On The War Memorial Trail….The WWII Soldier From Piusville Killed During The Battle Of The Leopold Canal

December 10, 2025December 19, 2025 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

December 10, 2025. In the course of his research into WWII soldiers buried in The Netherlands, Pieter soon learned that many Canadians who lost their lives during the Battle of the Scheldt are not only buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom in The Netherlands, but are also buried at the Canadian War Cemetery in Adegem, Belgium.

While most of the men buried in Adegem died during the operations for the clearance of the south bank of the Scheldt, many Canadians who lost their lives elsewhere in Belgium were also brought here for burial. Out of 848 Canadians buried here, 12 are from Prince Edward Island, and this spring an appeal went out in the local media for photos and information on the soldiers.

Pieter’s research results are faster than I can keep up with, and so several of the graves we visited during our 2025 European War Memorial Tour were for soldiers whose stories have yet to be told. One of these is the subject of this posting….

….Steve Gallant’s niece had a photo of her uncle….

After reading about the appeal for photos in the County Line Courier newspaper, Pauline Stewart of New Annan, Prince Edward Island contacted us, writing that “…we follow your memorial trail column. In the last edition my uncle was mentioned….” Her uncle was Joseph Stephen ‘Steve’ GALLANT, of Piusville, who was serving with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles when he lost his life on October 11, 1944 at the age of 29.

At the time of Pauline’s email, we were still in Europe. We sent her a photo taken of her uncle’s grave, and explained that Pieter would give her a call once we were home again. She replied with a surprise. “…By the way the Two Bulger Boys from Foxley River are my husband’s uncles…”

Last year, a two-part series on Harold ‘Hal’ Gabriel BULGER, who is buried in Adegem, and his brother Lawrence William BULGER, who is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, was published. (You can read Lawrence’s story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2024/08/19/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-bulger-brothers-part-2-the-wwii-stretcher-bearer-from-foxley-river-killed-during-the-battle-of-bienen/ and Hal’s at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2024/08/05/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-bulger-brothers-part-i-the-wwii-soldier-from-foxley-river-killed-during-the-battle-of-moerbrugge/)

Pauline and Charles Stewart with Pieter. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

A few months later, we had a chance to meet with Pauline and her husband Charles. Pauline explained that her father, John P. Gallant, was Steve’s brother. Another brother, Vincent, also served during WWII, but survived. “…Steve was the groomsman at the marriage of my parents….”

She recalled that “….Steve was on leave right after I was born in August 1944, and he died a few months later….”

Born in Piusville, Prince Edward Island on July 31, 1915, Joseph Stephen ‘Steve’ GALLANT was the son of Archie and Jannie Gallant. He had 5 brothers and 1 sister.

….Steve enlisted in 1942…

Joseph Stephen ‘Steve’ Gallant. (Photo Courtesy of Pauline and Charles Stewart On Behalf Of The Gallant Family)

Steve originally enlisted under the National Resources Mobilization Act (NRMA) at the No. 6a NRMA Clearing Depot in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island on May 15, 1942 and began basic training at No. 62 Canadian Army Basic Training Centre in Charlottetown. At the time, he stated that he’d left school at the age of 12 after completing Grade 5, that he was working on his father’s farm in Piusville, and that he was fluent in both French and English. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Resources_Mobilization_Act)

….Steve transferred to the 5th SMAA S/L Troop…

After completing basic training on July 11, 1942, Steve was transferred to the 5th Special Mobile Anti-Aircraft Search Light Troop (5th SMAA S/L Troop) and was stationed at various airports, beginning with Ives Point, Nova Scotia, near Halifax. As explained in a Government of Canada history of the Royal Canadian Air Force during WWII, the main task of this unit was “…to provide realistic training to aircrews – the terrifying experience of being ‘coned’ by enemy anti-Aircraft battery searchlights….” (See https://www.canada.ca/en/air-force/corporate/wings/14-wing/history.html)

On October 5, 1942, Steve enlisted in the Active Army in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and remained with the 5th SMAA S/L Troop. A few days later, on October 8, 1942, he was attached to No. 6 Detachment, Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps (RCOC) in Debert, Nova Scotia, for a month.

He was next attached to No. 34 Operational Training Unit (OTU) of the Royal Air Force in Pennfield, New Brunswick. An airport had been built in 1940 to train Air Observers as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP). The Operational Training Unit at the airport was used to train four crew members for World War II action: Pilot, Navigator, Wireless Air Gunner and Air Gunner. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Commonwealth_Air_Training_Plan)

A month later, Steve was attached to No. 36 Operational Training Unit (OTU) of the Royal Air Force in Greenwood, Nova Scotia. The site for RAF Station Greenwood, which opened in 1942, had been chosen by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and Royal Air Force for an airfield as part of the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) due to the area having a relatively fog-free climate.

On February 2, 1943, Steve was again attached to No. 6 Detachment, Royal Canadian Ordnance Corps (RCOC) in Debert, Nova Scotia, for a few months. Then, on May 8, 1943, he was again attached to No. 36 Operational Training Unit (OTU) in Greenwood, Nova Scotia.

A month later, he was attached again to No. 34 Operational Training Unit (OTU) in Pennfield, New Brunswick for 2 months before returning to No. 36 Operational Training Unit (OTU) in Greenwood, Nova Scotia. While in Greenwood, Steve was sent ‘On Command’ to Winnipeg, Manitoba, on October 10, 1943.

….Steve left Canada for overseas service….

On March 27, 1944, Steve was transferred to the 21st Anti-Aircraft Regiment of the Royal Canadian Artillery, and posted to 1st Anti-Aircraft Searchlight (AA S/L) Battery in Halifax, Nova Scotia, for additional training as a gunner. A few weeks later, on April 22, 1944, he was sent to No. 1 Transit Camp in Windsor, Nova Scotia in preparation for overseas duty.

Steve was granted embarkation leave from May 5 to 9, 1944. It must have been a bittersweet time as he didn’t return back until May 12, 1944, resulting in the forfeiture of 3 days pay and allowance and being confined to barracks for 4 days.

On May 20, 1944, Steve was sent to the No. 1 Training Battalion of the Canadian Infantry Corps in Debert, Nova Scotia for final training and preparation for overseas service. On July 21, 1944, he was transferred to the Training Brigade Group in Debert. He was granted another leave from August 3 to 15, 1944, in what turned out to be the last time he would ever see his family again.

On August 29, 1944, Steve left Canada for the United Kingdom. Upon arriving on September 4, 1944 he was assigned to No. 4 Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit (CIRU).

He wasn’t in the United Kingdom even a month when he was transferred to the X4 Reinforcement List for the Canadian Base Reinforcement Group (CBRG), part of the 13th Battalion, 21st Army Group, on October 1, 1944 and sent to Northwest Europe, arriving a day later.

….Steve lost his life during the Battle of the Leopold Canal….

Map showing the Battle for the Leopold Canal. (Map source: Little Black Devils: A History of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles)

On October 10, 1944, Steve was transferred to the Royal Winnipeg Rifles, joining the Regiment in the vicinity of the dike by Graaf Jan, The Netherlands, where they were engaged in fierce fighting during the Battle of the Leopold Canal on the border between The Netherlands and Belgium.

The War Diary for October 10, 1944 for the Royal Winnipeg Rifles stated that the Commanding Officer had “… received orders to occupy the Southern approaches to the village of GRAAF JAN. With A Company giving covering fire, B Company succeeded in reaching the objectives at 1500 hrs. Superior enemy forces in the village forced the company to withdraw when ammunition was getting low….”

The War Diary for October 11, 1944 noted numerous casualties. “…Cloudy and cool with slight rain in the afternoon. Visibility poor. During the morning A Company assisted the Regina Rifles in destroying an enemy held pill box. Another C Company patrol to GRAAF JAN failed to contact the enemy…. Enemy shelling was slightly less intense than during the first three days. Small Arms fire continued to make it extremely difficult and dangerous to move about. Supplies and casualties were still ferried across the Canal. Capt H.C. Chadderton of C Company and Lt L. Mendels of B Company were among the numerous casualties for the day….”

Unfortunately, Steve was one of the ‘numerous casualties’ referred to in the war diary. He was 29 years old.

….Steve is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Adegem….

Steve is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Adegem, Belgium. We visited his grave on a very hot Sunday this past May, where Pieter placed Acadian, Prince Edward Island, and Canadian flags in remembrance.

Pieter by the grave of Joseph Stephen ‘Steve’ Gallant. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

….Steve’s mother wanted answers….

On November 13, 1944, a distraught and upset Jannie Gallant – Steve’s mother – wrote to the Department of National Defence, asking questions that so many mothers of soldiers must have had. “….I received a telegram on October 20 stating that …” Steve had been killed on October 11. “…We haven’t received any more news since. It makes a very sad house. My husband has been in ill health since 1933. It was a great shock to him and also to me...”

She explained that they had received two letters from him once he left Canada. “…We received a letter from him on the 29th of September and he was still in England, and we received one that was written on October the 7th and he was already in Belgium…”

Then came the hard question and a query as to whether he was really dead. “…I want to know how much training that boy had to be sent that soon to Belgium as a rifleman with no training as a rifleman. I hope that the boy is still living as he was a great help to his father and also to myself….”

She ended by saying that “…I want to know the particulars of him if he is dead or living….”

Mrs Gallant did receive a reply from Lt Cameron, Military Secretary, on November 18, 1944, offering sympathies and explaining that Steve had “…received careful training during the period he was in England and that he would not have been permitted to proceed until he was declared trained…”

The reality was that training couldn’t fully prepare a soldier for actual combat. To make things worse, Steve had been sent to the Royal Winnipeg Rifles in the midst of a battle, with not even the chance to get to know the men in the Company he was assigned to.

Thank you to Pauline and Charles Stewart for providing photos and information on Pauline’s uncle. If you have a story to tell, or can provide a photo of one of the soldiers from Prince Edward Island buried in Adegem, please email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com or comment on the blog.

© Daria Valkenburg

….The 12 soldiers from Prince Edward Island who are buried in Adegem….

Harold ‘Hal’ Gabriel BULGER of Foxley River was serving with the Algonquin Regiment when he was killed during the Battle of Moerbrugge in Belgium on September 10, 1944, at the age of 26.
Charles John ACORN of Peters Road was serving with the North Nova Scotia Highlanders when he lost his life on October 15, 1944 at the age of 22. A poor quality newspaper photo was found.
William Henry DEVEAUX of Dundee was serving with the North Nova Scotia Highlanders when he lost his life on October 16, 1944 at the age of 23.
Joseph Stephen GALLANT of Piusville was serving with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles when he lost his life on October 11, 1944 at the age of 29.
Cecil Aneas MACDONALD of Glencoe was serving with the North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment when he lost his life on October 15, 1944 at the age of 23. NOTE: The Belgian family that adopted his grave would like to be in contact with a family member.
Joseph ‘Joe’ Augustine MACKENNA of Newton Cross was serving with Auxiliary Service as a member of the Knights of Columbus when he drowned in Belgium on June 21, 1945 at the age of 41.
Adolphus Peter MCCORMACK of New Zealand was serving with the Regina Rifle Regiment when he lost his life on October 30, 1944 at the age of 25.
James Hector MUNN of New Zealand was serving with the Regina Rifle Regiment, 1st Battalion, when he lost his life on October 30, 1944 at the age of 28.
Valmont PERRY of St. Louis was serving with the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders when he lost his life on October 21, 1944 at the age of 26. No photo has been found of him to date.
Allan Rattenbury READ of Read’s Corner was serving with the Regina Rifle Regiment when he lost his life on October 27, 1944 at the age of 21. A poor quality newspaper photo was found.
John James SAUNDERS of Bloomfield was serving with the South Saskatchewan Regiment when he lost his life on September 22, 1944 at the age of 27. No photo has been found of him to date.
Joseph Roy SILLIPHANT of Summerside was serving with the North Nova Scotia Highlanders when he lost his life on October 27, 1944 at the age of 28. A poor quality newspaper photo was found.

….Want to follow our research?…

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

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

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

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On The War Memorial Trail….A Visit To The Canadian War Cemetery In Adegem

December 8, 2025 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 6 Comments

Pieter (left) with Patrick Michiels at the Canadian War Cemetery in Adegem. The bags by Pieter’s feet contain flags! (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

December 8, 2025. Readers of this blog are aware that Pieter has been involved in finding photos of Canadians who are buried in The Netherlands since 2014. This past spring we were in The Netherlands and Belgium for the 80th Anniversary of Liberation Commemoration events, and placed flags at the graves of 383 soldiers in 14 cemeteries.

….Flags placed at the graves of soldiers from 8 provinces…

After visiting a number of cemeteries in The Netherlands during our 2025 European War Memorial Tour, we made our way into Belgium. The first cemetery there that we visited was the Canadian War Cemetery in Adegem. Many Canadians who lost their lives during the Battle of the Scheldt are not only buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom in The Netherlands, but are also buried at the Canadian War Cemetery in Adegem, Belgium.

While most of those buried in Adegem died during the operations for the clearance of the south bank of the Scheldt, many Canadians who lost their lives elsewhere in Belgium were also brought here for burial.

There are 1,119 WWII Commonwealth burials, 848 of them Canadian, and one unidentified burial from WWI. There are also 33 Polish and two French burials. Flags were placed by Pieter at 29 graves at this cemetery:

3 were from Nova Scotia
2 from New Brunswick
12 from Prince Edward Island
2 from British Columbia
2 from Saskatchewan
3 from Manitoba
1 from Alberta
4 from Ontario

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

….This was our first visit to Adegem…

Our journey to the cemetery in Adegem had a few hiccups. It started with a mistake on my part, when I left my tablet behind at the hotel in Zaltbommel, and didn’t realize it was missing until we were half an hour into our journey to Adegem and had to turn around and go back. Luckily, it was still in the hotel room, and we were on our way again.

Then the GPS couldn’t find the cemetery and we got lost before Pieter’s good sense of direction got us to the cemetery….1 ½ hours later than planned.

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

We were joined by Patrick Michiels, a Belgian researcher, who had been so helpful to us over the past few years in taking photos of graves of soldiers that Pieter had researched, even going on Christmas Day last year to take photos of the Christmas Eve candles at their graves. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2024/12/31/2024-christmas-eve-candle-lighting-at-the-canadian-war-cemetery-in-adegem/)

Overview of the Canadian War Cemetery in Adegem with the Cross of Sacrifice. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

It took over 2 hours for Pieter to place the flags and to photograph each of the 29 graves, with a slight delay caused when Pieter cut his hand on a sharp knife that Patrick had lent him so he could poke a hole into the very dry soil in order to get the flags placed. There was no real damage to his hand, but lots of blood! It didn’t help that it was over 30^oC (86^oF) and the hot sun was beating down on us, making it feel hotter.

…4 soldiers whose stories were previously told are commemorated…

The graves and photos of 4 soldiers, whose stories have previously been told on this blog, are featured.

Pieter stands behind the grave of Harold ‘Hal’ Gabriel Bulger. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Harold ‘Hal’ Gabriel BULGER of Foxley River, Prince Edward Island, was serving with the Algonquin Regiment when he was killed during the Battle of Moerbrugge in Belgium on September 10, 1944, at the age of 26. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2024/08/05/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-bulger-brothers-part-i-the-wwii-soldier-from-foxley-river-killed-during-the-battle-of-moerbrugge/

Pieter stands behind the grave of Bruce Wilbur Churchill. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Bruce Wilbur CHURCHILL, born in Sandford, Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia, was serving with the Algonquin Regiment when was accidentally killed at the age of 23 on September 29, 1944 in The Netherlands when a bullet from a Bren Gun ricocheted and hit him. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/06/05/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-ww2-soldier-who-lost-his-life-in-a-monastery-garden/

Pieter stands behind the grave of Joseph ‘Joe’ Hudson Pallister. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Joseph ‘Joe’ Hudson PALLISTER, born in Calgary, Alberta, was serving with the Canadian Scottish Regiment when he was killed during the Battle of the Leopold Canal in Belgium on October 6, 1944, aged 21. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/06/18/on-the-war-memorial-trail-1-wwii-soldier-2-families-3-countries/

After we sent photos of our visit to Joseph’s grave to his great-nephew, Thomas Mouser, he not only thanked us, but shared a letter written by Captain John ‘Jack’ Lawrence GALLAGHER to Joseph’s mother about her son….

“….I wish to express my deepest sympathies to you on the loss of your son, Joe. He was with the battalion for a long time, and was with me in ‘C’ Company from D-Day until the severe action in which he was killed.

During that time he became liked by everyone for his easy-going good humour and respected for his coolness in action and resourcefulness as our NCO.

I can only say that he was killed instantly while carrying out his job, and that his conduct in that battle and all others that he participated in was an example to us all….”

What a heartfelt letter of sympathy to a grieving mother! Captain Gallagher survived WWII, with the rank of Major and a Croix de Guerre (Bel) with Palm, and passed away in 2012. (See https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/legacyremembers/john-gallagher-obituary?id=44106495)

Pieter stands behind the grave of Edison Reynolds Smith. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Edison Reynolds SMITH, born on Port Hood Island, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, was serving with the North Nova Scotia Highlanders when he lost his life in The Netherlands on October 16, 1944 during the Battle of the Scheldt, at the age of 20. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/12/07/on-the-war-memorial-trail-part-1-the-wwii-letters-of-edison-reynolds-smith/ and https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/12/12/on-the-war-memorial-trail-part-2-the-wwii-letters-of-edison-reynolds-smith/

….Photos of 3 soldiers from Prince Edward Island are sought…

Photos are still being sought for three soldiers from Prince Edward Island who are buried in Adegem:

Valmont PERRY of St. Louis was serving with the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders when he lost his life on October 21, 1944 at the age of 26.
Allan Rattenbury READ of Read’s Corner was serving with the Regina Rifle Regiment when he lost his life on October 27, 1944 at the age of 21.
John James SAUNDERS of Bloomfield was serving with the South Saskatchewan Regiment when he lost his life on September 22, 1944 at the age of 27.

If you have photos or information to share about these men, please let Pieter know.

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

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

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

Thank you to Patrick Michiels for joining us during our visit to Adegem. Thank you also to Thomas Mouser for sharing the letter of sympathy written by Captain Gallagher. We’ll continue to share the highlights of our adventures on the 2025 European War Memorial Tour.

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

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?…

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

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

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

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A Loss For Canadian History

October 27, 2025 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 3 Comments

Dr Tim Cook (left) with Pieter (right) at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

October 27, 2025. Pieter and I were deeply saddened yesterday to learn of the passing of Dr. Tim Cook, Chief Historian at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, Canada, and the author of several books and articles about Canadian history. (See https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/war-museum-announces-passing-of-chief-historian-dr-tim-cook-832395381.html and https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/canadian-war-museum-tim-cook-dies-9.6954386)

We knew Dr. Cook as a gracious and friendly person, who was always willing to share his knowledge. A previous blog posting recounted a conversation that we had with him at the Canadian War Museum during the Covid years, about the need to remember our history. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/09/20/on-the-war-memorial-trail-in-conversation-with-historian-dr-tim-cook/)

When we first met and I initially called him Dr. Cook, he immediately corrected me! He referred to himself simply as ‘Tim’, and we were ‘Daria and Pieter’ to him.

Over the years, we found that if you asked Dr. Cook a question, he answered promptly….and if he didn’t know the answer, he found someone who did. Just one example: In the summer of 2024, we received a query from a small Manitoba museum asking how to display WWI trench maps. The request came to us, but we aren’t experts in preservation, so I emailed Dr. Cook and asked if he could forward the query to someone at the museum that could help. He did, and the small Manitoba museum got the expert advice and help needed to display the maps.

He’d been very ill in 2023, and in June of that year, he wrote us that “…I’m doing better, although it was another full-on battle with cancer. Sigh. I’m a four-time survivor, but I didn’t think I was going to make it through this one. I did, and I’m not complaining….” Indeed he didn’t complain, but went on to write another book, ‘The Good Allies’, about the relationship between Canada and the United States during WWII.

Dr. Cook’s passing, at the age of 54, is a great loss to Canadian history, to his family, friends, colleagues, and to all of us who learned about our nation’s history through his books and articles.

Pieter’s research into Canadian soldiers continues. If you have a story or photos to share, please contact Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com or comment on the blog.

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?…

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

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

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On The War Memorial Trail…..Our Visit To 4 Cemeteries In Friesland

July 23, 2025July 28, 2025 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 2 Comments

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

…..Flags placed at two graves in Makkum…

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

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

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

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

….We placed flags at one grave in Witmarsum…

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

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

…..Flags placed at two graves in Kimswerd…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The research work continues for Pieter. If you have photos or information to share about soldiers buried in The Netherlands or Belgium, or can contribute a photo of John Francis Edward TABOR, please email him at memorialtrail@gmail.com, or comment on the blog.

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?…

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

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On The War Memorial Trail….2025 Faces of Groesbeek Exhibition Part 1: Flags Placed At 120 Graves

June 23, 2025 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 2 Comments

June 23, 2025. In 2021, photos were placed at more than 1,600 graves at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands for three weeks. The event was so successful that the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which oversees the cemetery, gave permission for photos to be placed by the graves every two years. In 2023, almost 2,000 photos, just over 350 more than 2 years ago were placed.

Several hundred more have been found since then, and it was announced that for the 2025 Exhibition, 80% of the graves now have a photo of the soldier. Photos are printed onto an aluminum backing, making them impervious to rain, and reusable. The 2025 Faces Of Groesbeek Exhibition ran from April 26 to May 18, 2025.

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

This year, we were in The Netherlands and Belgium for the 80th Anniversary Commemoration events, and placed flags at the graves of 383 soldiers in 14 cemeteries.

The first cemetery we visited was Sleen General Cemetery, where we placed flags at the graves of 4 airmen who lost their lives during the last flight of Halifax DT630. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/06/15/on-the-war-memorial-trail-a-visit-to-sleen-general-cemetery/)

The second cemetery to visit on our 2025 European War Memorial Tour was the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, where Pieter placed flags at 120 graves. We arrived at the cemetery at 10 am, after a 1 ½ drive from where we were staying, and didn’t finish until 6:15 pm.

It was a long and very hot day. I must confess that I tried several times to convince Pieter to divide the flag placing in two trips, but that stubborn Dutchman was determined to place all the flags in one day, no matter how much I complained!

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

This was the final tally for the 120 graves:

34 were from Nova Scotia
26 from New Brunswick
17 from Prince Edward Island
1 from British Columbia
3 from Saskatchewan
7 from Manitoba
3 from Alberta
14 from Ontario
3 from Quebec
2 from Newfoundland

23 of the graves also received an Acadian flag, and 1 received an Indigenous flag from the Mi’kmaq Nation. All of the graves received a Canadian flag. Provincial flags were placed at all graves, with the exception of the soldiers from British Columbia and Saskatchewan.

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

….A Memorial Wall in the cemetery honours those who have no known grave…

Rifleman Clifford Alexander Blake is listed on Panel 11 of the Memorial Wall at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

We also took photos of the name of one soldier who has no known grave and is listed on Panel 11 of the Memorial Wall. Clifford Alexander BLAKE of Toronto, Ontario, was the son of William C. and Sarah L. Blake, and husband of Ferne E. Blake. He died February 16, 1945, aged 23, while serving with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles. A photo of this soldier is still being sought.

….A cemetery volunteer took our photo at one grave…

Daria and Pieter at the grave of George Taylor in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek. (Photo credit: Else Schaberg)

While in the cemetery we were approached by a volunteer, Else Schaberg, after we placed flags at the grave of George TAYLOR, a soldier from Curve Lake First Nation in Ontario. She asked us if we were Pieter and Daria….and when we said yes, asked if she could take a photo of us. Don’t we look cheerful? Luckily, it was only 11 am, and we still had plenty of energy! (You can read George Taylor’s story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/08/10/on-the-war-memorial-trail-remembering-wwii-soldier-george-taylor/)

..Lunch and a chance to meet up with Alice van Bekkum…

A quick lunch of soup and sandwich at a cafe near the cemetery. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

After meeting Else, we also had a chance to meet and greet Alice van Bekkum, Chair of Faces To Graves Foundation Groesbeek, who we’ve known for many years. She served us coffee with Dutch Easter bread made with almond paste. Yum yum! Pieter was able to give her photos that people had mailed to us over the past few years.

I did eventually convince Pieter to go for a quick lunch, before returning to place the rest of the flags. You should have seen us after 6:15 pm, when we finished! We were so tired that we could hardly make it back to the car….and then had to face a 1 ½ hour drive back ‘home’.

The Dutch continue to stress the importance of remembrance to the next generation so they can continue to remember those who lost their lives in WWII. May we never forget the sacrifices made by our Canadian soldiers. Perhaps all of the known graves of Canadians buried in Groesbeek will have a photo displayed by their grave in 2027.

In Part 2, the graves and photos of soldiers from Prince Edward Island whose stories have been told in the past few years will be featured.

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

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?…

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

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

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On The War Memorial Trail…..A Photo For WWI Soldier Harry Robinson

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

March 30, 2025. When Pieter began researching the names on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion in 2015, he hoped to be able to put a face and story to each of the 48 names. Over the years he researched each name, and we’ve told the story of each one, plus shared our visits made to the graves or memorials for many of them.

Unfortunately, photos for several have yet to be found. The Cenotaph Wall of Remembrance in the Borden-Carleton Legion, which displays the photos of the men listed on the Cenotaph, has empty frames for those photos waiting to be found.

…The 10 year search for a photo of WWI soldier Harry Robinson…

Empty frame awaiting a photo of WWI soldier Harry Robinson. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

One of those for which a photo was missing was Harry ROBINSON, born July 9, 1881 in Augustine Cove, the son of Thomas and Sarah (nee Campbell) Robinson. Harry was a widower at the time he enlisted on April 28, 1916 with the 105^th Battalion. He’d lost his daughter Merilla in 1911, and his wife Clara Wadman in 1912.

While in Valcartier, Quebec for training, Harry contracted blood poisoning from a cellulitis infection and died on June 27, 1916. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2019/04/29/the-ww1-soldiers-who-never-left-canada/)

Harry’s body was brought back to Prince Edward Island for burial in the Tryon People’s Cemetery in Tryon, not far from where we live.

Grave of Harry Robinson at the Tryon People’s Cemetery in Tryon, Prince Edward Island. (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

…At long last, a photo of Harry was found…

We keep an updated Cold Case List on this blog (see https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/our-cold-cases/). From time to time, we list the names of those from Prince Edward Island in a newspaper article in the County Line Courier newspaper.

Harry Robinson. (Photo courtesy of the Robinson family)

After the most recent article, which ran in the County Line Courier’s February 5, 2025 issue, we were contacted by Elaine McCormick of Chelton, Prince Edward Island, who submitted a photo of Harry Robinson! Harry was the “….son of Thomas and Sarah Robinson, brother of John Joseph Robinson (our grandfather). My brother Carl Robinson and I found the photo going through my late Aunt’s pictures. My aunt was Beulah Robinson Thomson…”

Elaine went on to explain that during WWI “…my grandfather John Joseph was at dry dock in Halifax…” in Nova Scotia. “…My grandmother was dying of cancer and my dad and aunt Beulah were in the Halifax orphanage….” Elaine’s grandfather “…brought them all home in 1917, a few months before the Halifax Explosion…” on December 6, 1917. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halifax_Explosion)

After Elaine’s grandmother “…. passed away...” Harry and John Joseph’s mother “…Sarah Robinson looked after…” Elaine’s father and aunt until she herself passed away. The family had more than their share of tragedy!

…Harry’s photo is now on the Cenotaph Wall of Remembrance at the Borden-Carleton Legion….

Elaine McCormick and Pieter Valkenburg with the photo of Elaine’s great-uncle Harry Robinson. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

A few days ago, we met with Elaine McCormick and her husband at the Borden-Carlton Legion, in order to place a photo of Harry Robinson in the empty frame.

…7 photos are still to be found for the names on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion….

With the photo of Harry Robinson now on the Legion’s Cenotaph Wall of Remembrance, Pieter hopes that eventually all of the empty frames will be filled. “…Photos for 6 from WWI and 1 from WWII have yet to be found….” he said. Can YOU help with this photo wish list?

Names still without faces from WWI

Leigh Hunt CAMERON, born in Albany
James Lymon CAMERON, born in Victoria
William Galen CAMPBELL, born in Wellington
Bazil CORMIER, born in Tignish
Charles LOWTHER, born in North Carleton
Arthur Clinton ROBINSON, born in Tryon

Name still without a face from WWII

Ernest Ramey GALLANT, born in Borden

Thank you to Elaine McCormick and Carl Robinson for providing a photo on behalf of the family, and to the County Line Courier newspaper for publishing the article about our Cold Case List. If you have photos or information to share about Harry Robinson or any of the names still on the Cold Case List, please email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, or comment on the blog.

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?…

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

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

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

December 24, 2024March 1, 2025 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 2 Comments

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December 24, 2024. 2024 was another busy year for us, and we remain committed to the On The War Memorial Trail research project. As of today, since this project began, Pieter has been able to cross 312 photo search requests from the three Canadian War Cemeteries in The Netherlands off of their photo search lists. In addition, he has found photos for an additional 101 soldiers, with some WWII soldiers buried in Belgium, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom, airmen buried in municipal cemeteries, several soldiers from WWI, and soldiers from Prince Edward Island that survived WWI or WWII. I have written stories for many of these soldiers, with many more stories still to come.

While a few long-standing searches for photos were successful, allowing Pieter to complete his files for those soldiers, many files still remain open. In most cases, family members were found, but no photo was available for one reason or another.

The files in which Pieter has had zero luck in finding photos have been placed on the Cold Case Files page on the On The War Memorial Trail website. We started this page last year and have been lucky to have a few names were cleared off of the list. Perhaps 2025 will see more names taken off of this list! (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/our-cold-cases/)

New research files were added, and Pieter was able to finish his research for many files from 2023. As always, there is a lag between him completing his work and me documenting his research, but that is on my very optimistic ‘to do’ list for this winter.

Pieter’s new project, to upload photos to the Canadian Virtual War Memorial website, which began in the fall of 2023, was continued into 2024. He advises that he plans to continue this project into 2025.

This year, we were able to meet several families, which we very much appreciated – this year in Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. We are grateful that so many families have come forward to share photos and information, and are thankful for help from the media in helping to find photos. What follows in the rest of this posting is a summary of what happened in 2024 with this research project.

…Pieter awarded the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation….

On August 19, 2024, Pieter was presented with the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation from The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Veterans Affairs, in a ceremony held in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. The Commendation had been awarded on January 24, 2024, with the presentation ceremony held in August. (See https://veterans.gc.ca/en/about-vac/who-we-are/department-officials/minister-veterans-affairs/minister-veterans-affairs-commendation/valkenburg-pieter-anthonie and https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2024/08/25/on-the-war-memorial-trail-pieter-awarded-the-minister-of-veterans-affairs-commendation/)

_095 Aug 19 2024 Min of VA Commendation ceremony

Pieter with the Minister of Veteran Affairs Commendation, presented to him by The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Veterans Affairs. (Photo courtesy of Veterans Affairs Canada)

…Presentation for 75^th NATO Anniversary Commemoration At Seacow Head Lighthouse….

CIMG6887 Jul 10 2024 John Pieter Clare Seacow Head Lighthouse Ceremony

Left to right: John Yeo, Pieter Valkenburg, Clare Hutchinson. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

On July 10, 2024, Pieter was one of the guest speakers at the 75^th NATO Anniversary Commemoration at Seacow Head Lighthouse in Fernwood, Prince Edward Island. Pieter briefly spoke about his deployment at a NATO Nike Missile Base in Rheine, Germany during the Cold War. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2024/07/15/on-the-war-memorial-trail75th-nato-anniversary-commemoration-at-seacow-head-lighthouse/)

Among the NATO representatives were John Yeo, Atlantic Regional Director for NATO Veterans of Canada; guest speaker Pieter Valkenburg, Public Relations Officer for Borden-Carleton Legion; and keynote speaker Clare Hutchinson, former NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for Women, Peace, and Security.

…Presentation At The 105^th Annual Remembrance Service At The Cornwall Cenotaph….

CIMG7059 Sep 22 2024 Cornwall Cenotaph speech Pieter

Pieter at the podium in Cornwall, with the WWII Cenotaph on the left, and the WWI Cenotaph on the right. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

On September 22, 2024, Pieter was the keynote speaker at the 105^th Annual Remembrance Service at the Cornwall Cenotaph in Cornwall, Prince Edward Island. Pieter briefly spoke about why he researches Canadian soldiers, gave a brief description of how the 4 names listed on the WWII Cenotaph lost their lives, and mentioned the importance of preserving photos and the individual stories of those who served. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2024/09/26/on-the-war-memorial-trail105th-annual-remembrance-service-at-cornwall-cenotaph/)

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

Pieter began a new project last fall, to upload photos to the Canadian Virtual War Memorial website, and earmarked this as his winter 2024 project. For more information on this excellent resource, see https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/

Pieter did a test run last fall, uploading photos of three WWII soldiers. This year, he uploaded photos of:

20 WWI soldiers
195 WWII soldiers and airmen

This resulted in a total contribution of 218 soldiers.

… WWI Related Stories….

We prepared a 5 part-series based on letters written by WWI soldier Lawrence Ivy MARSHALL from Prince Edward Island, who returned home with a war bride, Evelyn Martha Williams.

… WWII Related Stories….

We shared a story about the 2023 candle lighting at graves of Canadian soldiers in The Netherlands.
We provided an update to the 2021 story about WWII soldier Percy ‘Dexter’ HIGGINS, from Nova Scotia, who lost his life in The Netherlands on April 4, 1945, during the Battle of Warnsveld, while serving with the North Nova Scotia Highlanders. On April 4, 2024, Higginsstraat was named in his honour near where he lost his life.

…Indigenous Soldiers….

We were able to tell the story of the service by one WWII Indigenous soldier:

WWII Indigenous soldier James ‘Jimmy’ Oliver THOMAS from Manitoba, who died in Germany on May 2, 1945, a few days after being liberated from the Stalag VII-A POW Camp in Moosburg, Germany.

…. Stories About Servicemen From The Maritimes…

We also featured stories about servicemen from The Maritimes:

WWII soldier Harold ‘Hal’ Gabriel BULGER from Prince Edward Island, who was killed during the Battle of Moerbrugge in Belgium on September 10, 1944.
WWII soldier Lawrence William BULGER from Prince Edward Island, who was killed during the Battle of Bienen in Germany on March 25, 1945.
WWII soldier John ‘Weston’ CAMPBELL from Prince Edward Island, who was killed during Operation Veritable in Germany on February 14, 1945.
WWII soldier Donald Roy CARTER from New Brunswick, who was killed in action during the Attack on the Goch-Calcar Road in Germany on February 20, 1945.
WWII soldier Edward ‘Ed’ Dalton CHISHOLM from Nova Scotia, who was killed in action during the Battle for the North Shore of the Scheldt in Belgium on October 20, 1944.
WWII soldier Francis ‘Frank’ Ivan DOUGAN from Prince Edward Island, who was killed in a road accident in The Netherlands on May 16, 1946.
WWII soldier François ‘Frank’ GALLANT from Prince Edward Island, who was killed during the Liberation of Posterenk in The Netherlands on April 13, 1945.
WWII soldier François ‘Frank’ GUIMOND from New Brunswick, who was killed in action during the Attack on Weener in Germany on April 24, 1945.
WWII soldier Edgar M. GUITARD from New Brunswick, who was killed by German mortar fire in The Netherlands on January 15, 1945.
WWII soldier Maurice James HUGHES from Prince Edward Island, who was killed when the jeep he was riding in hit a mine in Germany on May 2, 1945.
WWII soldier Ange Aimé LECLAIR from New Brunswick, who was killed by artillery fire in Germany during the Battle of Hochwald Gap on March 2, 1945.
WWII soldier Joseph Taylor MACLEOD from Nova Scotia, who was killed in action during the Battle of Groningen on April 13, 1945.
WWII soldier Stanley Leigh MCBEATH from New Brunswick, who was killed in action in Germany on April 21, 1945.
WWII soldier Sydney Guy MOSHER from Nova Scotia, who was killed in action during the Attack on Weener in Germany on April 24, 1945.
WWII soldier Edward Gabriel PERRY from Prince Edward Island, who lost his life after being fatally wounded during the Battle of Hochwald Gap in Germany on March 2, 1945.
WWII soldier Lawrence Arthur RUDOLPH from Nova Scotia, who was killed in action during Operation Blockbuster in Germany on February 27, 1945.
WWII soldier Ronald ‘Ronnie’ Eugene SMITH from Nova Scotia, who was killed in action during Operation Cannonshot in The Netherlands on April 14, 1945.
WWII soldier Ralph Kenneth SILLIKER from Prince Edward Island, who was killed in action during Operation Churchill in Germany on March 2, 1945.
WWII soldier William Ernest STONE from Prince Edward Island, who was killed in action during the Attack On Hoogerheide in The Netherlands on October 10, 1944.

…. Stories About Servicemen From Outside The Maritimes…

WWII soldier Thomas ‘Tom’ Alfred BROWN from Alberta, who was killed in action during the Battle of Moyland Wood in Germany on February 17, 1945.

…In Conversation And More….

In an 80th Anniversary of D-Day blog, we shared some anecdotes about the Normandy landings and highlighted previously told stories of 11 servicemen who were present in Normandy on June 6, 1944. All survived D-Day, but only 1 survived WWII and returned home.
We wrote about the 80^th Anniversary of D-Day wreath laying ceremony that we attended by the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion on June 6, 2024.
We wrote about the 75^th NATO Anniversary Commemoration at Seacow Head Lighthouse in Fernwood, Prince Edward Island on June 10, 2024. Pieter was one of the guest speakers at this event.
We wrote about meeting WWII veteran Lois Maud BROWN of Kensington, Prince Edward Island, after being asked by Scott Masters, a history teacher at Crestwood Preparatory College in Toronto, Ontario, for help in finding WWII veterans to interview for the Crestwood Oral History Project.
We wrote about the 105^th Annual Remembrance Service at the Cornwall Cenotaph in Cornwall, Prince Edward Island on September 22, 2024. Pieter was the keynote speaker at this event.
We reported on how volunteers (including Pieter) at the Borden-Carleton Legion in Prince Edward Island honour deceased veterans by placing flags at the graves and monuments in the area served by the Legion.
As part of our Remembrance Week 2024 feature, we shared updates on previous stories of WWII airmen who served in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and about our visit to the Air Force Heritage Park in Summerside, Prince Edward Island.
As part of our Remembrance Week 2024 feature, we shared updates on previous stories of WWII soldiers, a visit with families of two airmen from Halifax DT630, a visit to the Sagkeeng War Memorial in Manitoba, and we featured a unique Remembrance Plaque project in Sarnia, Ontario.
As part of our Remembrance Week 2024 feature, we wrote about the visits that members of the Borden-Carleton Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion made to three schools on Prince Edward Island for Remembrance Services.
As part of our Remembrance Week 2024 feature, we wrote about the Remembrance Day ceremonies we attended at the South Shore Villa in Crapaud and at the Legion in Borden-Carleton, two Prince Edward Island communities.
As part of our Remembrance Week 2024 feature, we wrote about our visit to six Acadian memorials in New Brunswick.

…. Interviews To Highlight Search For Photos….

Pieter did the following interviews:

Kevin Rollason of the Winnipeg Free Press wrote about Pieter’s search for a photo of WWII soldier William James ‘Jimmy’ Sutherland HOLE, born in Carman, Manitoba, who died during in The Netherlands on April 22, 1945, and is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands. The article, ‘A Name Without A Face’, ran online on Friday, November 8, 2024 and in the print edition on Saturday, November 9, 2024. See https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2024/11/08/a-name-without-a-face-2 Up to now, this search is unsuccessful.
Charlotte MacAulay of the Eastern Graphic wrote about the successful photo search for WWII soldier Kevin Joseph DELORIE, who is buried in the Moro River Canadian War Cemetery in Italy. The article, ‘Remembering Kevin Delorie’, ran in the newspaper on November 6, 2024.
Pieter was interviewed by Charlotte MacAulay of the Eastern Graphic about the photo search for WWII soldier Kevin Joseph DELORIE, who was killed in Italy on December 20, 1943, while serving with the 48th Highlanders of Canada. The article, ‘Searching for photo of fallen soldier Kevin Delorie’, ran in the newspaper on October 23, 2024. This search was successful.

… Successful Search For Photos …..

Many WWII soldiers are buried in cemeteries in Europe. Pieter continues to work with photo wish lists from Canadian War Cemeteries for WWII soldiers buried in The Netherlands. This year we also received photos and information on soldiers buried in Belgium, Italy, France, and the United Kingdom.

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

Buried in Holten Canadian War Cemetery in The Netherlands:

George Alan BUCHANAN
John Woodrow COLBURN
Louis ‘Philippe’ COUTLEE
Lorenzo Joseph DUBE
Claude Pearley HUBLEY
Howard Arnold JONES
Lloyd Edward KITCHING
James ‘Jim’ John George KOSOWAN
Wilfred ‘Frank’ LEBLANC
Philip Arthur MARZOFF
William Hector MATHESON
Norman Wesley ROBINSON
Arthur SINFIELD
Roger SIROIS
Joseph Millerand WHITE
Lionel VALLEY

Buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery in The Netherlands:

John Leonard ANDERSON
John Frederick BARTLETT
Martin Seymour CARROLL
Donald Roy CARTER
Gene Boyd CLEROUX
John Edward COLEMAN
Leo Joseph DUPUIS
Harold Francis GOLDSMITH
Arnold John HICKS
Ronald Stuart KERMAN
Harold LAVIGNE
Raymond Joseph LEBLANC
Ange Aimé LECLAIR
Robert Joseph MARKEY
Dougal Kennedy MATHESON
Roderick William MCQUEEN
Wilfred Joseph MELANSON
Ernest ‘Ermos’ Giuseppe MONACO
Aloysius Theophile MORELL
Ervin Cline MYERS
Sam PROKOPCHUK
Henri ROY
Walter Paul SAMPSON
William Owen SELDON
Charles Allan TOLSON
Doran VENEAU (VIENNEAU)
Frank ‘Frankie’ William VICKERS
Frederick Leslie VOLLETT
Everett Edward YOUNG

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

Lawrence Herbert ANNIS
Robert Earl BAKER
Norman Leslie BROWN
Joseph Wilfred CAMPBELL
Edward Dalton CHISHOLM (missed in 2023)
Frank William CHRISTOPHER
Winton Bruce COOK
Omer Zoel DONELLE
Arthur Francis DOUCETTE
James Benjamin ENGLEHART
George Raymond FLINT
Gilbert FOURNIER
Calixte GAUVIN
Ernest Cornelius GIBBS
Edward Patrick HALEY
Albert Leslie HARRIS
Reginald Ratchford HARRISON
Arthur James HICKMORE
John James HIGNEY
Verdun HONSBERGER
Albert Hayton HUNT
Lloyd Warren HUTCHINGS
Harold Stanley INGRAHAM
William Charles IONSON
Albert James LOUNSBURY
Lorne Henry KINCADE
Gordon Henry Earl KITCHEN
Allan James LEFURGEY
Alexander Chisholm LOGIE
Adam Joseph MACDONALD
James MACFARLANE
Douglas Earl MACLEAN
Victor John MANN
John Neill MARSHALL
Earl Henry MCALLISTER
Raymond George MCGIVNEY
Leo John MELANSON
George B. MERRICK
Clive Austin MILLS
Herbert William NORRIS
John Charles PIRIE
Harold RENTON
Joseph Wilfred ‘Arthur’ RIOUX
William Ernest STONE
Sylvestre THOMAS
Leo Joseph Ferdinand TOURVILLE
Douglas Laurt VAN BUSKIRK (missed in 2023)
Douglas Walker VOLLETT
Ronald Sidney WATERHOUSE (missed in 2021)

Buried in Adegem Canadian War Cemetery in Belgium:

Azade BOUDREAU
Eugene Frederick MCBRIDE

Buried in Ostend New Communal Cemetery in Belgium:

Donald David Mackenzie TAYLOR

Buried in Brettville-Sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery in France:

Ernest TOURVILLE

Buried in Dunfermline (Douglas Bank) Cemetery in the United Kingdom:

Duncan Alexander MACDONALD

Buried in Moro River Canadian War Cemetery in Italy:

Kevin Joseph DELORIE

Buried in Cesena War Cemetery in Italy:

Roy REYNOLDS

Photo Search For Airmen For Air Research Drenthe Foundation in The Netherlands:

One of the projects of the Air Research Drenthe Foundation in The Netherlands is to install information panels near WWII air crash sites. While many of the airmen lost their lives and are buried in The Netherlands or just across the border in Germany, other airmen survived the crash and were in prisoner of war camps until the war ended. It can be difficult to find photos and families of airmen that survived, but Pieter took up the challenge. A photo was found for:

Arthur Alexander Jaffray LOW, of Hamilton, Ontario, bomb aimer on Halifax NP945, which crashed December 6, 1944.

… The Cold Case Files …..

Not all searches have been successful, for one reason or another. Below is a list of outstanding files for which research has been done, but no photo has been found. If you can help with a photo, please let us know. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/our-cold-cases/ for the complete list)

Douglas Gordon BLACK of Amherst, Nova Scotia, son of Sherman and Alice Black, died March 3, 1945, while serving with the Algonquin Regiment.
Clifford Alexander BLAKE of Toronto, Ontario, son of William C. and Sarah L. Blake, husband of Ferne E. Blake, died February 16, 1945, aged 23, while serving with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles.
John BROWN of London, Ontario, son of Mary T. Brown, died April 14, 1945, aged 26, while serving with the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders.
James Lyman CAMERON, born in Victoria-By-The-Sea, Prince Edward Island, son of Edward H. and Susan (Harrington) Cameron, died July 24, 1916, aged 23, while serving with the 7^th Canadian Infantry Battalion (1^st British Columbia). (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
Leigh Hunt CAMERON, born in Albany, Prince Edward Island, son of Anna Cameron, died May 5, 1916, aged 17, shortly after enlisting with the 105^th Battalion, C Company. (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
William Galen CAMPBELL, born in Wellington, Prince Edward Island, son of John G. and Grace Emma Campbell, died April 24, 1953, aged 55, many years after being discharged from the 8th Siege Battery of the 3^rd Brigade Canadian Garrison Artillery. (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
Karl CHRISTENSEN, from Alberta, but born in Starheim, Nordfjord, Norway, son of Kristian Kristiansen Hafsas and Marie K. Hafsas, died April 10, 1945, aged 41, while serving with the 8^th Field Squadron, Royal Canadian Engineers.
Bramwell Ernest CHURCHILL, of London, Ontario, son of David and Agnes C. Churchill, husband of Eva Blanche Churchill, died May 1, 1945, aged 40, while serving with the 5th Anti-Tank Regiment of the Royal Canadian Artillery.
Lorne Mart COLFORD of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, but born in Chezzetcook, Nova Scotia, son of Howard and Jeanette Colford, died April 14, 1945, aged 22, while serving with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry.
Bazil CORMIER, born in Tignish, Prince Edward Island, son of Joseph Cormier and Mary Arsenault, died August 12, 1918, aged 20, while serving with the 26th (New Brunswick) Battalion. (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
Leslie Alban CROSS, of Newcastle, New Brunswick, son of Archibald and Laura Cross, died April 19, 1945, aged 30, while serving with the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps.
Eric John CRUE of Moncton, New Brunswick, son of John and Margaret Crue, died April 6, 1945, aged 23, while serving with the Algonquin Regiment.
James Frank DOLMAN of Flatlands, New Brunswick, son of Frank Dolman and Lydia Thompson, husband of Henriette Gertrude Lyons, died April 14, 1945, aged 32, while serving with the New Brunswick Rangers -10th Independent Machine Gun Company.
Samuel George ENGEN of The Pas, Manitoba, died April 23, 1945, aged 27, while serving with the Lake Superior Regiment.
Douglas Bernard FARROW of Amherst, Nova Scotia, died April 26, 1945, aged 27, while serving with the Algonquin Regiment.
Clifford Glen FORSYTH born in Brandon, Manitoba, son of Alexander ‘Sandy’ Forsyth and Margaret McDougall, died April 11, 1945, aged 20, while serving with the Lake Superior Regiment.
Ernest Ramey GALLANT, born in Borden (now Borden-Carleton), Prince Edward Island, son of John P. and Mary Blanche Gallant, died May 20, 1943, aged 27, while with the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment. (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
John Arthur GALLERY of Saint John, New Brunswick, son of William and Grace Gallery, died October 13, 1944, aged 22, while serving with the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada.
Robert Cecil HARVEY of Centre Burlington, Nova Scotia, son of Douglas and Myrtle B. Harvey, died April 22, 1945, aged 23, while serving with the British Columbia Regiment – 28th Armoured Regiment.
William James ‘Jimmy’ Sutherland HOLE born in Carman, Manitoba, grandson of William and Eva Alise Hole, son of Daisy Hole, died April 22, 1945, aged 20, while serving with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles.
Gordon John HOPPER of London, Ontario, son of Gordon and Vera Mae Hopper, died April 16, 1945, aged 19, while serving with the Lincoln and Welland Regiment.
John Lewis HUGHES, born in Eriksdale, Manitoba, son of Ebenezer George and Ellen (nee Rogan) Hughes, husband of Irene (nee Goodwin) Hughes of Winnipeg, Manitoba, died November 2, 1944, aged 28, while serving with the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corp – 10th Field Dressing Station.
Peter HYDICHUK of Theodore, Saskatchewan, son of Alex and Ann Hydichuk, died March 31, 1945, aged 27, while serving with the South Saskatchewan Regiment.
George Mcdonald JOHNSTON of Toronto, Ontario, son of William and Annie Johnston, died April 2, 1945, aged 27, while serving with the Lake Superior Regiment.
Wallace Herbert LARLEE of Perth, New Brunswick, died April 24, 1945, aged 19, while serving with the North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment.
Albert George LE RUE of Halifax, Nova Scotia, son of William and Catherine Le Rue, died March 7, 1945, aged 24, while serving with the Algonquin Regiment.
Logan Elwood LESLIE, born in Oxford, Nova Scotia, died April 9, 1945, son of John J. and Georgie Mary Leslie of Moncton, New Brunswick, while serving with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry. (added in 2023)
Charles W. LOWTHER, born in North Carleton, Prince Edward Island, son of Bessie Lowther, died September 25, 1918, aged 21, while serving with the 25^th Battalion, Canadian Infantry. (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
Harry Donald MACPHERSON, from Vancouver, British Columbia, son of Alex Mann Macpherson and Jane Bell Macpherson, husband of Gwendolyn Eva Macpherson, died April 29, 1945, aged 33, while serving with the Canadian Scottish Regiment.
John Redmond MAHONEY, born in Port Elgin, New Brunswick, son of John J. and Gertrude C. Mahoney, died April 12, 1945, aged 30, while serving with the New Brunswick Rangers-10th Independent Machine Gun Company.
Wilbert Harold MOORE, born in Fredericton, New Brunswick, son of Jessie Louise and Hugh Irving Moore, died June 16, 1945, aged 28, while serving with the 3rd Division Works Transport Company, Royal Canadian Army Service Corps.
Francis Leslie MULCAHY of Halifax, Nova Scotia, son of Daniel and Mary Mulcahy, died April 24, 1945, aged 21, while serving with the North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment.
Archibald Henry NELSON, born in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, son of William Henry and Winnifred Frances Nelson, died April 18, 1945, aged 34, while serving with the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment.
George Austin NORDVALL of Birch River, Manitoba, died February 21, 1945, while serving with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles.
Arthur Clinton ROBINSON, born in Tryon, Prince Edward Island, son of Albert J. and Flora P. Scruton Robinson, died March 27, 1916, aged 19, while serving with the 26th (New Brunswick) Battalion. (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
Harry ROBINSON, born in Augustine Cove, Prince Edward Island, son of Thomas and Sarah Robinson, husband of Clara J. Robinson, died June 27, 1916, aged 34, while serving with the 105^th Battalion, C Company. (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
Wilfred ROY, of Robertville, Gloucester County, New Brunswick, son of Camille and Catherine Roy, died October 28, 1945, aged 38, while serving with the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps.
Charles Patrick SHEFFIELD of Sundridge, Ontario, son of Charles and Mrs Sheffield, husband of Bessie Alice Butler from Botwood, Newfoundland, and father of Patrick William Wallace Sheffield, died May 4, 1945, aged 24, while serving with the Algonquin Regiment.
Charles Bernard STAFFORD of Halifax, Nova Scotia, son of Charles Bernard and Blanche Stafford, husband of Winifred Leitha Stafford of Intake, Sheffield, England, died April 18, 1945, aged 28, while serving with the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps – 9th Field Ambulance.
Frank Peter VARDIG of St. John, New Brunswick, son of Charles and Lily Vardig, died June 12, 1945, aged 23, while serving with the Carleton & York Regiment.
Harry WHITE of Halifax, Nova Scotia, son of Wilfred and Mary White, died May 19, 1945, aged 27, while serving with the West Nova Scotia Regiment.

….Case Closed!….

The following files were completed and removed from the Cold Case List:

John Frederick BARTLETT of Moreton’s Harbour, Newfoundland, son of Alfred and Jessie Bartlett, died February 27, 1945, aged 47, while serving with the South Alberta Regiment. – Action: Photo identified by great-nephew Gerald Bartlett from a South Alberta Regiment Squadron group photo, taken in England in February 1943, that the family had in its possession. Thank you Gerald!
John Edward COLEMAN of Moncton, New Brunswick, son of Edward J. and Florence Coleman, husband of Della Coleman, died June 17, 1945, aged 32, while serving with the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. – Action: Newspaper photo found by Etienne Gaudet. Thank you Etienne!
Arnold John HICKS of Midgic Station, New Brunswick, son of John A. and Minnie Hicks, died March 8, 1945, aged 21, while serving with the Lincoln and Welland Regiment. – Action: A day after this soldier’s name was placed on the Cold Case List, his photo was submitted by Marcia Giller! Thank you Marcia.
Claude Pearley HUBLEY of Chipman, New Brunswick, son of Joshua and Adelia Hubley, husband of Agnes Myrtle Hubley, died April 25, 1945, aged 29, while serving with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry. – Action: Newspaper photo and obituary from the Saint John Telegraph Journal of May 24, 1945 was submitted by David Archer from Operation Picture Me, saying “…I saw your cold case wish list and I have this clipping that may interest you…” Thank you David.
Lloyd Edward KITCHING of Winnipeg, Manitoba, son of Robert Burns Lloyd Kitching, and stepson of Eva L. Kitching, died May 1, 1945, aged 25, while serving with the Royal Canadian Artillery – 6^th Field Regiment. – Action: Newspaper photo found.

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

As 2024 comes to an end, we would like to thank all who helped with researching these stories and contributed photos. We also thank readers of this blog, and the On The War Memorial Trail column in the County Line Courier newspaper, who suggested some of the stories you’ve read. A big thank you goes to Mike and Isabel Smith, owners of the County Line Courier.

Thank you to all the families that contributed photos and stories. Thank you to Judie Klassen and Shawn Rainville who volunteered their time to help find families of soldiers through newspaper and online searches. Thank you to Etienne Gaudet for helping to find photos of New Brunswick soldiers on our behalf, and for translating letters from French into English.

Thank you to the media who helped publicize the search for photos and information – Eastern Graphic, and the Winnipeg Free Press.

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

….Happy Holidays…

Pieter and I wish you all the best for the holidays and in 2025. May we never forget those who gave their lives for our freedom.

2024 Christmas photo Pieter and Daria

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

…Want to follow our research?…

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

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

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On The War Memorial Trail….Remembrance Week 2024 – Visiting Acadian Memorials In New Brunswick

November 22, 2024 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 2 Comments

November 22, 2024. This past August we visited several places along the beautiful Acadian Coastal Drive in New Brunswick, following the scenic coastline along Chaleur Bay. One of the highlights of our trip was the chance to meet in person with Armel ‘Mel’ Lanteigne and his wife Monique. Over the past few years, Mel has helped to find photos of soldiers from the area that are on the photo wish lists from Canadian War Cemeteries in The Netherlands, but we’d never met in person.

A veteran, Mel is involved in restoring and placing monuments in his area, and was featured in an article about the restoration of a cenotaph in Caraquet, New Brunswick. (You can read the French language article here: Restaurer des cénotaphes, la mission spéciale d’Armel Lanteigne à Caraquet | Radio-Canada https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1908177/armel-lanteigne-renover-cenotaphe-grand-caraquet)

….The route plan…..

Screenshot 2024-11-17 at 12-08-35 caraquet new brunswick at DuckDuckGo

Map shows the location of the 6 memorials we visited in New Brunswick. (Map source: DuckDuckGo)

Over dinner at our hotel in Beresford, New Brunswick, just outside of Bathurst, Mel and Monique offered to take us on a guided tour of several of the monuments in the area that Mel was involved with. On our guided tour we would visit memorials in Grande-Anse, Maisonette, Bertrand, Caraquet, and Bas-Caraquet. We then would bid adieu to Mel and Monique and continue on to Tracadie to visit one final memorial before heading back to Prince Edward Island.

….Memorial 1: Grande-Anse…..

Our first stop was Grande-Anse, the entry port to the Acadian Peninsula. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

The next morning, Pieter and I drove along the Chaleur Bay to Grande-Anse, the first memorial stop on our tour, and where we would meet Mel and Monique. We were lucky with the weather, which was beautifully warm and sunny.

CIMG6966 Aug 27 2024 Pieter by Grand-Anse Monument

Pieter by one side of the Grande-Anse Monument. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

CIMG6972 Aug 27 2024 Pieter & Mel by Grand-Anse Monument

Pieter (left) and Mel Lanteigne (right) by the Grande-Anse Monument. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Of great interest to a military researcher like Pieter was the chance to see an artillery gun and armoured personnel carrier (APC), both of which were beside the Grande-Anse Monument.

CIMG6968 Aug 27 2024 Artillery gun by Grand-Anse Monument

Pieter by the artillery gun at the Grande-Anse Monument. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

CIMG6969 Aug 27 2024 APC Armoured Personnel Carrier by Grand-Anse Monument

Pieter by the armoured personnel carrier (APC) at the Grande-Anse Monument. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

….Memorial 2: Maisonnette…..

Our second stop was Maisonnette. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

From Grande-Anse, we travelled to Maisonnette, site of the Maisonnette Memorial. Jean FRIGAULT, of Maisonnette, whose photo was recently submitted to Pieter by Mel, is listed on this memorial. He was killed on March 2, 1945 while serving with Le Régiment de la Chaudière, and is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands. His story will be told in an upcoming blog posting.

CIMG6975 Aug 27 2024 Pieter & Mel by Maisonette monument

Pieter (left) with Mel Lanteigne at the Maisonnette Memorial. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

CIMG6977Aug 27 2024 Jean Frigault listed on Maisonette monument

Jean Frigault is one of 4 WWII casualties listed on the Maisonnette Memorial. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

….Memorial 3: Bertrand…..

Our third stop was Bertrand. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Our third stop was in Bertrand, where, to our surprise, we saw a familiar name listed on the monument – that of Léopold THÉRIAULT of Bertrand, whose name had been on a photo wish list from the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom, The Netherlands where he is buried. Pieter had just recently obtained a photo, otherwise the name might not have resonated when we saw it on the memorial! Léopold was killed on October 25, 1944 while serving with the Algonquin Regiment. His story will be told in an upcoming blog posting.

CIMG6983 Aug 27 2024 Mel & Pieter by Bertrand Monument

Mel (left) and Pieter at the Bertrand Memorial. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

CIMG6986 Aug 27 2024 Pieter by list of names by Bertrand Monument

Pieter by the plaque on the Bertrand Memorial listing Léopold Thériault as one of 4 WWII casualties from the area. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

….Memorial 4: Caraquet…..

Our fourth stop was Caraquet. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Our fourth stop was at the memorial in Caraquet, which lists the names of two WWII soldiers whose stories were previously told on this blog: Gilles LANTEIGNE and Alphonse ROBERT.

CIMG6991 Aug 27 2024 Pieter Mel & Monique at Caraquet monument

Pieter (left) with Mel and Monique at the Caraquet Memorial. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

The Caraquet Memorial is very dear to Mel’s heart. When the original monument was restored several years ago, a decision was made to add a statue of a WWII soldier, depicted as seated and reading a postcard from home. The model for the statue was Mel and Monique’s son Marc-André, and the WWII uniform used for the model had been worn by Monique’s father, William D. WARD!

Marc-André Lanteigne in his grandfather’s WWII uniform, standing beside the original Caraquet Memorial. (Photo courtesy of Mel Lanteigne)

CIMG6993 Aug 27 2024 Gilles Lanteigne & Alphonse Robert on list of names on Caraquet monument

Gilles Lanteigne and Alphonse Robert are two of 14 WWII casualties listed on the Caraquet Memorial. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

To read Gilles Lanteigne’s story, see https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/07/11/on-the-war-memorial-trail-atlantic-canada-remembers-part-10/

To read Alphonse Robert’s story, see:

….Memorial 5: Bas-Caraquet…..

Our fifth stop was Bas-Caraquet. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Our last stop on our tour with Mel and Monique was the village of Bas-Caraquet. WWII soldier Armand GIONET, whose photo was submitted to Pieter by Mel, is listed on the Bas-Caraquet Memorial.

CIMG7002 Aug 27 2024 Daria & Pieter by Bas Caraquet Monument

Pieter and Daria at the Bas-Caraquet Memorial. (Photo credit: Mel Lanteigne)

CIMG7001 Aug 27 2024 Armand Gionet on list of names at Bas Caraquet Monument

Armand Gionet is one of 7 WWII casualties listed on this memorial. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

After Armand’s story was published, we heard from Jan Braakman, a Dutch journalist, who wrote to let us know that “….Armand Gionet died in my town of birth (Laren, province of Gelderland) at the same place, same time and same way as my grandmother, Dina Koeslag.….” Both lost their lives after the building they were in was hit by a German bazooka and started on fire.

To read Armand’s story, see https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/07/11/on-the-war-memorial-trail-atlantic-canada-remembers-part-10/

….Memorial 6: Tracadie…..

CIMG7027 Aug 28 2024 Info on Tracadie Monument

Information panel at the Tracadie Cenotaph. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

When we visited the five memorials with Mel and Monique it was warm and sunny. The following day, however, it rained when we visited the Tracadie Cenotaph in Tracadie.

CIMG7024 Aug 28 2024 Pieter at Tracadie Monument

Pieter at the Tracadie Cenotaph. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

WWII soldier Alderic BASQUE, of Tracadie, whose photo was found several years ago with the help of Marc Comeau, is listed on this Cenotaph. To read Alderic’s story, see https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2020/12/31/on-the-war-memorial-trail-a-face-for-ww2-soldier-alderic-basque/

CIMG7026 Aug 28 2024 Alderic Basque listed on Tracadie Monument

Alderic Basque is one of 19 WWII casualties listed on this Cenotaph. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Also listed on this Cenotaph is WWII soldier Cyrille CAISSIE, whose photo was obtained by Pieter last year. Born in Four Roads, New Brunswick, Cyril was the son of John and Delima Caissie. He lost his life on February 26, 1945 at the age of 25, while serving with Le Régiment de la Chaudière, and is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands.

WWII soldier Sylvestre THOMAS, whose name is also on this Cenotaph, is on the photo wish list that Pieter is still searching for. The son of Xavier and Sara (nee Hebert) Thomas, of Upper Tilley Rd, Gloucester County., New Brunswick, Sylvestre lost his life on October 25, 1944 at the age of 24, while serving with the Algonquin Regiment. He’s buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom.

We found visiting these memorials very moving. Pieter summed up the experience, saying that “…after researching and telling the stories of these men, it was an honour to visit the places where they came from, and to know that they are not forgotten…”

Thank you to Mel and Monique Lanteigne for showing us monuments in their area in which Acadian soldiers we’ve featured on this blog are listed. May we never forget all those who served, and continue to serve!

If you have a story to tell, or can help with the search for a photo of Sylvestre Thomas, please let Pieter know. You can email him at memorialtrail@gmail.com, or comment on the blog.

….Want to follow our research?….

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

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….Borden-Carleton Legion Honours Veterans By Placing Flags At Their Graves

November 3, 2024 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

November 3, 2024. In preparation for Remembrance Day, Pieter and Mario Henry, two veterans from Borden-Carleton Branch #10 in Prince Edward Island, and Mario’s son Laurie, visited cemeteries and cenotaphs in the area during the last week of October. They ensured that veterans buried at 9 cemeteries, and whose names are listed on 4 cenotaphs, received a Canadian flag in 2024.

Both William Galen CAMPBELL and his brother George ‘Albert’ CAMPBELL are listed on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion. Albert was killed in action in 1918 in Belgium during the Battle of Mount Sorrel and has no known grave. William Galen is buried in Cape Traverse Community Cemetery. Pieter noted that while he received a photo of Albert Campbell, a photo for William Galen has never been found. If you can help with a photo of William Galen Campbell, please let us know. (You can read the story of the two Campbell brothers at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2017/12/08/two-campbell-brothers-in-ww1/)

CIMG7104 Oct 31 2024 Pieter and Mario Henry at Cemetery entrance

Pieter (left) and Mario Henry (right) at Cape Traverse Community Cemetery. (Photo credit: Laurie Henry)

CIMG7105 Oct 31 2024 Pieter by Campbell graves

Pieter between the graves of WWI veteran William Galen Campbell (left), and the mentioning of his brother George ‘Albert’ Campbell (right) – who was killed in action in 1918 in Belgium and has no known grave. (Photo credit: Mario Henry)

The cemeteries covered by the area served by the Borden-Carleton Branch are:

Cape Traverse – Cape Traverse Community Cemetery
Cape Traverse – Cape Traverse United Church Cemetery
Central Bedeque – Central Bedeque Baptist Cemetery
Kinkora – St. Malachy’s Roman Catholic Cemetery
Lower Bedeque – Lower Bedeque Cemetery
North Tryon – North Tryon Presbyterian Cemetery
Searletown – Searletown United Cemetery
Seven Mile Bay – St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Cemetery
Tryon – Tryon People’s Cemetery

Flags were also placed at these Cenotaphs:

Augustine Cove Cenotaph (4 flags)
Borden-Carleton Cenotaph (1 flag)
Searletown United Cemetery Cenotaph (4 flags)
Tryon Cenotaph (4 flags)

The placing of flags at graves and cenotaphs has been done annually for well over 20 years. If you see Canadian flags by graves, please do not disturb them. They are a mark of respect for a veteran’s service to Canada, and will be picked up about a week after November 11.

Mario Henry asks that if a veteran’s grave was missed, or if a veteran has recently passed away, please contact the Legion, so that flags can be placed for next year. The Legion can be contacted by phone at 902-855-2660 (after 4 pm) or on its Facebook page. You can also contact Pieter, the branch Public Relations Officer, at memorialtrail@gmail.com or comment on the blog.

….Want to follow our research?….

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

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……75th NATO Anniversary Commemoration At Seacow Head Lighthouse

July 15, 2024July 16, 2024 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

NATO flag flying at Seacow Head Lighthouse this past spring. (Photo courtesy of Liz Hubert)

July 15, 2024. On July 10, 2024, a 75^th NATO Anniversary Commemoration was held at Seacow Head Lighthouse in Fernwood, Prince Edward Island, as part of the official opening ceremonies for the Lighthouse as a museum. The lighthouse itself has been in existence since 1864, standing beside Fernwood’s red cliffs.

Postcard of Seacow Head Lighthouse.

It has been featured in the Road To Avonlea TV series, based on the Anne of Green Gables books by Lucy Maud Montgomery, which I grew up reading. When Pieter was asked to be one of the guest speakers at the 75^th NATO Anniversary Commemoration at this beautiful location, I was really hoping he’d say ‘yes’.

Seacow Head Lighthouse was featured in the Road To Avonlea TV series. (Photo source: YouTube)

….Pieter shared his experience at a NATO base in Germany….

Rheine tile. (Photo courtesy of Pieter Valkenburg)

Pieter did agree to speak briefly about his deployment at a NATO base in Rheine, Germany, as a NIKE Missile Tracking Operator, while he was serving with the Royal Netherlands Air Force during the Cold War. He reminded us of how alert the base had to be in case of an attack – when the NIKE guided nuclear missiles would be used as an anti-aircraft surface to air system.

May 25, 2006. Rheine. Pieter at a street map. Where did I live?

Pieter in Rheine in 2006, looking at the map to see where the NATO base had been located. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

….Pieter was surprised to see an old Soviet early warning system in Ukraine ….

IMG_0075 May 21 2007 Daria and Pieter in Bolechiw

Daria and Pieter at the outskirts of Bolekhiv, Ukraine in 2007. (Photo courtesy of Valkenburg Family)

He explained that “…luckily, during my deployment, the missiles were never activated. It didn’t really hit home for me the dangerous position we were in until decades later when my wife and I were in Ukraine in 2007. Near the town of Zolichev in Western Ukraine, we saw the remnants of an early warning system aimed at Western Europe. Yes…. it was an anti-aircraft defence station similar to where I had worked in Rheine, but operated by the Soviets….”

Of course we stopped to take another look, as Pieter recounted in his presentation. “…It was no longer in use and locals had stripped all the usable materials from the inside, like electrical wiring and valuable metals. All that was left was the shell and the round radars….”

IMG_0134 May 22 2007 Anti aircraft defence station near Zolichev

The anti-aircraft defence station near Zolichev had not been dismantled in 2007. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Pieter’s anecdote was a reminder that geopolitics can bring long-forgotten conflicts into today’s world. “…The station in Rheine had been completely dismantled, and was a meadow when we last visited there in 2006. So I asked Slav, our Ukrainian driver, why the Russians didn’t dismantle their station when they left. The answer? Slav believed that the Russians were hoping to use it again in the future – once Ukraine got over ‘this silly notion of independence’ – as he put it. A chilling comment that now seems prophetic….”

…. ‘May we never forget those who have been affected by war’ ….

Pieter’s presentation ended with him saying that “….I was proud to serve in Rheine as a member of NATO so many years ago, doing my small part in keeping peace during the Cold War. May we never forget those who have been affected by war. Thank you….”

Among the NATO representatives present on July 10, 2024 were John Yeo, Atlantic Regional Director for NATO Veterans of Canada; guest speaker Pieter Valkenburg, Public Relations Officer for Borden-Carleton Legion; and keynote speaker Clare Hutchinson, former NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for Women, Peace, and Security.

Left to right: John Yeo, Pieter Valkenburg, Clare Hutchinson. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

It was fitting that NATO, seen as a beacon of hope and peace to many, had its 75^th anniversary commemorated beside a lighthouse in a beautiful and peaceful landscape. Thank you to The Friends of Seacow Head Lighthouse organizing committee – Dr. Elisabeth Hubert, PhD, Tom Sherry, and Jim MacFarlane – for inviting Pieter to speak.

Do you have photos or information to share? Email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or tweet to @researchmemori1.

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	On The War Memorial… on On The War Memorial Trail….A V…
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….Steve Gallant’s niece had a photo of her uncle….

….Steve enlisted in 1942…

….Steve transferred to the 5th SMAA S/L Troop…

….Steve left Canada for overseas service….

….Steve lost his life during the Battle of the Leopold Canal….

….Steve is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Adegem….

….Steve’s mother wanted answers….

….The 12 soldiers from Prince Edward Island who are buried in Adegem….

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….Flags placed at the graves of soldiers from 8 provinces…

….This was our first visit to Adegem…

…4 soldiers whose stories were previously told are commemorated…

….Photos of 3 soldiers from Prince Edward Island are sought…

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

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

…..Flags placed at two graves in Makkum…

….We placed flags at one grave in Witmarsum…

…..Flags placed at two graves in Kimswerd…

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

….A Memorial Wall in the cemetery honours those who have no known grave…

….A cemetery volunteer took our photo at one grave…

..Lunch and a chance to meet up with Alice van Bekkum…

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…The 10 year search for a photo of WWI soldier Harry Robinson…

…At long last, a photo of Harry was found…

…Harry’s photo is now on the Cenotaph Wall of Remembrance at the Borden-Carleton Legion….

…7 photos are still to be found for the names on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion….

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…Pieter awarded the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation….

…Presentation for 75th NATO Anniversary Commemoration At Seacow Head Lighthouse….

…Presentation At The 105th Annual Remembrance Service At The Cornwall Cenotaph….

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

… 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….

… Successful Search For Photos …..

… The Cold Case Files …..

….Case Closed!….

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

….Happy Holidays…

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….The route plan…..

….Memorial 1: Grande-Anse…..

….Memorial 2: Maisonnette…..

….Memorial 3: Bertrand…..

….Memorial 4: Caraquet…..

….Memorial 5: Bas-Caraquet…..

….Memorial 6: Tracadie…..

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….Pieter shared his experience at a NATO base in Germany….

….Pieter was surprised to see an old Soviet early warning system in Ukraine ….

…. ‘May we never forget those who have been affected by war’ ….

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**…Presentation for 75^th NATO Anniversary Commemoration At Seacow Head Lighthouse….**

…Presentation At The 105^th Annual Remembrance Service At The Cornwall Cenotaph….