighting, Ralph lost his life. He was temporarily buried the next day in the military cemetery in Rees, Germany before being reburied the following year in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands.

Out of the 39 North Nova Scotia Highlanders killed on March 25, 1945 during the Battle of Bienen that are buried in Groesbeek, 12 were on a photo wish list. Pieter has been successfully working his way through this list and we hope to tell each of their stories in upcoming postings. Coming up in Part 3: Charles ‘Marshall’ Carson.

If you have a story to tell, please let Pieter know. Email him at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or tweet to @researchmemori1.

© Daria Valkenburg

….Previous stories about North Novies killed during the Battle of Bienen and buried in Groesbeek….

Harry William DOUCETTE: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/02/09/on-the-war-memorial-trail-atlantic-canada-remembers-part-6/
Austin Havelock MUNROE, plus a list of the 39 soldiers: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/11/29/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-search-for-a-photo-of-austin-havelock-munroe-is-on-youtube/
Edison Alexander SMITH: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/03/04/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-battle-of-bienen-part-1-the-wwii-soldier-whose-body-shielded-a-wounded-major/

…Want to follow our research?….

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

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

You are also invited to subscribe to our YouTube Channel: On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter Valkenburg: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ591TyjSheOR-Cb_Gs_5Kw.

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On The War Memorial Trail….. The Battle of Bienen – Part 1: The WWII Soldier Whose Body Shielded A Wounded Major

March 4, 2023September 2, 2023 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 4 Comments

March 4, 2023. Last fall, Alice van Bekkum, Chair of the Groesbeek Cemetery Faces To Graves Foundation, sent Pieter a list of 39 soldiers from the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment who were killed during the Battle of Bienen in Germany on March 25, 1945. Although there were more casualties from this battle, the list was of North Novies buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands.

Not only were we were astonished at the number of casualties, but the date of the battle was very meaningful. “…They died on my birthday! I was just one year old!…” Pieter exclaimed.

In looking over the list, we realized that we had already briefly told the story of one – Harry William DOUCETTE of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia – and we had attended a graveside commemoration at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands in 2017 for two other soldiers: Ralph Schurman BOULTER and Edison Alexander SMITH, both from Prince Edward Island.

….The 2017 Commemoration at Groesbeek…..

On September 15, 2017, we were invited by Alice van Bekkum to be present at the commemoration for two soldiers from the Island. The reason? Nova Scotia resident Harriet Jenereux, the daughter of Smith, was coming to visit her father’s grave for the first time. She would also visit the grave of Boulter, who was her mother’s brother.

Harriet’s trip had been sponsored by Wish Of A Lifetime Canada (see https://wishofalifetime.ca/), an organization that fulfills seniors’ dreams and shares their stories to inspire those of all ages. Phillips was the sponsor for this program in The Netherlands. (See the original posting at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2017/12/25/on-the-war-memorial-trail-at-the-canadian-war-cemetery-in-groesbeek/)

CIMG8961 Sep 15 2017 Groesbeek Cemetery grave of Edison Alexander Smith

Grave of Edison Alexander Smith in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

We had come earlier that day to place flags at graves, and of course included Smith and Boulter on the list. Alice brought a photo of Edison Alexander Smith to place by his grave for the commemoration, as well as a candle for Harriet.

CIMG8950 Sep 15 2017 Groesbeek cemetery Harriet Jenereux at her fathers grave

Harriet Jenereaux kneels at her father’s grave. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

CIMG8953 Sep 15 2017 Groesbeek cemetery Harriet Jenereux and Pieter

Pieter chats with Harriet Jenereux after the commemoration. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

In 2017, we only knew that Smith, aged 32, and Boulter, aged 28, were in the North Nova Scotia Highlanders, and were both killed in battle in Germany on March 25, 1945. With the Battle of Bienen firmly on Pieter’s radar, he began his research.

…Edison Alexander Smith enlisted in 1940….

Born October 7, 1912 in West Point, Prince Edward Island to Samuel Dumville and Bertha Burrows (nee MacDonald) Smith, Edison Alexander SMITH was a fisherman before enlisting with the North Nova Scotia Highlanders on July 2, 1940 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.

In his Occupational History Form, he stated that he had worked as a lobster buyer for W. A. Broidy in Pictou, Nova Scotia for the past 13 years. He also helped his father, a lobster fisherman, during the summer, and worked as a lumberman in the winter.

He had married Helen Angeline, nee Boulter, on April 10, 1940, a few months before his enlistment. A few weeks after his enlistment, on July 20, 1940, their son Douglas Scott was born.

Edison Alexander Smith. (Photo courtesy of Canadian Virtual War Memorial)

After completing basic training in Amherst, Nova Scotia, he was sent to Debert, Nova Scotia in preparation for overseas service.

On July 20, 1941 he left Halifax, Nova Scotia for the United Kingdom, arriving in Avonmouth on July 31, 1941. A few months later, on December 21, 1941, his daughter Harriet Elaine was born.

Edison was temporarily transferred to the Signals Relief Unit on August 28, 1942, before rejoining the North Nova Scotia Highlanders on December 18, 1942.

On June 6, 1944, he was with his Regiment for D-Day in France. He was wounded on July 25, 1944 with a fractured right femur, and sent to 21 Canadian General Hospital in Bramshott, England. He returned to duty in France a month later, on August 25, 1944.

While the Regiment was engaged in the Battle of the Scheldt, Edison ended up in hospital again on October 8, 1944, this time due to cellulitis on his leg, but was discharged on October 19, 1944.

He was again hospitalized on December 14, 1944, and discharged on January 7, 1945.

On February 19, 1945 Edison was promoted to Acting Sergeant. This was changed to Sergeant upon his death.

…Edison lost his life in the Battle of Bienen ….

By March 20, 1945, Allied troops were on the banks of the Rhine River for Operation Plunder, a military operation to cross the Rhine on the night of March 23, 1945. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Plunder)

On March 25, 1945 the North Nova Scotia Highlanders were in Bienen, Germany for the climax of 9 Canadian Infantry Brigade’s role in that Operation. The one day battle proved devastating in terms of casualties, both dead and wounded.

Map shows position of North Novies on March 25, 1945, near Bienen. (Map source: Project ’44)

In ‘No Retreating Footsteps’ by Will Bird, he reported that during the battle, Major Dave DICKSON and his platoon commanders, including Lt Lorne MONKLEY, “…arranged that the company would advance eastward beside the dyke which ran past the north side of the nearer buildings of the town…” During the action, Major Dickson “…was struck down by a bullet at the climax of the dyke crossing….”

In the article ‘Too Close To The Guns!’ in Canadian Military History, Volume 12, Numbers 1& 2, Winter/Spring 2003, pp.5-28, author Lee Windsor recorded that “…One of Monkley’s section commanders, Sergeant Edison Smith, ran back over the dyke to contact the tanks and Wasps back at the … firebase. A mortar bomb exploded as he reached the top of the dyke, heaving his broken body on top of Dickson and then down the slope….” Edison lost his life, but his body shielded Major Dickson, who survived.

He was temporarily buried in the Canadian Military Cemetery in Bedburg, Germany before being reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands in 1947.

…What happened to Edison’s photos?….

This would normally be the end of Edison’s story, except for a November 1, 1945 letter written to the Estates Branch of the Canadian Army by Edison’s widow. She inquired about the photos she had sent over the years to her husband, which had not been returned with his effects.

In her letter she explained that her husband “…had a very close friend …. Sgt Johnson, also of ‘D’ Company. When my husband died, Lt Lorne Monkley of Summerside, PEI, wrote me, saying Sgt Johnson would write me as when my husband was wounded he had given Sgt Johnson mine and the childrens’ photos and snapshots and other articles to keep for him until he was back in the Unit again…” She was aware that Sgt Johnson died shortly after her husband, and wondered if her husband’s effects had been sent to Sgt Johnson’s family.

Edison was wounded in July 1944, and his last hospitalization was in December 1944. There is no record of any other hospitalizations or injuries recorded in his service file. It seems unlikely that Sgt Johnson would still have Edison’s photos in March 1945.

In a remarkable coincidence, Pieter knew who Sgt Johnson was, as his story had been told in this blog in 2021. Sgt Gordon Frederick ‘Geordie’ JOHNSON, of Truro, Nova Scotia lost his life on April 8, 1945, two weeks after Edison died, and is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/07/17/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-search-for-a-photo-of-gordon-frederick-johnson-is-over/)

An inquiry has been made to the family of Geordie Johnson, inquiring if by some chance they knew of any ‘mystery’ photos that had been received with his effects.

If you have a story to tell, please let Pieter know. Email him at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or tweet to @researchmemori1.

© Daria Valkenburg

….Previous stories about North Novies killed during the Battle of Bienen and buried in Groesbeek….

Harry William DOUCETTE: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/02/09/on-the-war-memorial-trail-atlantic-canada-remembers-part-6/
Austin Havelock MUNROE, plus a list of the 39 soldiers: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/11/29/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-search-for-a-photo-of-austin-havelock-munroe-is-on-youtube/

…Want to follow our research?….

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

You are also invited to subscribe to our YouTube Channel: On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter Valkenburg: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ591TyjSheOR-Cb_Gs_5Kw.

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

On The War Memorial Trail….. Remembering Sanford Steven Saulis

February 27, 2023April 10, 2025 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

February 27, 2023. After an interview about the photo quest for soldiers buried in the Canadian War Cemeteries in The Netherlands ran on APTN in 2021, Pieter was contacted by Patricia Saulis about Sanford Steven SAULIS of Maliseet, New Brunswick, who is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands. (To read the APTN article, see https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/dutch-born-p-e-i-man-on-a-mission-to-find-photos-of-first-nations-soldiers-killed-overseas-in-wwii/)

“…My Uncle Sanford Saulis died on August 10, 1945 and is buried in Holten Cemetery…. Thank you for doing your work on this Project….” Patricia wrote.

…Sanford Saulis was on the photo wish list for the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten….

Sanford was on the photo wish list for the cemetery. Unfortunately, Patricia did not have a photo of her uncle. Then, a few months ago, Conrad Saulis wrote us. “…I was recently forwarded an email you sent to my sister Patty last year regarding our Uncle Sanford S Saulis, who is buried in the Holten Canadian War Cemetery in The Netherlands….

Rest assured that we have not forgotten him or the sacrifice he made to protect our Wolastoqey Nation traditional Ancestral lands from fascism. ….I too am on a quest to find a picture of him…”

Conrad explained that “….Sanford was my dad’s half-brother – he was born of a different mother before my dad was born…” After Sanford’s mother Suzan died in 1918, his father remarried.

Luckily, Conrad photo quest was successful. “….Woliwon. I am attaching a pic my niece got from a co-worker in Fredericton of Sanford …”

Sanford Steven Saulis. (Photo courtesy of the Saulis Family)

…Sanford was a member of the Wolostoqey First Nation….

20221108_070012 poppy with indigenous pin Born September 19, 1914, Sanford Steven SAULIS was the son of William and Suzan (nee Paul) Saulis, members of the Wolostoqey First Nation (formerly known as Maliseet First Nation). Maliseet is the Mi’kmaq word for the Wolastoqey, members of the Wabanaki Confederacy, a group of Algonquian-speaking nations (See https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/maliseet and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madawaska_Maliseet_First_Nation)

Before enlisting with the No. 7 District Depot of the Canadian Army in Perth, New Brunswick on May 22, 1941, Sanford worked as a hand stitcher at the Philco Shoe Company in Bangor, Maine, USA, and as a general construction labourer for various companies in New Brunswick and Maine. He also could drive a motorcycle.

In an interview for his Personnel Selection Card, he stated that he enjoyed swimming, skating, hunting, and canoeing. He also played team sports such as baseball and hockey.

On June 6, 1941, Sanford transferred to the 3^rd Battalion (later converted to 4^th Battalion) of the Royal Canadian Engineers and sent to Petawawa, Ontario for basic and advanced training.

Map shows location of Gourock, Scotland in the Firth of Clyde. (Map source: scotslanguage.com)

Sanford was soon on his way overseas with the 4^th Battalion. They left Halifax, Nova Scotia on September 18, 1941, arriving in Gourock, Scotland on September 27, 1941. The Regiment was based at Guillemont Barracks in Hampshire, England. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guillemont_Barracks)

Sanford undertook general engineering duties in the Regiment, and attended a heavy bridge course in 1942. Likely this concerned learning about armoured vehicle-launched bridge vehicles, designed to lay down a bridge in combat.

On May 7, 1943 he was transferred to the 29^th Field Company of the Royal Canadian Engineers. In March 1944 he was sent for a series of courses in driving Class ‘B’ vehicles, such as heavy armoured trucks, motorcycles, light reconnaissance vehicles, and tractors.

…Sanford went overseas with his Regiment after D-Day….

On July 5, 1944 he left the United Kingdom for France. By July 1945 he was in northwest Europe. On August 8, 1945, following a short hospital stay for treatment of dermatitis, Sanford was transferred to the 16^th Field Company of the Royal Canadian Engineers.

Screenshot 2023-02-26 at 12-04-24 MICHELIN Breukelen map - ViaMichelin

Map shows Breukelen and Hilversum. (Map source: https://www.viamichelin.com)

The 16^th Field Company was based at a camp near Breukelen, The Netherlands. The war diary for August 9, 1945 reported “…Heavy rain and 21^oC…..” and that they were working towards getting the moat at Nyenrode Castle cleared of weeds. “…Some wood blocks linked together as a chain and towed by a row-boat does a fair job…” This was an example of the variety of tasks undertaken by the Royal Canadian Engineers in the aftermath of war. (See https://www.spottinghistory.com/view/3618/nyenrode-castle/)

Nyenrode Castle, with the moat surrounding it. (Photo source: https://www.castlesworld.com)

…Sanford lost his life due to a brain hemorrhage….

Unfortunately, that night, after Sanford went to sleep, a tragedy occurred. The war diary for August 10, 1945 recorded that there was “…a fatal accident in the camp; this morning the body of Lance Corporal SS SAULIS was discovered lying on the ground under the window of his room. He was dead but there were no signs of how he met his death; only a small abrasion on his face, and no broken bones….The window was only 15 feet above the ground…”

On August 12, 1945 the war diary noted the results of a post-mortem. Sanford “…died of a hemorrhage of the brain. This probably caused, and was not caused by, the fall, which explains the lack of signs of any effort …. to save himself…”

The post-mortem report concluded that Sanford had died 3-4 hours before his body was found at 8:00 am on August 10, 1945. Most likely he had gotten up in the night, suffered a brain hemorrhage, and tumbled out the open window.

Sanford was initially buried in the Canadian Section at Hilversum Civil Cemetery. According to the war diary, his funeral was held on August 13, 1945 at 10:00 am, “…with Honorary Captain BUTLER officiating. Major MAIN and CARSON (former OC of the deceased) also attended. Lt E. BRACCI was also on hand to pay last respects…”

…Sanford was reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten….

Grave of Sanford Steven Saulis in Holten, The Netherlands. (Photo courtesy of the Information Centre Canadian Cemetery Holten)

Sanford was later reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands. Conrad Saulis wrote that “…My dad (Herman) – also a veteran of WWII -once was able to visit his brother’s grave in Holland and on his return from a Canadian celebration over there was very glad that he had found the grave. My dad is deceased and like many other vets told very few stories of his war experiences….”

It’s important to recognize that Indigenous soldiers were all volunteers, a point that Conrad noted. “…As First Nation (Indian) people they did not have to enlist and could not be conscripted to join the army – it was all on a voluntary basis. When my dad and his brother volunteered they did not lose their ‘status’ and neither did my Grandfather William for WWI…”

Thank you to Patricia Saulis for initially contacting us about her uncle, and to Conrad Saulis for sharing his photo. Conrad wrote “…I am encouraged by your work to remember all of the veterans buried overseas….” It is an honour for us to research and tell the stories you read on this blog.

No soldier buried overseas should be forgotten

Conrad went on to say that “… I have a ‘bucket list’ task of visiting my Uncle’s grave in the Holten cemetery and to honour his spirit, grave site and headstone with a traditional prayer and blessing (smudge) of our sacred First Nation herbs gathered from Mother Earth. It is never too late for this to happen as he continues his Spirit Life and Walk the traditional blessing is to support his ongoing safety in the Spirit World…” We hope that Conrad is able to make this visit and will share it with us.

If you have a story to tell, please let Pieter know. 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 the blog, you are welcome to do so. Our blog address: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/.

You are also invited to subscribe to our YouTube Channel: On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter Valkenburg: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ591TyjSheOR-Cb_Gs_5Kw.

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

On The War Memorial Trail….. The WWII Pilot Killed At The Controls Of His Halifax Bomber

February 19, 2023March 11, 2026 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

February 19, 2023. Whenever Pieter is interviewed, we are delighted when we hear from viewers or readers. After an interview with Kevin Rollason ran in the Winnipeg Free Press, Craig MacKenzie contacted us about his uncle.

“…On reading the Saturday Free Press article on your quest to learn about Canadian soldiers who gave their lives during WW II and who were laid to rest in The Netherlands I thought that you might be interested in a story I put together about my uncle, P/O Douglas Mackenzie….” Of course we were interested. Pieter set to work to learn more.

Jack ‘Douglas’ MACKENZIE was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on April 27, 1921, the son of Charles Bellamy and Annie Elizabeth (nee Acheson) MacKenzie. After graduating from high school in 1937, and attending Success Business College, Douglas worked as a clerk in Winnipeg at the T. Eaton Company Department Store, then at the Canadian Wheat Board, and lastly at the #7 Equipment Department of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).

He left his last position on May 9, 1941 when he enlisted in the RCAF in Winnipeg, stressing his interest in flying duties and in becoming a pilot.

Douglas listed a number of sports he played – hockey, swimming, basketball, rugby, baseball, skiing, and handball.

….Douglas trained as an RCAF pilot….

POJDMACKENZIESilverCross from Craig MacKenzie

Jack ‘Douglas’ MacKenzie. (Photo courtesy of Craig MacKenzie)

After a few weeks basic training at No. 2 Manning Depot in Brandon, Manitoba, Douglas was sent to the No. 1 Service Flying Training School in Yorkton, Saskatchewan. He was then sent to No. 4 Initial Flying School (ITS) in Edmonton, Alberta for 4 weeks of training in navigation, theory of flight, meteorology, duties of an officer, air force administration, algebra, and trigonometry, plus tests that included physical and psychological exams, a session in a decompression chamber, and a simulated flight.

After passing the initial training, on July 27, 1941 he was sent to No. 18 Elementary Flying Training School in Boundary Bay, British Columbia, where he was given 50 hours of basic flying instruction over the next two months.

On September 12, 1941 Douglas was placed as a trainee in the bomber, coastal or transport pilot stream and sent to No. 15 Service Flying Training School in Claresholm, Alberta, for training on an Avro Anson. (For more information on flight training schools, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_British_Commonwealth_Air_Training_Plan_facilities_in_Canada)

….Douglas was posted overseas in 1942….

On December 5, 1941 Douglas received his Pilots Flying Badge. A few days later he was posted to No. 1 ‘Y’ Depot in Halifax, Nova Scotia, an embarkation depot for Air Force personnel soon heading overseas.

Douglas left Canada on February 9, 1942 and posted to No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre in Bournemouth, England. (See https://www.birtwistlewiki.com.au/wiki/No._3_Personnel_Reception_Centre_RAF)

On April 27, 1942 he was transferred to 14 Advanced Flying Unit for training in different aircraft such as Wellingtons. The next stage came on June 7, 1942, when Douglas was sent to No. 22 Operational Training Unit (OTU) at RAF Wellesbourne Mountford. This was part of No. 6 Group RAF Bomber Command to train night bomber crews with the Vickers Wellington.

On September 9, 1942 he joined No. 419 (Moose) Squadron RCAF, which was based at Leeming until the end of September, and then at Croft until November 9, 1942, followed by its final move during the war to Middleton St. George.

Formed in December 1941, No. 419 Squadron was the third RCAF overseas bomber squadron. It was originally in No. 3 Group of Bomber Command, but became part of No. 6 (RCAF) Group when it was formed on January 1, 1943.

….The last flight of Halifax DT630….

Halifax Mark 3 bomber. Photo source: http://www.raf.mod.uk Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=751869)

On February 3, 1943, Douglas was the pilot of Halifax DT630 (call sign VR-T), one of 8 heavy Halifax bombers sent on a night raid to Hamburg, Germany. They took off at 6:34 pm from the airbase at Middleton St. George, England. (See https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/52181)

Map shows the plane’s path from England towards Hamburg. It was shot down over The Netherlands before reaching its target. (Map prepared by Wendy Nattress)

Craig MacKenzie documented what happened that night in ‘A Jump In The Night’, the title and story adapted from a March 28, 1970 Dutch article ‘Een sprong in de nacht’ by A. Jansen, originally published in the newspaper Drentsche en Asser Courant.

“…Flying conditions were less than ideal. There was a strong wind from the southwest and, in spite of the protection of the low clouds, they encountered severe icing as they crossed the North Sea. This made the Halifax difficult to keep airborne. Ice accumulated on the wings and fuselage, adding to weight and reducing the lift of the wings.

The crew had discussed turning back, but as they had aborted their previous mission, they decided against it. They arrived at the Dutch coast ten minutes behind the main bomber stream and as a result had lost the protection of the surrounding bombers….”

An account on the website http://www.419squadron.com/DT630.html states that “…Being late and behind the main force was not the only problem that was facing the pilot. He had lost contact with the rear gunner. The whole intercom system had stopped working. MacKenzie had to make a decision to turn back or keep going a little further to see if the intercom would return to normal.

Now some twenty-five minutes from the target area the Halifax was attacked … from astern and slightly below. The turns to escape the attacking fighter did not help. The whole length of the aircraft’s fuselage was racked by cannon fire, killing MacKenzie, and most likely Sgt. Gonnett in the Middle Upper turret. The heavy cannon shells also set off the incendiaries in the bomb-bay, severing lines to engines and other vital controls.

Sgt. Duthie worked at putting the fire out but was unable to because of the nature of the incendiary devices. The Navigator would later report he gave the bail out command via a pre-arranged call light series of flashes.….”

….Guests at a Dutch birthday party were eyewitnesses….

Craig MacKenzie’s article included what was observed on the ground on the Cremers farm near Nord Sleen, The Netherlands. “…It was the third year of the war, yet some rare spirits had been hoarded for special occasions…” The Netherlands had been under Nazi occupation since May 1940.

On the evening of February 3, 1943, the Cremers family had planned a birthday celebration. “…The first drinks were about to be shared when the family and their guests heard the sound of an airplane, an airplane that was in trouble. A few peeked out the darkened windows. Others went to the doorway. Several lightning like flashes appeared in the distance. These were soon followed by a ball of fire that plummeted from the heavens. A deafening explosion accompanied another blinding flash. It was 7:30 pm…” This was the end for Halifax DT630.

According to the Aviation Safety Network Wikibase report on Occurrence # 52181, the Halifax bomber was shot down by night fighter pilot Oberfeldwebel Karl-Heinz Scherfling of the 10./NJG 1, flying a Bf 110 F-4 from Leeuwarden airfield. Leeuwarden is in the province of Friesland in The Netherlands.

….Four died, three survived….

“…Sgt. Marquand was first out, followed by Garnett, who took time to check what was happening to the others in the crew in the front section. He noted that Sgt. Hill was still at his Wireless position and Sgt. Duthie still at the F/E position, but both were preparing to leave the out of control aircraft. At this point the enemy fighter returned and attacked the falling Halifax.

It is unknown for sure what happened to WOII Hill and Sgt. Duthie and why they did not escape. The second pass of the fighter may have caught them both before they had time to leave the aircraft….”

In the end “…only Sgt. Marquand, Sgt. Garnett, and F/S Milton managed to bail out. All were captured and became PoWs…” The other 4 crew members were buried in Sleen General Cemetery.

Dec 24 2022 J.D Mackenzie Begraafplaats Sleen (Drenthe) Hans Buis

Candle placed at the grave of Jack ‘Douglas’ MacKenzie. (Photo credit: Hans Buis)

On December 24, 2022, during the Christmas Eve Candle Lighting Ceremony, candles were placed at the graves of these 4 airmen, with photos sent to us by Hans Buls. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/12/26/2022-christmas-eve-candle-lighting-in-the-netherlands/)

In a February 14, 1943 letter to Douglas’ mother, No. 419 Squadron’s Wing Commander, Mervyn Matthew FLEMING, wrote that her son “…was a pilot of such qualities that the Service as a whole and this Squadron in particular can ill-afford to lose him. He was exceptionally keen and capable at all times, and his loss is a blow to his comrades, with whom he was at all times popular…”

….The crew of Halifax DT630….

Pilot P/O Jack Douglas MACKENZIE of Winnipeg, Manitoba, RCAF, killed
Flight Engineer Sgt. William Peter DUTHIE of Winnipeg, Manitoba, RCAF, killed
Navigator Sgt. William Nelson GARNETT, RCAF, survived
Bomb Aimer Sgt. Eric Raymond MARQUAND, RCAF, survived
Air Gunner W/O II Raymond Hepton HILL of Montreal, Quebec, RCAF, killed
Rear Air Gunner F/Sgt. Alexander Henry MILTON, RAF, survived
Air Gunner W/O II Lennox Alwin GONNETT of Westmount, Quebec, RCAF, killed

Thank you to Craig MacKenzie for sharing information about his uncle. Craig’s father was a navigator with Bomber Command and survived the war. “…‘Dumb Luck’ was a term that my Dad had used for why he had survived. Congratulate your husband on his valuable work…” Craig has posted a short musical tribute to Bomber Command, which you can watch:

Thank you also to Wendy Nattress for preparing the map showing the flight path for Halifax DT630. If you have a story to share, please contact Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, or comment on the blog.

© Daria Valkenburg

…Want to follow our research?….

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

Front cover OnTheWarMememorialTrailinEurope 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 on the book, please see https://nosoldierforgotten.com/

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On The War Memorial Trail….. The WWII Soldier Remembered By His Daughter’s Friend

February 11, 2023January 9, 2026 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

February 11, 2023. Burnie Reynaert’s uncle, Lewis Wilkieson MARSH, of Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia, was one of 5 soldiers from the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment who drowned in a tragic accident on the Leda River during the Battle of Leer in Germany on April 28, 1945. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/05/18/on-the-war-memorial-trail-a-tragic-drowning-on-the-leda-river-in-germany-part-4/)

Recently, Burnie wrote to let us know that “…my best friend’s father, Pte. Harold Edward Martin, served in the army with the Essex Scottish Regiment, and is buried in The Netherlands…”

Burnie explained further, saying “…I have known June Anne Martin most of my life – in public school, high school. I was her maid of honour when she married Jack Andrews. She was my confidant and best friend. June Anne died November 25, 2002. She was so young….”

June Anne and Jack had three sons. “….Harold’s grandchildren do not have any information on his service…” Burnie said. Would Pieter add Harold to his research list?

Pieter’s initial investigation determined that Harold died on October 14, 1944 and is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen op Zoom, The Netherlands. The search was on!

The son of Herbert Edward and Harriet Jane (nee Leavesley) Martin, Harold Edward Roy MARTIN was born November 13, 1912 in Caradoc, Ontario, a rural area about 35 kms (21.75 miles) west of London, Ontario.

On April 15, 1939 he married Tilly Frances Dolney in Leamington, Ontario. Tilly had been born in Yorkton, Saskatchewan.

…Harold enlisted in 1940….

When he enlisted on July 28, 1940 with the No. 1 District Depot in London, Ontario, he stated in his Soldiers Qualification Card that he had been employed as a truck driver with Longfield Lumber Company in Mount Bridges, Ontario, and that his family owned the Martin’s Fruit Company in Leamington, Ontario. He expected to have his own fruit business after his military service. He also noted that he played hockey, in the position of goalie.

On August 21, 1940 he was transferred from No. 1 District Depot to join his unit of the Royal Canadian Engineers at the Thames Valley Camp in London, Ontario. At the beginning of 1941 he was assigned to the 9^th Field Company.

On April 30, 1941 he was entitled to draw additional Trades Pay as a Carpenter Class ‘B’, and then on May 2, 1941 was transferred to #1 Canadian Base Units Construction Company (CBUCC) of the Royal Canadian Engineers in Petawawa, Ontario.

…Harold and Tilly welcome the birth of their daughter in 1941….

Tilly and Harold’s daughter June Anne was born July 3, 1941. Burnie submitted a photo of the new family unit, explaining that June Anne’s “…son Brad and his brother Jack found this amazing picture of her and her parents….”

Harold and Tilly Martin with new born daughter June Anne. (Photo courtesy of the Andrews family)

…Harold was sent overseas shortly after his daughter’s birth….

Harold didn’t have much time with his daughter, as he was on his way overseas with the No. 1 Canadian Base Units Construction Company, Royal Canadian Engineers, arriving in the United Kingdom on July 19, 1941. He was stationed in Bramshott, as a Carpenter and Joiner Class ‘B’.

On May 1, 1942 the name of his unit was changed to 5 CCC (Canadian Construction Company), Royal Canadian Engineers. Important work was done by units such as 5 CCC, such as building defences that included beach obstacles, pill-boxes, anti-tank ditches, and minefields. They also improved British roadways to improve the movement of military traffic, constructed military and air bases, and even built the Canadian wing of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in East Grinstead.

On July 28, 1942, Harold was awarded a Good Conduct Badge, and then on August 21, 1942, he received a permanent grade of Sapper.

On May 1, 1944, Harold was transferred to #1 Canadian Engineer Reinforcement Unit (CERU). Then on August 25, 1944 he was assigned to the Winnipeg Grenadiers for a few weeks, before leaving for France on September 28, 1944, and being reassigned to the Canadian Infantry Corps the next day.

…Harold’s Regiment fought in the Battle of the Scheldt….

On October 10, 1944 Harold was transferred to the Essex Scottish Regiment, which had moved steadily from Antwerp, Belgium at the beginning of October into The Netherlands. The Regiment had positions on both sides of the border for the Battle of the Scheldt. (See https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/canada-and-the-battle-of-the-scheldt and https://www.holland.com/global/tourism/holland-stories/liberation-route/the-battle-of-the-scheldt.htm)

To have an idea of what was faced by Canadian troops, you can watch a short, but excellent, YouTube video explaining about the Battle of the Scheldt (just under 13 minutes):

According to the war diary for the Essex Scottish Regiment for October 14, 1944, the Battalion was in position at Hoogerheide. “…The enemy continued to be fairly aggressive and some of the positions reported heavy mortaring…” At some point during the day, Harold Martin lost his life.

Harold Martin Scheldt Estuary

…Harold is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom….

Harold was initially buried at the Ossendrecht Roman Catholic Civil Cemetery in Ossendrecht, before being reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom in March 1946.

12724585_137285083670 Grave of Harold Martin

Grave of Harold Edward Martin at the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom, The Netherlands. (Photo source http://www.findagrave.com)

Thank you to Burnie Reynaert for telling us about Harold Edward Martin and to the sons of June Anne Andrews for sharing a family photo. If you have a story to tell, please let Pieter know. 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 the blog, you are welcome to do so. Our blog address: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/

Front cover OnTheWarMememorialTrailinEurope 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. For more information see https://nosoldierforgotten.com/

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On The War Memorial Trail….. Remembering WWII Sapper John Culbertson

February 4, 2023August 30, 2025 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 1 Comment

February 4, 2023. After reading ‘Forgotten Soldiers’ by Fred Gaffen, Pieter came across the name John CULBERTSON, listed as a Sapper with the Royal Canadian Engineers, who lost his life on April 30, 1945.

The date of death triggered Pieter’s interest and he wondered if he had been killed in or near The Netherlands. When he learned that John Culbertson was buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands, he decided to research the service file and see if a family member could be found.

He was soon directed to John’s granddaughter, Diane McQueston (Culbertson). “…My grandmother kept his memory alive…” Diane explained. We were delighted to have the chance to meet Diane and her husband Rob.

CIMG5792 Sep 11 2022 Diane and Rob McQueston with Pieter

Pieter with Diane and Rob McQueston in Dartmouth. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

…John was raised on the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory …..

20221108_070012 poppy with indigenous pin Born on November 21, 1911 in Oshawa, Ontario, John was the son of George Albert and Mary Ann (nee Smoke) Culbertson. His parents were from the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory near Belleville, Ontario, and this is where John lived as a child. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyendinaga_Mohawk_Territory)

“…Mary Ann Smoke passed away at age 26 when John was 5 years old and his brother Gilbert was 3….” Diane noted. John’s father remarried. “…Mary Ann Pelling was George’s second wife and they had 4 children… John looked at Mary Ann Pelling as his Mom….”

CIMG5786 Wedding photo John and Mabel Culbertson

June 14, 1930 wedding photo of John and Mabel Culbertson, married in Belleville, Ontario. (Photo courtesy of the Culbertson Family)

After leaving school, John worked as a brass moulder at Corbin Lock in Belleville, Ontario for 10 years before enlisting.

Diane told us that “…my grandparents met at a dance in Belleville and married in 1930, when my grandfather was 19, and my grandmother was 18. My grandmother, Mabel Florence Brown, was from Middlesex, England. She never remarried. My father was their only child….” Diane’s father, John Harry, was born January 29, 1932.

…John enlisted with the Royal Canadian Engineers…

John Culbertson. (Photo courtesy of the Culbertson Family. Photo colourization by Pieter Valkenburg)

John enlisted with the Royal Canadian Engineers at No. 3-A District Depot in Kingston, Ontario on June 14, 1944, and was sent to the Canadian Engineer Training Centre (CETC) in Petawawa, Ontario. He qualified as a Moulder Group B on October 27, 1944 and was entitled to draw an additional Trades Pay.

John with his son, grandmother, and father in 1944. Left to right: John Harry Culbertson, Margaret Culbertson, John Culbertson, George Albert Culbertson. (Photo courtesy of the Culbertson Family.)

On November 29, 1944, John left Canada for the United Kingdom, arriving on December 9, 1944, where he was assigned to the Canadian Engineer Reinforcement Unit (CERU). After undertaking further training, he qualified as a Driver Class III on March 24, 1945. This meant he was qualified to drive heavy trucks and armoured cars.

On April 11, 1945, John was sent to North West Europe, and then transferred to the 8^th Canadian Field Squadron on April 18, 1845.

…John lost his life during the Battle of Edewecht…

Map showing Edewecht, Germany where John Culbertson

On April 30, 1945, the 8^th Canadian Field Squadron was in Edewecht, Germany, the scene of severe fighting during the last weeks of the Second World War. During the Battle of Edewecht, Canadian troops experienced fierce house-by-house fighting against fanatic German paratroopers and other soldiers.

In A Souvenir War History – 8^th Canadian Field Squadron Royal Canadian Engineers 1941-1945 by Cpl John Kerr, the author noted that “…While maintaining a diversion, Spr Culbertson was killed….” Ironically, April 30, 1945 was the same day that Hitler committed suicide in Berlin.

…John was buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten…

Grave of John Culbertson at the Canadian War Cemetery, Holten. (Photo courtesy Information Centre, Canadian Cemetery Holten)

John was temporarily buried in Ostercheps, Germany before being reburied on March 7, 1946 in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands.

In March 1948, Tini Veldman of Ommen, The Netherlands sent a letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs, asking that it be forwarded to the next of kin. She wanted the family to know that she had adopted the grave, a volunteer program that was organized by the Netherlands War Graves Committee. A note in the file advised that her letter was forwarded to John’s widow on March 31, 1948.

This was not an unusual occurrence. Many family members of soldiers that we have met over the years have been in contact with Dutch citizens whose families adopted a grave in the early post-war years.

John’s son, John Harry, followed in his father’s footsteps in serving his country, enlisting in the Royal Canadian Navy in 1954, retiring as an aviation technician 25 years later.

Thank you to Diane McQueston (Culbertson) for sharing photos and information about her grandfather, and to Shawn Rainville for searching through newspapers to help Pieter find family members. If you have a story to tell, please let Pieter know. 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 the blog, you are welcome to do so. Our blog address: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/

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On The War Memorial Trail…..The WWII Pilot Whose Spitfire Ran Out Of Fuel

January 25, 2023October 25, 2025 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

January 25, 2023. After seeing an interview on CTV National News about Pieter’s research into WWII soldiers and airmen buried in The Netherlands, Pieter received an email from Dave Montgomery.

Dave Montgomery, whose father’s best friend was RCAF Pilot George Glenn Millar. (Photo courtesy of Dave Montgomery)

Dave wrote that “…I became aware of your project of identifying Canadians killed in WW2 to liberate Holland when I saw your interview with CTV News recently.

My father’s best friend, George Glenn Millar, nicknamed ‘Dusty’, was killed on September 28, 1944 in combat while flying a Spitfire Mark IX over Nijmegen, Holland. He is buried at the Uden War Cemetery in North Brabant, Holland. He was from Winnipeg, Manitoba and was serving with 442 Squadron of the RCAF when killed. … My father survived the war and lived a full life back in Canada and passed away in January 2013. He never forgot his friend…”

George Glenn ‘Dusty’ Millar, left, with Thomas Richard Montgomery. (Photo courtesy of Dave Montgomery)

Dave included a photo, explaining that “… G. G. Millar is on the left. My father, Thomas Richard Montgomery, is on the right….”

….George Glenn attended university for one year before enlistment….

George Glenn ‘Dusty’ Millar. (Photo courtesy of the Information Centre, Holten)

Born November 21, 1921 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, George Glenn MILLAR was the son of George Sawers and Janet Smith (nee Wilson) Millar. While a first-year student at the University of Manitoba, George joined the University’s Canadian Officers’ Training Corps (COTC) on April 7, 1941, part of the Non-Permanent Active Militia. In his attestation form, he stated that he had served 110 hours in the University of Manitoba Training Unit (UMTU). (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Officers%27_Training_Corps)

In July 1941, he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) in Winnipeg. Asked about hobbies and sports, he wrote that he played golf extensively, occasionally played hockey, rugby, and baseball. He was very clear in his goal – he wanted to enlist for flying duties and to be a pilot.

….George Glenn realized his goal of becoming a pilot….

In October 1941 he was sent to Edmonton, Alberta and then a few weeks later to Calgary, Alberta to #3 Service Flying Training School for flight training. On December 12, 1941 he was sent back to Edmonton, to #16 Flight Training School, where he remained until April 25, 1942. By the time he left he had put in 73 hours and 35 minutes into flying a Tiger Moth.

He was next posted to #1 Service Flying Training School in Camp Borden, Ontario on April 26, 1942, receiving his Pilot Flying Badge on August 14, 1942. He had also learned to fly a Yale and a Harvard MK II.

In August 1942 he was posted to No. 133 (F) Squadron in Lethbridge, Alberta, where he gained more experience in flying a Harvard MK II and learned to fly a Hurricane II B. The Squadron moved to Boundary Bay, British Columbia at the beginning of October 1942. (Note: the ‘F’ stood for ‘Fighter’)

Patrol path of No. 133 (F) Squadron included the Canadian section [orange] and the area in the United States from Bellingham to Tacoma, Washington, [yellow]. (Map source: https://clarencesimonsen.wordpress.com/category/rcaf-133-squadron/)

On October 5, 1942, George Glenn received a promotion to Pilot Officer, and then another promotion, to Flight Officer, on February 13, 1943. He remained with No. 133 (F) Squadron until May 15, 1943, when he was sent to No. 111 Squadron in Anchorage, Alaska.

Don Smith, an Associate Historian with the RCAF, explained that George Glenn “….arrived at No. 111 Squadron as a replacement pilot. Millar was at No. 111 Squadron to get checked out in a new (for him) fighter type, the Curtis P-40K Kittyhawk. He had been flying the Hawker Hurricane with No. 133 Squadron….”

P-40 Kittyhawk. (Photo credit: Department of National Defence (DND) PGB-1436)

….George Glenn’s Squadron participates in the Aleutian Islands Campaign in 1943 ….

Don went on to explain that “…Millar did not remain long with No. 111 Squadron after he soloed in the Kittyhawk in late May 1943. By the end of August he was flying with No. 14 Squadron at Umnak Island, in the Aleutians, where he spent a one-week rotation at the forward assembly airfield on Amchitka Island the same month…”

Dave Montgomery had done some research on George’s time in Alaska, and explained that “…. No. 14 Squadron and No. 111 Squadron were ordered to Alaska in 1943 to fight alongside the Americans fighting the Japanese who had landed at Kiska and Attu Islands in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska in June of 1942.

These RCAF squadrons served at Anchorage, Kodiak Island, and Umnak Island bases with short postings to Adak Island and Amchitka Island when flying missions against the Japanese, who were dug in on Kiska Island.

Several were killed there as the weather was atrocious, especially in the Aleutians. Weather was the biggest killer of pilots in Alaska, not enemy guns.

G.G. Millar flew with both 111 Squadron (briefly) and then 14 Squadron and flew missions with the US fliers to Kiska Island bombing and strafing the Japanese there under overall command of Jack Chennault, the son of Claire Chennault who was the US Colonel (later General) who commanded the famous Flying Tigers in China!

No. 14 and 111 Squadrons returned to Patricia Bay in September of 1943 after the 5,000 Japanese on Kiska Island managed to escape under cover of fog and darkness in late July 1943 on Japanese naval destroyers sent there to evacuate them after the defeat of the Japanese forces on Attu Island by the US…..” RCAF Patricia Bay was in Victoria, British Columbia. (For more information on the Aleutian Islands Campaign, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleutian_Islands_campaign)

Don Smith explained that “…Millar remained with No. 14 Squadron, going overseas with them, where the Squadron was renumbered from No. 14 Squadron to No. 442 (F) Squadron…”

Dave Montgomery noted that “….No. 14 and 111 Squadrons sailed to England between January 20 to 27, 1944 on the SS Pasteur (a French passenger liner completed in 1939 and converted to a fast troop ship). The Pasteur made the crossing alone rather than in a convoy since she could sail at up to 26 Knots.

On February 8, 1944, No. 14 Squadron was renumbered as 442 Squadron (equipped with Spitfire Mark IX fighters) and No. 111 Squadron was renumbered as No. 440 Squadron (equipped with Hawker Typhoon fighter bombers)….”

Spitfire Mark IX. (Photo source: Google image, from ‘Spitfire Mk IX Performance Testing, Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment, Boscombe Down, 21 October, 1942.’)

….George Glenn’s Spitfire failed to return from a patrol near Nijmegen….

On August 14, 1944, George Glenn received his final promotion, to Flight Lieutenant. Just over a month later, he had his final flight. Don Smith explained that from September 20 to October 1, 1944, Base 68 at Le Culot/Beauvechain in Belgium “…was occupied by 126 Wing, Group 83, 2nd Tactical Air Force (Canadian Fighter Wing), to provide air cover over the Arnhem/Nijmegen areas for Operation Market Garden….”

NOTE: Operation Market Garden was an Allied military operation, from September 17 to 27, 1944, that succeeded in liberating Nijmegen and Eindhoven but failed in liberating the last bridge held in Arnhem, which would enable troops to the Rhine into Germany. The movie ‘A Bridge Too Far’ dramatized this event. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Bridge_Too_Far_(film))

It was from Base 68 at Le Culot/Beauvechain that George Glenn’s Squadron operated during that period. “….On September 28, 1944, while on a patrol over enemy territory in Spitfire PL490, his aircraft apparently ran out of fuel. F/L Millar was last seen over Nijmegen, Holland. While the record indicates F/L Millar’s aircraft ran out of fuel, the record for Spitfire PL490 suggests on 28 September, 1944, this aircraft, flown by F/L G.G. Millar, RCAF, was in aerial combat with Fw190s of the German Luftwaffe before the fuel shortage was reported….”

This summary was similar to what was written in a September 30, 1944 letter to George Glenn’s mother by his Commanding Officer in No. 442 Squadron, Flight Lieutenant W A Olmstead. “…On the morning of September 28^th, Glen took off with the Squadron on a Patrol over enemy territory in Holland. During this operation the Squadron were chasing some German aircraft when Glen reported on his radio that he was getting low in fuel and would have to return to friendly territory which he started out to do.

Later during the operation, Flight Lieutenant W.A. Olmstead, who was leading the Squadron, heard Glen on his radio saying that his engine was cutting and he would have to bail out or crash land. He was not seen at this point by any member of the Squadron, but it is believed he bailed out or crash landed somewhere in Holland at approximately 0945 hours….”

The aircraft crashed 3 km (1.86 miles) southeast of Weibosch near Schijndel, in the Dutch province of Noord-Brabant.

….Why did the plane run out of fuel?….

We asked Don Smith why the Spitfire would have run out of fuel. He said that although it was possible that the Spitfire “…PL490 suffered battle damage if involved in aerial combat with Fw190s, this cannot be confirmed…”

Don went on to explain that “….the Merlin-powered Spitfire Mk IX was also known to have problems with vapour-lock in the fuel system, especially if the aircraft had been sitting in the sun prior to take-off. If the Spitfire PL490 was carrying an external belly-mounted auxiliary fuel tank at the time of its loss, this could create failure of the engine when switching from main tanks to external, or from external back to the main fuel tanks. The latter was more serious, since this would usually take place over enemy territory, as was the case on September 28, 1944.

As an example of this particular problem, No. 401 Squadron (RCAF) reported almost one quarter of pilots lost were due to this cause. These incidents were not mentioned as ‘tank problems’, but referred to such incidents as ‘engine failure’ or ‘engine trouble’.

The actual cause of the loss of Spitfire PL490 will probably never be known. The Spitfire Mk IX had two tanks in front of the cockpit, one upper and one lower. Later models had another fuel tank added behind the cockpit. It is possible that the lower front tank could have been holed in combat, or the rear tank, depending on the age of PL490. In either case, F/L Millar would not have noticed the fuel leak….”

….George Glenn Millar was buried in Uden War Cemetery….

Edwin van der Wolf, a volunteer researcher at the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, wrote that George Glenn was temporarily buried in Weibosch before being reburied on July 23, 1946 at Uden War Cemetery in Uden, The Netherlands. (See https://www.cwgc.org/visit-us/find-cemeteries-memorials/cemetery-details/2082100/uden-war-cemetery/)

George Glen Millar is buried in Uden War Cemetery. (Photo courtesy Information Centre, Canadian Cemetery Holten)

Thank you to Dave Montgomery for sharing information about his father’s best friend, George Glenn Millar. He is not forgotten! Thank you to Don Smith for help with the aviation specifics and history, and to Edwin van der Wolf for sending photos and confirming burial information. If you have a story 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 the blog, you are welcome to do so. Our blog address: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/.

Front cover OnTheWarMememorialTrailinEurope 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 on the book, please see https://nosoldierforgotten.com/

You are also invited to subscribe to our YouTube Channel: On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter Valkenburg: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ591TyjSheOR-Cb_Gs_5Kw.

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

December 24, 2022August 17, 2025 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 2 Comments

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December 24, 2022. It’s hard to believe how quickly 2022 has raced by. It seems like only yesterday that Pieter was preparing his research plan for the year, and I was working on the final chapters of a book.

It’s been a busy year. Several long-standing searches for photos were successful, meaning Pieter could complete his files for those soldiers. New research files were added, such as the request to find photos and family for 4 soldiers of Ukrainian descent, and Pieter was able to finish his research for many of the unfinished files from 2021. There is a lag between him completing his work and me getting a chance to document his research, but that is on my ‘to do’ list for this winter.

While we didn’t get to travel as much as we had hoped, we were able to meet several families, which we very much appreciated. We were able to able much with the help of media, and the many families that came forward to share photos and information. What follows in the rest of this posting is a summary of what happened in 2022 with this research project.

…Book ‘No Soldier Buried Overseas Should Ever Be Forgotten’….

In February 2022 a book Daria wrote about our 2017 war memorial tour in Europe through 4 countries was published, and is available in print and e-book formats. See www.nosoldierforgotten.com for more information.

OnTheWarMememorialTrailinEurope_Barcode

On August 5, 2022, a radio interview with Matt Rainnie and Daria ran on CBC PEI’s Mainstreet PEI program about our Author Talk at the Victoria Playhouse on August 11, 2022, part of the Our Island Talks Series. The interview was about her book ‘No Soldier Buried Overseas Should Ever Be Forgotten’. Here is the link: https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-130-mainstreet-pei/clip/15929265-daria-valkenburgs-book
On February 17, 2022, a radio interview with Angela Walker ran on CBC PEI’s Mainstreet PEI program about the book. Here is the link: Daria Valkenburg’s new book | Mainstreet PEI with Matt Rainnie | Live Radio | CBC Listen
Cody McEachern of Saltwire interviewed Daria and Pieter for The Guardian. The interview was posted online on April 25, 2022 and ran in The Guardian’s print edition on April 26, 2022. See P.E.I. author highlights 6-week war memorial tour through Europe in new book | SaltWire https://www.saltwire.com/prince-edward-island/news/pei-author-highlights-6-week-war-memorial-tour-through-europe-in-new-book-100721970/

An article about Daria’s book and upcoming Author Talk at the North Bay Library was published in Bay Today.ca on May 15. See Soldiers honoured in new book. Author talk set for public library: https://www.baytoday.ca/local-news/soldiers-honoured-in-new-book-author-talk-set-for-public-library-5357955

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

On October 21, 2022, Pieter Valkenburg received the PEI Senior Islander of the Year Award, for his ongoing research to uncover the stories and photos of those who served in WWI and WWII, and sharing his research findings with the public.

The certificate was presented by the Hon. Matthew Mackay, Minister for the Department of Social Development and Housing, and Audrey Morris, Chairperson, PEI Seniors Secretariat, in a ceremony at the Loyalist Inn in Summerside. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/10/23/pieter-receives-pei-senior-islander-of-the-year-award/)

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

This year we added more information on soldiers whose stories had previously been told:

After a 7 year search we received a photo for WWI soldier James CAIRNS of Kinkora, Prince Edward Island, who died during the Battle of Amiens and is buried in France.
After another 7 year search we received a photo for WWII soldier Leonard Stephen AVERY of Bedeque, Prince Edward Island, who died after he was accidentally shot through the head while examining a rifle. He’s buried on Prince Edward Island.

… WWI Related Stories….

We explained what a Field Post Card was and shared more observations from WWI soldier Harold Keith HOWATT, giving a comparison of what went into the Field Post Card and what he actually experienced that didn’t go into the card.
We shared the story of how a photo of WWI soldier Lloyd Clifton SHORTLIFF of Barton, Nova Scotia, whose named is inscribed on the Vimy Memorial in France, was saved when a Legion member bought it at an auction. A Legion in Nova Scotia will be taking possession of this picture.

… WWII Related Stories….

We shared a story about the 2021 candle lighting at graves of Canadian soldiers in The Netherlands.
We shared on update on a 2020 posting about Ralph Gordon MCCUTCHEON, a WWII flight student at the No. 9 Service Flying Training School RCAF in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, who died in a plane crash in North Tryon, Prince Edward Island.
We shared a visit that Pieter made to Coffeen Nature Preserve in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, site of a WWII era JB-2 missile launching test site. The JB-2 flying robot bombs were the American version of the German V1 flying bombs.
We shared a story about the 2022 commemoration of 8 Carleton and York Regiment soldiers who lost their lives during the liberation of the village of Posterenk in The Netherlands on April 13, 1945.
We shared a story about the May 6, 2022 unveiling of the Monument in Gendringen, The Netherlands to commemorate those who lost their lives, including 41 Canadian soldiers and airmen.
We shared the story of the successful outcome of a photo search for WWII soldier Allan ‘Gordon’ COUTTS of the North Nova Scotia Highlanders, who is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands.
We shared a story of the tribute to 27 Ukrainian-Canadian soldiers at the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands.
We shared a story about the search for WWII soldier Wilfred GIROUX who was in Gilze Rijen, The Netherlands in December 1944 and befriended a Dutch couple, and whose daughter wished to repatriate a photo and two Christmas cards to the Giroux family.
We shared the heart-warming story about how WWII soldier Frank MACEWEN and his friends made Christmas 1944 in England memorable for the Pearce family.

…Indigenous Soldiers….

We were able to tell the stories of the service by these WWII Indigenous soldiers:

WWII Indigenous soldier Philip LAFORTE from Manitoba, who was killed in The Netherlands.
WWII Indigenous soldier John ‘Jack’ Richard MARACLE from Ontario, who was killed in Germany.
WWII Indigenous soldier Stanley Owen JONES from British Columbia, who drowned on September 8, 1945 in Germany when the carrier he was in overturned in a ditch.

…. Stories About Servicemen From The Maritimes…

We also featured stories about servicemen from The Maritimes:

WWI soldier Theodore (Ted) Francis ARSENAULT from Prince Edward Island, who lost his life during the Battle of Amiens in France.
WWII soldier Bruce Wilbur CHURCHILL from Nova Scotia, who was accidentally killed in The Netherlands when a bullet from a Bren Gun ricocheted and hit him.
WWII airman Rowan Charles ‘Bunky’ FITZGERALD from Prince Edward Island, who was on the last flight of Halifax W1175 of the 405^th Squadron when it was hit by shellfire and crashed onto a sandbank in the Wadden Sea off the Dutch coast.
WWII soldier Carman Edward GILLCASH from Prince Edward Island, who lost his life during the Battle of the Delfzijl Pocket in The Netherlands.
WWI soldier George Stanley HENNESSEY from Prince Edward Island, who was in the 1^st Canadian Engineers Battalion and survived the war.
WWI soldier Chesley William HOWATT from Prince Edward Island, who was in the 50^th Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force, and survived the war.
WWII soldier Richard Lea HOWATT from Prince Edward Island, who was a despatch rider and scout and survived the war.
WWI soldier John David MACDONALD from Prince Edward Island, who was in the 26^th Battalion (New Brunswick Regiment) and survived the war.
WWII soldier Donald Charles MACKENZIE, from Nova Scotia, who was killed in The Netherlands.
WWII soldier George ‘Ivan’ MACKINNON, from Prince Edward Island, who was killed in The Netherlands during the defence of the Nijmegen Salient.
WWII soldier Michael Joseph ‘Joe’ MCKENNA, from Prince Edward Island, who was killed in The Netherlands during the Battle of Rha.
WWII soldier James ‘Frank’ MOSSEY, from Prince Edward Island, who was killed in The Netherlands while serving in the Carleton & York Regiment.
WWII soldier Harold Gordon SABEAN, from Nova Scotia, who was killed in The Netherlands while serving in the Carleton & York Regiment.
WWI soldier William ‘James’ SEAMAN from Prince Edward Island, who was in the 105th Overseas Battalion and survived the war.

…. Stories About Servicemen From Outside The Maritimes…

WWII soldier Elie ANTONYSZYN, from Manitoba, who died on July 15, 1945 in The Netherlands.
WWII soldier Albert Joseph COTE, born in Quebec but grew up in Ontario, who died on October 5, 1944, of wounds received during the Battle of the Leopold Canal in a prisoner of war field hospital in Germany,
WWII soldier Cecil Edward GOODREAU, from Ontario, who was killed in Germany during the Battle of Keppeln on February 26, 1945.
WWII soldier Andrew KERELCHUK, born in Manitoba but who moved to Ontario, and who was killed in Germany on April 19, 1945, during the Battle of the Küsten Canal.
WWII soldier Sam MATVICHUK, born in Saskatchewan but lived in Alberta, who was killed in The Netherlands on April 14, 1945 during the Battle of Groningen.
WWII soldier Neville William NESBIT, from Manitoba, who was killed in Germany on May 2, 1945 following the Battle for Bad Zwischenahn.
WWII soldier Anthony PETTA, from Ontario, who was killed in Germany during the Battle of Hochwald Gap on March 2, 1945, but whose death is recorded as March 3, 1945.
WWII soldier John RUSNAK, from Manitoba, who died in Germany on November 22, 1945 following a collision between his despatch motorcycle and a farm wagon.
WWII soldier John ‘Jack’ Langford WALKER, from Ontario, who was killed in Bad Zwischenahn, Germany on May 1, 1945.

…In Conversation And More….

We shared a few adventures that we had in North Bay in May, including people we met, a visit to the North Bay Cenotaph, and an Author Talk at the North Bay Public Library.
We wrote about the Author Talk at the Victoria Playhouse in Victoria-By-The-Sea in August.
We wrote about the Remembrance Day ceremonies we attended in Borden-Carleton and Kinkora, two Prince Edward Island communities.

…. Interviews To Highlight Search For Photos….

Pieter did several interviews:

On Friday, November 11, 2022, Pieter was interviewed by Todd van der Heyden of CTV news in a feature entitled Military researcher identifies 200 fallen soldiers | CTV News.
Charlotte MacAulay of the Eastern Graphic wrote about the successful photo search for WWII soldier George ‘Ivan’ MACKINNON, who is buried in The Netherlands. The article, ‘Sturgeon soldier’s photo discovered in church’, ran in the newspaper on November 9, 2022.
On Monday, November 7, 2022, Pieter was interviewed by Ceilidh Millar of CTV Atlantic News At 5 about the search for 4 soldiers of the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment who died during the Battle of Bienen on March 25, 1945. You can read the article and watch the video. See P.E.I. man identifying Canadian soldiers in the Netherlands | CTV News https://www.ctvnews.ca/atlantic/article/maritime-man-appeals-to-public-for-help-in-identifying-lost-canadian-soldiers-overseas/
Kevin Rollason of the Winnipeg Free Press wrote about Pieter’s search for photos and featured the story of WWII Indigenous soldier Thomas CHASKE, then listed the names of several other soldiers from Manitoba who are buried in The Netherlands. The article, ‘A name without a face’, ran online on November 4, 2022 and in the print edition on November 5, 2022. See https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/2022/11/04/a-name-without-a-face
Charlotte MacAulay of the Eastern Graphic wrote about the photo search for WWII soldier George ‘Ivan’ MACKINNON, who is buried in The Netherlands. The article, Researcher seeking photo of Second World War soldier, ran in the newspaper on September 21, 2022. This search was successful.
Pieter was interviewed by Charlotte MacAulay of the Eastern Graphic, about the photo search for WWII soldier James Frank MOSSEY, who is buried in The Netherlands. The article, Researcher seeks photo of Souris soldier from Second World War, ran in the newspaper on June 1, 2022. This search was successful.
Pieter and Daria were interviewed by Peter J. Wilson of the North Bay Nugget, about their research into soldiers buried in The Netherlands. The article Couple devoted to telling fallen soldiers’ stories | North Bay Nugget ran in the online version on May 19, 2022 and in the print version on May 20, 2022. See https://www.nugget.ca/news/couple-devoted-to-telling-fallen-soldiers-stories
Pieter was interviewed by Marcel Vink of De Telegraaf, a newspaper in The Netherlands, about his research into Canadian soldiers buried in The Netherlands. The article Zoektocht naar gezichten (Quest For Faces) ran in the newspaper on May 4, 2022 – Remembrance Day in The Netherlands. See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/05/04/article-in-de-telegraaf-quest-for-faces-zoektocht-naar-gezichten/
Pieter was interviewed by Charlotte MacAulay of the Eastern Graphic, about the successful photo search for WWII soldier Barney McGuigan, who is buried in The Netherlands. The article Search for teen soldier’s photo is successful, ran in the newspaper on January 13, 2022. See https://www.peicanada.com/eastern_graphic/search-for-teen-soldier-s-photo-is-successful/article_eaee52fa-72e6-11ec-b539-d33f425bb7c3.html

…. 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 William Eben BROWN, who is buried in The Netherlands. A letter to the editor was published on the Saltwire Network on October 18, 2022. (See https://www.saltwire.com/prince-edward-island/opinion/letter-seeking-family-of-fallen-soldier-100784491/) This search was successful.
WWII soldiers Albert Joseph COTE and John Langford WALKER, who are buried in The Netherlands. On April 18, 2022, a letter to the editor written by Pieter and Donald Coutts was published in the North Bay Nugget. This search was successful. (See https://www.nugget.ca/news/researcher-seeks-information-on-fallen-city-soldiers). A second letter to the editor about the same soldiers was published in Bay Today on May 3, 2022. (See https://www.baytoday.ca/letters-to-the-editor/letter-to-the-editor-do-you-have-a-picture-of-two-wwii-soldiers-who-are-buried-in-the-canadian-war-cemetery-in-the-netherlands-5325886)
WWII soldier Elie ANTONYSZYN, who is buried in The Netherlands. On June 21, 2022 a letter to the editor was published in the Dauphin Herald. 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.

Photos of soldiers buried in Dutch cemeteries were forwarded to researchers there for their digital archive. Whenever possible, stories are featured on the blog but there is a backlog due to the success of Pieter’s research. I can’t keep up! This year, photos were found for:

Buried in Holten Canadian War Cemetery in The Netherlands:

Elie ANTONYSZYN
William Eben BROWN
Albert Joseph COTE
John CULBERTSON
Theodor ‘Ted’ HENSCHEL
Andrew KERELCHUK
Amil Adolph LARSON
Donald Charles MACKENZIE
Sam MATVICHUK
Neville William NISBET
Joseph Edmond ROBICHEAU
John RUSNAK
Harold Gordon SABEAN
John Langford ‘Jack’ WALKER
William Henry ‘Barney’ WEBB

Buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery in The Netherlands:

Clifford BATEMAN
John Joseph BOHON (BOHONKO)
Charles ‘Marshall’ CARSON
James Edward DUFFY
Cecil Edward GOODREAU
James Edward ‘Eddy’ DUFFY
Marven Glenroy HARVEY
Kitchener ‘Kitty’ LANGILLE
John Richard ‘Jack’ MARACLE
George ‘Ivan’ MACKINNON
Marvin William MCGREGOR
Laurie Douglas PAGE
Wilfred Joseph ‘Willy’ POWER
Anthony PETTA
Louis Allan SEXTON

Buried in Bergen Op Zoom Canadian War Cemetery in The Netherlands:

Milton Evangeline LIVINGSTONE
Robert K. VIDITTO

Buried in an unmarked grave in The Netherlands following an aircrash:

Rowan Charles ‘Bunky’ FITZGERALD

Buried in Adegem Canadian War Cemetery in Belgium:

David ‘Dave’ Stinson HENDERSON
Ronald ‘Ronnie’ Sidney HOOLE

… The YouTube Channel….

In 2022 the following videos were posted on the YouTube channel: On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter Valkenburg: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ591TyjSheOR-Cb_Gs_5Kw

S3E1 Book Trailer for ‘No Soldier Buried Overseas Should Ever Be Forgotten’
S3E2 Photo Search-WW2 Soldier Austin Havelock Munroe

…Thank you for your support and encouragement of this research project!…

As 2022 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, who suggested some of stories you’ve read. A big thank you goes to Mike and Isabel Smith, owners of The County Line Courier.

Thank you to all the families that contributed photos and stories. Thank you to Judie Klassen and Shawn Rainville who volunteered their time to help find families of soldiers through newspaper and online searches. Thank you to Don Smith for answering any aircraft and military flight questions we’ve had.

Thank you to the media who helped publicize the search for photos and information – Bay Today, CBC Radio’s Mainstreet PEI, CTV News, CTV Atlantic News, Dauphin Herald, De Telegraaf, Eastern Graphic, North Bay Nugget, The Guardian, and the Winnipeg Free Press.

Last, but not least, the YouTube channel and videos would not be possible without the invaluable support of post-production editor Wendy Nattress. Wendy also designed and manages the book website.

….Happy Holidays…

Pieter and I wish you all the best for the holidays and in 2023. May we never forget those who gave their lives for our freedom.

Xmas 2022 photo

Pieter’s research work continues. If you have photos or information to share, please email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or send a tweet to @researchmemori1.

…Want to follow our research?….

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

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

You are also invited to subscribe to our YouTube Channel: On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter Valkenburg: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ591TyjSheOR-Cb_Gs_5Kw.

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

On The War Memorial Trail….. The Search For A Photo Of Austin Havelock Munroe Is On YouTube

November 29, 2022November 12, 2023 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

November 29, 2022. Sometimes uncovering a photo of a soldier leads to a much larger investigation. That’s what happened when Pieter looked into the service file of Charles Marshall CARSON of Cape Tormentine, New Brunswick, one of the names on the photo wish list from the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands.

…Pieter was astonished to learn that 39 North Novies lost their lives on his 1^st birthday….

“…He died on my birthday! I was just one year old!…” Pieter exclaimed. When he learned that Carson died during the Battle of Bienen in Germany on March 25, 1945, he wondered if there were more Canadian soldiers who had lost their lives that day.

Pieter contacted Alice van Bekkum, Chair of the Groesbeek Cemetery Faces To Graves project and asked if there were more casualties. To his surprise, Alice sent a list of 38 more soldiers from the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment. 12 of these soldiers were on the cemetery’s photo wish list.

Over the past months, Pieter managed to find families of 11 of these soldiers, and has already received photos of 10. One family is in the process of preparing a copy of a treasured photo. In March 2023 a special series on several of these soldiers will be featured on this blog, in the lead up to March 25.

…One soldier’s photo still has not been found…

One soldier’s photo is still outstanding – Austin Havelock MUNROE. Austin was born on December 2, 1919 in Little Dover, Nova Scotia, the son of Edward and Minnie Munroe. He was married to Anna Elizabeth Munroe, nee Barry.

In the hope of reaching as many people as possible, Pieter sat down to help feature this photo quest on our YouTube Channel. You can watch Photo Search-WW2 Soldier Austin Havelock Munroe (S3E2) here:

…Pieter’s interview on CTV Atlantic News At 5 was successful….

In addition to the YouTube video, on Monday, November 7, 2022, Pieter was interviewed by Ceilidh Millar of CTV Atlantic News At 5 about the search for 4 soldiers of the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment who died during the Battle of Bienen on March 25, 2022.

You can read the article and watch the video. See P.E.I. man identifying Canadian soldiers in the Netherlands | CTV News https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/maritime-man-appealing-to-public-for-help-identifying-lost-canadian-soldiers-1.6143236

Following this interview, family of one soldier immediately came forward with a photo. Families of two other soldiers subsequently got in contact.

Thank you to post-production editor Wendy Nattress, who made this YouTube video a reality. Thank you also to Ceilidh Millar, Jayson Baxter, Maria Panopalis, and CTV Atlantic News At 5 for publicizing the photo search of soldiers killed in Bienen, Germany.

If you have photos or information to share about Austin Havelock Munroe – or any of the soldiers killed during the Battle of Bienen – please let Pieter know. You can email him at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or send a tweet to @researchmemori1.

….The 38 Other North Novies Buried in Groesbeek….

Clifford BATEMAN of La Poile, Newfoundland
Vilhelm Kruuse BOGGILD of Lockeport, Nova Scotia
John Joseph BOHON (BOHONKO) of Montreal, Quebec
Ralph Schurman BOULTER of West Point, Prince Edward Island
Herbert Malcolm BRANNEN of Stony Island, Nova Scotia
Lawrence William BULGER of Foxley River, Prince Edward Island
Charles Marshall CARSON of Cape Tormentine, New Brunswick
Hugh Patterson CHRISTIE of English Town, Nova Scotia
Walter George COLEBOURNE of Vancouver, British Columbia
Roy Williams COLLINS of North Sydney, Nova Scotia
George Mitchell DASH of Sable River West, Nova Scotia
Harry William DOUCETTE of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
Charles Benjamin HAGERTY of Port Williams, Nova Scotia
Marven Glenroy HARVEY of North Noel Road, Nova Scotia
Granville Murray HEARABOUT of Truro, Nova Scotia
Gordon HENRY of North Sydney, Nova Scotia
Harold Charles JAMES of Springhill, Nova Scotia
Harold Lawrence KEDDY of Port Williams, Nova Scotia
Kitchener LANGILLE of North Glasgow, Nova Scotia
Stewart Rindress MACDONALD of Cape Dauphin, Nova Scotia
Norbert James MACINTYRE of Reserve Mines, Nova Scotia
Donald John MACKINNON of Sydney, Nova Scotia
Leo Joseph MACMULLAN of Glace Bay, Nova Scotia
Robert Bruce MACNEILL of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Marvin William MCGREGOR of West Jeddore, Nova Scotia
Gordon Robert MCLEOD of Toronto, Ontario
Harland Evender MITCHELL of East Jeddore, Nova Scotia
Edward John MUNRO of Quebec City, Quebec
Austin Havelock MUNROE of Little Dover, Nova Scotia
Laurie Douglas PAGE of Rawdon, Nova Scotia
Wilfred Joseph POWER of New Westminster, British Columbia
Wesley Levi ROBINSON of South Maitland, Nova Scotia
Louis Allan SEXTON of Saint-Jules, Quebec
Norman Alexander SHAW of Lochside, Nova Scotia
Edison Alexander SMITH of West Point, Prince Edward Island
William THOMPSON of Campbelltown, New Brunswick
Eric Herman THOMSON of Halifax, Nova Scotia
John Lewis WALLACE of Canning, Nova Scotia
Theodore George WARNELL of Jeddore, Nova Scotia

NOTE: These are not the only casualties from the Battle of Bienen, only the ones identified as being in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, from the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment.

…Want to follow our research?….

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

You are also invited to subscribe to our YouTube Channel: On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter Valkenburg: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ591TyjSheOR-Cb_Gs_5Kw.

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On The War Memorial Trail….. Remembrance Day On The Island

November 13, 2022November 13, 2022 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 2 Comments

RemembranceDayHeader

November 13, 2022. Remembrance Week is always busy at our place. This year was a bit different as we gave a presentation featuring a few of the names listed on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion, at the Legion’s Remembrance Day indoor service – prior to the placing of wreaths and crosses at the Cenotaph.

RCL Nov 11 2022 Presentation They Arent Just Names On A Cenotaph

This was the title of our presentation.

…11 photos are still to be found for the names on the Cenotaph….

There are 48 names from WWI and WWII listed on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion. Unfortunately, photos for 9 from WWI and 2 from WWII have not been found. The story of each one has been told in previous postings on this blog.

Names still without faces from WWI

James CAIRNS, born in Kinkora
Leigh Hunt CAMERON, born in Albany
James Lymon CAMERON, born in Victoria
William Galen CAMPBELL, born in Wellington
Bazil CORMIER, born in Tignish
Joseph Arthur DESROCHES, born in Miscouche
Charles LOWTHER, born in North Carleton
Arthur Clinton ROBINSON, born in Tryon
Harry ROBINSON, born in Augustine Cove

Names still without faces from WWII

Leonard Stephen AVERY, born in Bedeque
Ernest Ramey GALLANT, born in Borden

… We attend Remembrance Day ceremonies in Borden-Carleton and Kinkora…..

November 11, 2022 was a cool day for the Remembrance Day service at the Legion in Borden-Carleton, Prince Edward Island.

CIMG6027 Nov 11 2022 Borden Carleton Legion Ceremony Pieter and Danny Bernard

Pieter and Danny Bernard walk to lay a wreath at the Cenotaph in Borden-Carleton on behalf of the Government of Canada. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

CIMG6028 Nov 11 2022 Borden Carleton Legion Ceremony Pieter lays wreath

Pieter placed the wreath on behalf of the Government of Canada at the Cenotaph in Borden-Carleton. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

CIMG6035 Nov 11 2022 Cenotaph at Borden Carleton Legion

Flag bearers Arthur Ranahan (left) and George Palmer (right) are flanked by representatives from the Fire Brigade and RCMP at the Cenotaph in Borden-Carleton. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

In the afternoon, members of the Legion attended the Remembrance Day ceremony in Kinkora.

CIMG6039 Nov 11 2022 Kinkora Pieter and Heath MacDonald

Pieter Valkenburg with The Honourable Heath MacDonald, MP for Malpeque after laying a wreath on behalf of the Government of Canada in Kinkora.

…Remembrance Day didn’t end with the two ceremonies!…

After we returned home in the late afternoon, cold and tired, we learned that CTV News wanted to interview Pieter during a live broadcast. So, after a short rest, Pieter was interviewed by Todd van der Heyden of CTV news. You can watch Military researcher identifies 200 fallen soldiers | CTV News at https://www.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=2561931

Remembrance Day may be over for another year, but Pieter’s research work continues. If you have photos and information to share about Canadian soldiers, please contact Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or send a tweet to @researchmemori1.

…Want to follow our research?….

If you are reading this posting, but aren’t following the blog, you are welcome to do so. See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/ or email me at dariadv@yahoo.ca and ask for an invitation to the blog.

Front cover OnTheWarMememorialTrailinEurope 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 on the book, please see https://nosoldierforgotten.com/

You are also invited to subscribe to our YouTube Channel: On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter Valkenburg: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ591TyjSheOR-Cb_Gs_5Kw.

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….The 2017 Commemoration at Groesbeek…..

….Ralph enlisted with the PEI Highlanders in 1940…..

….Ralph was a Battle Drill instructor in the UK…..

….Ralph went from Battle Drill instructor to actual combat…..

…Ralph lost his life in the Battle of Bienen ….

….Previous stories about North Novies killed during the Battle of Bienen and buried in Groesbeek….

…Want to follow our research?….

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….The 2017 Commemoration at Groesbeek…..

…Edison Alexander Smith enlisted in 1940….

…Edison lost his life in the Battle of Bienen ….

…What happened to Edison’s photos?….

….Previous stories about North Novies killed during the Battle of Bienen and buried in Groesbeek….

…Want to follow our research?….

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…Sanford Saulis was on the photo wish list for the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten….

…Sanford was a member of the Wolostoqey First Nation….

…Sanford went overseas with his Regiment after D-Day….

…Sanford lost his life due to a brain hemorrhage….

…Sanford was reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten….

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….Douglas trained as an RCAF pilot….

….Douglas was posted overseas in 1942….

….The last flight of Halifax DT630….

….Guests at a Dutch birthday party were eyewitnesses….

….Four died, three survived….

….The crew of Halifax DT630….

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…Harold enlisted in 1940….

…Harold and Tilly welcome the birth of their daughter in 1941….

…Harold was sent overseas shortly after his daughter’s birth….

…Harold’s Regiment fought in the Battle of the Scheldt….

…Harold is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom….

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…John was raised on the Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory …..

…John enlisted with the Royal Canadian Engineers…

…John lost his life during the Battle of Edewecht…

…John was buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten…

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….George Glenn attended university for one year before enlistment….

….George Glenn realized his goal of becoming a pilot….

….George Glenn’s Squadron participates in the Aleutian Islands Campaign in 1943 ….

….George Glenn’s Spitfire failed to return from a patrol near Nijmegen….

….Why did the plane run out of fuel?….

….George Glenn Millar was buried in Uden War Cemetery….

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…Book ‘No Soldier Buried Overseas Should Ever Be Forgotten’….

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

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

… WWI Related Stories….

… WWII Related Stories….

…Indigenous Soldiers….

…. Stories About Servicemen From The Maritimes…

…. Stories About Servicemen From Outside The Maritimes…

…In Conversation And More….

…. Interviews To Highlight Search For Photos….

…. Letters To The Editor For Photo Searches….

… Successful Search For Photos …..

… The YouTube Channel….

…Thank you for your support and encouragement of this research project!…

….Happy Holidays…

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…Pieter was astonished to learn that 39 North Novies lost their lives on his 1st birthday….

…One soldier’s photo still has not been found…

…Pieter’s interview on CTV Atlantic News At 5 was successful….

….The 38 Other North Novies Buried in Groesbeek….

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…11 photos are still to be found for the names on the Cenotaph….

… We attend Remembrance Day ceremonies in Borden-Carleton and Kinkora…..

…Remembrance Day didn’t end with the two ceremonies!…

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…Pieter was astonished to learn that 39 North Novies lost their lives on his 1^st birthday….