On The War Memorial Trail….. Remembering WWII Soldier George Taylor

/ On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 2 Comments

August 10, 2023. The search for a photo of a soldier often involves many people.  When Pieter begins an investigation, he looks for family members or organizations that might be able to help.  This can take him n a journey in which we are reminded of just how many people care about remembering those who’ve served.

The search for a photo of George TAYLOR of the Curve Lake First Nation began with an inquiry to Chief Keith Knott and Councillor Arnold Taylor.  Pieter’s request was sent to Mae Whetung-Derrick, who explained that she had been given Pieter’s name “.…by the Curve Lake First Nation, as I have done some research on Curve Lake veterans and created a slide show for the Remembrance Day luncheon that is held every year after the services (other than COVID years)….”

After contacting Pieter, Mae spoke to Jocelyn Taylor Watson, “…the daughter of Benjamin Taylor, and the niece of Gunner Taylor. Benjamin also served in World War 2….”

Pieter then spoke with Jocelyn who explained that her father, Benjamin, “…was the baby of the family, born two years after George.  He served during WWII but did not go overseas, and died in 2001 at the age of 78….”

Shortly afterwards, Jocelyn’s daughter Autumn Watson got in contact. “…First, I would like to say Chi-Miigwetch (Thank-You) for reaching out to our Chief Keith Knott and Councillor Arnold Taylor, with respect to my great-uncle George Taylor. My mother (Jocelyn Taylor) had mentioned that you spoke with her. As a family we appreciate your dedication to breathing life and respect to our fallen soldiers!…”

improved_photo(19) Taylor coloured

George Taylor.  (Photo submitted by Mae Whetung-Derrick, originally published in the Peterborough Examiner.  Photo restoration by Duane MacEwen.  Photo colourization by Pieter Valkenburg)

…George was a member of the Curve Lake First Nation…

curve lake first nation logoBorn April 28, 1920, George TAYLOR was the son of Lorenzo ‘Dow’ and Eva Taylor, members of the Curve Lake First Nation, a Mississauga Ojibway First Nation located in Peterborough County, Ontario.  (See https://curvelakefirstnation.ca/history/ and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curve_Lake_First_Nation)

When George enlisted in Peterborough, Ontario on July 9, 1941 with the No. 3 ‘A’ District Depot, it was noted that he could speak Chippewa (Anishinaabemowin), as well as being fluent in English.  (See http://www.native-languages.org/ojibwe.htm)

He had worked as a trapper and hunter since 1935, and also worked for a mixed farming operation. His sports interests included swimming, fishing, and playing softball.

…George trained as a gunner…

George began his basic training on July 12, 1941, at No. 32 Canadian Army Basic Training Centre (CABTC) in Peterborough.  He was then sent to No. 3 ‘A’ District Depot’s home base in Kingston, Ontario for additional training.

On August 27, 1941, he was transferred to the 3rd Field Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery for further training as a gunner in Gananoque, Ontario.

George was on the move again on December 1, 1941, this time to Sussex, New Brunswick, when he was attached to the 18th Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery.  A few months later, on February 17, 1942, George was transferred to the 2nd Medium Regiment and sent to Petawawa, Ontario, in preparation for going overseas.

During his training as a gunner, George would have learned to use equipment such as 18/25 Pounders, 25 Pounders, and self-propelled 25 Pounder Sextons.  Gunners in a Medium Artillery Regiment would be trained in weapons such as 6-Inch Howitzers, 4.5-Inch Howitzers, or 5.5-Inch Howitzers.

…George left Canada for overseas service…

On March 20, 1942, George left Canada for the United Kingdom aboard the SS Aorangi, sailing from Halifax, Nova Scotia and arriving in Glasgow, Scotland 9 days later.

The Regiment was assigned to No. 3 Canadian Army Reinforcement Unit (CARU) for a month, while awaiting the arrival of their equipment.

From August 28 to 30, 1943, 2 Medium Regiment participated in Exercise Handspike, as training for the upcoming battles in Italy.

…George was in the Italian Campaign….

SS Argentina

Artist drawing of SS Argentina. (Photo source: By Boston Public Library Fred J Hoertz & Harry H Baumann – The Good Neighbor liners Argentina and Brazil, operated by Moore-McCormack Lines, sailing from New York to the East Coast of South America, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26243707)

On October 24, 1943, George was with his Regiment when they left Liverpool, England aboard USAT Argentina for Sicily, arriving on November 8, 1943, several months after Sicily had been deemed Allied territory in August 1943.  (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Argentina_(1929))  Their first camp was based in Ionia.

For an idea of what weaponry George used and the conditions encountered, a short YouTube video about Royal Canadian Artillery members travelling to Italy to commemorate their time in Sicily may be of interest:

In March 1944, the Regiment was in Ortona, Italy, as part of the Allied Armies in Italy (AAI) for what became known as the Italian Campaign. (See https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_campaign_(World_War_II)).  May 1944 found the Regiment in Cassino, Italy.  Over the next months the Regiment participated in fighting the Gustav, Hitler, and Gothic Line battles.

On June 21, 1944, George was hospitalized near Rome, Italy with prepatellar bursitis (inflammation of the bursa in front the kneecap), but discharged from hospital on July 4, 1944, when he returned to his Regiment.  (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prepatellar_bursitis)

…George and his Regiment left Italy for northern Europe…

On March 11, 1945, the Regiment left Italy as part of Operation Goldflake, arriving in Marseilles, France two days later.  Operation Goldflake was the codename for moving troops from Italy to North-West Europe.  (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Goldflake)

Now part of the 21st Army Group, troops were moved from France up to the Belgian front, into The Netherlands, through the Reichswald Forest in Germany, and then back into The Netherlands.

The war ended in Europe on May 8, 1945, and the Regiment was in the Den Helder area of The Netherlands. The war diary for the Regiment noted that “…we were occupying our last gun position when hostilities ceased and almost immediately swung into a new role, that of disarming and despatching Germans back to their own country….”

…George died accidentally while in The Netherlands…

In June 1945, the Regiment was based at Arnhem, The Netherlands.  The war diary entry for June 17, 1945 recorded that “…Gunner Taylor…” of ‘Q’ Battery “… had taken sick and died of suffocation…”  A medical report noted that while asleep in his army tent, he had fallen ill and vomited.  Unfortunately, this had caused him to suffocate.  A military court of inquiry ruled his death accidental.

20211016_155710 Jocelyn Taylor at Groesbeek

Jocelyn Taylor Watson at the entrance to the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek.  (Photo courtesy of the Taylor family)

George was buried at the Nijmegen Canadian Military Temporary Cemetery the following morning, on June 18, 1945. He was 25 years old.  Later he was reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands.

20211016_161144 Jocelyn Taylor, at Groesbeek

Jocelyn Taylor Watson at George Taylor’s grave. (Photo courtesy of the Taylor family)

Jocelyn visited the cemetery in 2021 with her daughter Autumn and son-in-law.  “…I sang at his grave and my daughter drummed…” Jocelyn explained during a phone call with Pieter. What a wonderful tribute to George!

Autumn wrote that they found the cemetery a “…beautiful resting place, but emotional to say the least…”  Autumn also included a link to the Lakefield War Veterans, in which George is featured: https://lakefieldwarvets.ca/taylor-george/

…George’s father planted a pine tree…

Jocelyn told us that George is always remembered as her grandfather – George’s father Dow – planted a pine tree when George left to serve in the Canadian Army. Over 80 years later it is still standing, a living remembrance of this well-loved soldier.

Resized_20210606_195838_6246001 Pine tree re George Taylor

Pine tree planted by George’s father Dow. (Photo courtesy of the Taylor family)

Thank you to Jocelyn Taylor and Autumn Watson for sharing photos and information about George Taylor, and to Mae Whetung-Derrick for helping to find family.

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

© Daria Valkenburg

…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/

Front cover OnTheWarMememorialTrailinEurope4 countries, 6 weeks, 7,000 km – an unforgettable war memorial journey in Europe…. Daria’s book ‘No Soldier Buried Overseas Should Ever Be Forgotten‘ is available in print and e-book formats.  For more information see https://nosoldierforgotten.com/

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

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

On The War Memorial Trail….. The WWII Soldier Who Died While Reading A Dutch-English Dictionary

/ On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

August 5, 2023.  When we planned a visit to the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom, The Netherlands in October 2019, Pieter asked for a list of soldiers from Prince Edward Island from Caroline Raaijmakers of the Faces To Graves Bergen Op Zoom Project. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2019/12/07/on-the-war-memorial-trail-our-2019-visit-to-the-canadian-war-cemetery-in-bergen-op-zoom/)

One of the soldiers whose grave we visited and placed flags at was that of Milton Evangeline LIVINGSTONE, born August 21, 1918 in Gladstone, Prince Edward Island, the only child of Joseph Henry and Agnes Lettie Livingstone of Murray Harbour, Prince Edward Island. 

Screenshot 2023-08-01 at 11-09-35 Murray River map satellite __ Canada Prince Edward Island

Map shows how close Gladstone, Murray Harbour, and Murray River are in Prince Edward Island. (Map source: https://satellites.pro)

… Milton made three attempts to actively serve…

After leaving school at the age of 17, Milton had various jobs, including on a farm, as a truck driver, and in a wholesale warehouse.  In 1940 he tried to enlist in the Canadian Army but was unsuccessful, as was his application to join the Royal Canadian Air Force.  Therefore, on April 6, 1942 he joined the 17th Armoured Regiment Reserve in Murray Harbour.  In the fall of 1942 he transferred to the Reserve in Charlottetown.

On March 2, 1943, he successfully enlisted with the No. 6 District Depot in Charlottetown.  By this time, he was married – to Mae Isabel Stymeist – and the father of Carol Christine, who had been born two months earlier, on December 31, 1942.

private livingstone Lincolns from Robert Catsburg

Milton Evangeline Livingstone. (Photo courtesy of Robert Catsburg, who had received it from the son of Marie van Elzakker-De Jong)

Milton was in Halifax, Nova Scotia he day after enlistment. The interviewer for his Personnel Selection Record noted that he “…seems to be a friendly and cheerful person….”  He “…plays softball, and reads a bit – mostly newspapers.  In his spare time he tinkers with machines…”  It was recommended that he be assigned to an infantry regiment.

On April 2, 1943, Milton was sent to No. 61 Canadian Army Basic Training Centre (CABTC) in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia.  His Personnel Selection Record was updated after he completed his basic training.  “…His progress was outstanding and he was therefore held over for two months as assistant instructor.  During this period he has done good and conscientious work and is recommended as capable and with NCO indications…”  (NCO refers to Non-Commissioned Officer.)

… Milton qualified as a Driver i/c and Driver Mechanic…

On August 6, 1943, Milton was transferred to No. 14 Infantry Training Centre (ITC) in Aldershot, Nova Scotia, remaining there until December 3, 1943 when he was sent to the S-5 Canadian Driving and Maintenance School (CD & M School) in Woodstock, Ontario, where he successfully completed a 6 week driving course to qualify as a Driver i/c Class III Wheeled Vehicles. (The term ‘Driver i/c’ refers to ‘Driver, internal combustion’.  Class III meant he was qualified to drive heavy trucks and armoured cars.)

After completing the driving course, Milton remained in Woodstock to take a Driver Mechanic I course, which he completed on March 15, 1944.  In addition to being a driver, he would also be responsible for minor vehicle repairs on vehicles in his unit.

… Milton left Canada for overseas service…

Milton returned to No. 14 Infantry Training Centre (ITC) in Aldershot on April 6, 1944 for final training and preparation before going overseas.

On May 1, 1944, he was on his way to the United Kingdom, arriving on May 7, 1944 and assigned to No 4 Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit (CIRU).  He was sent for more training, resulting in a reclassification to Driver Mechanic MV ‘C’ on June 8, 1944.

On September 10, 1944 Milton was sent to France with the X-4 reinforcement troops of No. 2 Canadian Base Reinforcement Group (CBRG), part of the 13th Battalion.  On September 23, 1944 he was transferred to ‘C’ Company of the Lincoln & Welland Regiment, joining them while the Regiment was in the area of Maldegem, Belgium. 

… Milton rejoined the Regiment after being released from the field hospital…

Milton was sent to a Field Hospital on September 25, 1944.  There was no record of casualties that day and he was not on the wounded list, so perhaps he had an accident.  On October 14, 1944 he returned to ‘C’ Company of the Lincoln & Welland Regiment, which was in the area of Middeldorp, Belgium.

By the beginning of November, the Regiment had entered The Netherlands, moving from Bergen Op Zoom and towards the capture of Steenbergen.

The Regiment’s war diary for November 4, 1944 reported that “…The Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders of Canada took over Steenbergen and reported the town clear…”  The Regiment was given a chance to take a well-deserved rest.

The last entry in Milton’s service record is on November 6, 1944 with the notation ‘Deceased. Believed Killed In Action’. However, the war diary for that day reported “… everything quiet…”  Similarly, no report of fighting was recorded in ‘History of the Lincoln and Welland Regiment’ by Robert Louis Rogers. 

The mystery of what happened to Milton was finally solved in an account in ‘Five Days In November –The Liberation of Welberg and Steenbergen in WWII’ by Robert Catsburg, and translated from the original Dutch by Ineke Hardy.

… An eyewitness account of what happened on November 6, 1944…

Robert Catsburg explained to us that the account of what happened that day came from Lies de Jong, one of the daughters of the De Jong family.

“…On 6 November, a fatal accident took place at the home of the De Jong family on Oudlandsestraat. On their return, the De Jongs had found their house filled with Canadians of the Lincoln and Welland Regiment…  

 …The men were very well-behaved, and most of them slept in a small abandoned house at the back. During the day, they relaxed or carried out maintenance on the large tank parked beside the De Jong residence. A few men shared the house with the De Jongs…

…During the day, the officer slept in Grandpa’s box bed and at night, Grandpa took his place. The older De Jong daughters basked in the attention from the young soldiers. Daughter Marie had formed a friendship with one of them, Private Milton E. Livingstone…

…On 6 November, the two were sitting side by side at the table, looking up words in a dictionary in an effort to learn a little of each other’s language. A soldier of American origin (in the interview, Lies de Jong called him ‘the Texas man’) sat across from Marie and Milton, cleaning his weapon. Without warning, the weapon went off, and Milton Livingstone collapsed with a muffled groan. He was fatally injured….

…Marie watched in horror as her friend’s body was wrapped in a grey blanket, taken outside through the window, and removed by a truck. The chaplain of the regiment tried to counsel the family, but the language barrier defied his efforts. Marie kept the picture Milton Livingstone had given her until the day she died, in 2008…”

… Milton’s cause of death was not investigated or recorded…

It’s not difficult to imagine the effect this incident had on Marie and her family. What is difficult to understand is why a soldier would be cleaning a loaded gun in the house of civilians with young daughters, and not outside. Even more difficult to understand is why no court of inquiry was made, or even a reference to what happened in the war diary, regimental history, or Milton’s service file. 

The war diaries for the Regiment recorded soldiers who were absent without leave, who had accidentally hurt themselves while on duty, who disobeyed officers.  Shooting of a soldier?  Nothing.

We have come across other accidental shootings over the years, which have been documented in the war diaries of other Regiments. It appears that the handling of this incident was not standard practice.

A note in the December 1944 war diary for the Lincoln & Welland Regiment suggested that such shootings were not unusual:  “…serious disciplinary action will be taken in the case of personnel who are injured as a result of our own or enemy weapons.  Carelessness in this respect is causing a great wastage of personnel…” 

… Milton is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom…

CIMG3398 Oct 7 2019 Bergen Op Zoom Milton Livingstone

Pieter beside the grave of Milton Evangeline Livingstone. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Milton was temporarily buried in Bergen Op Zoom before being reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom in 1946. 

Thank you to Robert Catsburg for allowing us to quote from his book and for sharing the photo of Milton Livingstone.

Do you have a story to tell? Pieter encourages you to email him at memorialtrail@gmail.com, or comment on the blog.    

© Daria Valkenburg

…Want to follow our research?…

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

Front cover OnTheWarMememorialTrailinEurope4 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. 

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

In Memoriam To Delbert Carr And Pam Alexander

/ On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

In_memoriam

July 29, 2023. Over the past years, the On The War Memorial Trail Research Project has been telling stories of those who have served our country.  In the course of Pieter’s research, we’ve had the privilege of meeting many of the families who contributed photos and stories. 

When Pieter first began researching the names on the Cenotaph outside the Legion in Borden-Carleton, Prince Edward Island in 2015, two of the first stories were that of WWI soldier Vincent Earl CARR and WWII pilot Elmer Bagnall MUTTART.

…Delbert and Helen Carr provided the first photo for the Cenotaph Research Project…

We were very sorry to hear of the passing of Delbert Carr, nephew of WWI soldier Vincent Earl Carr.  (See https://www.saltwire.com/prince-edward-island/obituaries/delbert-louis-carr-90441/

CIMG3083 Aug 31 2019 Pieter with Helen & Delbert Carr

Pieter with Helen and Delbert (seated) Carr of Tryon. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

When Pieter began his research into the 48 names on the Cenotaph in Borden-Carleton, we carried a photo of the names with us in the hope that someone would recognize a name.  We had no luck until one day Helen Carr mentioned that her husband’s uncle, Vincent CARR, was listed on the memorial.  Did we want a photo of him?  With that photo, Pieter delved into Vincent Carr’s military records and learned that he died on October 30, 1917 during the Battle of Passchendaele. 

That was the first story we wrote about, which was published in the County Line Courier newspaper in October 2016. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2017/07/28/the-cenotaph-research-project-begins/)

In 2017, we visited the grave where Vincent Carr is buried in Belgium (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2017/11/03/on-the-war-memorial-trail-of-passchendaele-and-surrounding-area/) and that visit led to a mystery that wasn’t solved until two years later. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2019/09/01/the-three-ww1-soldiers-who-were-buried-together-at-passchendaele/)

…Pam Alexander was the daughter of Halifax L9561 navigator Reg Alexander…

The story of WWII pilot Elmer Bagnall MUTTART, who died after his plane was shot down over The Netherlands on October 12, 1941, has unfolded over several years, and began with this posting, one of the first stories on our blog: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2017/07/28/the-elmer-bagnall-muttart-story/. 

Earlier this month, Don Coutts notified us that his mother Helen Coutts, Elmer’s sister, had passed away at the age of 101. (See https://www.humphreymiles.com/obituaries/Helen-Muttart-Coutts?obId=28481417)  An In Memoriam article was posted last week. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/07/22/in-memorium-to-helen-nee-muttart-coutts/)

We were then saddened to learn that Pam Alexander, who was so much a part of this research file, had passed away in England on April 7, 2023.  It wasn’t until Pam’s husband published her obituary earlier in July that we knew of her passing.  (See https://www.theguardian.com/science/2023/jul/12/pam-alexander-obituary?CMP=share_btn_fb&fbclid=IwAR1twqhqrZC2cWxeDZShwYudyGpk1VcMnnG-HpYfzqJb-qiMFQB5L0rlDtw and https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pam_Alexander)

When Pieter began researching Elmer’s story, he soon learned about Reg Alexander, the navigator on Elmer’s last flight, Halifax L9561.  This led him to the daughter of Reg, Pam Alexander, who he first got in contact with in October 2016.

Pam explained that “…My father did speak with Mr Muttart’s parents after the war but may not have given them all the details, which I only discovered when he was in his eighties. As children we had visited the Canadian War Memorial in Runnymede regularly in November in remembrance of my father’s pilot, who was known as ‘Happy’ Muttart….” 

She had visited Harlingen General Cemetery, where Elmer is buried, with her father.  “…The wreath my father placed said ‘From a grateful and admiring member of the crew and his family’…”

Oct 12 2019 Pam Alexander Harlingen General Cemetery from Sikko Drijver

Pam Alexander (identified by red arrow) at Harlingen General Cemetery in Harlingen, The Netherlands, on October 12, 2019.  (Photo credit: Sikko Drijver)

Pam and her husband Roger Booker, and Pam’s sister Carolyn, attended the commemoration events and unveiling of the memorial panel in Won in October 2019, and so we had a chance to finally meet her in person. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2019/11/18/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-memorial-panel-in-wons-is-unveiled/)

Our deepest condolences go to the families of Delbert Carr and Pam Alexander. 

Do you have a story to tell? Pieter encourages you to email him at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or tweet to @researchmemori1.    

© Daria Valkenburg

…Previous In Memoriams….

…Want to follow our research?…

Follow our blog

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

Front cover OnTheWarMememorialTrailinEurope4 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. 

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

On The War Memorial Trail….. The WWI Soldier From Tryon Who Was Raised By His Grandparents

/ On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

July 24, 2023.  When Pieter was contacted by Ivan MacDonald about Ivan’s father, we initially thought we would be researching a WWII soldier from Prince Edward Island.  We were wrong. Ivan’s father, Angus Clayton MACDONALD, served in WWI!

CIMG6416 Jul 4 2023 Pieter Ivan & Edna MacDonald

Pieter with Ivan MacDonald and Ivan’s wife Edna. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

“…He was brought up by his grandparents in Mount Tryon…” Ivan explained. 

Ivan’s nephew, Philip MacDonald, sent us the Service Regimental Number for Angus, which meant Pieter could easily find the WWI Service File.  “…Angus MacDonald was my grandfather. He was born on May 2, 1896 to a single mom, Alice MacDonald, who later married John Heatly (aka Hately) from Tryon. Grampy was raised by Donald and Christy MacDonald so this is how as a boy he learned to speak Gaelic….”

…Angus enlisted in Charlottetown…

colourized Angus Clayton MacDonald

Angus Clayton MacDonald. (Photo courtesy of the MacDonald Family. Photo colourization by Pieter Valkenburg)

On August 29, 1917, the Military Service Act came into effect, stating that all males between 20 and 45 were subject to conscription until the end of the war.  (See https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/military-service-act)

The enlistment form for Angus noted that he had been drafted when he enlisted with H Company, 1st Depot Battalion, Nova Scotia Regiment, in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, on March 21, 1918.  In the form, he stated that he was born on May 2, 1897 in Tryon, Prince Edward Island, and was a farmer.  (This was a year later than other records stated.)

We asked Ivan if Angus had enlisted at the same time as any relatives or friends, and he said he didn’t know.  We found that Bruce Sutherland MCKAY, who grew up not far from Angus, enlisted on the same day in the same Regiment. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2019/04/22/the-ww1-soldier-who-never-made-it-to-the-front/) 

…Angus sailed to England aboard the SS Scotian…

HMT_Scotian

Angus Clayton MacDonald and Bruce Sutherland McKay travelled to England on the same voyage aboard the troopship Scotian. (Photo source: https://birtwistlewiki.com.au/wiki/HMT_Scotian)

Within a few weeks of enlistment Angus was on his way to the United Kingdom, aboard the troopship SS Scotian, arriving in Liverpool, England on April 28, 1918. 

Upon arrival, Angus was sent to Segregation Camp, Frensham Pond, in Bramshott. This was a prudent measure as the first wave of infectious diseases had already affected men held in crowded conditions.  In April 1918, senior military officials had set up segregation camps to hold arrivals from Canada for 28 days before joining their units.

Bruce Sutherland McKay was on the same voyage, but once they docked in England, their paths diverged as McKay had developed scarlet fever during the journey.

On May 5, 1918, Angus was admitted to the 12th General Hospital in Bramshott with mumps.  It wasn’t until July 10, 1918 that he was discharged, assigned to the 2nd Canadian Convalescent Depot (CCD) and sent to the Nova Scotia Regimental Depot (NSRD), which was at Bramshott.   This was the facility behind the front used to assemble men and to store and administer equipment and materials. 

On August 10, 1918, he was deemed fully recovered and transferred to the 17th Canadian Reserve Battalion in Bramshott for training and preparation for the fighting at the front.

…Angus qualified as a marksman…

Philip had wondered if the crossed rifles on the sleeve of his grandfather’s uniform had any significance.  It meant that he had successfully passed a marksman course, which entitled him to wear crossed rifles on his uniform.  A marksman was not a sniper, which required further training.  (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marksman)

On October 26, 1918, Angus was transferred to the 85th Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders) and sent to France.  (For more information, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/85th_Battalion_(Nova_Scotia_Highlanders),_CEF)

The war was nearing its end, with much of the German Army in retreat following the Battle of Valenciennes on November 1, 1918.  (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Valenciennes_(1918))

Allied troops kept up the pressure with a general advance, and on November 4, 1918, the 3rd and 4th Canadian Divisions arrived on both sides of the Valenciennes-Mons road.  The Allied objective?  Cross the French border into Belgium and forge a passage through the parallel rivers of the Grand Honnelle and Petite Honnelle, moving the battlefront towards the line between Mons on the left and Aulnois on the right.

…Angus was wounded in the last week of WWI…

On November 5, 1918, the Passage of the Grande Honnelle Battle began around Honnelles, and lasted until November 7, 1918.  Located in Belgium, Honnelles is a small village near the French border, located near the Petite Honnelle river. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Passage_of_the_Grande_Honnelle)

The 85th Battalion was part of the 4th Canadian Division, which initially stayed on the French side of the border before crossing the border into Belgium.  On November 6, 1918 Angus received gunshot wounds to both arms and was sent to the 23rd Casualty Clearing Station. 

On November 10, 1918, Angus was transferred to the No.  22 General Hospital in Camiers, France before being transported back to England on November 27, 1918. He was hospitalized at Clandon Park House until January 30, 1919.  (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clandon_Park_House)

From Clandon Park, he was transferred to Woodcote Park Military Convalescent Hospital in Epsom, until he was discharged on February 19, 1919.   (See  https://wartimememoriesproject.com/greatwar/hospitals/hospital.php?pid=18196)

Upon discharge he returned to the 17th Reserve Battalion camp, located in Ripon in North Yorkshire, before being sent on March 19, 1919 to Kinmel Park Camp in Wales, about 48 km from Liverpool, where he and other soldiers waited their turn to board a ship back to Canada.

Competition for shipping among the Allied powers, labour disruption due to strikes by dockworkers, seamen, miners and police, and shortages of food and coal made for miserable conditions. 

Luckily, Angus didn’t have to wait long before he boarded the SS Megantic, returning to Canada and receiving his discharge certificate on April 16, 1919 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.

…Civilian life with a wife and children…

Upon returning to civilian life, Angus worked in fishing for Harry Crossman in Cape Traverse, Prince Edward Island.  He bought a motorcycle, and on a trip to visit his aunt in Lower Bedeque, he met Ruby Frances Rose of nearby Chelton.  They married on October 27, 1921 and raised 3 sons and a daughter.

Angus Ruby and Eldon 1924 photo from Ivan cropped and restored

Ruby and Angus MacDonald with son Eldon in 1922. (Photo courtesy of the MacDonald family)

“…Eldon was the oldest, born in 1922.  I was born in 1930.  Herbert, who was Philip’s father, was born in 1933…” Ivan told us.

“…In the 1930s he sold Plymouth cars in Summerside, but times were very tough due to the Depression…” Ivan recalled.  “…He was very smart, and could do mechanical work, carpentry, build a flue, just as a few examples. He had a small workshop and made axe handles….” 

…Angus died in 1979 following a stroke…

After suffering a stroke, Angus died a few months later, on April 30, 1979 at Prince County Hospital in Summerside, Prince Edward Island.  He was buried at the Lower Bedque Cemetery.

grave stone Angus C MacDonald Lower Bedeque

Grave of Angus Clayton MacDonald at Lower Bedeque Cemetery. (Photo source: http://www.findagrave.com)

Philip MacDonald wrote Pieter to say “… I very much enjoy the stories of all the veterans you and your wife have written for the County Line Courier.  I feel it is important to recognize that these men had a life and family they left behind because their country asked them to do so.  I’m not sure this is something many of us really consider when we hear the names being read once a year on Remembrance Day…” 

Thank you to Ivan and Edna MacDonald for sharing information about Ivan’s father, and to Philip MacDonald for sharing information and finding his grandfather’s Service Regimental Number.

Do you have a story to tell? Pieter encourages you to email him at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or tweet to @researchmemori1.    

© Daria Valkenburg

…Want to follow our research?…

Follow our blog

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

Front cover OnTheWarMememorialTrailinEurope4 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. 

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

In Memoriam To Helen (nee Muttart) Coutts

/ On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

In_memoriam

July 22, 2023. Over the past years, the On The War Memorial Trail Research Project has been telling stories of those who have served our country.  Along the way, we’ve also introduced you to many of the families who contributed photos and stories.

Last week, we received word from Don Coutts that his mother Helen Coutts, sister of WWII pilot Elmer Bagnall MUTTART, passed away at the age of 101. (See https://www.humphreymiles.com/obituaries/Helen-Muttart-Coutts?obId=28481417)

The story of Elmer Muttart, who died after his plane was shot down over The Netherlands on October 12, 1941, has unfolded over several years, and began with this posting, one of the first stories on our blog: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2017/07/28/the-elmer-bagnall-muttart-story/. 

CIMG9481 Oct 25 2017 Pieter with Helen Elgin & Don Coutts in Toronto

Pieter (standing left) with Elgin Coutts (seated), Elgin’s wife Helen (centre) and son Donald (standing right) during a visit in 2017. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

We met Helen and Elgin Coutts and their son Don in 2017. A few years later, Helen’s husband Elgin passed away. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2019/08/14/in-memoriam/)

On October 12, 2019, a memorial panel to honour Elmer Muttart and his Halifax L9561 crew was placed near the crash site in Wons, The Netherlands. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2019/11/18/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-memorial-panel-in-wons-is-unveiled/) 

Two short documentaries were made by us about the memorial panel and how it became a reality. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2020/01/31/he-died-that-we-might-live-video-is-now-on-youtube/)

The group who came for the unveiling of the memorial panel also visited Elmer’s grave in Harlingen General Cemetery. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2019/10/15/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-visit-to-harlingen-general-cemetery/)

CIMG3431Oct 12 2019 Pieter Annie Lee Don Oranje Hotel Leeuwarden

Left to right: Pieter Valkenburg, Annie Lee MacDonald, Don Coutts with flower bouquets for the visit to Elmer Muttart’s grave. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Among the remembrances were flower bouquets placed by us, family friends Annie Lee and Elmer MacDonald, and Don Coutts, Elmer’s nephew, on behalf of the Coutts family.  Don also placed small flags of Canada and Prince Edward Island by his uncle’s grave.

Thank you to Don Coutts for letting us know about his mother’s passing.  Our deepest condolences go to him and his wife Nora, and to his brother Peter and his wife Kathie, and their family.

Do you have a story to tell? Pieter encourages you to email him at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or tweet to @researchmemori1.    

© Daria Valkenburg

…Want to follow our research?…

Follow our blog

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

Front cover OnTheWarMememorialTrailinEurope4 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. 

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

On The War Memorial Trail…..The WWII Soldier From Disley Who Lost His Life While Swimming Across The Maas River

/ On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 2 Comments

July 20, 2023. After Pieter was interviewed by Kevin Rollason of the ‘Winnipeg Free Press‘ in November 2022, we received an email from Mike Wilson about his great-uncle, Adam KLEIN.

Mike wrote that “….my mother Joyce recently read the ‘A Name Without A Face’ article in The Winnipeg Free Press and passed it on to me. Thank you for the important work that you are doing with this project….”  (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/11/09/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-importance-of-remembrance/)

He went on to explain that “… my great-uncle on my mother’s side, Adam, served in the Second World War and is buried in the Bergen-op-Zoom Canadian War Cemetery in the Netherlands (Plot 8, Row G, Grave 4)…..Pte. Adam Klein was from Disley, Saskatchewan (near Regina Beach) and served with the Algonquin Regiment.  I have attached a picture of my Great Uncle Adam …”

Adam was born August 9, 1924 in Disley, Saskatchewan, the son of Joseph and Eva (nee Huber) Klein, who had immigrated to Canada from Czernowitz, Romania. (That area is now part of Ukraine. See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bukovina)

… Adam enlisted at the age of 19…

Uncle Adam Klein picture #2

Adam Klein. (Photo courtesy of the Klein Family)

When he enlisted with the 12th District Depot in Regina, Saskatchewan on October 6, 1943, at the age of 19, he was working for his father as a truck driver, who had a general hauling business in Regina Beach. 

The interviewer for his Personnel Selection Record recorded that Adam could “…speak some German…” and “…reads quite a lot of fiction. Plays baseball and rugby, likes most sports…. Likes comedy and western pictures….”   It was also noted that “…he is a proficient driver and licenced, so should prove suitable for Driver i/c…”  The term ‘Driver i/c’ refers to ‘Driver, internal combustion’, meaning someone qualified to drive a motor vehicle, but not a tracked vehicle, such as a tank.

On November 4, 1943, Adam was transferred to No. 122 Canadian Army Basic Training Centre (CABTC) in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.  After completing his training there, his Personnel Selection Record was updated, noting that he was “… cooperative, has a good attitude, and appears to like Army life… He has a keen desire to drive in Army.  Brother overseas is a driver…”  This was Adam’s older brother August.

… Adam took courses to qualify as a Driver…

Adam was next sent to the A15 Canadian Infantry Training Camp (CITC) in Shilo, Manitoba.  From there, he went to the S-5 Canadian Driving and Maintenance School (CD & M School) in Woodstock, Ontario, on March 2, 1944, where he successfully completed a 6 week driving course to qualify as a Driver i/c Class III Wheeled Vehicles. This meant he was qualified to drive heavy trucks and armoured cars.

He remained in Woodstock for additional training, taking a Driver Mechanic W course, which he successfully completed on June 9, 1944.  This meant he was trained to drive tracked vehicles, such as tanks.

On June 10, 1944, Adam returned to A15 Canadian Infantry Training Camp (CITC) in Shilo, where an update to his Personnel Selection Record noted “…his suitability for overseas service…”

Adam was now qualified as a Driver Mechanic Group C.  In addition to being a driver, he would also be responsible for minor vehicle repairs on vehicles in his unit.

… Adam left Canada a few days after his 20th birthday…

On August 4, 1944 Adam left Canada for the United Kingdom, arriving on August 11, 1944, and assigned to No 1 Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit (CIRU).  His stay in the United Kingdom was short, as on August 31, 1944 he was sent to France with the X-4 reinforcement troops of 11th Battalion.

On September 15, 1944 he was transferred to the Algonquin Regiment, which was in Belgium, having just fought in the Battle of the Leopold Canal. Reinforcements were badly needed. asualty figures for the Regiment during the fighting September on September 13 to 14, 1944 in the Belgian village of Moerkerke on the Leopold Canal were recorded as 168 killed, wounded or missing. (See https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/services/military-history/history-heritage/casualty-identification-military/battle-leopold-canal-september-13-14-1944.html)

Adam arrived at the Regiment on the same day as Bruce Wilbur CHURCHILL, whose story has been previously told on this blog.  (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/06/05/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-ww2-soldier-who-lost-his-life-in-a-monastery-garden/)

The beginning of January 1945 found the Regiment in Meerle, Belgium.  Not long after the New Year the Regiment moved into the area around Drunen, The Netherlands.

… Adam was part of a patrol with ‘C’ Company…

The January 18, 1945 war diary for the Regiment recorded that after ‘C’ Company had been interviewed by a war correspondent for a radio station in Toronto, part of the evening was spent in “…carrying forward ammunition that will be used in the early morning when they will take part in a fire plan to cover a fighting patrol…”  Adam would be a member of this planned patrol.

On the morning of January 19, 1945, the war diary for the Regiment recorded that “….Weather: Dull, raw wind, hail and snow in AM...”  In spite of the poor weather, ‘C’ Company was sent on patrol, and the war diary recorded the patrol commander’s subsequent report.

Map showing where Adam Klein died

“...At 0700 hours this morning, a fighting patrol of 23 men from 15 Platoon, commanded by W. A. Godefroy, crossed the north bank of the Maas, just west of the Heusden Canal….The patrol crossed the river and reached the top of the dyke without incident….”

The patrol spread out. “…Cpl Carrier led his section to the left flank to a well developed trench system, which led to a pill box.  Hearing voices inside, he tossed in a hand grenade, which brought two Germans undamaged into the open….”

Two men were assigned to guard them, while Cpl Kenneth John CARRIER and Adam Klein “…flushed out five more….and took them to the embarking point, only to find that owing to some error the remainder of the patrol had withdrawn with the two prisoners of war…”

An explanation was given in an article in the January 26, 1945 edition of the ‘Maple Leaf’ newspaper. “…The boats had left. The corporal and the private hadn’t heard the whistled signal for withdrawal.…They stood alone in a snowstorm, in enemy territory, with the freezing river between them and our lines…”

… German prisoners attacked Adam…

One of the five new prisoners was wounded and left behind.  “…Leaving Pte Klein with the four prisoners, the corporal ran along the beach, endeavouring to find a boat...”  He was unsuccessful.  Then, when he returned “…he found the four Germans had jumped Pte Klein and were pounding his head with a rock….”

Cpl Carrier killed three of the prisoners but “…the fourth one managed to run away…” Later accounts stated that the fourth German was also killed by Carrier.

It wasn’t safe to remain in enemy territory.   Without a boat, their options were limited.  Therefore, they “…walked out onto the ruined bridge and swam for safety….”

… A dangerous swim across the Maas River…

As they were halfway across, “…Pte Klein called out for help. Cpl Carrier, although he himself was almost exhausted, dragged his comrade to within a few yards of the shore….Only when further assistance arrived did he release his friend and swim the last few yards to safety…”

The war diary entry explained that “… Cpl Carrier made the trip successfully, but Pte Klein was swept under as he was within an ace of being rescued by an ‘A’ Company man who dived in to help him…”  This was Pte Arnold Edward BOEHLER, who noticed “…two figures struggling frantically in the icy water about 10 yards from the shore...”

… Adam died before reaching shore…

An account of Boehler’s actions noted that without hesitation, he “…rushed through a field of anti-personnel mines and, fully clothed, dove into the river…”

The war diary entry explained that Boehler “…reached Klein and grabbed him by the shoulders, but unfortunately he got a cramp and was forced to relinquish his hold on the drowning man and it was only with great difficulty that he got back to shore himself...” The war diary entry differs from the account in a January 26, 1945 article in the Maple Leaf newspaper and in Boehler’s nomination for a military medal, both of which state that Boehler managed to drag Adam’s body to shore.

Adam’s body was recovered by Lt Godefroy, Lt Grandbois, and Pte Neely.  In ‘Warpath – The Story of the Algonquin Regiment 1939-1945’, the regimental history of the Algonquin Regiment written by Major G. L. Cassidy, it was stated that Adam did not drown but died from “…a heart attack brought on by the exertion and the cold…”  This was not in his service file, nor in the war diary.

The war diary recorded that on that same day as his death, Adam “…was given a military funeral in the afternoon, the pall bearers and firing party being composed of members of the patrol...”  He was buried just north of Drunen.       

While the war diary and the subsequent nominations for military medals for Cpl Carrier and Pte Boehler, the two soldiers that tried to rescue Adam, state that the incident happened on January 19, 1945, Adam’s military service file states he died on January 18, 1945. This date is repeated in ‘Warpath – The Story of the Algonquin Regiment 1939-1945’.  January 18, 1945 is also the date on his headstone.

… Adam is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom…

After the war, Adam was reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom, The Netherlands, which we visited in 2019.  The British War Cemetery is right next to it, which we mistakenly went to first.  A teacher with a group of students noticed our bag of flags and directed us to the right cemetery!

CIMG3382 Oct 7 2019 Bergen Op Zoom Pieter at Cdn War Cemetery

Pieter at the entrance to the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom.  Our Sobey’s bag saved us from wandering around the wrong cemetery!  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Grave of Adam Klein from findagrave

Grave of Adam Klein at the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom. (Photo source: http://www.findagrave.com)

…Klein Island is named in honour of Adam…

On May 31, 1967, the Province of Saskatchewan’s Department of Natural Resources named Klein Island in honour of Adam.  (See https://geonames.nrcan.gc.ca/search-place-names/unique?id=HAETD)

Joyce Forshaw (nee Klein)

Joyce Forshaw (nee Klein), niece of Adam Klein. (Photo courtesy of Mike Wilson)

Mike Wilson wrote that “….Pte. Adam Klein was only 21 years old when he died, and he is still thought of, remembered and named often by his niece Joyce, who has proudly displayed Adam’s picture every November to honour him. It was during a quiet Remembrance Day visit with my mother … that we gathered information to send to you….”

Thank you to Mike Wilson and Joyce Forshaw for contacting Pieter about Adam Klein. Adam lost his life in a part of The Netherlands that we are very familiar with, as so many of Pieter’s ancestors lived in this area.

Pieter reflected that “…the story of the liberation of The Netherlands is one my parents engrained in me, and I have never forgotten the sacrifices made by so many so that the Dutch people could live in peace and freedom…”

Do you have a story to tell? Pieter encourages you to email him at memorialtrail@gmail.com, or comment on the blog.    

© Daria Valkenburg

…Want to follow our research?…

Follow our blog

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

Front cover OnTheWarMememorialTrailinEurope4 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. 

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

On The War Memorial Trail…..The WWII Soldier From Guysborough Whose Nieces Ensured His Photo Reached Pieter

/ On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 4 Comments

July 15, 2023. The route to finding family and a photo of a soldier has many twists and turns. Sometimes a family member contacts us about a relative, usually after a media interview, but most of the time it’s sheer detective work to find a living family member. If no family connection can be found, then an appeal is made through the media.

In the majority of cases, possible family connections are found. Then Pieter has the challenge of making contact – through genealogy sites such as Ancestry, Facebook accounts, Legion branches, and by email if an address is found.

Quite often, though, an initial inquiry is made by phone. If you’ve ever had to cold call a stranger and explain the purpose of your call, you know it’s a daunting prospect. With a few exceptions, people are generally very polite, listen carefully to Pieter, and are good enough to let him know if he’s reached the right person (a relative) or not.

Over the years, he’s had very engaging calls and met delightful people. That was the case when he was looking for a photo of WWII soldier Lawrence Edward LUCAS of Guysborough, Nova Scotia.

Lawrence was born December 9, 1925, the son of Charles and Amelia Hattie Lucas. He had a brother Charles, and three sisters: Caroline, Mildred, and Vivian.

…The photo search was successful thanks to two nieces…

“…It’s usually the women who have the photos…” Pieter told me, “…so I’m starting with the sisters….” It was a wise decision.

Lawrence’s sister, Mildred O’Connor, had been president of the Ladies Auxiliary in the Royal Canadian Legion in Guysborough. Pieter spoke with her daughter, Marie Ehler, who told him that her mother “….had placed a photo in the Legion….”

Unfortunately, the Legion never seemed to be open, and there was no response to inquiries made by phone and social media.

Pieter then contacted Mildred McLeod, whose mother Caroline ‘Carrie’ Tovey, was another sister of Lawrence. When Mildred heard that the Legion had not responded, she got involved.  Within a few days, a photo was emailed to Pieter from Lorne MacDonald.

…Lawrence enlisted at the age of 18…

Lawrence Edward Lucas

Lawrence Edward Lucas. (Photo courtesy of the Lucas Family. Photo colourization by Pieter Valkenburg)

When Lawrence enlisted with the No. 6 District Depot in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on June 23, 1944, he had been working as a carpenter at Eastern Wood Works in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia.  He also noted that he had served with the 2nd Reserve Battalion Pictou Highlanders from September 1941 to May 1942.  As a teenager during that period, he would not have been eligible for active service.

On July 6, 1944, he was sent to No. 60 Canadian Infantry Basic Training Centre (CIBTC) in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. Then, on September 3, 1944 he was transferred to the A14 Canadian Infantry Training Centre (CITC) in Aldershot, Nova Scotia.

…Lawrence completed an anti-tank course…

Among the training that Lawrence completed was a 6 Pounder Anti-Tank Gun course, for which he received his qualification on October 16, 1944.  This was a relatively small gun that could be pushed by its crew when necessary. Towed by a Universal Carrier, it could be brought into action quickly. (For more information, see https://www.canadiansoldiers.com/weapons/ordnance/6pounder.htm)

You can get an idea of how this gun works at this short re-enactment video on YouTube:

On December 12, 1944, Lawrence was transferred to the Training Brigade Group in Debert, Nova Scotia, for final training and preparations for going overseas.

…Lawrence arrived in the UK on Christmas Day 1944…

Lawrence left Canada on December 19, 1944, and after arriving in the United Kingdom on Christmas Day, he was assigned to No. 3 Canadian Infantry Training Regiment (CITR) for further training.

On February 10, 1945 he was in North West Europe with the X-4 reinforcement troops of 10th Battalion. Then, on April 6, 1945, he was transferred to the Algonquin Regiment, which was in the vicinity of Almelo, The Netherlands.

…Lawrence joined The Algonquin Regiment in The Netherlands…

The Algonquin Regiment was part of the 1st Canadian Army, which had two tasks: liberate the western Netherlands, and advance to the North Sea while protecting the left flank of the British 2nd Army as they advanced into northern Germany.

Algonquin Regt map to Apr 16 1945

Green arrows mark the movement of The Algonquin Regiment through The Netherlands and Germany. (Map source: http://www.canadiansoldiers.com)

By April 17, 1945 the Regiment had passed Friesoythe, Germany and was engaged in clearing a bridgehead over the Küsten Canal.  The war diary for April 20, 1945 recorded that “…in four days of steady fighting, the bridgehead has been slowly but steadily enlarged, both in depth and width, always against fanatical opposition and over terrain that is definitely in favour of the enemy….”

kustencanal from Cdn Soldiers

Clearing of the Küsten Canal in Germany. (Map source: http://www.canadiansoldiers.com)

By April 22, 1945 more reinforcements had arrived, and the various companies of The Algonquin Regiment had been moved.  Lawrence was in ‘D’ Company, which, per ‘D’ Company’s war diary entry, stated that “…at 0230 we got orders to move so we packed up and moved …. and bedded down in a barn to await orders. We came under cover of the Argylls today…”

…Lawrence lost his life due to artillery fire in Germany…

On April 23, 1945, ‘D’ Company recorded that just after midnight they “…moved up the road 600 yards as far as ‘C’ Company of the Argylls….”  After a two hour wait for further orders, they were “… to infiltrate a platoon across the water obstacle to determine the strength of the opposition. Things went OK, not a shot was fired and at first light we found ourselves dug in with the Jerries almost in the same trenches…”

Then things weren’t so rosy as the day unfolded as “…16 Platoon hung on to the east side of the river all day and we took a lot of shelling.  Our casualties were one killed and three wounded. At 1900 hours we received orders to move onto the railway and take up positions at the road and rail crossing. We teed off at 2145 and 17 Platoon came under our own artillery fire and lost 14 men in killed and wounded…”

At some point during that fateful day, Lawrence lost his life.  It’s unknown if he was the casualty killed by German shelling or one of the casualties from the Regiment’s own artillery fire.

…Lawrence is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten…

He was temporarily buried in Edewecht, Germany before being reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands a year later.

lucas, lawrence edward grave from Holten

Grave of Lawrence Edward Lucas in Holten, The Netherlands.  (Photo courtesy of the Information Centre Canadian Cemetery Holten)

Thank you to Mildred McLeod and Marie Ehler for ensuring that Pieter received a photo of their uncle. Do you have a story to tell? Pieter encourages you to email him at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or tweet to @researchmemori1.

© Daria Valkenburg

…Want to follow our research?…

Follow our blog

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

Front cover OnTheWarMememorialTrailinEurope4 countries, 6 weeks, 7,000 km – an unforgettable war memorial journey in Europe…. Daria’s book ‘No Soldier Buried Overseas Should Ever Be Forgotten‘ is available in print and e-book formats.  Net proceeds of book sales help support research costs and the cost of maintaining this blog. For more information see https://nosoldierforgotten.com/

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

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

On The War Memorial Trail…..A Canadian Nurse At The Women Veterans Memorial Park In Destin

/ On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 4 Comments
CIMG6129Feb 4 2023 Women Veterans Memorial Park

The entrance to the Women Veterans Memorial park by the Convention Center in Destin, Florida.  (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

July 8, 2023.  When we were in Florida several months ago and heard about the Women Veterans Memorial Park, we just had to go and see it. Over the years, we’ve been to many cenotaphs and memorials, but never one dedicated to women who’ve served.

CIMG6125Feb 4 2023 Women Veterans Memorial Park

A dedication plaza is encircled by a number of flags, including the US flag, a POW-MIA flag, Florida, Okaloosa county flag, military, and Coast Guard flags. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

 

CIMG6100Feb 4 2023 Women Veterans Memorial Park

Standing at the entrance are, left to right, Mary Ann Greiner, Gwen Greiner, Rick Greiner, and Pieter. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

We weren’t sure what to expect, but found 8 bronze statues of women veterans, each one representing a conflict that the USA had been in, starting with the Revolutionary War, and ending with the war in Afghanistan.  Each life-sized statue was accompanied by a marker with a brief biography of each woman.

We walked along a winding path on the Choctawhatchee Bay coastline, stopping at each statue along the way.  It’s in a beautiful location and the path is accessible by wheelchair. (For more information, see https://myokaloosa.com/bcc/women-veterans-memorial)

…The WWI statue featured a nurse from New Brunswick!…

CIMG6105Feb 4 2023 Women Veterans Memorial Park

Pieter by the statue of WWI United States Navy Nurse Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

By the statue for the woman veteran honoured for WWI, Lenah Sutcliffe HIGBEE, we were astonished to read that she “…immigrated to the United States from Canada, completed her nursing training in 1899, and began working as a surgical nurse.  She joined the United States Navy in 1908 as one of the original ‘Sacred Twenty’, the nurses who started the Navy Nurse Corps….”

… Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee was born in New Brunswick….

Wow! Who was this woman? we wondered.  And where in Canada was she from?  Lenah was born on May 18, 1873 (some records say 1874) in Chatham, New Brunswick, the daughter of the Reverend Ingham and Anne Amelia (nee Bent) Sutcliffe.

As stated on the plaque by her statue, Lenah finished her nurses training in 1899 – at New York Post-Graduate Hospital, and went into private practice. That same year she married Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel John H. Higbee.

Sadly, her husband died in April 1908 and Lenah took more advanced training at Fordham Hospital that same year.  In October 1908 she was able to join the US Navy Corps as she was unmarried – as a widow under 44 years of age, she qualified!

The plaque by the statue noted that the nurses were the “…first females to serve in the United States Navy, but they were excluded from holding Navy rank….”

Lenah served 14 years with the US Navy.  In 1911, she “…rose to become the second superintendent of the Navy Nurse Corps…She training and managed thousands of nurses during WWI and the influenza pandemic of 1918…”

Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee in 1918

Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee in 1918. (Photo credit: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, photograph by Harris & Ewing, [reproduction number LC-DIG-hec-10981])

In addition, Lenah “….lobbied for expanded healthcare for military dependents, helped expand the role of nurses in military medicine, formalized the Navy nursing uniforms, created the Navy Nurse Corps insignia, and generally advanced the status of women in the military…”

In 1918, Lenah was the first woman to be awarded the Navy Cross.  Her citation noted her “…distinguished service in the line of her profession and unusual and conspicuous devotion to duty as Superintendent of the Navy Nurse Corps…”

Lenah retired from the Navy on November 23, 1922.  She passed away at the age of 66 in Winter Park, Florida on January 10, 1941 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, next to her husband.

…Two ships have been named after Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee….

Two destroyer ships have been named after Lenah:

 …A short video on the Women Veterans Memorial Park….

For more information on the Women Veterans Memorial Park, and how such a unique memorial came to be, you can watch this short video:

…More on Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee….

For more information on Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee, see:

Thank you to Shawn Rainville for researching newspaper archives and other sources for information on Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee.  

Thanks also go to Bob and Lynn Young for telling us about this wonderful memorial park, and to Mary Ann, Rick, and Gwen Greiner for going with us to see the Memorial.  Rick had organized the JB-2 Rocket Tour that Pieter participated in last year.  (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/04/16/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-jb-2-rocket-tour-in-florida/)

While all 8 women featured had compelling stories, we couldn’t resist researching the story of Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee, a fellow Canadian from The Maritimes!

Do you have a story to tell? Pieter encourages you to email him at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or tweet to @researchmemori1.    

© Daria Valkenburg

…Want to follow our research?…

Follow our blog

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

Front cover OnTheWarMememorialTrailinEurope4 countries, 6 weeks, 7,000 km – an unforgettable war memorial journey in Europe…. Daria’s book ‘No Soldier Buried Overseas Should Ever Be Forgotten‘ is available in print and e-book formats.  Net proceeds of book sales help support research costs and the cost of maintaining this blog. For more information see https://nosoldierforgotten.com/

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

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

On The War Memorial Trail….. Successful Conclusion To The Search For Wilfred Giroux

/ On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 2 Comments

July 3, 2023.  Last year, following an interview published on May 4, 2022 in the Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf, Pieter received an email from Adje van der Sanden-van Lisdonk in The Netherlands, asking if he could help with an unusual request. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/05/04/article-in-de-telegraaf-quest-for-faces-zoektocht-naar-gezichten/)

…Adje wanted to repatriate a photo and Christmas cards sent to a Canadian soldier and found at her parents’ house….

Adje had a photo of a WWII soldier from Canada, and two Christmas cards.  All had been found in her parents’ house and she wanted to return them to the soldier’s family.  The challenge Pieter faced was that she knew nothing about the soldier or his family. 

20220504_133002 Best Wishes Wilf Giroux

Photo found in the house of Adje’s parents. The front of the photo reads ‘Best Wishes Wilf Giroux December 1944’.  On the back was written ‘my baby sister and myself’. (Photo submitted by Adje van der Sanden-van Lisdonk)

The photo and the names listed on the Christmas cards helped Pieter to identify him as Wilfred Octave Joseph GIROUX, the son of Octave Joseph and Elizabeth Ellen (nee Hickey) Giroux.  Wilfred was born September 25, 1912 in Mattawa, Ontario, and survived WWII.  Unfortunately, Pieter was never able to determine in which Regiment Wilfred served.  We posted an article about the search in June 2022 and hoped a family member would come forward.  (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/06/02/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-search-for-wilfred-giroux/)

…Research continued….

Meanwhile, research continued, in case information about Wilfred’s military service or living family could be found.  Sometimes interesting connections were made, as when Judie Klassen found that Wilfred’s brother Joseph married Zita Rellis, who had been Wilfred’s teacher.  Judie wrote us that “…They must have been school sweethearts as she is in a school photo with the rest of the Giroux kids. Looks like his sister Lillian was a witness at his wedding….” (See https://vitacollections.ca/whitbynews/details.asp?ID=69906)

DSCN2427 Ste Annes Church from Don Coutts

Ste. Anne Roman Catholic Church in Mattawa, Ontario. (Photo credit: Don Coutts)

We had been unable to find the Ste. Anne Roman Catholic Church that the family had attended when we went through Mattawa, Ontario last year, but Don Coutts was kind enough to send us a photo.  “…I was in Mattawa delivering bags of PEI potatoes to the Mattawa Food Bank several weeks ago and made a detour to the Sainte-Anne Roman Catholic Church.…” (See Paroisse Ste-Anne https://stannemattawa.com/)

….One family member identified the woman in the photo with Wilfred….

Not long after the article was posted online, Bev Dahlinger contacted us, saying “…Imagine my surprise while I was searching online for information about some of my ancestors when I came across this article about my Great Uncle Wilfred Giroux. My Grandmother Marguerite Mann (Giroux) was Wilfred’s sister. The woman in the picture with Wilfred is his sister Addie. I don’t know a lot about Wilfred, other than he lived in Toronto and my mother used to go into Toronto to visit him years ago….”

….Addie’s daughter got in touch….

FB_IMG_8065410907851165341 Laurie Kane left with friend Kim

Laurie Kane (left) with friend Kim on holidays in Mexico. (Photo courtesy of Laurie Kane)

Months went by, and then in December 2022, we received a most welcome email.  “…My name is Laurie Kane, daughter of Addie (Adelaide) Giroux and Howard Kane. I have a sister Mary Frances.

That is 100% my Mom pictured with Wilfred that you posted! I knew as soon as I saw it!! She was the youngest of 11 children. Their parents were originally from Rivière-du-Loup in Quebec. They moved to a large farm in Whitby, Ontario.

My parents adopted me when my mom was 40 years old. I don’t have many memories of Wilf, but he owned a gas station and was a mechanic, so perhaps was also a mechanic in the war.

20230422_132618~2 Aug 1954 Addie and Howard with Wilf in Toronto

Laurie’s parents Howard Francis Kane and Addie with Wilf at his garage in August 1954.  (Photo courtesy of Laurie Kane)

Thank you so much. The article was an absolute delight to read!!...”  Laurie ended with the words Adje was pleased to hear. “…And please thank Mrs Van der Sanden for making such a reconnection possible!! What an amazing woman! I would love to have the Christmas cards and photo….”

When she wrote, Laurie explained that she was on a winter vacation in Mexico, and sent a lovely photo from the beach.  Nice!

20230422_132649~2 Group photo undated Wilf identified

Giroux family photo. Wilfred identified by red arrow.  (Photo courtesy of Laurie Kane)

Laurie included a group photo, saying “…I believe this is the last big family photo…Wilf is third from left to right top row….”

….Wilfred Giroux passed away in 1991….

Judie Klassen answered one research question when she found Wilf’s obituary in April 30, 1991 edition of The Oshawa Times.  Wilfred had died April 29, 1991 at the Rockliffe Nursing Home in Scarborough, Ontario, predeceased by 5 of his sisters and 3 of his brothers.  He was survived by his sisters Antoinette (Toady) and Addie.  He’s buried at St John The Evangelist Cemetery in Oshawa, Ontario.

….The photo and cards were repatriated….

20230517_154351~2 Laurie Kane with Xmas cards

Laurie Kane with the two Christmas cards and a note from Adje van der Sanden. (Photo courtesy of Laurie Kane)

This spring, Laurie received the photo and Christmas cards from Adje, and wrote to Adje, saying “…I was more than thrilled to receive the Christmas cards and your note. Wilf was my uncle on my mother’s side…Giroux. Peggy, Toady, Dot and Katie were all my aunts. I was very close to them and spent half my childhood at their house.

We called them ‘down home’…it was my second home. They were all lovely and giving people and made anyone who walked through their door feel at home and part of the family. I was very lucky to have had them all in my life for so many years. Toady (Antoinette) was the last of them and she died in 2014.  Thank you so much for finding me and sending the cards and picture. I am forever grateful….”

Adje’s quest to repatriate the cards and photo was successfully completed!

Thank you to Laurie Kane for contacting us and providing photos and further information on her uncle.  Thank you also to Judie Klassen for the research done in uncovering family members and where Wilfred settled post WWII, and to Don Coutts for taking a photo of the church in Mattawa.

This story began with a quest and thanks go to Adje van der Sanden-van Lisdonk for preserving the cards and photo in order to return them to Wilfred’s family. 

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

© Daria Valkenburg

….Another WWII soldier from Mattawa….

Howard Milo NICHOLLS, who served in the North Nova Scotia Highlanders, lost his life on April 28, 1945 in Germany, also came from Mattawa. Born March 21, 1924 in Mattawa, Ontario, he was the son of Albert and Frances Nicholls.  We briefly told his story during a feature on the soldiers who lost their lives in the same incident, but up to now family for this soldier have not come forward. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/05/18/on-the-war-memorial-trail-a-tragic-drowning-on-the-leda-river-in-germany-part-4/)

…How to follow our research…

Follow our blog

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

Front cover OnTheWarMememorialTrailinEurope4 countries, 6 weeks, 7,000 km – an unforgettable war memorial journey in Europe…. Daria’s book ‘No Soldier Buried Overseas Should Ever Be Forgotten‘ is available in print and e-book formats.  Net proceeds of book sales help support research costs and the cost of maintaining this blog. For more information see https://nosoldierforgotten.com/

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

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

On The War Memorial Trail…..The WWII Soldier From Victoria Cross Fatally Wounded During The Liberation Of Posterenk

/ On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

June 29, 2023.  In 2017, Pieter and I visited the village of Posterenk in The Netherlands with Edwin van der Wolf, one of the research volunteers at the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten.

CIMG9295 Sep 25 2017 Posterenk windmill

Windmill in Posterenk, which has a memorial stone inscribed on the wall.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

….The Island connection to Posterenk…..

Edwin wanted us to visit the village because it had an Island connection.  Frank GALLANT, son of Anthony and Eleanor Gallant of Mount Carmel, Prince Edward Island, who was with the Carleton & York Regiment, died during there on April 13, 1945 at the age of 32.

The village had a list of 6 soldiers to commemorate from the Carleton & York Regiment, who had all been buried in the area.  In addition to Frank Gallant, the list named another Islander, James ‘Frank’ MOSSEY, of Souris.

Unfortunately, not all soldiers who died are included on this list, but Edwin worked towards including two more, who were not buried near Posterenk, but “…were temporarily buried in Lochem because they had previously died in a Canadian hospital there….”

These two additional soldiers were: Goldwin Marven POLLICK of Minto, New Brunswick, and Daniel Peter MACKENZIE of Victoria Cross, Prince Edward Island. 

Born March 22, 1918 in Victoria Cross, Daniel ‘Dan’ Peter MACKENZIE was the son of John and Rachael MacKenzie.  His niece, Carol Burke, provided more information on his life when she contacted Pieter in 2015:  “…Dan MacKenzie grew up on a farm in Victoria Cross, Prince Edward Island, and attended Victoria Cross school.  He had 3 brothers Johnny, Billy, and Angus, all deceased, and 3 sisters: Florence Rodgerson, Mabel MacNeill, and Edna Campbell, all living in Prince Edward Island. Dan enjoyed playing hockey and ball with his siblings and working on the farm with his father…” 

….Dan MacKenzie enlisted in 1940…..

Before enlisting with the PEI Highlanders in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island on May 15, 1940, Dan had served in the militia with the PEI Light Horse Regiment (17th Reserve Armoured Regiment) since 1937.  He had been working as a farm labourer for Gavin Read of Montague, Prince Edward Island, and hoped to have a dairy farm of his own.

MacKenzie-Daniel-P (2)

Daniel ‘Dan’ Peter MacKenzie. (Photo courtesy of Carol Burke)

He went to Dartmouth, Nova Scotia for basic training, and remained there until June 3, 1941, when he was sent to Valcartier, Quebec in preparation for guard duty in Newfoundland. 

… Dan was sent to Newfoundland….

NFLD Map shows Botwood

Location of Botwood Military Base in Newfoundland. (Map source: http://postalhistorycorner.blogspot.com/2012/12/wwii-canadian-forces-in-newfoundland.html)

After France was occupied by the Germans in 1940, Newfoundland’s defensive position became more precarious. That same year, Canada assumed responsibility for the defence of Newfoundland with the establishment of ‘W Force’, a Canadian garrison force responsible for defending Newfoundland against enemy incursions and providing security for existing and proposed defence facilities during WWII. It included infantry, artillery, and anti-aircraft units. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_history_of_Newfoundland_during_World_War_II)

On July 23, 1941, as part of ‘W Force’, Dan was sent to Botwood, Newfoundland.  In addition to the PEI Highlanders, troops from the Black Watch of Canada, Royal Rifles of Canada, The Algonguin Regiment, Queens Own Rifles, also served at various times. While an RCAF base in Botwood had aircraft patrolling the east coast of the Atlantic, Canadian Army personnel based at Botwood were charged with protection of military facilities that had been installed there, as well as in Gander. (See https://www.heritage.nf.ca/articles/politics/botwood-base.php)

…..Three other soldiers were in Botwood…..

Dan was in Botwood at the same time as three other soldiers whose stories have been told on this blog:

Dan remained in Newfoundland until March 20, 1943, when he was sent to Sussex, New Brunswick.  On June 2, 1943, Dan was transferred to the No. 1 Transit Camp in Debert, Nova Scotia, for final preparation and training before being sent overseas. 

…Dan was in the Italian Campaign….

He left Canada on June 10, 1943, arriving in the United Kingdom on June 18, 1943 and posted to No. 7 Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit (CIRU).  On October 25, 1943 he participated in Hot Dog, an exercise to prepare troops who would be part of the Central Mediterranean Force (CMF) and travelled on to mainland Europe with the CMF and the Allied Army in Italy (AAI).  Not long afterwards, he was transferred to the Carleton & York Regiment on December 23, 1943, fighting in the Italian Campaign. (See https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_campaign_(World_War_II))

Carol Burke had noted that Dan’s “… regiment fought just north of Ortona, Italy…. and was in the forefront of the assaulting Infantry that bitterly fought Gustav, Hitler and Gothic Line battles....”

On December 31, 1944 Dan was attached to Allied Forces Headquarters (AFHQ), which controlled all Allied operational forces in the Mediterranean Theatre of Operations until the end of the war.  AFHQ was based in Caserta, Italy after the capture of Sicily and invasion of Italy.

On March 19, 1945 he left Italy as part of Operation Goldflake, arriving in Marseilles, France two days later.  Operation Goldflake was the codename for moving troops from Italy to North-West Europe.  (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Goldflake)

The Carleton & York Regiment was now part of the 21st Army Group. From France, troops were moved up to the Belgian front, into The Netherlands, through the Reichswald Forest in Germany, and then back into The Netherlands.

…The Liberation of Posterenk…

On April 12, 1945 the Regiment was part of Operation Cannonshot, which led to the crossing of the IJssel River between the villages of Gorssel and Wilp in the eastern part of The Netherlands. (See https://www.liberationroute.com/stories/190/operation-cannonshot)

Map western holland showing Posterenk

According to the April 12, 1945 war diary entry of the Carleton & York Regiment, they “…moved across the Ijssel River at 14:30 hours….” to relieve the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada.

On April 13, 1945, the war diary entry noted that “…‘D’ Company’s objective is Posterenk…” The Regiment didn’t expect much opposition, but they “… met with stiff resistance just after starting at 11:25 hrs…”

With the help of a tank troop, they were able to move forward.  According to the war diary entry, “…at 13:37 hrs ‘D’ Company reported that POSTERENK was clear of the enemy, having had one officer killed (Lt. R.B. Savage) and two other ranks wounded but a total of 50 POWs. ‘D’ Company were ordered to push on up the road which they did at once and came under enemy fire…”

Dan was one of those wounded. The medical file stated he received gunshot wounds to his abdomen and left hip.  He was taken to a Canadian hospital in Lochem, where he died at 7:30 pm, despite heroic efforts to save him.  He was 26 years old.

…Dan is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten…

Dan was initially buried in the Lochem Civil Cemetery, before being reburied on February 1, 1946 in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten.

We visited his grave in 2017 and 2019.  See: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2018/01/20/on-the-war-memorial-trail-at-holten-canadian-war-cemetery/

CIMG9112 Sep 18 2017 Holten Cemetery Pieter by grave of D MacKenzie

Pieter by the grave of Daniel ‘Dan’ Peter MacKenzie at the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Thank you to Carol Burke for sharing a photo and information. “…The fact that Cpl MacKenzie’s death came so close to the end of the war and after such a long period of action only added to the sorrow of his loved ones…” she wrote.

If you have a story to tell, Pieter encourages you to email him at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or tweet to @researchmemori1.    

© Daria Valkenburg

…Previous stories about soldiers commemorated in Posterenk….

…Want to follow our research?…

Follow our blog

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

Front cover OnTheWarMememorialTrailinEurope4 countries, 6 weeks, 7,000 km – an unforgettable war memorial journey in Europe…. Daria’s book ‘No Soldier Buried Overseas Should Ever Be Forgotten‘ is available in print and e-book formats.  Net proceeds of book sales help support research costs and the cost of maintaining this blog. For more information see https://nosoldierforgotten.com/

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

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