Our Cold Cases …..

Cold case header

Since 2014, Pieter has been working diligently at finding photos of those who served.  His two areas of concentration have been for the names listed on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion, and those from WWII who are buried in The Netherlands and in the Canadian War Cemetery in Adegem, Belgium.

While he’s had outstanding success, not all searches have been successful, for one reason or another.  Once he’s exhausted all leads, and come up empty-handed, the search goes into what he calls the Cold Case Files. 

In most cases, family members have been identified and contacted over the years.  However, family contacts alone don’t mean that a photo is available.

One relative of a WWI soldier said “…it happened over 100 years ago, we do not have any pictures…” 

In the case of another WWI soldier, Pieter even knocked on the door of a relative.  “..Not interested…” he was told and the door closed in his face.

Family members of a WWI soldier from Prince Edward Island have themselves been actively looking for a photo – without success.  Surely someone must have a photo tucked away in an album?

The nephew of a WWII soldier ruefully told Valkenburg that his father, the only sibling of the soldier, had cut off all contact with the family and so there were no photos. 

One family of a WWII soldier buried in The Netherlands had a photo but said they were “…not interested in participating….” and refused to provide a copy of a photo, even after being contacted by the Legion in their area, who offered to digitize the photo.

In some cases, albums have been discarded once older generations have passed away, or there are unidentified photos. 

Below is a listing of some of the outstanding files for which extensive research has been done, but no photo has been found.   Can you help with any of the names on the Cold Case List?  Pieter is still searching for a photo of:

  1. 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.
  2. John BROWN of London, Ontario, son of Mary T. Brown, died April 14, 1945, aged 26, while serving with the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders. 
  3. 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 7th Canadian Infantry Battalion. (1st British Columbia). (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
  4. Leigh Hunt CAMERON, born in Albany, Prince Edward Island, son of Alexander Walter Cameron and Phoebe Ann (nee Murray) Cameron, died May 5, 1916, aged 17, shortly after enlisting with the 105th Battalion, C Company. (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
  5. William Galen CAMPBELL, born in Wellington, Prince Edward Island, son of John G. and Grace Emma Campbell, died April 24, 1953, aged 55, many years after being discharged from the 8th Siege Battery of the 3rd Brigade Canadian Garrison Artillery. (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
  6. Karl CHRISTENSEN, from Alberta, but born in Starheim, Nordfjord, Norway, son of Kristian Kristiansen Hafsas and Marie K. Hafsas, died April 10, 1945, aged 41, while serving with the 8th Field Squadron, Royal Canadian Engineers.
  7. Richard Alfred CLINE, from Saint John, New Brunswick, son of Emma J. Cline, died October 5, 1944, aged 21, while serving with the Essex Scottish Regiment. NEW! 
  8. Roy Henri COATES, of Morris, Manitoba, but born in Winnipeg, son of James Henry and Lydia Jane Coates, died May 2, 1945, aged 23, while serving with Royal Canadian Army Service Corps – – 3rd Casualty Clearing Station. NEW!
  9. 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.
  10. 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)
  11. 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.
  12. 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.
  13. Douglas Bernard FARROW of Amherst, Nova Scotia, died April 26, 1945, aged 27, while serving with the Algonquin Regiment.
  14. 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.
  15. Ernest Ramey GALLANT, born in Borden (now Borden-Carleton), Prince Edward Island, son of John P. and Mary Blanche Gallant, died May 20, 1943, aged 27, while serving with the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment. (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
  16. 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. 
  17. William James ‘Jimmy’ Sutherland HOLE, born in Carman, Manitoba, son of Daisy Hole, grandson of William and Eva Alise Hole, died April 22, 1945, aged 20, while serving with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles.
  18. 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. 
  19. George Mcdonald JOHNSTON of Toronto, Ontario, son of William and Annie Johnston, died April 2, 1945, aged 27, while serving with the South Alberta Regiment.
  20. Wesley Robert JOHNSTON of Red Bank, New Brunswick, son of Robert A. and Janette ‘Jennie’ (nee Simpson) Johnston, died March 3, 1945, aged 24, while serving with the Royal Regiment of Canada. NEW! 
  21. Wallace Herbert LARLEE of Perth, New Brunswick, died April 24, 1945, aged 19, while serving with the North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment.
  22. 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.
  23. Albert George LE RUE of Halifax, Nova Scotia, son of William and Cathrine Le Rue, died March 7, 1945, aged 24, while serving with the Algonquin Regiment. 
  24. Charles W. LOWTHER, born in North Carleton, Prince Edward Island, son of Bessie Lowther, died September 25, 1918, aged 21, while serving with the 25th Battalion, Canadian Infantry. (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
  25. 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. 
  26. 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.
  27. 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. 
  28. Walter MUNRO, born in Kelwood, Manitoba, son of John Alexander and Lavina (nee McLaughlin, widow of Robert Jamieson) Munro, husband of Hazel Mary Bird, died December 31, 1944, aged 31, while serving with the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps. NEW!
  29. 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.
  30. Valmont PERRY, of St. Louis, Prince Edward Island, son of Peter M. and Mary Ann Perry, and husband of Rose Doucette, died October 21, aged 26, while serving with the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders. NEW!
  31. 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)
  32. 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. 
  33. 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.
  34. 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.
  35. 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. 
  36. Charles Joseph Younes, born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, son of Albert Charles and Susan Younes, died March 30, 1945, aged 24, while serving with the Queens Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada. NEW! 

….Case Closed!….

The following files were completed and removed from the Cold Case List for 2025:

  1. Harry BIZNAR of Windsor, Ontario, but born in Montreal, Quebec, son of Fred and Katherine Biznar, died March 26, 1945, aged 28, while serving with the Lincoln and Welland Regiment. – Action: After a Letter to the Editor ran in The Windsor Star on July 5, 2025, a photo was provided by Biznar’s niece, Carol Cox. Thank you Carol!
  2. Douglas Gordon BLACK of Amherst, Nova Scotia, son of Sherman and Alice Black, died March 3, 1945, while serving with the Algonquin Regiment. – Action: Photo found by his grave at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands, when we were at the cemetery to lay flags.
  3. Bramwell Ernest CHURCHILL, of London, Ontario, son of David and Agnes C. Churchill, husband of Eva Blanche Churchill, died May 1, 1945, aged 40, while serving with the 5th Anti-Tank Regiment of the Royal Canadian Artillery. – Action: Newspaper photo found by Alan Campbell, newsletter editor for the Lambton County Branch of the Ontario Genealogical Society.  Thank you Alan!
  4. Leslie Alban CROSS, of Newcastle, New Brunswick, son of Archibald and Laura Cross, died April 19, 1945, aged 30, while serving with the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps. – Action: Photo sent by the Crocker family.
  5. Samuel George ENGEN of The Pas, Manitoba, son of Louis Julius Engen and Mary Helen (nee Buck) Engen, husband of Miriam Susan Pranteau, died April 23, 1945, aged 27, while serving with the Lake Superior Regiment. – Action: After a 3 year search by various family members, a photo was found by Clover Rusk in an album that had belonged to her great-grandfather Aaron, the older brother of Samuel. Thank you Clover!
  6. Garnet Joseph GALLANT of Amherst, Nova Scotia, son of Charles and Mary (nee Gautreau) Gallant, died February 18, 1945, aged 22, while serving with the Regina Rifles Regiment. – Action: Photo sent by niece Janet Lowerison, on behalf of the Gallant Family.  Thank you Janet!
  7. John Arthur GALLERY of Saint John, New Brunswick, son of William and Grace Gallery, died October 13, 1944, aged 22, while serving with the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada. – Action: Newspaper photo found by Etienne Gaudet.  Thank you Etienne!
  8. Peter HYDICHUK of Theodore, Saskatchewan, son of Alex and Ann Hydichuk, died March 31, 1945, aged 27, while serving with the South Saskatchewan Regiment. – Action: Photo sent by Garry Bodnaryk, whose mother had been the soldier’s girlfriend….and who had kept the photo as a remembrance all her life. Thank you Garry!
  9. John Lewis HUGHES, born in Eriksdale, Manitoba, son of Ebenezer George and Ellen (nee Rogan) Hughes, husband of Irene (nee Goodwin) Hughes of Winnipeg, Manitoba, died November 2, 1944, aged 28, while serving with the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corp – 10th Field Dressing Station. – Action: Photo of soldier sent by Judy Gleich from the collection of Jim and Kay Forsyth. Thank you Judy!
  10. Francis Leslie MULCAHY of Halifax, Nova Scotia, son of Daniel and Mary Mulcahy, died April 24, 1945, aged 21, while serving with the North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment. – Action: Photo and newspaper obit of soldier sent by Henk Vincent of the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten. Thank you Henk!
  11. Edward Alexander MUNRO of Birch River, Manitoba, son of Thomas Henry and Margaret ‘Maggie’ (nee Moore) Munro, died October 6, 1945, aged 27, while serving with the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps, 219 Infantry Brigade Company. – Action: Photo sent by Glenda Foster of the Swan Valley Legion Branch #39 in Manitoba.  Thank you Glenda!
  12. George Austin NORDVALL of Birch River, Manitoba, died February 21, 1945, while serving with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles. – Action: Photo sent by nephew Ed Nordvall after Pieter got in contact with Ed’s sister, Donna McIsaac, and Donna’s brother-in-law, Don McIsaac.  Sometimes it takes a village!  Thank you Ed, Donna, and Don! 
  13. 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 105th Battalion, C Company. (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph) – Action: After a 10 year search, a photo was sent by Elaine McCormick, who said she and her brother, Carl Robinson, found the photo of their great-uncle, brother of their grandfather John Joseph Robinson, in a photo album belonging to their late aunt Beulah Robinson Thomson. Thank you Elaine and Carl!
  14. Harry WHITE of Halifax, Nova Scotia, son of Wilfred and Mary White, died May 19, 1945, aged 27, while serving with the West Nova Scotia Regiment. – Action: Photo found by his grave at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands, when we were at the cemetery to lay flags.

Note: this research project is done by volunteers and is self-funded.

© Daria Valkenburg

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