On The War Memorial Trail…. Remembrance Week 2025 -Remembrance Service At Crapaud Community Hall

November 12, 2025 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 1 Comment

November 12, 2025. On Sunday, November 9, 2025, the Annual Remembrance Service was held at Crapaud Community Hall in Crapaud, Prince Edward Island. Pieter was invited by Connie MacKinnon, on behalf of the village of Crapaud, to be the guest speaker.

The service, led by Rev. Margaret Collins and Rev Eric Lynk, included an honour guard from the Kingston Legion Branch No. 30, two sea cadets from the Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps No. 23 Kent in Charlottetown, pianist Susan MacKay. Peter Bevan-Baker, MLA for District 17 New Haven – Rocky Point, played ‘The Last Post’ and ‘Rouse’ on his trumpet.

….Pieter was introduced by The Honourable Mary Robinson, Senator….

Pieter was introduced by The Honourable Mary Robinson, Senator, using almost the same text as in a statement about him that she had read out on October 8, 2025 in the Senate of Canada. You can watch the original statement below: (See also https://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2025/sen/Y3-451-23-eng.pdf page 763)

It was an emotional moment for Pieter as he heard this beautiful introduction, and it took him a few seconds to regain his composure before facing the microphone.

….Pieter’s presentation was built around 5 words….

Pieter needed a few seconds to regain his composure following the heartfelt introduction by Senator Robinson. (Photo credit: Matt MacFarlane)

Pieter’s presentation began by saying “…I’d like to share what Remembrance Day means to me….and my wife Daria. Five words come to mind…. Gratitude… Sorrow ….Thankfulness…. Respect….. and Admiration…”

He spoke about being born during the Hunger Winter in The Netherlands. “…So many people starved to death that winter! In the days before social media, how many people around the world knew about the impact of starvation on an occupied population?

Allied soldiers not only liberated us from Nazi rule, they saved us from starvation….”

Here are a few excerpts from his presentation about the five words: “…In gratitude, now that I’m retired, one way for me to honour those who lost their lives in war is to research and share the stories of Canadians who served and died in the First and Second World Wars, helping to ensure that they will never be forgotten.

That brings me to sorrow….not only for the thousands of Allied soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice, but also the families that lost their loved ones….children, siblings, parents who never were able to return home to live their lives, but instead are buried overseas…..

Thankfulness is also never far from my mind, thankfulness that we live in peace here in Canada….” Pieter then spoke briefly about his experience while serving with the Royal Netherlands Air Force during the Cold War.

“…I have deep respect for those who served in war….” he said, and mentioned the various research projects we’ve been involved in since 2014. In reflecting on our trip to Europe this past spring to visit 14 cemeteries and place flags at 383 graves, he noted that “…we met other visitors, many accompanied by children, who stopped to ask if we were Canadian, and to then say thank you….”

As he neared the end of his presentation, he explained that “…the more that I learn about our Canadian soldiers, the more admiration I have for the courage they showed in battle, their steadfastness in looking out for their comrades, and the way they kept their sense of humour while being away from their families and the comforts of home….”

As always, he ended his speech by reaffirming that “…remembrance of those who gave their lives for our continued freedom is important, and no soldier buried overseas should ever be forgotten. Thank you….”

….The service was followed by a chance to socialize….

Following his speech, Pieter was thanked by Margaret Armsworthy, Chief Administrative Officer at the Crapaud Council.

After the wreaths were laid, and the closing prayers were said, it was a time to chance to socialize and thank Senator Mary Robinson in person for her introduction. She’d attended the service with her family, including her mother Hazel Robinson.

The Honourable Mary Robinson, Senator, Hazel Robinson, Pieter. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

We also had a chance to say hello to our former dentist, Peter Bevan-Baker, who is now the MLA for District 17 New Haven – Rocky Point.

The Honourable Mary Robinson, Senator, Pieter, and Peter Bevan-Baker, MLA for District 17 New Haven – Rocky Point, who played the The Last Post and Rouse on his trumpet. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

…Text of the statement read out in the Senate of Canada by The Honourable Mary Robinson, Senator….

“….Honourable senators, imagine a country in ruins. It is May 1945. The Netherlands has endured years of Nazi occupation — families starving, freedom extinguished, hope nearly gone. And then, on the horizon, the people see soldiers bearing a maple leaf. It is the First Canadian Army. Liberation has come.

More than 7,600 Canadian soldiers, sailors and airmen gave their lives between September 1944 and April 1945 to free the Netherlands. Their sacrifice is written not only in history books but also in the very soil where they rest.

During those dark years, Canada also became a safe haven for the Dutch Royal Family. In a remarkable gesture of friendship, in 1943, our government declared a hospital ward in Ottawa to be extraterritorial land so that Princess Margriet could be born on Dutch soil here in Canada. To this day, every spring, Ottawa blossoms with tulips — a living reminder of the bond between our two nations.

Fast forward to July 2, 2025, just after the eightieth anniversary of liberation. His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands appointed Pieter Valkenburg as Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau. This honour, created in 1892, is conferred on people who have made a contribution of outstanding value and have rendered meritorious service of national importance to the Netherlands.

Allow me to introduce Sir Pieter Valkenburg.

A retired veteran of the Royal Netherlands Air Force and Dutch Foreign Service, Sir Pieter, with his wife, Daria, made Prince Edward Island their home. From my community, and now their community, of North Tryon, they have built something extraordinary: the project On The War Memorial Trail.

What began in 2014 as a personal research journey has grown into a mission of remembrance. Pieter and Daria have identified the graves of hundreds of Canadian soldiers who fell in the Netherlands. This year alone, they visited 14 cemeteries in the Netherlands and Belgium, placing Canadian flags, provincial flags and, where it was fitting, Acadian and Indigenous flags. Each flag was a promise: We remember you.

In 2025, they honoured 383 Canadian graves — soldiers from all 10 provinces and from the Yukon, 60 of them from our own Prince Edward Island. Imagine that — Island sons resting in foreign soil, remembered by neighbours half a world away.

Honourable senators, I invite you to join me in celebrating this inspiring man.

Sir Pieter, they say the Dutch never forgot their liberators. But today, let us turn that truth around: Canada will never forget you and the tireless work you have done to keep the legacies of our soldiers alive.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. It is an honour and a source of pride to have you as a neighbour in North Tryon, Prince Edward Island…..”

Flags displayed during the Remembrance Service at Crapaud Community Hall. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Thank you to Connie MacKinnon for inviting Pieter to speak. Thank you to The Honourable Mary Robinson, Senator, for both her introduction at the Remembrance Service and her statement in the Senate of Canada. Thank you to Annie Lee MacDonald for providing a copy of Senator Robinson’s statement, to Hazel Robinson for sending the video, and to Wendy Nattress for converting it to a shareable link.

The work of remembrance of those who served continues. More Remembrance Week stories to come.

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

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?….

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

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

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

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On The War Memorial Trail….Remembrance Week 2025 – Reflections and Updates

November 9, 2025November 30, 2025 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 2 Comments

November 9, 2025. When we write a story on the blog, we often receive additional information about the soldiers we’ve written about, about other soldiers buried in the same cemetery, or who served in the same unit. This Remembrance Week 2025 posting gives an update on three soldiers whose stories were previously told, one whose story is coming up in a future posting, and about our visit to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission office in Ottawa, Ontario.

Each year we also try to visit one or more war memorials in Canada. In this posting we feature a visit to the Memramcook Veterans Park in Memramcook, New Brunswick, and Beach Grove Memorial Forest in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.

…A banner for WWII soldier Joseph ‘Ambroise’ Comeau….

Banner for WWII soldier Joseph ‘Ambroise’ Comeau. (Photo credit: Simone Comeau)

One of the WWII soldiers buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands, is Joseph ‘Ambroise’ COMEAU, from Lower Saulnierville, Nova Scotia. Ambroise was one of 5 soldiers from the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment who drowned in a tragic accident in the Battle of Leer in Germany on April 28, 1945, aged 21. His was one of the 383 graves we visited this spring during our 2025 European War Memorial Tour, and Pieter had placed flags of Canada and Nova Scotia, as well as an Acadian flag, by his grave.

When Simone Comeau recently sent us a photo of her uncle’s banner, she explained why it included both a Canadian and Acadian flag. “…We had a choice as to which flag we wanted along with the flag of Canada so since you honoured the Acadian veterans this year in Holland and we are Acadians I figured it was only appropriate to do so….”

You can read Ambroise’s story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/05/17/on-the-war-memorial-trail-a-tragic-drowning-on-the-leda-river-in-germany-part-3/ and about our visit to his grave at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/09/04/on-the-war-memorial-trail-2025-faces-of-holten-exhibition-part-4-soldiers-who-drowned-during-operation-duck/

….The family of WWII soldier James ‘Jimmy’ Oliver Thomas framed the photo we sent…

Framed photo taken at the grave of James ‘Jimmy’ Oliver Thomas. (Photo courtesy of Rodd Cooper)

During our visit to the various cemeteries during the 2025 European War Memorial Tour, we took photos of each grave at which Pieter placed flags, and later sent photos to the families of these soldiers. Rodd Cooper, nephew of WWII soldier James ‘Jimmy’ Oliver THOMAS framed the photo we had emailed him, and emailed us back a photo of the framed picture with the family’s thanks. We were deeply touched by this!

Born in St. Peters, Manitoba, Jimmy died in Germany on May 2, 1945, aged 33, a few days after being liberated from the Stalag VII-A POW Camp in Moosburg, Germany. He had been taken prisoner of war on May 22, 1943, while serving with the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, during the breaking of the Hitler Line.

You can read Jimmy’s story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2024/02/18/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-soldier-from-manitoba-who-died-shortly-after-being-liberated-from-stalag-vii-a/ and about our visit to his grave at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/09/10/on-the-war-memorial-trail-2025-faces-of-holten-exhibition-part-5-indigenous-soldiers/

….WWII soldier Samuel George Engen was remembered by his great-niece Clover Rusk on National Indigenous Veterans Day…

In a November 8, 2025 Facebook posting, Clover Rusk remembered her great-uncle, Samuel George ENGEN of The Pas, Manitoba on National Indigenous Veterans Day….and thanked Pieter “…for dedicating his time to Indigenous war vets buried overseas…”

After a 3 year search by various family members, a photo was found by Clover earlier this year, in an album that had belonged to her great-grandfather Aaron, the older brother of Samuel.

The son of Louis Julius Engen and Mary Helen (nee Buck) Engen, and husband of Miriam Susan Pranteau, Samuel died April 23, 1945 in Germany, during the Battle for the Kusten Canal, aged 27, while serving with the Lake Superior Regiment.

Samuel is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands, which we visited this past May, and where Pieter placed flags of Canada and Manitoba by his grave. His story will be told in an upcoming posting.

….Flags were placed at the grave of WWII airman William Andrew Hood on our behalf…

Grave of William Andrew Hood. (Photo credit: Robert van der Ende)

One of the cemeteries to visit on our 2025 European War Memorial Tour was Eindhoven General Cemetery in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, where WWII airman William Andrew HOOD, of Little Bras D’or, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, is buried.

Eindhoven was near where we were for a family visit, and we had planned to go to the cemetery before we left for Belgium the following day. But….by this time we were totally exhausted, and didn’t see how we could manage it. Thankfully, Robert van der Ende volunteered to take flags of Canada and Nova Scotia and place them at William’s grave on our behalf. We were very grateful for that act of kindness! This was the only cemetery on our list that we didn’t personally visit.

William was the mid-upper gunner aboard Halifax JD215 when it was shot down over The Netherlands on June 29, 1943. None of the crew survived. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/09/19/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-airman-from-bras-dor-who-was-aboard-the-last-flight-of-halifax-jd215/

….We visited the CWGC office in Ottawa…

This year, Pieter became one of the volunteers across Canada participate in the National Volunteer Program. He was assigned 4 cemeteries on Prince Edward Island to visit and gather information about the condition of Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) war graves, and to clean the grave stones as needed. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/08/08/on-the-war-memorial-trail-cwgc-volunteer-at-cape-traverse-community-cemetery/ and https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/09/28/on-the-war-memorial-trailthe-wwii-carpenter-buried-in-seven-mile-bay-who-does-not-have-a-cwgc-headstone/ for stories about two of the soldiers buried in a CWGC grave)

Left to right: Pieter Valkenburg, Julene Warren, Daria Valkenburg, Elizabeth Hale. (Photo courtesy of Valkenburg Family Collection)

During a trip to Ottawa in October, we visited the CWGC office and met with two of the coordinators overseeing the volunteers: Elizabeth Hale and Julene Warren. It was a chance to put faces to names, and to learn more about the important work being done to look after war graves here in Canada.

….We visited the Memramcook Veterans Park in Memramcook, New Brunswick…

Our friend and fellow researcher, Etienne Gaudet, had invited us several times to visit his hometown of Memramcook, New Brunswick, and one Saturday in June we were able to do so. Etienne proudly took us around the Memramcook Veterans Park, which commemorates those who served and are from the Memramcook area.

Etienne Gaudet (left) with Pieter at Memramcook Veterans Park. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

A unique billboard highlighted the ships on which troops travelled to Great Britain, and the countries in Europe in which they fought.

Etienne Gaudet (left) with Pieter at Memramcook Veterans Park. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Etienne also wanted us to meet 102 year old WWII veteran, Romeo LEBLANC, and we were delighted to have the opportunity to do so.

Etienne Gaudet (left) and Pieter (right) with WWII veteran Romeo LeBlanc. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

….We visited the Beach Grove Memorial Forest in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island…

Pieter at the entrance to Beach Grove Memorial Forest in Charlottetown. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

This spring we received an email from Jim Little, saying he was writing a story about Private Frank LUTZ, an orphan from Prince Edward Island, who was badly wounded on February 20, 1945 during the Battle of Moyland Wood, while serving with the Canadian Scottish Regiment. He died on March 2, 1945, aged 19, and is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands. (See https://www.facestograves.nl/LifeStories/LUTZ%20Frank-JLE-bio-EN.pdf)

Jim wanted to know if Frank was listed on a cenotaph on the Island. Yes, was the answer….he is listed on a Canadian Army memorial stone at Beach Grove Memorial Forest in Charlottetown. The memorial forest honours WWII veterans from Prince Edward Island with granite stones that list their names and includes a tree for each person that is honoured.

Pieter walks along the path in Beach Grove Memorial Forest. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

The memorial stones are located along a path in the forest, which, during the war, had been used as a training facility for various regiments and units. The stones honour those who died during the war while serving in the Royal Canadian Navy, Merchant Navy, Canadian Army, and Royal Canadian Air Force. We found Frank’s name listed on the stone for the Canadian Army.

Frank Lutz was listed on one of the memorial stones for the Canadian Army. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

We ended up spending a long time in the forest, looking at each stone, as Pieter had researched so many of the names listed on each stone!

Thank you to Simone Comeau, Rodd Cooper, Etienne Gaudet, Clover Rusk, and Robert van der Ende. The work of remembrance of those who served continues.

The flags placed at William Andrew Hood’s grave were donated. Our thanks go to:

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

If you have a story to tell, please let Pieter know. You can 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/

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

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On The War Memorial Trail…..The WWII Sapper From Moncton Who Lost His Life During Operation Berlin

November 6, 2025 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

Headline of an October 1945 article from ‘The Times Transcript’

November 6, 2025. While searching for a photo of WWII soldier Eric John CRUE of Moncton, New Brunswick, who lost his life on April 6, 1945 while serving with the Algonquin Regiment, Pieter found an October 1945 newspaper article from ‘The Times Transcript’ about a memorial service in the First United Baptist Church in Moncton to honour the memories of Crue, John Edward COLEMAN of the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, George Temple DOYLE of the RCAF, and David ‘Lloyd’ George HOPE of the Royal Canadian Engineers…. all from Moncton.

Pieter knew that Coleman was on a photo wish list from the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, but Doyle and Hope were unknown to him. He began an investigation and quickly found that no photo was available for Hope, who is buried in Rhenen General Cemetery in Rhenen, The Netherlands. There was a photo available for Doyle, and a newspaper photo was found for Coleman by Etienne Gaudet. No photo was ever found for Crue, who is now on our Cold Case List. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/our-cold-cases/)

Pieter began the search for a photo of Hope….

….A family member got in contact…

Pieter made contact with Susan ‘Sue’ Hope through Ancestry and she explained that the soldier, who went by ‘Lloyd’, was one of three brothers who served during WWII. “….Russell, Douglas, and DLG Hope were my grandfather’s cousins. My grandfather was Wesley William Hope. David Lloyd, Douglas, and Russell Hope were brothers. They were all from Moncton, their parents were Frank D. Hope and Lottie F Jones…” Both of Lloyd’s parents died in the early 1930s. In addition to his brothers, he also had three sisters: Kay, Mildred Greta, and Marguerite.

Born June 30, 1919 in Moncton, New Brunswick, Lloyd worked as an iron moulder at an iron foundry, Record Stove and Furnace Company prior to enlisting in the militia on October 9, 1940 under the National Resources Mobilization Act (NRMA) and began basic infantry training at No. 70 Non-Permanent Active Militia (NPAM) Centre in Fredericton, New Brunswick. After completing that course on November 7, 1940, he was assigned to the New Brunswick Regiment. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Resources_Mobilization_Act)

….Lloyd enlisted in the Active Army in August 1941…

He enlisted in the Active Army on August 8, 1941 at No. 7 District Depot in Moncton, stating in an interview that his reason for joining the army was for “….adventure…” He expressed an interest in taking a blacksmiths course. He was described as “…cheerful, neat, with good conduct and military efficiency….” While his mechanical knowledge was listed as “…below average….” it was remarked that his skill on the rifle range was “…above average…” He had written that he enjoyed hunting, fishing, and swimming, so skill with a gun would not have been a surprise.

Lloyd returned to No. 70 Canadian Army (Basic) Training Centre in Fredericton for his basic training, which was completed on October 2, 1941. He was transferred to No. 7 District Depot in Moncton on October 20, 1941, and began a Fitters Course the following day, returning to No. 70 Canadian Army (Basic) Training Centre on February 6, 1942.

On April 8, 1942, Lloyd was transferred to A5 Canadian Engineer Training Centre (CETC) in Camp Petawawa, Ontario for Engineer Training. After completing his training on May 13, 1942, he was given embarkation leave, for what turned out to be the last chance he would have to see his family.

….Lloyd left Canada for overseas service….

David ‘Lloyd’ George Hope. (Photo courtesy of Susan Hope)

On June 3, 1942, Lloyd sailed from Halifax, Nova Scotia to the United Kingdom, arriving in Liverpool, England on June, 1942. Upon arrival, he was assigned to No. 1 Canadian Engineers Reinforcement Unit (CERU).

While in the United Kingdom, Lloyd’s training continued. On September 29, 1942, he was transferred to No. 1 Canadian Ordnance Reinforcement Unit (CORU), qualifying as a Pioneer ‘C’ on October 19, 1942.

On December 4, 1942, Lloyd was transferred to the Royal Canadian Engineers, 18th Field Company. While remaining with the 18th Field Company, he was attached, for all purposes, to the Headquarters of the Royal Canadian Engineers, 3rd Canadian Division, from February 19, 1943 until August 13, 1943.

Then, on December 14, 1943, he was transferred to the Royal Canadian Engineers, 23rd Field Company. In ‘The Twenty-Third Story’ by Major Michael Lovett TUCKER, the entry for December 19, 1943 explained that training was ongoing. “…We are doing considerable practice in night convoy work…” using old trucks. “…We are still working on Bailey Bridge training on Headley Common….” and “….today we start work on a 110 foot T.T. bridge with one storey underslung….” T.T. refers to Tracked-Transport. Bridge load effects and capacity ratings needed to be evaluated to determine appropriate load factors for military vehicles crossing various bridges.

….Lloyd and the 23rd Field Company left the UK for France…..

On July 6, 1944, Lloyd and the 23rd Field Company boarded a ship that was to leave the United Kingdom for France, part of the 21st Army Group. The July 7, 1944 entry in ‘The Twenty-Third Story’ recorded that “…we sail from Tilbury at six-thirty in the morning and anchor off Southend, where we lie for the balance of the day. Then at ten o’clock the following evening we fall in with the other thirty-three ships in our convoy, and head down the Thames Estuary to the English Channel…”

Map showing the location of Graye-sur-Mer and Juno Beach. (Map source: Google maps)

The entry for July 9, 1944 noted their arrival off the coast of France. “…Late in the afternoon we come in sight of the Normandy coast, and shortly before midnight come to anchor off Juno Beach, off Graye-sur-Mer. There are so many ships that it is difficult to find a suitable anchorage…”

….Lloyd and his brother Douglas help to clear up debris in Caen…..

Troops left the ship the following day, and by July 13, 1944 had moved to their new bivouac area in a orchard near Cairon. Their immediate task was to “…clear debris and open streets in Caen…” as stated in the July 14, 1944 entry. “…In the centre of town, every street is choked with rubble, and in many places it’s impossible to tell where streets have been. The Germans are mortaring and shelling steadily….”

Work continued, in spite of German activity, and by July 25, 1944, an entry recorded that “… an entirely new street is run from Boulevard des Allies to the river through the ruins of demolished buildings. It is named ‘Andy’s Alley’….”

Opening of Andy’s Alley in Caen, July 1944. Lloyd Hope identified by red arrow. His brother Douglas Hope is identified by blue arrow. The purple arrow identifies Major M. L. Tucker, author of ‘The Twenty-Third Story’. (Photo courtesy of Alice van Bekkum Collection)

The opening of Andy’s Alley was captured in a photo, with the caption noting that the road was ‘a half-mile long’ (.8 km), and that the proud Canadian engineers posed by the steamroller breaking the tape for supplies to move forward. The source of the photo and the magazine in which it was published is unknown, and was provided by Alice van Bekkum, Chair of the Faces To Graves Foundation. Both Lloyd and his brother Douglas are in this iconic photo!

….The 23rd Field Company made its way into The Netherlands….

After painstakingly working their way through France and Belgium to clear roads and build bridges, the 23rd Field Company received new orders. The September 16, 1944 entry in ‘The Twenty-Third Story’ recorded that “…something is in the air! Our advance is moving very fast through Belgium up into Holland…”

Operation Market Garden was an Allied military operation, from September 17-25, 1944 that succeeded in liberating Nijmegen and Eindhoven, but failed in liberating the last bridge held in Arnhem, which would enable troops to the Rhine into Germany. If you’ve seen the movie ‘A Bridge Too Far’ (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Bridge_Too_Far_(film)), then you may be familiar with what happened. (For an idea of the gliders used, see https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2018/01/06/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-liberation-route/)

There was excitement in the September 18, 1944 entry. “…We hear that Airborne troops have landed in Northern Holland and have captured the bridges at Grave, Nijmegen and Arnhem over the Maas, Waal and Neder Rijn rivers, respectively….We are the only Canadian troops taking part in the push into Holland….but our ground troops are having difficulty getting beyond Nijmegen and so are unable to join up with the Airborne troops in Arnhem…” This description was about Operation Market Garden, which failed to capture the bridge at Arnhem, as was noted two days later in the September 20, 1944 entry.

While British troops got across the river at Nijmegen and were able to hold the bridge, they had “…difficulty in getting on to Arnhem, and 1st British Airborne is having a very sticky time there. The Germans have retaken the bridge….”

….The 23 Field Company was tasked with rescuing the 1st British Airborne during Operation Berlin….

The 23rd Field Company was “….ordered forward to Nijmegen...” On September 24, 1944, the entry recorded that they were to help rescue the 1st British Airborne, using storm boats to ferry survivors from the German held side of the Neder Rijn River (Lower Rhine River in English) to Allied safety. Operation Berlin was the rescue attempt to save survivors of the British 1st Airborne after the disastrous Operation Market Garden and at the end of the Battle of Arnhem/Oosterbeek.

Example of a storm boat: Storm boats manned by the 34th Field Company, R.C.E., carry Regina Rifles Regiment’s 7th Brigade over the Seine River in 1944. (Photo Credit: Donald I. Grant/Canada. Dept. of National Defence/Library and Archives Canada/PA-136016)

The following day “…at six o’clock we learn that we are to operate from a site on the river, just east of Driel. We are to have fourteen boats, and these will be off-loaded in an orchard which comes up to the back of the winter dyke...”

The first storm boat was launched at 9:30 pm, but as it had been damaged while being pushed down the bank into the water, it started to leak and had to be abandoned. A second boat was readied. “….Corporal Ryan, W.D., and Sappers Magnusson, H.C., and Roherty, L.J., are the crew…It is pitch dark and pouring rain….Lt Martin asks to go with this boat so that he may contact our friends and lend a hand in organizing the loading of boats for them…..”

It set off at 9:45 pm, closely followed by “…another, which has Corporal Smith, S. F., and Sappers Hope, D.L.G., and Thompson, N.A. as crew. Neither of these boats returns. One is seen to receive a direct mortar hit. There is a direct flash from the explosion, and then nothing can be seen in the darkness …”

The boat with Ryan, Magnusson, Roherty, and Martin was hit by mortar fire. None of the men survived.

….Lloyd was in the storm boat that capsized during Operation Berlin….

The boat with Smith, Hope, and Thompson was on its way back after picking up survivors, but was “…heavily overloaded with Airborne survivors…” The boat “….went under when a mortar fell close beside it and everyone instinctively threw himself to the other side of the boat and capsized it...”

Of the crew, only Corporal Smith survived. He recorded in a report on the incident that he was riding in the bow to help land the boat. While heading for the south (home) shore, the boat was swamped and sank about 46 metres (50 yards) from the north shore. As his “…greatcoat was open it helped me to float, and although I am not a swimmer I reached shore on the north side of the river along with four of the British Airborne men. I was taken back to the home side of the river in an assault boat…”

….Lloyd is buried in Rhenen General Cemetery…

Pieter by the grave of David ‘Lloyd’ George Hope. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

25 year old Lloyd lost his life due to drowning on September 26, 1944, when the storm boat he was in capsized. He was buried in Rhenen General Cemetery, which we visited this past May. Pieter placed a Canadian and New Brunswick flag at Lloyd’s grave. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/11/03/on-the-war-memorial-trail-a-visit-to-rhenen-general-cemetery/)

Although 7 men from the 23rd Field Company lost their lives during Operation Berlin, it was a success. The Royal Canadian Engineers rescued most of the 2,400 evacuees in one night, using storm boats propelled by 50 horse power outboard motors! (See https://www.strijdbewijs.nl/donald/operation.htm)

….A visit with Sue Hope…

Susan ‘Sue’ Hope and Pieter. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

We were delighted to have a chance to meet Sue Hope in Moncton after we returned from our 2025 European War Memorial Tour. “….Thank you for the project you are doing to preserve history of all these young men!…” she wrote.

The flags placed at the graves for David ‘Lloyd’ George Hope were donated. Our thanks go to:

Alan Waddell, Constituent Assistant, on behalf of Heath MacDonald, MP for Malpeque, for the Canadian flags.
Jean-Claude D’Amours, MLA for Edmundston-Madawaska Centre, Minister responsible for Military Affairs, with the help of Cécile LePage, Province of New Brunswick, for the New Brunswick flag.

Thank you to Sue Hope for providing photos and information about her grandfather’s cousin, and to Alice van Bekkum for providing information on the 23rd Field Company and Major Tucker’s book, as well as the photograph taken at Andy’s Alley. Thank you to John Sliz, author of ‘Storm Boat Kings’, for sharing the storm boat photo.

Our adventures continue as we share the highlights of our adventures on the 2025 European War Memorial Tour.

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

© 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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On The War Memorial Trail….. A Visit To Rhenen General Cemetery

November 3, 2025 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

Sign directing us to Rhenen, The Netherlands. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

November 3, 2025. While in Europe this spring for the 80th Anniversary of Liberation Commemoration events, we visited 14 cemeteries to place flags at the graves of 383 soldiers that Pieter has researched since 2014, with the stories of many of these soldiers previously told on this blog.

On our way towards Zaltbommel for a family visit before going on to Belgium, we visited two cemeteries. The previous posting featured our visit to Uden War Cemetery, where George Glenn ‘Dusty’ MILLAR, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, is buried. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/10/29/on-the-war-memorial-trail-paying-our-respects-to-spitfire-pilot-dusty-millar-at-uden-war-cemetery/)

This posting features our visit to Rhenen General Cemetery, where David ‘Lloyd’ George HOPE, of Moncton, New Brunswick, is buried. The village of Rhenen is in the province of Utrecht, 26 kms (16 miles) from Arnhem and 47 kms (29 miles) from Utrecht.

….The Commonwealth War Graves were tucked away in a small section of the cemetery….

Pieter at the entrance to Rhenen General Cemetery. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

This is a beautiful cemetery, with the Commonwealth War Graves in its own hedged section. There are 23 WWII Commonwealth burials here, 3 of which are unidentified. In addition, there is 1 unidentified Polish soldier buried here.

The hedged area of Rhenen General Cemetery with the Commonwealth War Graves are located. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

The war graves are located in a hedged part of Rhenen General Cemetery. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

….Hope was one of 7 Royal Canadian Engineers from the 23rd Field Company killed during Operation Berlin….

Pieter by the grave of David ‘Lloyd’ George Hope. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

David ‘Lloyd’ George Hope was serving with the Royal Canadian Engineers, 23rd Field Company, when he lost his life on September 26, 1944, aged 25. He had drowned while trying to save glider pilots during the disastrous Operation Market Garden, one of 7 men from the 23rd Field Company who lost their lives in Operation Berlin – the evacuation of survivors of the British 1st Airborne at the end of the Battle of Arnhem/Oosterbeek.

Pieter placed a Canadian and New Brunswick flag at Lloyd’s grave, and reminded me that his story had to be told in an upcoming posting.

….Ryan was another Royal Canadian Engineer from the 23rd Field Company killed during Operation Berlin….

Grave of Daniel William Ryan. Behind his grave you can see the Polish flag at the grave of the unknown Polish soldier. (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

While looking at the graves, most of them of airmen, we noticed another Canadian grave! Daniel William RYAN was also from the Royal Canadian Engineers. Of course we placed a Canadian flag at his grave, but it wasn’t until later that evening that we learned he was from Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia, and had also been in the 23rd Field Company.

We wondered if he’d been in the same boat as Lloyd Hope, but he was in a different boat, and had died when the boat he was in was hit by mortar fire.

….Royal Canadian Engineers from 23rd Field Company who were killed during Operation Berlin….

The Royal Canadian Engineers rescued most of the 2,400 evacuees in one night, using storm boats propelled by 50 horse power outboard motors! Unfortunately, 7 men from the 23rd Field Company lost their lives during Operation Berlin. (See https://www.strijdbewijs.nl/donald/operation.htm)

Killed in Boat I:

James Russell MARTIN, of Kingston, Ontario, aged 26, buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten
Sapper Harold Cecil MAGNUSSON, of St. John, New Brunswick, aged 22, buried in Gorinchem General Cemetery
L/ Sapper Leslie Joseph ROHERTY, of Belledune River, New Brunswick, aged 22, listed on the Missing Memorial at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek
Daniel William RYAN, of Sydney Mines, Nova Scotia, aged 27, buried in Rhenen General Cemetery

Killed in Boat III:

Sapper David ‘Lloyd’ George HOPE, of Moncton, New Brunswick, aged 25, buried in Rhenen General Cemetery
Sapper Neil Arthur THOMPSON, born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, aged 23, buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek

Killed In An Orchard:

Sapper Ronald Tracy ‘Buck’ MCKEE, of St. Martin’s, New Brunswick, aged 36, buried in Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery

The flags placed at the graves for David ‘Lloyd’ George Hope and Daniel William Ryan were donated. Our thanks go to:

Alan Waddell, Constituent Assistant, on behalf of Heath MacDonald, MP for Malpeque, for the Canadian flags.
Jean-Claude D’Amours, MLA for Edmundston-Madawaska Centre, Minister responsible for Military Affairs, with the help of Cécile LePage, Province of New Brunswick, for the New Brunswick flag.

Our adventures continue as we share the highlights of our adventures on the 2025 European War Memorial Tour.

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

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

November 2, 2025 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

November 2, 2025. In preparation for Remembrance Day, Mario Henry and George Palmer, two veterans from Prince Edward Island’s Borden-Carleton Branch #10, and Mario’s son Laurie, visited cemeteries and cenotaphs in the area on October 30. They ensured that veterans buried at 9 cemeteries, and whose names are listed on 4 cenotaphs, received a Canadian flag in 2025.

George Palmer (left) and Mario Henry (right) at St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Cemetery in Seven Mile Bay. (Photo credit: Laurie Henry)

The graves of two soldiers, whose military service the Legion had not been aware of, were added to the list this year: WWII soldier John Peter ‘JP’ WHITE, who is buried in St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Cemetery in Seven Mile Bay, and WWI soldier John Anthony STORDY, who is buried in St. Malachy’s Roman Catholic Cemetery in Kinkora. (To read JP White’s story, see https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/09/28/on-the-war-memorial-trailthe-wwii-carpenter-buried-in-seven-mile-bay-who-does-not-have-a-cwgc-headstone/)

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

Cape Traverse – Cape Traverse Community Cemetery
Cape Traverse – Cape Traverse Community 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 21 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 branch can be contacted by phone at 902-855-2660 (after 4 pm) or on its Facebook page.

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

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?…

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

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….. Paying Our Respects To Spitfire Pilot Dusty Millar At Uden War Cemetery

October 29, 2025 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

Sign directing us to Uden War Cemetery. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

October 29, 2025. While in Europe this spring for the 80th Anniversary of Liberation Commemoration events, we visited 14 cemeteries to place flags at the graves of 383 soldiers that Pieter has researched since 2014, with the stories of many of these soldiers previously told on this blog.

For the first part of our trip, we were based in Holten. All too soon, it was time to slowly make our way towards Zaltbommel for a short stay there to visit family before going on to Belgium. On the way to Zaltbommel, we visited Uden War Cemetery, where George Glenn ‘Dusty’ MILLAR, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, is buried.

Map showing location of Uden, The Netherlands. (Map source: http://www.gosur.com)

… Pilot Dusty Millar’s spitfire ran out of fuel and crashed…

‘Dusty’ was killed on September 28, 1944 while flying a Spitfire Mark IX on patrol with his squadron over Nijmegen, The Netherlands. After he reported on his radio that the plane was low in fuel, it crashed southeast of Weibosch near Schijndel, in the Dutch province of Noord-Brabant. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/01/25/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-pilot-whose-spitfire-ran-out-of-fuel/

… Uden War Cemetery was behind a church and in a residential area…

Pieter at the entrance to Uden War Cemetery. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

We initially had difficulty finding the cemetery once we arrived in Uden, as the car’s GPS led us on a merry dance and we were both frustrated by the time we finally found it. We later learned that there was a direct route from the highway, with signs indicating where the cemetery was located, but somehow that option never registered with whoever designed the GPS maps!

The cemetery itself was located behind a church and in a residential area. We expected it to be a small cemetery, and so were surprised to find that there are 437 soldiers and 259 airmen buried here. According to the cemetery information, the airmen “….lost their lives in strategic bombing operations or in support of land forces…”

Pieter placed flags of Canada and Manitoba at Dusty Millar’s grave in Uden War Cemetery. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

….53 Canadians are buried in Uden…

The cemetery register at Uden War Cemetery. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Since this was a war cemetery, there was a visitors’ book located in the cemetery register box, in which I wrote that we paid our respects at Dusty’s grave and that he was a spitfire pilot from Manitoba.

We wrote that we visited Dusty Millar’s grave in the visitors’ book. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

We thought that there would be more Canadians than Dusty buried here, so Pieter brought a few extra Canadian flags, but it turned out that there are 53 Canadians buried in Uden…. and we didn’t have enough flags.

….A cafe was within walking distance of the cemetery…

I’m never without a camera! (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

One of the advantages of visiting a war cemetery in a residential area is that there is more than a cemetery! As we walked from the cemetery back towards the car, Pieter noticed a cafe within walking distance, so we went there, thinking to have something to drink and a much needed rest. It was a Turkish bakery and cafe called Nfes. We happily sat down and ordered red lentil soup (linzensoep) for lunch. The soup was delicious, the cafe an oasis of relaxation, and the service was very friendly…..just the break we needed before going on to Zaltbommel.

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

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

Our adventures continue as we share the highlights of our adventures on the 2025 European War Memorial Tour. Coming up on our journey of remembrance is a visit to Rhenen General Cemetery.

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

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?…

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

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…. Battlefields Tour With Joël Stoppels Part 4: From Nansum To Delfzijl And Wirdum

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

A life’s ambition realized! Daria in the driver’s seat of a jeep! Spoiler alert – our battlefield tour was in an SUV, not the jeep! (Photo credit: Joël Stoppels)

October 19, 2025. While in Europe this spring for the 80th Anniversary of Liberation Commemoration events, we visited 14 cemeteries to place flags at the graves of 383 soldiers that Pieter has researched since 2014, with the stories of many of these soldiers previously told on this blog.

On the wish list for our 2025 European War Memorial Tour was to tour some of the battlefields in which these soldiers lost their lives in order to have a better appreciation of what they had faced.

Battlefields guide Joël Stoppels, of Groningen, The Netherlands, offered to spend a day showing us locations where the various battles that comprised the Battle of the Delfzijl Pocket took place. Over the years, we’ve featured stories of many soldiers who lost their lives in the last weeks of the North-West Europe campaign during WWII, and we eagerly anticipated learning more. (See https://www.canadiansoldiers.com/history/battlehonours/northwesteurope/delfzijlpocket.htm)

Map showing the locations during the Battle of the Delfzijl Pocket. (Map source: http://www.canadiansoldiers.com)

…. Recap…

In Part 1, our battlefield tour began at a field where 19 Canadians lost their lives during the Battle for Wagenborgen, the preliminary battle before the Battle of the Delfzijl Pocket. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/10/01/on-the-war-memorial-trail-battlefields-tour-with-joel-stoppels-part-1-battle-for-wagenborgen/)

In Part 2, we travelled to Appingedam, the town where the Battle of the Delfzijl Pocket began. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/10/05/on-the-war-memorial-trail-battlefields-tour-with-joel-stoppels-part-2-the-battle-of-the-delfzijl-pocket-began-in-appingedam/)

In Part 3, we left Appingedam and travelled to Holwierde, to see the plaque at Stefanuskerk that commemorated many of the Canadian soldiers who died during the Battle of the Delfzijl Pocket. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/10/10/on-the-war-memorial-trail-battlefields-tour-with-joel-stoppels-part-3-visit-to-stefanuskerk-in-holwierde/)

Now, in Part 4, our battlefields tour concludes as we travel from Nansum to Delfzijl and Wirdum…..

….The Cape Breton Highlanders marched from Nansum to Delfzijl…

Delfzijl pointed out on Joël’s map. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

From Nansum we followed the route taken by the Cape Breton Highlanders to Delfzijl. Joël noted that “.…the Perth Regiment had been decimated by losses and were pulled back behind the front line, and replaced by the Cape Breton Highlanders who came from Loppersum….”

The Cape Breton Highlanders “…started marching from Nansum on April 29, 1945, reaching Delfzijl on May 2, taking two routes…..”

This was reflected in the war diary for the Cape Breton Highlanders. The diary entry for April 28, 1945 stated that “…we received word from Brigade this morning that the Perth Regiment did not do so well last night on account of mines. We will likely relieve them tonight so we are to move to another concentration area this afternoon….”

By late afternoon, the headquarters and ‘B’ Company were in Bierum, while the rest of the Regiment was in Spijk. While the evening itself was quiet, at 8 pm “…the Observation Post reported very dense smoke coming from the town of Delfzijl which is our objective. This could be caused by either demolitions by the enemy or our artillery which has been firing on that area….”

April 29, 1945 was a cold and wet day, with the war diary reporting that “…our pioneers worked with the sappers clearing mines off the road to ‘A’ Company and also repairing the road. But the night will be a busy one for all. ‘C’ and ‘D’ Companies are to relieve the two forward companies of the Perth and when that is completed ‘A’ and ‘B’ companies will pass through them and advance over a mile to their objectives….”

…. ‘D’ Company travelled along the coast…

“….‘D’ Company….” of the Cape Breton Highlanders “…travelled along the coast and had the most casualties as the Germans were heavily entrenched. The other companies came via inland….” Joël said.

The war diary for May 1, 1945 verified Joël’s account. “….The beginning of this month finds us continuing with the battle for Delfzijl…” The day was “…cold with showers throughout the day...” and “…visibility poor…”

‘D’ Company did indeed run into difficulties. “….Flares were reported firing from the vicinity of D Company’s objective and a shoot was laid on….” Then, as ‘D’ Company advanced they “…had to leave the carriers …as the road beyond was impassable for them. They proceeded from there without them....”

German 88 mm gun: A 10.5 cm FLAK cannon, captured by the Canadians in the Delfzijl Pocket. (Photo Courtesy of Joël Stoppels / Battlefield Tours)

The men from ‘D’ Company were now on foot, and as they advanced towards ‘C’ Company’s position, “…they were pinned down by mortars, shells and small arms fire….” After receiving artillery support “…the advance was then continued and one platoon reached a position 100 yards short of objective where they were pinned down in a Jerry trench. D Company then reported they were running short of ammunition …”

‘C’ Company was ordered to “…take ammunition from D Company’s carrier to their forward positions....” but they were held back by small arms and mortar fire. A second try was made, but without ammunition “…D Company at this time was in a very critical situation. The whole company was pinned down by bazookas and Spandaus. They were unable to send a guide back to bring in the party from C Company. The platoon, which had holed up in a Jerry trench, came under fire from hand-grenades from the top of the dyke, where the enemy had another trench system….”

Train station in Delfzijl today. (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

Finally the ammunition arrived, along with the other Companies. By the early afternoon, the area around the train station in Delfzijl was cleared and “…one platoon was taking a firm hold along the canal, which split the town in two….”

Two unidentified soldiers from the Cape Breton Highlanders Regiment in Delfzijl. (Photo Courtesy of Joël Stoppels / Battlefield Tours. Photo colourization by Pieter Valkenburg.)

….Retreating Germans tried to escape by boat…

A welcome report soon came from “… D Company that the enemy fire had slackened …. They reported that the enemy was retreating over the dyke and pushing off in boats heading across the estuary towards Germany, Emden area. At 1106 D Company reported everything was under control and they were firm, sending contact patrols to B Company which arrived there at 1125 hours….”

Not all of the Germans escaped. “...On hearing that the enemy were leaving Delfzijl by boat, the Commanding Officer ordered the artillery to engage them. The result was that some of the boats occupied by the enemy did not reach the shores of Germany across the estuary….”

Port of Delfzijl after the Canadian capture. (Photo Courtesy of Joël Stoppels / Battlefield Tours)

….The German commander surrendered on May 2, 1945…

On May 2, 1945, the war diary reported that “…At 0845 hours, brigade informed us that the commander of the Delfzijl pocket had surrendered to the Irish Regiment….”

Remains of a German bunker near the Ems Estuary in Delfzijl. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Today, the remains of a German bunker still sits in its original location near the Ems Estuary in Delfzijl. An aquarium sits behind it, and in front there is a hotel overlooking the Ems.

….Our final stop was in Wirdum…

Our final stop on the Battlefields Tour was in Wirdum to look at the original field where casualties from this last battle were temporarily buried, at what was the 5th Divisional Cemetery.

5th Divisional Cemetery in Wirdum in 1945. (Photo Courtesy of Joël Stoppels / Battlefield Tours)

The war diary for May 3, 1945 for the Cape Breton Highlanders noted that burial services were held close to noon at the 5th Divisional Cemetery in Wirdum. Among those buried here were:

Carman Edward GILLCASH: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/10/22/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-soldier-from-glenwood-killed-during-the-battle-of-the-delfzijl-pocket/
Philip Hubert LONG: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2020/11/01/on-the-war-memorial-trail-a-face-for-philip-hubert-long/
Norman James NIXON: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/03/07/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-ww2-soldier-from-st-stephens/
Daniel PEARO: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/01/20/on-the-war-memorial-trail-atlantic-canada-remembers-part-4/
Louis Graham RICHARD: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/02/22/on-the-war-memorial-trail-atlantic-canada-remembers-part-7/
Ford Hilton SPIDLE: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/01/07/on-the-war-memorial-trail-atlantic-canada-remembers-part-1/

All except Louis Graham Richard, who served with the 9th Armoured Regiment (BC Dragoons), were with the Cape Breton Highlanders.

In 1946, all of these men were reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten.

After all that the Cape Breton Highlanders had gone through in capturing Delfizjl, the war diary for May 3 expressed the Regiment’s disgust at not being given credit for what they achieved in the ‘Maple Leaf’, a newspaper for the Canadian Forces in Europe, with a 4-page format highlighting the advance of Canadian forces.

“…Today there was one disgusted battalion in the Canadian Army, namely, The Cape Breton Highlanders. Today’s edition of the ‘Maple Leaf’, which up till now, was considered a fairly reliable paper, has let the battalion down horribly. The first thing which struck the eye, in fairly large print, was the capture of the town of Delfzijl by the PERTH Regt. This write up was a terrific let down to the boys who fought hard to capture the town and lost many of their comrades in killed and wounded during the struggle...”

Pieter and Joël by the field in Wirdum where the 5th Divisional Cemetery once was located. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Today, the location of the 5th Divisional Cemetery is back to being a field, with a plaque as a reminder that it was once the resting place of Canadians who lost their lives in the battle to capture Delfzijl.

Plaque in Wirdum across the field where the 5th Divisional Cemetery once was located. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

This ended our Battlefields Tour. All that was left was to realize a life’s ambition for me….to sit in a WWII era jeep! After a photo was taken, Pieter was invited to sit in the passenger seat for another photo.

Daria in the driver’s seat of Joël’s jeep! (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

Joël presented Pieter with a Dutch language copy of his newly published book ‘Operation Cannonshot’ which was gratefully received.

Pieter and Joël with Joël’s book ‘Operation Cannonshot’. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Thank you to Joël Stoppels, guide and founder of Battlefield Tours, for a wonderful and informative tour with a friendly guide. (See www.battlefieldtours.nu) We were grateful for the chance to see the various places where the Battle of the Delfzijl Pocket was fought. We’re so glad we were able to take the tour as it’s almost impossible to imagine what the people and troops went through, until you can see it for yourself.

The Battlefield Tour ended, but our adventures continued as we went on with the next portion of our 2025 European War Memorial Tour.

If you have a story or photo to share, or are able to identify either of the two Cape Breton Highlanders in the photo taken in Delfzijl, 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…. Battlefields Tour With Joël Stoppels Part 3: Visit To Stefanuskerk in Holwierde

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

A life’s ambition realized! Daria in the driver’s seat of a jeep! Spoiler alert – our battlefield tour was in an SUV, not the jeep! (Photo credit: Joël Stoppels)

October 10, 2025. While in Europe this spring for the 80th Anniversary of Liberation Commemoration events, we visited 14 cemeteries to place flags at the graves of 383 soldiers that Pieter has researched since 2014, with the stories of many of these soldiers previously told on this blog.

On the wish list for our 2025 European War Memorial Tour was to tour some of the battlefields in which these soldiers lost their lives in order to have a better appreciation of what they had faced.

Map showing the locations during the Battle of the Delfzijl Pocket. (Map source: http://www.canadiansoldiers.com)

Now, in Part 3, we left Appingedam and travelled to Holwierde, where our first stop was at the Canada Memorial.

…. The Canada Memorial in Holwierde…

Pieter and Joël at the Canada Memorial in Holwierde. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Front view of the Canada Memorial in Holwierde. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

We knew that there was a plaque at the church in Holwierde that commemorated the Canadians who lost their lives during the Battle of Delfzijl Pocket, but had no idea there was also a monument in the town itself…. with houses on either side of the main road where it’s located.

Called the Canada Memorial, with red and white flowering plants around it, the stone plaque simply states ‘In honour of our liberators from Canada. Their glory is our freedom. 21 April – 2 May 1945’

Closeup of stone plaque at the Canada Memorial in Holwierde. (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

…. Canadian soldiers called Holwierde ‘a killing ground’…

Battlefields Tour poster describing Howierde as a ‘Killing ground’.

As we walked through this quiet and picturesque town towards the Stefanuskerk, we asked Joël about his poster describing Holwierde as a ‘Killing ground’. He explained that “….Holwierde was one of the most heavily contested villages during the Battle of the Delfzijl Pocket in April 1945. The Perth Regiment fought intense house-to-house combat here, as German paratroopers and naval infantry had fortified nearly every building. Many Canadian soldiers referred to the village as ‘a killing ground’ due to the high casualties on both sides…..”

Holwierde in April 1945, with a temporary bailey bridge, leading towards the Stefanuskerk. (Photo Courtesy of Joël Stoppels / Battlefield Tours)

Holwierde in April 1945. A temporary bailey bridge allowed residents and troops to cross the canal. The Stefanuskerk is on the right. (Photo Courtesy of Joël Stoppels / Battlefield Tours)

“…The Stefanuskerk, although spared from destruction, stood right in the middle of the battlefield and witnessed days of shelling and close-quarters fighting….”

Holwierde in 2025, 80 years after its liberation. The bailey bridge from 1945 is now a permanent bridge over the canal! (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

…. We found a banner for one soldier whose story was previously told…

Banner for Joseph ‘Gerald’ Fougere in Holwierde. (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

As we walked down the street towards the Stefanuskerk, the main reason for our visit to Holwierde, we saw a banner for Joseph ‘Gerald’ FOUGERE, who was serving with the Perth Regiment. He was wounded on April 24, 1945, during the Battle of the Delfzijl Pocket, and died on April 26, 1945, one month before his 29^th birthday. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/01/27/on-the-war-memorial-trail-atlantic-canada-remembers-part-5/)

Joseph ‘Gerald’ Fougere’s banner was by the canal in Holwierde, but this wasn’t where he died. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

The banner was by the canal, and while I was busy snapping photos, thinking this is where he died, Joël said “…no, he actually died in nearby Nansum. Since Nansum is such a small village, his banner was placed in Holwierde for greater visibility...” He then kindly pointed out that “…the bridge over the canal had been blown up by the Germans on April 25, 1945.…”

Never mind…Nansum was quickly added as our next stop after Holwierde!

…. A solemn few moments at Stefanuskerk…

Entrance to Stefanuskerk in Holwierde. (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

We continued walking down the road until we got to the Stefanuskerk. A plaque near the door noted that the church dates to the 11th century! In the 13th century the church was enlarged. It was severely damaged in April 1945, but restored by 1950, to give the appearance as to how the church would have looked before 1830.

Pieter by the plaque in Stefanuskerk that commemorates Canadian soldiers who died during the Battle of the Delfzijl Pocket. (Photo credit: Joël Stoppels)

We wanted to visit the church in order to see the plaque that commemorates many of the Canadian soldiers who died during the Battle of the Delfzijl Pocket. It was a very solemn few moments for us, as we looked over the names, many of them of soldiers that Pieter had researched over the past years.

From the Royal Winnipeg Rifles:

William ‘Willie’ DANIELS: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/07/23/on-the-war-memorial-trail-remembering-ww2-soldier-william-willie-daniels/
Donald Charles MACKENZIE: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/01/23/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-ww2-soldier-from-springhill-who-received-a-memorial-cross/

From the Perth Regiment:

Joseph ‘Gerald’ FOUGERE: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/01/27/on-the-war-memorial-trail-atlantic-canada-remembers-part-5/

From the Cape Breton Highlanders:

Carman Edward GILLCASH: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/10/22/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-soldier-from-glenwood-killed-during-the-battle-of-the-delfzijl-pocket/
Philip Hubert LONG: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2020/11/01/on-the-war-memorial-trail-a-face-for-philip-hubert-long/
Norman James NIXON: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/03/07/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-ww2-soldier-from-st-stephens/
Daniel PEARO: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/01/20/on-the-war-memorial-trail-atlantic-canada-remembers-part-4/
Ford Hilton SPIDLE: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/01/07/on-the-war-memorial-trail-atlantic-canada-remembers-part-1/

Not mentioned on the plaque:

From the 9th Armoured Regiment (BC Dragoons), who is commemorated on a plaque in Appingedam:

Louis Graham RICHARD: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/02/22/on-the-war-memorial-trail-atlantic-canada-remembers-part-7/

…. We couldn’t miss seeing Nansum…

We left Stefanuskerk in a reflective mood after looking at the names on the plaque, and quietly got back in the car for the short drive to Nansum, which is indeed a tiny place, near the coast. Joël didn’t know exactly where Joseph ‘Gerald’ FOUGERE was killed, unfortunately. What remained of a German bunker was still visible, so he likely died of shrapnel wounds.

Yellow arrow indicates the remains of a German bunker in Nansum. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Joël noted that 177 Kriegsmarine were captured here. The Kriegsmarine was Nazi Germany’s Navy from 1939-1945. By 1945, as the war progressed, the Kriegsmarine formed infantry units from its personnel, who were re-trained as infantry to fight on land, all in an attempt to alleviate the strain on the German Army.

From Nansum we continued on the last leg of our battlefields tour, as we followed the route taken by the Cape Breton Highlanders to Delfzijl. Coming up in Battlefields Tour With Joël Stoppels Part 4: From Nansum To Delfzijl And Wirdum.

Thank you to Joël Stoppels, guide and founder of Battlefield Tours, for a wonderful and informative tour. (See www.battlefieldtours.nu) If you have a story or photo to share, please contact Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com or comment on the blog.

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On The War Memorial Trail…. Battlefields Tour With Joël Stoppels Part 2: The Battle of the Delfzijl Pocket Began In Appingedam

October 5, 2025 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

A life’s ambition realized! Daria in the driver’s seat of a jeep! Spoiler alert – our battlefield tour was in an SUV, not the jeep! (Photo credit: Joël Stoppels)

October 5, 2025. While in Europe this spring for the 80th Anniversary of Liberation Commemoration events, we visited 14 cemeteries to place flags at the graves of 383 soldiers that Pieter has researched since 2014. The stories of many soldiers have been told on this blog.

On our wish list for this trip was to tour some of the battlefields in which these soldiers lost their lives in order to have a better appreciation of what they had faced.

Map showing the locations during the Battle of the Delfzijl Pocket. (Map source: http://www.canadiansoldiers.com)

Now, in Part 2, we travelled to Appingedam, the town where the Battle of the Delfzijl Pocket began….

From Wagenborgen, we made our way towards Appingedam, the location of the beginning of the Battle of the Delfzijl Pocket. William ‘Willie’ DANIELS, Donald Charles MACKENZIE, whose stories were previously told on this blog, along with William James ‘Jimmy’ Sutherland HOLE, who Pieter also researched, lost their lives here.

…. We found banners for two soldiers whose stories were previously told…

We found the banners for Daniels and MacKenzie, but no banner was made for Hole as up to now no photo has been found of him.

Banner for William ‘Willie’ Daniels in Appingedam. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

The banner for William ‘Willie’ Daniels was quite high up and it was hard for me to get a good angle, but thankfully Joël was kind enough to send us a better photo of the banner.

Banner for William ‘Willie’ Daniels. (Photo courtesy of Joël Stoppels/ Battlefield Tours)

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

Banner for Donald Charles MacKenzie in Appingedam. (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

Donald Charles MACKENZIE of Springhill, Nova Scotia, was serving with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles when he was killed, aged 30, on Sunday, April 22, 1945. He had been wounded during heavy fighting at the railway bridge near Appingedam, and placed in a house temporarily to rest. However, he was fatally hit by shrapnel by German shelling of the house. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/01/23/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-ww2-soldier-from-springhill-who-received-a-memorial-cross/

Helmet that had belonged to Donald Charles MacKenzie. (Photo Courtesy of Joël Stoppels / Battlefield Tours)

Joël told us that he has Donald Charles MacKenzie’s helmet in his private collection, and was kind enough to share a photo…a link of the past with the present!

…. The Royal Winnipeg Rifles were in Appingedam as of April 21, 1945…

Map helped explain what happened in Appingedam in 1945. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

In setting the scene on what unfolded in Appingedam back in 1945, Joël referred to a map that he had brought along for the battlefields tour. “….Two roads led into Appingedam in 1945, both heavily mined by the defending Kriegsmarine…” he explained. The Kriegsmarine was Nazi Germany’s Navy from 1939-1945. By 1945, as the war progressed, the Kriegsmarine formed infantry units from its personnel, who were re-trained as infantry to fight on land, all in an attempt to alleviate the strain on the German Army.

“…The Canadians were aware of the mines…” Joël noted, and on “…April 21, 1945, the Royal Winnipeg Rifles attacked. Heavy fighting ensued but the town was partially liberated on April 23, 1945….” allowing “….the Royal Winnipeg Rifles to move back into Wirdum….”

The Regimental history, ‘Little Black Devils: a history of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles’, by Bruce Tascona and Eric Wells, describes what happened at Appingedam. “…..Beginning on April 21….the Rifles attacked with the 7th Reconnaissance Regiment, and several of the armoured cars were knocked out by anti-tank guns. The Germans then blew up the bridge which the Rifles intended to cross…”

In trying to find another plan of attack, patrols had discovered a small bridge. “…The bridge, deemed too feeble to carry motor transport, was still intact and patrols affirmed that it would carry the weight of jeeps. With that information, the Rifles shifted position on a new start line during the night…”

The plan in place, “…in the early hours of April 22, A Company….went over the bridge, followed closely by C Company. They were met by heavy machine gun fire but the worst problem they faced were the minefields….”

A WASP carrier with 2 soldiers from the Royal Winnipeg Rifles on a street in Appingedam in April 1945. (Photo Courtesy of Joël Stoppels / Battlefield Tours)

In spite of the challenges, during the day “… the Battalion consolidated its position in front of the town…” Then, a surprise attack during the night meant that “…by dawn the Rifles were inside Appingedam and by mid-morning of April 23, they were mopping up. On April 24, the Rifles were replaced by the Perth Regiment….”

The 9th Armoured Regiment (British Columbia Dragoons) were assigned to support the Perth Regiment. The war diary for the BC Dragoons for April 22, 1945 explained the orders. “…Lt Col Angle liaised with Commander Perth Regiment as BCD will form one portion of the 5 CAB Battle Group…” (CAB referred to Canadian Armoured Brigade)

The Situation Report for ‘A’ Squadron of the BC Dragoons noted that “…troops moved forward and positions taken over from Winnipeg Rifles before last light. Approach to town heavily shelled by enemy heavy calibre guns…”

…. Appingedam was evacuated on the night of April 23, 1945…

Per the war diary for the BC Dragoons for April 23, 1945, it was overcast and orders had been received at 2 am from HQ CAB that the Regiment was to relieve the Royal Winnipeg Rifles at 12:30 pm, and that troops from ‘A’ and ‘B’ squadrons were to be temporarily reorganized into one infantry squadron. The tanks were parked in an area away from the town, with “….one crew member per tank to remain in the tanks and perform necessary maintenance and act as guards….”….all in preparation for the upcoming battle.

Appingedam had a population of 7,000, who were about to be in the midst of a heavy fight. Joël told us that after “…a Dutch resistance fighter named Leugs went to Battalion HQ and offered to help, he was tasked with evacuating the town. With the aid of Canadian trucks, this was done on the night of April 23, 1945…”

On April 24, 1945, the Situation Report for ‘A’ Squadron of the BC Dragoons recorded that “…the troop of tanks under Lt Gamlin, ‘C’ Squadron, took up positions at first light, spasmodic shelling throughout the day. Underground contacted and reliable information was received concerning enemy positions….Enemy continued heavy shelling….”

The Germans surrendered on May 2, 1945, and residents were able to return home and assess the damage to their properties.

…. Plaques to commemorate the RWR and BC Dragoons are in Appingedam…

Daria and Joël in Appingedam’s town square. The commemorative plaques are on a wall in the passageway to the right. (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

We learned about all that happened in Appingedam while standing in the town square, and next went to see two plaques placed nearby – one for the Royal Winnipeg Rifles, and the other for the British Columbia Dragoons. We could still see shrapnel in the bricks of the buildings!

Commemorative plaque for the Royal Winnipeg Rifles. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Commemorative plaque for the BC Dragoons. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Three soldiers from the BC Dragoons are remembered on the plaque:

Sgt Stanley FOSTER, aged 24, died April 30, 1945
Trooper Louis Graham RICHARD, aged 27, died April 26, 1945
Trooper Charles Ernest SOUCY, aged 30, died April 30, 1945

Sgt Foster is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek. Troopers Richard and Soucy are buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten. You can read Richard’s story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/02/22/on-the-war-memorial-trail-atlantic-canada-remembers-part-7/

…. ‘The best stroopwafel I ever ate!’…

Pieter, Daria, and Joél having a much needed break in Appingedam. (Photo courtesy of Valkenburg Family)

After digesting all the history from Wagenborgen and Appingedam, we desperately needed a break, so were very receptive to Joël’s suggestion that we go for coffee at ‘Stroopwoafeltje, Koffie & Meer’, a café in the town square.

Joël recommended the homemade stroopwafels made by the lady running the café, and both he and Pieter ordered one. After Pieter told me “…this is the best stroopwafel I ever ate!!!!..” I tried a piece of his, and he was right. It was much nicer than the syrupy, overly chewy ones you get commercially!

In case you’ve never tried this treat, a stroopwafel is a traditional Dutch cookie made from two thin waffle layers sandwiched around a warm caramel filling. I’m only sorry that I didn’t think to take a photo of Pieter’s stroopwafel before he ate it all up!

Our stay in Appingedam ended once we finished our coffee break. It was time to move on and continue our battlefields tour as part of our 2025 European War Memorial Tour. Coming up in Battlefields Tour With Joël Stoppels Part 3: Visit To Stefanuskerk In Holwierde.

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On The War Memorial Trail…. Battlefields Tour With Joël Stoppels Part 1: Battle For Wagenborgen

October 1, 2025October 3, 2025 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 4 Comments

A life’s ambition realized! Daria in the driver’s seat of a jeep! Spoiler alert – our battlefield tour was in an SUV, not the jeep! (Photo credit: Joël Stoppels)

October 1, 2025. Pieter has been involved in finding photos of Canadians who are buried in all three Canadian War Cemeteries in The Netherlands since 2014, with stories of many soldiers told on this blog.

While in Europe on our 2025 European War Memorial Tour this spring, for the 80th Anniversary of Liberation Commemoration events, he not only placed flags at the graves of 383 soldiers in 14 cemeteries, but we wanted to tour some of the battlefields in order to have a better appreciation of what soldiers faced.

Battlefields Tours guide Joël Stoppels, of Groningen, The Netherlands, offered to spend a day showing us locations where the various battles that comprised the Battle of the Delfzijl Pocket took place. The term ‘Delfzijl Pocket’ refers “….to the entire area around Delfzijl that was held by German forces and cleared by the Canadians in late April and early May 1945…”Joël explained.

Over the years, we’ve featured stories of many soldiers who lost their lives in the last weeks of the North-West Europe campaign during WWII, and we eagerly anticipated learning more. (See https://www.canadiansoldiers.com/history/battlehonours/northwesteurope/delfzijlpocket.htm)

Map showing the locations during the Battle of the Delfzijl Pocket. (Map source: http://www.canadiansoldiers.com)

…. 19 Canadians lost their lives on a field just outside Wagenborgen…

Our day touring battlefields began very early, with a two hour drive from our cottage near Holten to Groningen, where we’d arranged to meet Joël.

Our first stop on the battlefield tour was at a field outside Wagenborgen, where 19 Canadians lost their lives during the Battle for Wagenborgen. This was the preliminary battle before the Battle of the Delfzijl Pocket. (See https://www.canadiansoldiers.com/history/battlehonours/northwesteurope/wagenborgen.htm)

Joël Stoppels and Pieter stand across the road from the field outside Wagenborgen. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Joël began by saying that “….‘D’ Company of the Canadian Scottish Regiment, under the command of Major Anthony Compton-Lundie, were ordered by Battalion Command based in Groningen to undergo a dangerous mission across open fields with no rises or trees for cover…..”

Patrols from the 7th Canadian Reconnaissance Regiment had determined that Wagenborgen, a short distance from the centre of the battalion’s line, was held by an unknown number of Germans.

‘D’ Company received orders to take the village of Wagenborgen in a one-company attack in the early hours of April 21, 1945. “….Compton-Lundie was based at the Schmidt farm at the end of the field. When the phone rang with orders to attack, he protested. ‘Are you crazy?’ he said. Orders were orders, however, and Compton-Lundie was not one to disobey…”

The attack began on April 21, 1945. By the time it was over, Anthony COMPTON-LUNDIE was dead, as was his lieutenant, Dennis George HUSCROFT, and 17 more men.

…. How did the battle go so badly for the Canadian Scottish?…

How did it go so wrong? “... A Polish division had been in the area before the Canadian Scottish arrived and told Compton-Lundie that they believed only 100 Germans remained. This was faulty intelligence as there were over 1500 Germans, just waiting to pick off soldiers in the open field of very flat land….” Joël reflected that “…perhaps if Battalion Command had listened to Compton-Lundie, who had a view of the landscape, that there would have been fewer casualties….”

Field outside Wagenborgen where 19 men lost their lives. Yellow arrow indicates Schmidt Farm, where Major Compton-Lundie of the Canadian Scottish Regiment had been based. At the far right is a monument commemorating those who died. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

…. A monument by the field honours the 19 men who died…

Monument by the open field where 19 men lost their lives on April 19, 1945. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

A small monument sits beside the open field where 19 men fought and lost their lives. A translation of the Dutch text reads as follows: Stand still for a moment at the maple leaf. On April 21, 1945, 19 Canadian men died for our freedom here at ‘Stolderij’. Stolderij refers to the hamlet where the open field is located.

The men were temporarily buried in Siddeburen before being reburied in 1946 in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands.

…. Banners were placed in Wagenborgen to commemorate fallen soldiers…

Once we finished taking photos of the field where so many men lost their lives, we drove into the town of Wagenborgen itself, where banners of the deceased soldiers had been placed, as close as possible to the location where they fell.

Two soldiers from the Canadian Scottish Regiment who had fought in Wagenborgen have had their stories previously told on this blog. One survived the battle, but one died, and we looked for his banner.

Banner for Theodor ‘Ted’ Henschel in Wagenborgen. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Theodor ‘Ted’ HENSCHEL, who was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, but lived in Trail, British Columbia, was serving with the Canadian Scottish Regiment when he was killed in action during the Battle for Wagenborgen in The Netherlands on April 22, 1945, aged 28. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/08/14/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-soldier-from-trail-who-played-the-cornet/
Stanley Owen JONES, from Massett, British Columbia, was wounded during the Battle for Wagenborgen but didn’t die in the battle. While still serving with the Canadian Scottish Regiment, he drowned in Germany on September 8, 1945, aged 20, when the carrier he was in overturned in a ditch. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/09/05/on-the-war-memorial-trail-remembering-wwii-soldier-stanley-owen-jones/

Joël by the banner for Anthony Compton-Lundie, who was from Oakbank, Manitoba. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

After being told about the impossible situation that Major Anthony Compton-Lundie faced, we wanted to see his banner, and took a photo of Joël beside it.

…. Canadian soldiers who lost their lives during the Battle for Wagenborgen…

Joël and Pieter at the War Memorial in Wagenborgen. ‘Wij gedenken’ translates to ‘We commemorate’. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

The War Memorial in Wagenborgen commemorates the residents of Wagenborgen who died in WWII, and 27 fallen Canadian soldiers – 23 of them from the Canadian Scottish Regiment, 1 from the Royal Winnipeg Rifles, and 3 from the Royal Canadian Artillery.

From the Canadian Scottish Regiment:

Pte Albert George BOUMA, aged 21, died April 23, 1945
Pte John BRANSCOMB, aged 32, died April 23, 1945
Pte Robert Stewart BULLOCK, aged 39, died April 23, 1945
Pte Leslie Keith BUTTERICK, aged 19, died April 21, 1945
L/Cpl Carmen Christie CAPONERO, aged 30, died April 21, 1945
Sgt Allen CLEMENTS, aged 32, died April 21, 1945
Major Anthony COMPTON-LUNDIE, aged 30, died April 21, 1945
Pte Louis Silverius DAUTREMONT, aged 25, died April 21, 1945
Pte Edwin Levi EMERY, aged 22, died April 21, 1945
Pte Peter HARASYMCHUK, aged 24, died April 23, 1945
Pte Theodor ‘Ted’ HENSCHEL, aged 28, died April 223, 1945
Pte John Charles HUGHES, aged 28, died April 23, 1945
Lt Denis George HUSCROFT, aged 24, died April 21, 1945
L/Cpl John Albert MASLIN, aged 24, died April 21, 1945
Pte John Raymond PATRICK, aged 29, died April 21, 1945
Pte James Robert POWER, aged 21, died April 21, 1945
Pte Robert John Wilson REID, aged 38, died April 21, 1945
Pte Henry Oscar RENNER, aged 24, died April 21, 1945
Martin George VAN SANDVOORD, aged 28, died April 22, 1945
Pte Emile Joseph SOENS, aged 24, April 21, 1945
Pte John William WILSON, aged 37, died April 23, 1945
Pte Fred WIRTH, aged 38 , died April 23, 1945
A/Cpl Gordon Scarth WOOD, aged 21, died April 21, 1945

From the Royal Winnipeg Rifles:

Rifleman Theodore OLENICK, aged 19, died April 21, 1945

From the Royal Canadian Artillery:

Captain Donald George INNES, aged 23, died April 21, 1945
Gunner Joseph Paul MOULINS, aged 23, died April 21, 1945
Gunner Arthur John MUELLER, aged 20, died April 21, 1945

From Wagenborgen, we continued our tour, with our next stop in Appingedam, coming up in Battlefields Tour With Joël Stoppels Part 2: The Battle of the Delfzijl Pocket Began In Appingedam.

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….Pieter was introduced by The Honourable Mary Robinson, Senator….

….Pieter’s presentation was built around 5 words….

….The service was followed by a chance to socialize….

…Text of the statement read out in the Senate of Canada by The Honourable Mary Robinson, Senator….

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…A banner for WWII soldier Joseph ‘Ambroise’ Comeau….

….The family of WWII soldier James ‘Jimmy’ Oliver Thomas framed the photo we sent…

….WWII soldier Samuel George Engen was remembered by his great-niece Clover Rusk on National Indigenous Veterans Day…

….Flags were placed at the grave of WWII airman William Andrew Hood on our behalf…

….We visited the CWGC office in Ottawa…

….We visited the Memramcook Veterans Park in Memramcook, New Brunswick…

….We visited the Beach Grove Memorial Forest in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island…

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….A family member got in contact…

….Lloyd enlisted in the Active Army in August 1941…

….Lloyd left Canada for overseas service….

….Lloyd and the 23rd Field Company left the UK for France…..

….Lloyd and his brother Douglas help to clear up debris in Caen…..

….The 23rd Field Company made its way into The Netherlands….

….The 23 Field Company was tasked with rescuing the 1st British Airborne during Operation Berlin….

….Lloyd was in the storm boat that capsized during Operation Berlin….

….Lloyd is buried in Rhenen General Cemetery…

….A visit with Sue Hope…

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….The Commonwealth War Graves were tucked away in a small section of the cemetery….

….Hope was one of 7 Royal Canadian Engineers from the 23rd Field Company killed during Operation Berlin….

….Ryan was another Royal Canadian Engineer from the 23rd Field Company killed during Operation Berlin….

….Royal Canadian Engineers from 23rd Field Company who were killed during Operation Berlin….

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… Pilot Dusty Millar’s spitfire ran out of fuel and crashed…

… Uden War Cemetery was behind a church and in a residential area…

….53 Canadians are buried in Uden…

….A cafe was within walking distance of the cemetery…

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…. Recap…

….The Cape Breton Highlanders marched from Nansum to Delfzijl…

…. ‘D’ Company travelled along the coast…

….Retreating Germans tried to escape by boat…

….The German commander surrendered on May 2, 1945…

….Our final stop was in Wirdum…

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…. The Canada Memorial in Holwierde…

…. Canadian soldiers called Holwierde ‘a killing ground’…

…. We found a banner for one soldier whose story was previously told…

…. A solemn few moments at Stefanuskerk…

…. We couldn’t miss seeing Nansum…

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…. We found banners for two soldiers whose stories were previously told…

…. The Royal Winnipeg Rifles were in Appingedam as of April 21, 1945…

…. Appingedam was evacuated on the night of April 23, 1945…

…. Plaques to commemorate the RWR and BC Dragoons are in Appingedam…

…. ‘The best stroopwafel I ever ate!’…

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…. 19 Canadians lost their lives on a field just outside Wagenborgen…

…. How did the battle go so badly for the Canadian Scottish?…

…. A monument by the field honours the 19 men who died…

…. Banners were placed in Wagenborgen to commemorate fallen soldiers…

…. Canadian soldiers who lost their lives during the Battle for Wagenborgen…

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