On The War Memorial Trail….. The Successful Search For A Photo Of WWII Soldier Thomas Alfred Brown Left Us With A Mystery

January 25, 2024January 28, 2024 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 2 Comments

January 25, 2024. Even when Pieter needs a break from extensive research, he still likes to test his detective skills. Last year he decided to help the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands find photos of a few soldiers for which research had already been done, but no photo had been found. A relatively simple project, you might think – but although he has now nudged past 319 successful photo searches, we’ve learned that it isn’t.

One of the soldiers whose photo search he undertook was that of Thomas ‘Tom’ Alfred BROWN of Altario, Alberta. Born October 20, 1924, Thomas was the son of George Stuart and Alice Brown. (You can read Tom’s story here: https://www.facestograves.nl/LifeStories/BROWN%20Thomas%20Alfred-JLE-bio-EN.pdf )

….Tom lost his life during the Battle of Moyland Wood….

Grave of Thomas Alfred Brown at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek. (Photo source: http://www.findagrave.com)

While serving with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles, Tom lost his life on February 17, 1945 during the Battle of Moyland Wood in Germany. He was 20 years old. (See https://legionmagazine.com/clearing-moyland-wood/)

Norman Victor Holgate BUCHANAN, whose photo search story was told last year, had lost his life one day earlier in the same battle, while also serving with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/11/08/on-the-war-memorial-trail-a-monument-in-st-claude-led-to-a-photo-of-a-wwii-soldier/)

….The search for a photo of Tom began with a Letter To The Editor….

When no family could be readily found, Pieter submitted a Letter To The Editor in a newspaper covering the Altario area – the East Central Alberta Review – and his letter was published on April 27, 2023.

Letter to Editor ECA Review

The very same day that the newspaper was published, we received an email from Eleanor Kreiser, with an attached document, explaining that “…. I saw your request in the paper. This is the Brown info in the Pioneer Heritage history book. Book 2, 1981. My husband used to live in Altario. My husband’s mother and six siblings were also born in Altario….”

Brown brothers, Altario 2 corrected by Pieter

Tom Brown with his sister Mary. (Photo source: Pioneer Heritage Book 2. Pioneer Heritage of Altario, Compeer, Kirriemuir and Burnbrae, Published by Wheatsheaf Women’s Institute, 1981)

The book excerpt included a photo of Tom and his sister Mary, along with a short writeup contributed by Mrs L. H. Walker. “….Thomas Alfred Brown was born in Altario on November 20, 1924. He took all of his schooling in Altario. After leaving school he worked for Bob Kewley and for Bert Caldwell. Tom was a great lover of horses. One of the things I remember about him the most was his coming home at night on his horse, singing one of Wilf Carter’s songs….”

The excerpt ended with a bit of family history. “….Tom’s father died when Tom was still very young, and his step-father, Lester Walker, passed away in August of 1975. Thomas has one sister, Mrs. Alice Mary Robbins (nee Brown) of Flatbush, and a half-sister, Mrs. Marion Stewart (nee Walker) of Ohaton….”

…. Tom’s family provided photos and information….

Pieter was next in contact with June Beier, whose mother was Tom’s sister Mary, and with Ken Stewart, whose grandmother was Tom’s mother. Both provided more information and photos.

IMG-3254 Photo of Tom Brown from Ken Stewart

Thomas Alfred Brown. (Photo credit: Courtesy of the Family of Thomas Alfred Brown)

…. Tom’s last letter was written two days before his death….

With the help of her granddaughter, Shaylyn Beier, June shared the last letter received from Tom, written on February 15, 1945, two days before he lost his life, and which arrived after his death.

Feb 15 1945 letter from Tom Brown ENVELOPE

Envelope poignantly marked as ‘Tom’s last letter’. (Letter courtesy of the Family of Thomas Alfred Brown)

In the February 15, 1945 letter to his mother, Tom noted that he was in ‘D’ Company of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles. “…I guess it is about time I wrote to you. I have been pretty busy in the last few days and so I did not get time to do any writing at all….” Left unsaid was that Tom and his Regiment had been heavily involved in Operation Veritable in Germany, part of a pincer movement to cut into Germany in order for Allied troops to advance towards Berlin. The Regiment had just moved into Kleve, Germany. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Veritable)

Tom wrote that he had sent some money home in previous letters, and after asking about his mother’s health, assured her that he is “…nothing but the best and aim to stay that way…” He explained that he had received a parcel from his aunt and advised that “…all I mostly need is writing paper and envelopes…”

Sadly, Tom lost his life two days later, and was temporarily buried around Calcar, Germany before being reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands a year later.

A March 8, 1945 letter to Tom’s mother was written by Major Latimer Hugh DENISON, his commanding officer. “…Corporal Brown’s presence is missed by the entire company. He was a fine and gallant soldier and you may well be proud of him, as we are, for the man’s part he has played in helping to win this war….”

He went on to write “…please rest assured that you are not alone in your hour of trial – gallant comrades once known are never forgotten…” Major Denison lost his own life on March 30, 1945, during the battle for Emmerich, at the age of 24, and is also buried in Groesbeek.

…. A September 1947 letter left us with an unsolved mystery…

image_6487327(1) man at Tom Browns original gravestone in Groesbeek

Man believed to be H. P. J. van Loon at Tom Brown’s original grave in Groesbeek. (Photo courtesy of the Family of Thomas Alfred Brown)

We thought this would be the end of Tom’s story, but there was another mystery, which up to now we have been unable to solve. June shared another letter, written in September 1947 by an unidentified relative still in the Army, who signed his letter as Tom. He wrote that he had visited Tom Brown’s grave in Groesbeek. Tom’s letter was written on the stationery of a schoolteacher (onderwijzer) from Groesbeek, H. P. J. van Loon, and he explained that Mr. Van Loon had taken photos of graves at the cemetery.

Ken Stewart had a photo of a man beside Tom Brown’s grave, and as the man was in a suit, not in a military uniform, it’s believed this is Mr. Van Loon. When we asked Ken if he knew anything more, he said that “….My grandmother said Thomas stayed with a Dutch family in Holland when he had time off and was planning to marry one of the daughters when the war was over. So this may be the father of that family. I do not know for sure…”

We sent the letter and photo to friends who live in Groesbeek, in the hope that they might be able to find out more, but up to now, they too have been stymied. If you recognize the man in the 1947 picture by Tom Brown’s grave, please let us know.

June Beier with her husband Edward. (Photo credit: Courtesy of June Beier)

Thank you to Joyce Webster, Publisher of ECA Review, for publishing Pieter’s Letter to the Editor, and to the family of Thomas Brown for sending photos and information – June Beier, Shaylyn Beier, and Ken Stewart. Thank you to Eleanor Kreiser for sending the Brown family information from the Pioneer Heritage book.

Do you have photos or information to share? Email Pieter 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/

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

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On The War Memorial Trail….. The WWII Soldier From Feltzen South Killed During The Attack On Weener

January 21, 2024 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

January 21, 2024. After Pieter noticed that four names on the photo wish lists from the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten had lost their lives on April 24, 1945, and that all four were with the North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment – 2 from New Brunswick and 2 from Nova Scotia – he began to investigate what had happened that day.

Nine men from the Regiment died during the Attack On Weener in Germany. Pieter decided to research all four soldiers and was able to find family and photos for two. Unfortunately, while family was found for the other two soldiers, there were no photos. Those two soldiers ended up on our Cold Case List when all other research possibilities were exhausted. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/our-cold-cases/

In the last blog posting, the story of François ‘Frank’ GUIMOND was told. See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2024/01/13/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-soldier-from-st-louis-killed-during-the-attack-on-weener/

….The search for a photo of Sydney was successful….

The photo search for Sydney Guy MOSHER of Nova Scotia was ultimately successful. After quite a bit of research, Pieter was able to get in contact with Shirley McIlmoyl and John Gosling, the children of Sydney’s sister Myrtle Gosling, and it was John who had a photo of their uncle. John’s son John sent us a photo.

Sydney Guy Mosher. (Photo courtesy of the Gosling Family)

Sydney was born August 22, 1914 in Feltzen South, Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia, the son of James Roger and Ida Selena (nee Spindler) Mosher. He was one of four children, and had a brother and two sisters.

…. Sydney enlisted in the fall of 1943….

On August 9, 1941 he married Olive Sarah Copeland in Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia. When he enlisted on October 19, 1943 at the No. 6 District Depot in Halifax, Nova Scotia, he was working as a meat cutter for J. A. Leaman Co. Ltd., a wholesale business, in Halifax.

Sydney was sent to No. 60 Canadian Army Basic Training Centre (CABTC) in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia for basic training on November 19, 1943. Then, on January 23, 1944, he was assigned to A14 Canadian Infantry Training Centre (CITC) in Aldershot, Nova Scotia.

On March 25, 1944, Sydney had embarkation leave until April 7, the last time he would see his family before leaving Canada.

He sailed to England on April 30, 1944, and upon arriving on May 7 was assigned to No 4 Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit (CIRU). Coincidentally, he arrived there on the same day as James ‘Jim’ Andrew MACLEOD of New Brunswick, whose story was previously told. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/11/29/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-soldier-killed-by-mortar-fire-when-his-brother-was-two-years-old/)

On June 1, 1944 he was transferred to the 12^th Battalion, Canadian Base Reinforcement Group (CBRG) for a very short period before being sent to the 11^th Battalion of the 21^st Army Group and the unallocated list for the North Nova Scotia Highlanders on June 12.

…. Sydney left the United Kingdom in July 1944….

On July 22, 1944, he left for France, joining the Regiment as part of a reinforcement group. He remained with the North Nova Scotia Highlanders until October 20, 1944, when he was transferred to the North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment. Both Regiments were in Mollekot, a rural area on the Belgium/Dutch border at the time, for the tail end of the Battle of the Scheldt. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Scheldt)

The War Diary for the North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment for October 19, 1944 noted that at 5 pm they were ordered to replace the North Nova Scotia Highlanders of 9^th Brigade. “…We were to take charge at first light. The Battalion moved to IJzendijke for the night…”

Sydney was with the Regiment as they moved deeper into The Netherlands, fighting near the Bergsche Maas River at Kapelsche Veer. In February 1945, the Regiment moved into Germany, fighting in the Rhineland, the Hochwald, before returning to The Netherlands.

On April 3, 1945, the Regiment was back in The Netherlands for the liberation of Zutphen, on the east bank of the IJssel River, an attack that began on April 6, 1945 and ended on April 8. Canadian and Polish troops then worked until April 19, 1945 to liberate the Dutch towns of Heino, Meppel, and Makkum.

…. Sydney’s Regiment was ordered near Weener to relieve Polish troops….

On April 20, 1945, the Regiment’s war diary reported new orders, requiring them to advance 140 km (87 miles) back into Germany, to relieve a Polish Armoured Division near Weener. “…We are to take over from the Poles on the night of April 21…”

On April 23, 1945, the Regiment’s war diary reported that the “…plan is for North Shore to capture Weener….” The Attack on Weener began. “…At 1045 hours C Company reported sniper fire was bothering them and the road was cratered. The tanks were trying to get around the crater. At 1100 hours enemy were reported … and a heavy gun was firing… At 1245 hours C Company and the tanks were moved back a short distance to allow the artillery to engage a road block which was now holding up our progress …”

After encountering quite a bit of resistance, the Regiment noted that “….by 1800 hours all companies were on objectives and were taking prisoners of war from houses and cellars…. A total of 103 prisoners of war were taken from the town. These were identified as Kriegsmarine fighting as infantry…” Kriegsmarine was the navy of Nazi Germany.

…. Sydney lost his life on April 24, 1945 ….

Screenshot 2024-01-16 at 18-10-13 The Coordinate Translator

The distance between Weener and Leer is 11 km (7 miles). The red marker shows where the carriers were attacked, according to the map coordinates provided in the war diary. They were 3 km from Weener and 8 km from Leer. (Map source: Google maps)

The war diary entry for April 24, 1945 was not as positive. The Battalion was unsure if the bridge over the Ems River to Leer was intact and sent out a reconnaissance party to check it out. This was important information needed for the upcoming push to Leer a few days later.

“…This morning at 0900 hours a battle group consisting of A Company mounted on the Carrier platoon were sent to recce the bridge to see if it was intact, but ran into heavy enemy fire… It was found the enemy was using a new device for mining the roads, which had not been encountered before…The first two carriers passed over the mined area, but the third was blown up and created a crater approximately 40 feet by 20 feet…”

All on board of that third troop carrier were casualties. Things got worse as two German self-propelled guns then opened fire and a second carrier took a direct hit. Among the casualties was Sydney Guy Mosher, dead at age 30.

…. It turned out the bridge to Leer no longer existed ….

In ‘Fields of Valour’ by Ken Smith, it was noted that soldiers had been killed trying to locate a bridge that was no longer there. Lives might have been saved if information from air surveillance had been received.

Smith wrote that “….the attack on Weener was supposed to be an easy affair using ‘A’ Company, but ‘C’ Company had to be brought in to outflank the enemy, as ‘A’ Company was attempting to take the Leer bridge when a carrier was lost to a mine with casualties. At the same time several dreaded 88 guns began firing. The men were pinned and Typhoons had to be called in to finally silence the big guns.

The whole affair was useless as the Leer Bridge was already out of commission, with the attack costing the lives of men, mostly by mines or shelling….”

Either an Allied strike took out the bridge or the Germans had blown it. Given that the area was mined, it suggests that it was the Germans who had blown up the bridge to delay the Allied advance.

….Other soldiers from the North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment who lost their lives on April 24, 1945….

Besides Sydney Guy Mosher and Frank Guimond, those who were killed on April 24, 1945 included:

Private Emile Joseph ARSENEAULT of Lewisville, New Brunswick, age 22
Private Ronald Burton DOHERTY of St. John, New Brunswick, age 19
Private Wallace Herbert LARLEE of Perth, New Brunswick, age 19 (on our Cold Case List)
Private Andrew MEEHAN of Hammondvale, New Brunswick, but born in Ireland, age 21
Private Owen Burton MILLER of Deseronto, Ontario, age 21
Private Francis Leslie MULCAHY of Halifax, Nova Scotia, age 21 (on our Cold Case List)
Private Edmund SAMPSON of Cannes, Nova Scotia, age 30

….Sydney is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten….

Sydeny was initially buried on April 26, 1945 “…in front of the school…” in Niew Schans, “…about 4 miles southwest of Weener…” before being reburied the following year in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands.

Grave of Sydney Guy Mosher in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands. (Photo source: http://www.findagrave.com)

Thank you to John Gosling Sr, John Gosling Jr, and Shirley McIlmoyl for ensuring we received a photo of Sydney Guy Mosher.

If you can help with photos for two other soldiers killed on April 24, 1945 who are currently on the Cold Case List, please let us know. The names: Wallace Herbert LARLEE of Perth, New Brunswick, and Francis Leslie MULCAHY of Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Do you have photos or information to share? Email Pieter 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/

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

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On The War Memorial Trail…..The WWII Soldier From St Louis Killed During The Attack On Weener

January 13, 2024January 21, 2024 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 2 Comments

January 13, 2024. This past summer, Pieter noticed that four names on the photo wish lists from the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten had lost their lives on April 24, 1945, and all four were with the North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment – 2 from New Brunswick and 2 from Nova Scotia. What had happened that day?

We soon learned that nine men from the Regiment died during the Attack On Weener in Germany. Pieter decided to research all four soldiers and was able to find family and photos for two. Family was found for the other two, but, as occasionally happens, there were no photos. Those two soldiers ended up on our Cold Case List when all other research possibilities were exhausted. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/our-cold-cases/)

Thanks to the efforts of two cousins, Irene Caissie and Maria Mazerolle, the first photo found was that of François ‘Frank’ GUIMOND, born April 15, 1919 in St. Louis, Kent County, New Brunswick. He was the son of Théodore and Marie Leona (nee Doucet) Guimond. Frank had 5 brothers and 5 sisters, which helped in finding living family members who might have a photo.

…. Frank’s niece provided a photo….

Frank’s photo was delivered in person by his niece, Maria Mazerolle (nee Guimond), who stopped by while on her way to the Sea Glass Festival in Souris, Prince Edward Island. She explained that she was “….the eldest daughter of Frank’s brother Alcide, who served in Italy during WWII and died at the age of 52….” Alcide and his wife Margaret (nee Leblanc) had 11 children.

CIMG6436 Jul 29 2023 Pieter with Maria Mazerolle & photo of Frank Guimond

Maria Mazerolle and Pieter with a photo of Frank Guimond. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Maria explained that Delore, another of brother of Frank’s, “….was in England during WWII and married a lady from London. One of his daughters is still alive at the age of 80….”

Like in so many families, “…his two brothers, Alcide and Delore had left to go to war, so Frank wanted to go too…”

…. Frank enlisted in June 1941….

Frank Guimond from Maria Mazerolle photo circa Dec 1941 improved colourized _photo

Frank Guimond, circa December 1941. (Photo courtesy of Maria Mazerolle. Photo restoration and colourization: Pieter Valkenburg)

When he enlisted at the No. 7A District Depot in Richibucto, New Brunswick, on June 18, 1941, Frank was working with his father at Harry O’Leary’s sawmill in Richibucto, a job he’d held for six years already. His personnel file stated that Frank was fluent in French and English, and that he’d spent 30 days training in Fredericton with the New Brunswick Rangers militia.

On July 31, 1941, Frank was sent to No. 70 Canadian Army Basic Training Camp (CABTC) in Fredericton, New Brunswick for basic training. After completing his basic training Frank was assigned to No A14 Infantry Training Camp in Aldershot, Nova Scotia on August 1, 1941.

…. Frank left Canada for service overseas in December 1941 ….

Frank’s training in Canada was not long, as by December 12, 1941, he was on his way to the United Kingdom, arriving on December 26, 1941, where he was assigned to No. 1 Canadian Divisional Infantry Reinforcement Unit (CDIRU).

While in the United Kingdom, Frank, along with other Canadian soldiers, undertook further training, as well as being tasked with defending the coastal regions of the United Kingdom, particularly Sussex, until early in 1944.

On January 16, 1944, Frank was sent for an educational course at 3 Wing Canadian Training School (CTS), remaining there until November 10, 1944 when he was assigned to No. 3 Canadian Infantry Training Regiment (CITR), in preparation for being sent to Continental Europe.

…. Frank was transferred to the North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment….

On December 27, 1944, he left the United Kingdom as part of the unallocated reinforcement troops needed in Northwestern Europe. On February 14, 1945, he was transferred to the North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment, joining them in Nijmegen, The Netherlands as they prepared to go across the border into Germany for the Battle of Keppeln, followed by the Battle of the Balberger Wald, and then for the push across the Rhine River.

Screenshot 2024-01-10 at 08-52-00 weener germany map at DuckDuckGo

Map shows location of Weener, Germany where several soldiers from the North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment lost their lives on April 24, 1945. Below Weener is Stapelmoor, where the soldiers were initially buried. The dotted line shows the border between The Netherlands and Germany. (Map source: http://www.viamichelin.com)

On April 23, 1945, the Regiment’s war diary reported that the “…plan is for North Shore to capture Weener….” After encountering resistance, the Regiment noted that “….by 1800 hours all companies were on objectives and were taking prisoners of war from houses and cellars…. A total of 103 prisoners of war were taken from the town. These were identified as Kriegsmarine fighting as infantry…” Kriegsmarine was the navy of Nazi Germany.

…. Frank lost his life on April 24, 1945 ….

“…This morning at 0900 hours a battle group consisting of A Company mounted on the Carrier platoon were sent to recce the bridge …” over the Ems River at Leer “…to see if it was intact, but ran into heavy enemy fire… It was found the enemy was using a new device for mining the roads, which had not been encountered before…The first two carriers passed over the mined area, but the third was blown up and created a crater approximately 40 feet by 20 feet…”

All on board of that third troop carrier were casualties. Things got worse as two German self-propelled guns then opened fire and a second carrier took a direct hit.

Among the casualties was Frank Guimond, dead at age 26.

The whole affair was useless as the Leer Bridge was already out of commission, with the attack costing the lives of men, mostly by mines or shelling….”

Either an Allied strike took out the bridge or the Germans had blown it. Given that the area was mined, it suggests that it was the Germans who had blown up the bridge to delay the Allied advance.

….Other soldiers from the North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment who lost their lives on April 24, 1945….

Besides Frank Guimond, those who were killed on April 24, 1945 included:

Private Emile Joseph ARSENEAULT of Lewisville, New Brunswick, age 22
Private Ronald Burton DOHERTY of St. John, New Brunswick, age 19
Private Wallace Herbert LARLEE of Perth, New Brunswick, age 19 (on our Cold Case List)
Private Andrew MEEHAN of Hammondvale, New Brunswick, but born in Ireland, age 21
Private Owen Burton MILLER of Deseronto, Ontario, age 21
Corporal Sydney Guy MOSHER of Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, age 30 (upcoming story)
Private Francis Leslie MULCAHY of Halifax, Nova Scotia, age 21 (on our Cold Case List)
Private Edmund SAMPSON of Cannes, Nova Scotia, age 30

….Frank is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten….

Frank was initially buried on April 26, 1945 “…in front of the school…” near the German village of Staplemoor, before being reburied the following year in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands.

Grave of Frank Guimond in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands. (Photo courtesy of the Information Centre Canadian Cemetery Holten)

On January 3, 1948 a letter from Mrs. A. C. Alberts-Fredricks of Deventer, The Netherlands, was sent to the Department of Veterans Affairs, in which she explained that she had adopted Frank’s grave and asked if her letter could be forwarded to the family. A note at the bottom of the letter verified that it had been forwarded to Frank’s mother.

…. We met another niece in Richibucto….

It’s not often that we get to meet more than one group of family members, but a few months after meeting Maria Mazerolle, we met her cousin, Irene Caissie, along with Irene’s husband Rheal in Richibucto. Irene explained that Frank’s brother, Edgar, was her father.

20230918_120957 Sep 18 2023 Pieter with Irene and Rheal Caissie

Pieter with Irene and Rheal Caissie. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Thank you to Irene Caissie and Maria Mazerolle for ensuring we received a photo of Frank Guimond.

Sydney Guy MOSHER’s story will be coming up. If you can help with photos for two other soldiers killed on April 24, 1945 who are currently on the Cold Case List, please let us know. The names: Wallace Herbert LARLEE of Perth, New Brunswick, and Francis Leslie MULCAHY of Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Do you have photos or information to share? Email Pieter 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/

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

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On The War Memorial Trail…..The WWII Soldier From Liscomb Who Lost His Life Due To Sniper Fire In Germany

January 6, 2024 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 2 Comments

January 6, 2024. In going through the photo wish lists for soldiers buried in The Netherlands, Pieter often picks a name based on location – especially if we are planning to visit that area – or by name. Lawrence Arthur RUDOLPH, listed as being from Guysborough, got his attention for both reasons. We’d had very good luck with soldiers from Guysborough, and the surname Rudolph was one he thought might be easier to trace.

Pieter was in luck as he was soon in contact with Elsie Hartling, whose mother, Lillian M. Rudolph, was Lawrence’s sister, and she had a photo, which was kindly sent to us by her nephew Andrew Hartling.

Born December 31, 1923 in Liscomb, Guysborough County in Nova Scotia, Lawrence was the son of Basil Melbourn and Elsie Rudolph. Before enlisting with the No. 6 District Depot on April 21, 1943 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, he was employed as a pipe fitter.

Lawrence Arthur Rudolph. (Photo courtesy of Elsie Hartling)

On April 30, 1943, Lawrence was sent to No. 60 Canadian Army Basic Training Centre (CABTC) in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia for initial training. After completing his basic training, he was assigned to A2 Canadian Artillery Training Centre (CATC) in Petawawa, Ontario for training as a gunner.

On November 1, 1943, Lawrence was transferred to No. 1 Training Brigade in Debert, Nova Scotia, in preparation for overseas service.

… Lawrence left Canada for overseas service in December 1943…

On December 15, 1943 Lawrence left Canada for the United Kingdom. Upon arriving on December 21, 1943 he was assigned to 2^nd Canadian Artillery Reinforcement Unit (CARU).

Then, on January 14, 1944, Lawrence was transferred to the 5^th Canadian Anti-Tank Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery, and underwent further training, qualifying as a Driver i/c (Wheeled) on May 9, 1944. (The term ‘Driver i/c’ refers to ‘Driver, internal combustion’. Wheeled refers to wheeled vehicles.)

Preparations for going to the front were ongoing, but, as noted in ‘The History of the 5^th Anti-Tank Regiment’, a compilation edited by John P. Claxton, “….at first light on 18^th July 1944, the Regiment moved off in convoy, destination was Tilbury Docks, and the trip to the Marshalling Area was made without incident….”

It took time to load vehicles and equipment onto the ships, but “…in due course and with numerous pauses for tea, civilian longshoremen completed the task of loading vehicles into the holds of ships….”

… Lawrence left for France in July 1944 with his Regiment…

“…After a couple of days at anchor at South End…” Lawrence left for France with his Regiment on July 21, 1944 when “…the convoy moved out of the Thames Estuary and through the channel under cover of darkness and a light mist…”

Screenshot 2024-01-05 at 09-00-49 courcelles sur mer at DuckDuckGo

The 5th Canadian Anti-Tank Regiment arrived at Courceulles-Sur-Mer and then travelled down towards Caen and Falaise. (Map source: Wikipedia)

They arrived “…off the beaches at Courceulles-sur-Mer, Normandy in a blaze of anti-aircraft fire…Further delay was caused by rough weather and scarcity of landing craft…..”

Finally, after several days, all personnel and equipment reached land, and “…the Regiment proceeded through pulverized villages and over the remains of country roads to our concentration area near Graye-sur-Mer….”

The Regiment fought its way across France, going past Caen to the Falaise Gap, into the Somme. By September 1944 they reached Belgium, and began the push towards Antwerp, and then, in mid-October, into The Netherlands.

… Lawrence lost his life during Operation Blockbuster…

Screenshot 2024-01-05 at 09-09-05 kleve germany at DuckDuckGo

The 5th Canadian Anti-Tank Regiment left The Netherlands for Germany. On February 27, 1945 Lawrence Rudolph lost his life near present day Bedburg-Hau, Germany, during Operation Blockbuster. (Map source: Wikipedia)

The Regiment’s time in The Netherlands ended on February 22, 1945, “… when the Regiment moved to concentration areas south of Cleve in Germany….” to participate in Operation Blockbuster. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Blockbuster)

“…..Operation Blockbuster began at dawn on the 26^th February, in abominable weather. The state of the ground precluded use of towed 17-pounder guns, but our Crusader Towers did outstanding work. Loaned with drivers to the assaulting formation, they were used as armoured troop carriers to get the infantry through heavy fire on their objectives, and then were employed to move casualties and supplies….”

A Crusader Tower was a tracked vehicle with room for a gun crew. (Photo source: YouTube WW2TV Crusader Gun Tractor)

Casualties were heavy, due to “…high velocity gun, artillery, and extensive minefields…” The weather deteriorated. By February 27, 1945, “…continuous deluges of rain with occasional wet snow, combined with the volume and weight of traffic, were rapidly converting roads into impassable masses of mud and dislodged cobblestones…”

Lawrence was in the midst of this, as the Crusader Towers were needed “….to move ammunition to the field guns…” followed by moving “….the guns themselves which were up to their muzzles in bog…”

At some point on the morning of February 27, 1945, Lawrence lost his life due to sniper fire. The War Diary entry for February 27, 1945 for the 14^th Battery of the 5^th Canadian Anti-Tank Regiment recorded that at 9 am the battery was “…. ordered to proceed further ….” towards Keppeln. “…Half-track, while being towed, struck a carrier. Captain Gerla, Sergeant Carmicheal take Lt Sheid’s carrier to lead convoy. Lt Sheid proceeded back to Ech at Hau with carrier. On route to battery area, convoy fired on by snipers. Gunner Rudolph was killed and died instantly….” Hau is present-day Bedburg-Hau, just a few km from Kleve.

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

Lawrence was initially buried in a temporary cemetery 4.8 km (3 miles) south of Kleve, Germany. In 1946, he was reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands.

Grave of Lawrence Arthur Rudolph Find a grave

Grave of Lawrence Arthur Rudolph at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek. (Photo source: Find A Grave)

Thank you to Elsie and Andrew Hartling for sharing a photo of Lawrence Arthur Rudolph, and to the contributors at WW2Talk for information on the Crusader Tower. Do you have photos or information to share? Email Pieter 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/

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

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2023 Christmas Eve Candle Lighting In The Netherlands

December 31, 2023 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 2 Comments

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December 31, 2023. For over 30 years, it’s been a Christmas Eve tradition in The Netherlands to light candles by the graves of Allied soldiers and Dutch resistance fighters who are buried in War Cemeteries, including all three Canadian War Cemeteries, or in a municipal cemetery.

These candles are funded by various non-profit groups at each cemetery participating in the candle-lighting ceremony. In many of the cemeteries, children are active participants, placing candles at each grave. On a day when many of us in Canada are thinking of presents, a visit by Santa, and preparations for our Christmas Day meal, Dutch volunteers spend their day in an act of commemoration across the country.

This year, we include photos from two municipal cemeteries – Donia Protestant Church Cemetery in Makkum, and Eindhoven General Cemetery in Eindhoven – and a short video from the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten.

The weather was not cooperative on Christmas Eve, with rain and strong winds, but it didn’t deter the volunteers.

….Donia Protestant Church Cemetery in Makkum….

Remko de Jong, a resident of Makkum, coordinates the candle lighting ceremony in his village. Candles were placed at the graves at 38 airmen who are buried in the Donia Protestant Church Cemetery in Makkum, located by Lake IJsselmeer in the province of Friesland.

Every year, he is kind enough to send a few photos. There was a lot of rain and strong winds this Christmas Eve, and Remko went back to the cemetery early on Christmas morning to relight the candles, accompanied by his wife Barbara, seen in the photo below, wearing the Santa hat.

Lichtjes op oorlogsgraven 2023. Foto`s Remko de Jong (5)

Candles were placed at the graves of airmen buried in the Donia Protestant Church Cemetery in Makkum. This year candles were relit on Christmas morning. (Photo credit: Remko de Jong)

Tabor Lichtjes op oorlogsgraven 2023. Foto`s Remko de Jong (6)

Candle placed at the grave of John Francis Edward Tabor. (Photo credit: Remko de Jong)

One of the airmen buried in Makkum is RCAF Flying Officer John Francis Edward TABOR of Ottawa, Ontario, who lost his life when the plane he was in, Halifax LK879 crashed at sea on the night of December 16, 1944 into December 17, 1944.

Nisbet Lichtjes op oorlogsgraven 2023. Foto`s Remko de Jong (7)

Candle placed at the grave of George David Nisbet. (Photo credit: Remko de Jong)

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

…Eindhoven General Cemetery in Eindhoven…

Grave WA Hood in Eindhoven with candle Noella Rehwald

Grave of William Andrew Hood with a Christmas Eve candle. (Photo credit: Noella Rehwald)

Remko arranged for a photo of the grave of William Andrew HOOD of Little Bras D’or, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, an airman with the RCAF, who lost his life on June 29, 1943 when the plane he was in, flight Halifax JD215, was shot down over The Netherlands. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/09/19/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-airman-from-bras-dor-who-was-aboard-the-last-flight-of-halifax-jd215/)

….Children placed candles at the graves in Holten…

Henk Vincent, a volunteer at the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, confirmed that “…the weather was harsh on Christmas Eve…” he explained that in Holten, the ceremony is organized by the SVNF (National Holiday Celebration Foundation) and sponsored by Holten’s carnival association and the municipality of Rijssen-Holten. It’s not funded by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

After the candles have been lit, all the volunteers are thanked and the sacrifices of those buried in the cemetery are acknowledged in a commemoration ceremony held at dusk.

Henk sent a short video of children placing candles at the graves. Take a look:

….Over 7,600 Canadian soldiers are buried in The Netherlands!…

Kudos to the Dutch, who never forget the sacrifices made by Allied soldiers! Over 7,600 Canadian soldiers are buried in The Netherlands and they are not forgotten. Pieter gets emotional each year at this time. “…It makes me proud that the Dutch never forget the sacrifices made by Allied soldiers and Dutch resistance fighters that liberated them. By involving the children, this helps ensure that they will continue to be remembered…”

Thank you to Remko de Jong for sharing photos from Makkum, to Noella Rehwald for the photo from Eindhoven, and to Henk Vincent for sharing the video from Holten

If you have a story or photo to share about Canadian military personnel buried in The Netherlands, please contact Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or tweet to @researchmemori1.

© Daria Valkenburg

…Previous postings about Christmas Eve Candle Lighting…

…Want to follow our research?….

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

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

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

December 23, 2023January 1, 2024 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 5 Comments

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December 23, 2023. 2023 has simply raced by, and Pieter is currently preparing his research plan for 2024.

It was another busy year and yes, Pieter remains committed to this research project. While several long-standing searches for photos were successful, allowing Pieter to complete his files for those soldiers, many files still remain open. In most cases, family members were found, but no photo was available for one reason or another.

A number of these files have been carried over from year to year, with no luck in finding photos, and so we now have a Cold Case Files page on the On The War Memorial Trail website. Hopefully, by featuring a list of the cold cases, someone will see a name and realize that they have a photo. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/our-cold-cases/)

A research project that began in the fall of 2022 to find photos and family of several soldiers from the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment that died on March 25, 1945 during the Battle of Bienen in Germany, and who are buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands was completed, with the stories told in a 12 part series that ran between March and May.

New research files were added, and Pieter was able to finish his research for many of the unfinished files from 2022. As always, there is a lag between him completing his work and me getting a chance to document his research, but that is on my ‘to do’ list for this winter.

He began a new project this fall, to upload photos to the Canadian Virtual War Memorial website, and has earmarked this as his winter project.

This year, we were able to meet several more families, which we very much appreciated. We were grateful that so many families came forward to share photos and information, and were thankful for continued media interest in helping to find photos. What follows in the rest of this posting is a summary of what happened in 2023 with this research project.

…Book ‘Holten Heroes: Stories from a Canadian Field of Honour’….

Book cover front and back

Daria and Pieter were the translators for ‘Holten Heroes: Stories from a Canadian Field of Honour’ by Jan Braakman, translated from the original Dutch book ‘Holtense Canadezen’. For more information, see the press package prepared by the author: https://janbraakman.nl/press-package-holten-heroes/ or the Amazon Canada entry: https://www.amazon.ca/Holten-Heroes-Stories-Canadian-Honour/dp/B0CM25LRD3/ref=sr_1_1?crid=QEQCI0LBFLPK&keywords=holten+heroes&qid=1698840141&sprefix=holten+heroes%2Caps%2C207&sr=8-1

…We received a 2023 Heritage Recognition Award from the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation….

A February 9, 2023 letter offered Congratulations and notified us that “… the Board of Governors of the Prince Edward Island Museum and Heritage Foundation has selected you for a Heritage Recognition Award for your powerful research project, ‘On The War Memorial Trail’….” (See https://www.peimuseum.ca/pieter-and-daria-valkenburg-heritage-recognition-award)

The Heritage Awards ceremony, which celebrates the Island’s heritage and recognition of those who preserve and share it, was held on Sunday, March 12, 2023 at Beaconsfield Carriage House in Charlottetown. Unfortunately we were unable to attend as we were not on the Island at the time. Jack Sorensen, Chair of the Tryon and Area Historical Society, accepted the award on our behalf. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/05/15/we-receive-a-2023-pei-heritage-recognition-award/)

…We received a Legionnaire of the Year Award ….

On June 10, 2023, we received a Legionnaire of the Year award from the Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 10 in Borden-Carleton, Prince Edward Island.

CIMG6369 Jun 10 2023 Cropped - Daria and Pieter receive Legionnaire of the Year Award

Pieter and Daria receive a Legionnaire of the Year Award. (Photo credit: Kathy Henry)

…Presentation ‘Up Close With A Halifax Bomber’….

Crapaud Hall Nov 7 2023 Presentation title page

On November 7, 2023, we gave a presentation at Crapaud Hall in Crapaud, Prince Edward Island, ‘Up Close With A Halifax Bomber’ about our tour of a Halifax bomber and a summary of two Island airmen who lost their lives in one. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/11/09/on-the-war-memorial-trail-presentation-up-close-with-a-halifax-bomber/)

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

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

We updated the story of the battle in which WW1 soldier Arthur Clinton ROBINSON lost his life on March 27, 1916 and how the burials in La Laiterie Military Cemetery, where he was buried, included a message in a bottle.
We shared a September 23, 1942 letter that WWII airman Joseph ‘Joe’ Charles MCIVER wrote while posted in northern Russia near the Arctic Circle, while serving in RAF Coastal Command.
After an 8 year search we received a photo for WWI soldier Joseph ‘Arthur’ DESROCHES of Miscouche, Prince Edward Island, who died after receiving a gunshot wound to the head and is buried in France.

… WWI Related Stories….

We updated the story of what happened when we repatriated to Nova Scotia the portrait of WW1 soldier Lloyd Clifton SHORTLIFF of Barton, Nova Scotia, whose name is inscribed on the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France.

… WWII Related Stories….

We shared a story about the 2022 candle lighting at graves of Canadian soldiers in The Netherlands.
We did a multi-part series about The Faces Of Groesbeek Exhibition – 36 photo tributes by the graves of soldiers at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands. The Exhibition ran from April 30 to May 21, 2023. Part 1 featured 5 soldiers from Prince Edward Island. Part 2 featured 4 Indigenous soldiers. Part 3 featured 8 soldiers from Nova Scotia whose stories were told in 2021’s Atlantic Canada Remembers series. Part 4 featured 6 soldiers from New Brunswick whose stories were told in 2021’s Atlantic Canada Remembers series. Part 5 featured 7 soldiers from the Battle of Bienen series. Part 6 featured 6 soldiers from photo wish lists. We also shared some of the feedback received from families whose relatives were featured in the photo tributes.
We updated the 2022 story about the search for WWII soldier Wilfred GIROUX who was in Gilze Rijen, The Netherlands in December 1944 and befriended a Dutch couple whose daughter wished to repatriate a photo and two Christmas cards to the Giroux family. This story had a successful conclusion with the photo and cards going to Wilfred’s niece.
We did an update to the Battle of Bienen series with a brief feature on the Bienen Memorial and shared the short video we made to honour those North Novies whose stories we told this spring (S4E1 Battle of Bienen on our YouTube Channel).
We shared an account of our visit to the National Air Force Museum of Canada in Trenton, Ontario, to tour a Halifax Mark VII Bomber.
We shared the story of how a letter written from the POW camp Stalag Luft III by WWII pilot John ‘Hubert’ HALL impacted not only his family, but the family of WWII pilot Elmer Bagnall MUTTART. Both men were from Prince Edward Island.
We shared the story about the successful search for a photo of WWII soldier Norman Victor Holgate BUCHANAN, from Manitoba, who lost his life in Germany on February 16, 1945, during the Battle of Moyland Wood, while serving with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles.
In a two-part series, we shared excerpts from the WWII letters of Edison Reynolds SMITH, who lost his life in The Netherlands on October 16, 1944 during the Battle of the Scheldt.

…Indigenous Soldiers….

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

WWII Indigenous soldier John CULBERTSON from Ontario, who was killed in Germany on April 30, 1944 during the Battle of Edewecht.
WWII Indigenous soldier Harry Henry DAVIS from Yukon Territory, who died in The Netherlands on January 15, 1945 from wounds received the day before after being shot while on patrol.
WWII Indigenous soldier Sanford Steven SAULIS from New Brunswick, who died of a brain hemorrhage in The Netherlands on August 10, 1945.
WWII Indigenous soldier George TAYLOR from Ontario, who died accidentally in his sleep in The Netherlands on June 17, 1945.

…. Stories About Servicemen From The Maritimes…

We also featured stories about servicemen from The Maritimes:

WWII soldier Ralph Schurman BOULTER from Prince Edward Island, who was killed in action during the Battle of Bienen in Germany on March 25, 1945.
WWII soldier Charles ‘Marshall’ CARSON from New Brunswick, who was killed in action during the Battle of Bienen in Germany on March 25, 1945.
WWII airman John ‘Hubert’ HALL from Prince Edward Island, who was aboard the last flight of Wellington Z1203 when it crashed over The Netherlands on March 29, 1942. All crew members survived, and Hubert spent the remainder of the war years as a POW in Stalag Luft III.
WWII airman William Andrew HOOD from Nova Scotia, who was aboard the last flight of Halifax JD215 when it was shot down over The Netherlands on June 29, 1943, with no survivors.
WWII soldier Kitchener ‘Kitty’ LANGILLE from Nova Scotia, who was killed in action during the Battle of Bienen in Germany on March 25, 1945.
WWII soldier Lawrence Edward LUCAS from Nova Scotia, who was killed in action in Germany on April 23, 1945.
WWI soldier Angus Clayton MACDONALD from Prince Edward Island, who served with the 85^th Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders), and was injured in Belgium during the Passage of the Grande Honnelle Battle.
WWII soldier Daniel ‘Dan’ Peter MACKENZIE from Prince Edward Island, who died from wounds received on April 13, 1945 during the liberation of Posterenk in The Netherlands, part of Operation Cannonshot.
WWII soldier James ‘Jim’ Andrew MACLEOD from New Brunswick, who was killed in action in Belgium on October 23, 1944.
WWII soldier Archibald Phillip ‘Archie’ MCLEAN from New Brunswick, who died from wounds received on April 13, 1945 during Operation Cannonshot in The Netherlands.
WWI soldier Merrill Augustus MARSHALL from Prince Edward Island, who was killed in action during the Battle of Vimy Ridge in France on April 9, 1917.
WWII soldier Austin Havelock MUNROE from Nova Scotia, who was killed in action during the Battle of Bienen in Germany on March 25, 1945.
WWII soldier Leonard William PORTER from New Brunswick, who was killed in action during the Battle of Walcheren Causeway in The Netherlands on November 1, 1944.
WWII soldier Joseph ‘Edmond’ ROBICHEAU from Nova Scotia, who was killed in action during the Battle of Five Woods in The Netherlands on April 14, 1945.
WWII soldier Edison Alexander SMITH from Prince Edward Island, who was killed in action during the Battle of Bienen in Germany on March 25, 1945.
WWII soldier John Lewis ‘Ducky’ WALLACE from Nova Scotia, who was killed in action during the Battle of Bienen in Germany on March 25, 1945.

…. Stories About Servicemen From Outside The Maritimes…

WWII soldier Clifford BATEMAN from Newfoundland, who was killed in action during the Battle of Bienen in Germany on March 25, 1945.
WWII soldier John Joseph BOHON, from Ontario, who was killed in action during the Battle of Bienen in Germany on March 25, 1945.
WWII soldier Clive Elbert Steele GEROW, from Ontario, who was killed in action during the liberation of Deventer in The Netherlands on April 10, 1945.
WWII soldier Theodor ‘Ted’ HENSCHEL, born in Manitoba, but from British Columbia, who was killed in action during the Battle for Wagenborgen in The Netherlands on April 22, 1945.
WWII soldier Adam KLEIN, from Saskatchewan, who died in The Netherlands while crossing the Maas River in January 1945.
WWII pilot Jack ‘Douglas’ MACKENZIE, from Manitoba, who died at the controls of his plane, Halifax DT630, after being attacked on February 3, 1943 over The Netherlands.
WWII soldier Harold Edward Roy MARTIN, from Ontario, who was killed in The Netherlands during the Battle of the Scheldt on October 14, 1944.
WWII pilot George Glenn ‘Dusty’ MILLAR, from Manitoba, who died on September 28, 1944 in The Netherlands.
WWII soldier Wilfred ‘Willy’ Joseph POWER, from British Columbia, who was killed in action during the Battle of Bienen in Germany on March 25, 1945.
WWII soldier Louis Allan SEXTON, from Quebec, who was killed in action during the Battle of Bienen in Germany on March 25, 1945.
WWII soldier Harry Elwood WRIGHT, from Nova Scotia, who was killed in action in The Netherlands on April 17, 1945.

…In Conversation And More….

We shared our condolences on the passing of Helen Coutts, sister of WWII pilot Elmer Bagnall MUTTART, in July 2023 at the age of 101.
We shared our condolences on the passing of Delbert Carr, nephew of WWI soldier Vincent CARR, in July 2023, and on the passing in April 2023 of Pam Alexander, whose father Reg Alexander was part of the Halifax L9561 crew in which WWII pilot Elmer Bagnall MUTTART lost his life.
We shared our condolences on the passing of John Robinson, nephew of WWI soldier Arthur Clinton ROBINSON in November 2023, and on the passing, also in November 2023 of Donald Moore, nephew of WWII soldier Archibald Phillip ‘Archie’ MCLEAN.
As part of our Remembrance Week 2023 feature, we shared updates on previous stories and about our visit to the Springhill Cenotaph in Springhill, Nova Scotia.
We wrote about the Remembrance Day ceremonies we attended in Borden-Carleton and Kinkora, two Prince Edward Island communities.

…. Interviews To Highlight Search For Photos….

Pieter did the following interviews:

Kevin Rollason of the Winnipeg Free Press wrote about Pieter’s search for photos and featured the story of WWII Medic John Lewis HUGHES, of Eriksdale, Manitoba, who died during the Battle of the Scheldt on November 2, 1944, and is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands. The article, ‘A Picture Of Compassion’, ran online and in the print edition on Friday, November 10, 2023. See https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/2023/11/10/a-picture-of-compassion
Pieter was interviewed by Fraser Needham of APTN’s Nation To Nation program, about the search for photos of WWII Indigenous soldiers, Benjamin Roy ASHKEWE, from Cape Croker, Ontario, and Charles NANIBUSH, from Shawanaga, Ontario. Both are buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands. The interview ran on Thursday, November 9, 2023 and was subsequently posted on APTN’s YouTube Channel as ‘Their sacrifice should never ever be forgotten’: Extended interview with Pieter Valkenburg | N2N‘ To watch the 8:24 minute interview:

A subsequent 45 second clip was posted on APTN’s YouTube Channel as ‘Pieter Valkenburg explains the complications in locating the photos of veterans‘ https://youtu.be/b-kXWjL9R6w?si=cZYp8teF1sF8-nUV
On Thursday, April 27, 2023, Pieter was interviewed by Bob Murphy on CBC Radio’s program Maritime Noon. You can listen to ‘A Dutch-born man on PEI tells us about a project to help find photos of WW II veterans who are buried in the Netherlands. The photos are displayed at gravesites. | Maritime Noon with Bob Murphy | Live Radio | CBC Listen’ at https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-38-maritime-noon/clip/15981254-a-dutch-born-man-pei-tells-project-help-find

…. Letters To The Editor For Photo Searches….

Letters to the Editor in various newspapers were written in the quest for a photo for:

WWII soldier Austin Havelock MUNROE, who is buried in The Netherlands. A letter to the editor was published in the Guysborough Journal on November 2, 2022. This search was successful.
WWII soldier Thomas Alfred BROWN, who is buried in The Netherlands. A letter to the editor was published in The Consort Enterprise on April 26, 2023 and on ECA Review on April 27, 2023. This search was successful. (See https://ecareview.com/looking-for-photo-of-ww2-soldier/)

… Successful Search For Photos …..

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

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

Buried in Holten Canadian War Cemetery in The Netherlands:

Percy Joseph BARRY
Archibald BUNGAY
Harry Henry DAVIS
Theophile DUPERE
Gerald Edward FERGUSON
Arthur G. FLIEGER
Clive Elbert Steele GEROW
Frank GUIMOND
Merle Vincent HAMILTON
Lawrence Edward LUCAS
Neil Roderick MACLEAN
Joseph Taylor MACLEOD
Joseph ‘Felicien’ MALLEY
Stanley Leigh MCBEATH
Archibald ‘Archie’ Phillip MCLEAN
Ralph Foster MCLENAHAN
Sydney Guy MOSHER
Frank Eugene MUNROE
James ‘Gordon’ MURPHY
Seth Everett MURRAY
Herbert ‘Murray’ RAFUSE
Roslyn Ernest SANDS
Sanford Steven SAULIS
George Edward SHERWOOD
Ronald Eugene SMITH
James Edward SULLIVAN
James Oliver THOMAS
Gustav Evald ‘Ernie’ WINSA

Buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery in The Netherlands:

Walter Conrad BENJAMIN
Thomas Alfred BROWN
Norman Victor BUCHANAN
Alexander Parke CALDWELL
Cyrille CAISSIE
Tom CHASKE
Henri CORMIER
Raymond Stavely ELLIOTT
John ‘Jack’ Charles FORWARD
Jean FRIGAULT
Edgar M. GUITARD
Lester L. HANLEY
Raymond Arthur HOSSACK
Maxwell KING
Albert Noel LAMONTAGNE
Gordon Archibald MACCALLUM
Leo Alexander MACDOUGALL
Neale Warren MERRITT
Reginald Vincent MOOERS
Austin Havelock MUNROE
Delphis ROY
Lawrence Arthur RUDOLPH
Oxaird J. SAVOIE
Thomas ‘Tom’ Hector SUTHERLAND
George TAYLOR
John Lewis WALLACE
Harry WRIGHT

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

Earl AGNEW
Robert Oswald BLAKE
Gerald Joseph BOUCHER
James Burnes CARRUTHERS
Donald Whitman COOK
Adam KLEIN
Denis Joseph LANDRY
Harold Edward Roy MARTIN
James A. ‘Jim’ MACLEOD
Joseph Edmond NOELAN (NOWLAN)
Ernest Patrick OWENS
John Colin (Jack) POND
Peter William PORTER
Orville ‘Skip’ REEVES
Elmer Daniel SCHOFIELD
Leopold THERIAULT

Buried in Rotterdam (Crooswijk) General Cemetery in The Netherlands:

John PALMER

Buried in Sleen General Cemetery in The Netherlands:

Jack ‘Douglas’ MACKENZIE
Raymond Hepton ‘Ray’ HILL

Buried in Uden War Cemetery in The Netherlands:

George Glenn ‘Dusty’ MILLAR

Buried in Adegem Canadian War Cemetery in Belgium:

Joseph Hudson PALLISTER

Buried in Ligny St. Flochel British Cemetery in France:

Joseph ‘Arthur’ DESROCHES

Listed On The Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France:

Merrill Augustus MARSHALL

Buried in Coriano Ridge War Cemetery in Italy:

Millard Emery ALLEN

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

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

Barry Matthews GODDEN, of Harbour Breton, Newfoundland, Flight Sergeant on Lancaster ED916, which crashed June 13, 1943. He died December 1, 2002 in Sydney, Nova Scotia.
Raymond ‘Ray’ Hepton HILL, of Montreal, Quebec, Air Gunner on Halifax DT630, which crashed February 3, 1943. He died in the crash and is buried at Sleen General Cemetery in Sleen, The Netherlands.
André Jean Jules HISETTE, of Cornwallis, Nova Scotia, Air Bomber on Halifax LW461, which crashed January 16, 1945. He died in the crash and is buried at Becklingen War Cemetery in Wietzendorf, Germany.
Eric ‘Raymond’ MARQUAND, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Bomb Aimer on Halifax DT630, which crashed February 3, 1943. He died April 25, 2006 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Henry ‘Hank’ PANKRATZ, of Ottawa, Ontario, Wireless Operator on Halifax NP945, which crashed December 6, 1944.

… Unsuccessful Search For Photos …..

Not all searches have been successful, for one reason or another. Below is a listing of some of the outstanding files for which research has been done, but no photo has been found. If you can help with a photo, please let us know.

John Frederick BARTLETT of Moreton’s Harbour, Newfoundland, son of Alfred and Jessie Bartlett, died February 27, 1945, aged 47, while serving with the South Alberta Regiment.
Douglas Gordon BLACK of Amherst, Nova Scotia, son of Sherman and Alice Black, died March 3, 1945, while serving with the Algonquin Regiment.
Clifford Alexander BLAKE of Toronto, Ontario, son of William C. and Sarah L. Blake, husband of Ferne E. Blake, died February 16, 1945, aged 23, while serving with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles.
James Lyman CAMERON, born in Victoria-By-The-Sea, Prince Edward Island, son of Edward H. and Susan (Harrington) Cameron, died July 24, 1916, aged 23, while serving with the 7^th Canadian Infantry Battalion (1^st British Columbia). (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
Leigh Hunt CAMERON, born in Albany, Prince Edward Island, son of Anna Cameron, died May 5, 1916, aged 17, shortly after enlisting with the 105^th Battalion, C Company. (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
William Galen CAMPBELL, born in Wellington, Prince Edward Island, son of John G. and Grace Emma Campbell, died April 24, 1953, aged 55, many years after being discharged from the ^8th Siege Battery of the 3^rd Brigade Canadian Garrison Artillery. (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
Karl CHRISTENSEN, from Alberta, but born in Starheim, Nordfjord, Norway, son of Kristian Kristiansen Hafsas and Marie K. Hafsas, died April 10, 1945, aged 41, while serving with the 8^th Field Squadron, Royal Canadian Engineers.
John Edward COLEMAN of Moncton, New Brunswick, son of Edward J. and Florence Coleman, husband of Della Coleman, died June 17, 1945, aged 32, while serving with the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.
Lorne Mart COLFORD of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, but born in Chezzetcook, Nova Scotia, son of Howard and Jeanette Colford, died April 14, 1945, aged 22, while serving with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry.
Bazil CORMIER, born in Tignish, Prince Edward Island, son of Joseph Cormier and Mary Arsenault, died August 12, 1918, aged 20, while serving with the 2^6th (New Brunswick) Battalion. (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
Eric John CRUE of Moncton, New Brunswick, son of John and Margaret Crue, died April 6, 1945, aged 23, while serving with the Algonquin Regiment.
James Frank DOLMAN of Flatlands, New Brunswick, son of Frank Dolman and Lydia Thompson, husband of Henriette Gertrude Lyons, died April 14, 1945, aged 32, while serving with the New Brunswick Rangers -10th Ind. Machine Gun Company.
Samuel George ENGEN of The Pas, Manitoba, died April 23, 1945, aged 27, while serving with the Lake Superior Regiment.
Douglas Bernard FARROW of Amherst, Nova Scotia, died April 26, 1945, aged 27, while serving with the Algonquin Regiment.
Clifford Glen FORSYTH born in Brandon, Manitoba, son of Alexander ‘Sandy’ Forsyth and Margaret McDougall, died April 11, 1945, aged 20, while serving with the Lake Superior Regiment.
Ernest Ramey GALLANT, born in Borden (now Borden-Carleton), Prince Edward Island, son of John P. and Mary Blanche Gallant, died May 20, 1943, aged 27, while with the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment. (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
William James ‘Jimmy’ Sutherland HOLE born in Carman, Manitoba, son of William and Eva Alise Hole, died April 22, 1945, aged 20, while serving with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles.
Claude Pearley HUBLEY of Chipman, New Brunswick, son of Joshua and Adelia Hubley, husband of Agnes Myrtle Hubley, died April 25, 1945, aged 29, while serving with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry.
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.
George Mcdonald JOHNSTON of Toronto, Ontario, son of William and Annie Johnston, died April 2, 1945, aged 27, while serving with the Lake Superior Regiment.
Lloyd Edward KITCHING of Winnipeg, Manitoba, son of Robert Burns Lloyd Kitching, and stepson of Eva L. Kitching, died May 1, 1945, aged 25, while serving with the Royal Canadian Artillery – 6^th Field Regiment.
Wallace Herbert LARLEE of Perth, New Brunswick, died April 24, 1945, aged 19, while serving with the North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment.
Logan Elwood LESLIE, born in Oxford, Nova Scotia, died April 9, 1945, son of John J. and Georgie Mary Leslie of Moncton, New Brunswick, while serving with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry.
Charles W. LOWTHER, born in North Carleton, Prince Edward Island, son of Bessie Lowther, died September 25, 1918, aged 21, while serving with the 25^th Battalion, Canadian Infantry. (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
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.
Francis Leslie MULCAHY of Halifax, Nova Scotia, son of Daniel and Mary Mulcahy, died April 24, 1945, aged 21, while serving with the North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment.
Archibald Henry NELSON born in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, son of William Henry and Winnifred Frances Nelson, died April 18, 1945, aged 34, while serving with the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment.
Arthur Clinton ROBINSON, born in Tryon, Prince Edward Island, son of Albert J. and Flora P. Scruton Robinson, died March 27, 1916, aged 19, while serving with the 26th (New Brunswick) Battalion. (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
Harry ROBINSON, born in Augustine Cove, Prince Edward Island, son of Thomas and Sarah Robinson, husband of Clara J. Robinson, died June 27, 1916, aged 34, while serving with the 105^th Battalion, C Company. (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
Charles Patrick SHEFFIED of Sundridge, Ontario, son of Charles and Mrs Sheffield, husband of Bessie Alice Butler from Botwood, Newfoundland, and father of Patrick William Wallace Sheffield, died May 4, 1945, aged 24, while serving with the Algonquin Regiment.
Charles Bernard STAFFORD of Halifax, Nova Scotia, son of Charles Bernard and Blanche Stafford, husband of Winifred Leitha Stafford of Intake, Sheffield, England, died April 18, 1945, aged 28, while serving with the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps – 9th Field Ambulance.
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.

… The YouTube Channel….

In 2023 the following videos were posted on the YouTube channel: On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter Valkenburg: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ591TyjSheOR-Cb_Gs_5Kw

S4E1 Battle Of Bienen
S4E2 The Last Flight Of Halifax JD215

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

As 2023 comes to an end, we would like to thank all who helped with researching these stories and contributed photos. We also thank readers of this blog, and the On The War Memorial Trail column in The County Line Courier, who suggested some of stories you’ve read. A big thank you goes to Mike and Isabel Smith, owners of The County Line Courier.

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

Thank you to the media who helped publicize the search for photos and information – APTN, CBC Radio’s Maritime Noon, ECA Review, Guysborough Journal, The Consort Enterprise, and the Winnipeg Free Press.

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

….Happy Holidays…

Pieter and I wish you all the best for the holidays and in 2024. May we never forget those who gave their lives for our freedom.

Xmas greetings from Pieter and Daria

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

© Daria Valkenburg

…Want to follow our research?…

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

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

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On The War Memorial Trail…..‘No Soldier Buried Overseas Should Ever Be Forgotten’ Is Still Available

December 19, 2023December 23, 2023 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

4 countries, 6 weeks, 7,000 km – an unforgettable war memorial journey in Europe…. Daria’s book ‘No Soldier Buried Overseas Should Ever Be Forgotten’ is available in print and e-book formats.

December 19, 2023. We appreciate hearing from readers of ‘No Soldier Buried Overseas Should Ever Be Forgotten’, and love seeing the photos that you send. In many cases, the only time we know someone has purchased a book is when they write to let us know.

IMG_2273 Dec 1 2022 Ray Coulsen by John Wales

Ray Coulsen with book. (Photo credit: John Wales)

Ray Coulsen, Curator at the Nova Scotia Highlanders Regimental Museum in Amherst, Nova Scotia, purchased a copy and was able to read about two North Novies featured in the book:

James Arthur AFFLECK, buried at Calais Canadian War Cemetery in France
George Ashley BARTLETT, buried at Bayeux War Cemetery in France

John Wales with book. (Photo courtesy of John Wales)

Until he moved from Amherst, John Wales had been the Assistant Curator at the Nova Scotia Highlanders Regimental Museum, and had also a great interest in the story of Elmer Bagnall MUTTART, of the Royal Canadian Air Force, who is buried in Harlingen General Cemetery in The Netherlands, and whose story is also featured in the book.

CIMG6561 Oct 20 2023 Paulette Ryan with book

Paulette Ryan with book. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Paulette Ryan contacted us after a trip in which she visited the Canadian War Cemeteries in The Netherlands. We had a chance to meet for coffee as she had brought back a booklet for Pieter from Alice van Bekkum, Chair of the Faces To Graves Foundation Groesbeek. The Dutch-language booklet contains short stories about some of the soldiers buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek.

CIMG6559 Oct 20 2023 Pieter with Paulette Ryan

Pieter with Paulette Ryan. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

20230918_124503 Sep 18 2023 Malcolm John Pres Richibuctu Legion with book

Malcolm John with book. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

This fall we visited the Richibucto Legion Branch No. 30 in Richibucto, New Brunswick, and met the Branch President, Malcolm John. The Legion had photos of WWII soldier Albert Noel LAMONTAGNE in a shadow box donated by the family of Albert Chevarie. Malcolm had sent us photos of every item in the shadow box, for an upcoming story in 2024 about this soldier, who is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands.

After purchasing a book last fall, Simone Comeau took the time to write. “…I have just completed reading your interesting book. Your work and dedication is unbelievable. Thank you very much for all you have done and are still doing so that no one gave their lives in vain. Your efforts are a great relief to the families of the fallen soldiers as many were left just knowing their loved ones had died somewhere in Europe. This includes my family and my uncle’s siblings and their parents…”

Simone’s uncle, WWII soldier Joseph ‘Ambroise’ COMEAU, from Lower Saulnierville, Nova Scotia, was one of 5 soldiers from the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment who drowned in a tragic accident on the Leda River during the Battle of Leer in Germany on April 28, 1945. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/05/17/on-the-war-memorial-trail-a-tragic-drowning-on-the-leda-river-in-germany-part-3/ and https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/11/10/on-the-war-memorial-trail-linking-the-past-with-the-present/)

If you’ve read ‘No Soldier Buried Overseas Should Ever Be Forgotten’ do let us know! In case you missed an earlier blog posting, ‘Holten Heroes’, by Jan Braakman, and translated from Dutch by us, was published a few months ago. For more information, see https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/11/01/new-book-about-soldiers-buried-in-the-canadian-war-cemetery-in-holten-the-netherlands/

Thank you to Ray Coulsen, John Wales, Paulette Ryan, Malcom John, and Simone Comeau. Do you have photos or information to share? Email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or tweet to @researchmemori1.

© Daria Valkenburg

…Previous Postings About The Book…

To read previous postings about ‘No Soldier Buried Overseas Should Ever Be Forgotten’:

….Want to follow our research?….

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

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

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On The War Memorial Trail….. Part 2: The WWII Letters Of Edison Reynolds Smith

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

20220903_190017 Wayne and Angela Leighton in Annapolis Valley

Angela Leighton and her husband Wayne at the Lookoff (Blomidon) in Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley. (Photo submitted by Angela Leighton)

December 12, 2023. In Part 1 of the WWII letters of Edison Reynolds SMITH, which had been shared by his niece, Angela Leighton, Edison had enlisted and was in France. Meanwhile, his family was dealing with the death of Edison’s younger brother Wesley – which Edison was as yet unaware of – and had received a telegram stating that Edison had been wounded. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/12/07/on-the-war-memorial-trail-part-1-the-wwii-letters-of-edison-reynolds-smith/)

The telegram had been sent to Edison’s brother, Wesley Smith in Cooks Cove, Nova Scotia, stating that Edison had been wounded on June 9, 1944, but remained on duty with his unit. However, Wesley did not receive the telegram – he had drowned on May 27, 1944.

Now, Edison’s story continues in Part 2…..

Edison Reynolds Smith. (Photo courtesy of Angela Leighton)

… Edison was transferred to the Canadian Scottish Regiment…

According to his service file, Edison was in the hospital until June 11, 1944, after which he was transferred to the 1^st Battalion, Canadian Scottish Regiment, British Western European Forces (BWEF). In his letters, Edison didn’t mention being wounded.

His first letter from France, dated June 14, 1944 letter to his aunt, Elsie Myers, confirmed he was in the 1^st Battalion, Cdn Scottish Regiment, ‘A’ Company. “…I am in France now. I’ve been here a few days. The last letter I wrote was before I left the docks in England…. The French people are very nice to us… I am with the Canadian Scottish Regiment and with a pretty good bunch of men. George is over here too somewhere, I suppose, but he’d be with the North Nova Scotia Highlanders...” Sgt George MYERS was a nephew of Edison’s uncle, Roland Myers.

On June 26, 1944, Edison wrote to his brother Wesley, still unaware that his brother had died on May 27, 1944. “…Just a line or two to let you know I am still kicking….It’s pretty noisy here at times. Most of the fellows I’m with are from British Columbia….The days seem pretty long over here longer than they did in England. I never got any leave or anything when I was in England… There are quite a few cattle over here. They are around our trenches every day….I might be able to get in the North Nova Scotia Highlanders, the same as George is in. My name is gone in for them anyway…”

On July 1, 1944, Edison got his wish and was transferred back to the North Nova Scotia Highlanders.

… Edison was heartbroken to learn that his brother Wesley had died…

In a July 2, 1944 letter to his Aunt Elsie, Edison mentions he was now in ‘C’ Company of the North Nova Scotia Highlanders. He was shocked to learn about his brother’s death. “…I was just over to see George and Percy. I just arrived at this unit yesterday and I went to look George up this afternoon and found him, and I also saw Percy….” Angela believes that Percy referred to Percy LUMSDEN.

“…I was shocked when George told me about Wes. Cold chills came over me when he handed me a piece that was cut out of the newspaper telling about the terrible thing that that happened to him. How did it happen? I can hardly believe it. I just trembled when I read it. I suppose you sent me the news but I haven’t received it yet because I have been moved around so much. I bet there was a large funeral. I suppose the reserve army was there too….It’s going to be hard on me for a while and all of us…Wes was a friend of everybody’s and was a smart boy too. He died a good soldier….”

Edison then wrote to his sister Dorothy on July 4, 1944. “…It’s hard for me to believe that Wes has been drowned. Charlie MacKenzie was drowned too…”

… Edison related some of what he was experiencing …

In a July 12, 1944 to his Aunt Elsie, Edison carefully mentioned troop losses. “…We are moving deeper into France all the time. We have lost a lot of the fellows I came overseas with.…I’ll be glad when we get to Paris…”

On July 15, 1944, he wrote to his cousin Abbie. “…I was down to the beach yesterday for a bath and I saw Percy there…. We are back of the lines now, having a rest after being in the front lines for over a month. It’s a lot quieter back here and we can have a night’s sleep in peace. My nerves were getting kind of shook up and a good rest will do a fellow good…”

It was Percy Lumsden who told him that the family had been informed that he was wounded, which he addressed in the letter to Abbie. “…Percy said he got a letter from Ruth and she said it was in the paper that that I was wounded. I haven’t got a scratch on me. It must be a mistake I guess…I hope you can make my writing out. My hand is shakier than it was….”

It’s unclear whether Edison was simply sparing his family, as his service file clearly notes that he had been wounded and briefly hospitalized.

… Edison longed for the war to end …

Edison wondered if he’d made the right decision to enlist in his July 24, 1944 letter to his sister Dorothy. “…War is awful…and you don’t realize it until you get in the thick of it… I wish I had of stayed home and helped Uncle Rollie. I might have been able to if I had of put in for farming leave early enough, but I was so anxious to get over here and get a crack at Jerry. I’m not quite so anxious now though…”

Around the same date, he wrote more frankly to his cousin Abbie. “…I’m right in the front line. I’ve been in the front line since D-Day, the day I landed in Normandy….The only pleasure we get here is getting letters. We have it pretty tough of course, you can expect that in a place like this.….”

… Edison delighted in getting a care package from home …

Mail and care packages were morale boosters. Edison’s August 2, 1944 letter to his sister Dorothy reflects this. “…I got the box you sent me for my birthday. The oranges were rotten, but I found a couple that were fit to eat. The chocolates were in good shape though and so was the cake. I enjoyed it very much. I gave some of the boys some chocolates and some of the cake…It was a treat for me to get those chocolates because it’s something you don’t see very often over here…”

… Edison felt the tide of war was turning …

On September 2, 1944, in a letter to his sister Dorothy, Edison noted that France was nearly liberated. “…We have been moving so fast that I don’t get much time to write. The weather over here is terrible, wet, raining every day, but I imagine there will be a dry spell after a while… The war looks pretty good now. Paris has fallen and we are nearing the borders of Germany and Belgium. It makes you feel good when we go into a town and see the streets lined with cheering Frenchmen. They are certainly glad to see us coming….”

Edison related a close call in a September 7, 1944 letter to his cousin Abbie. “…I’ve had some close calls, but I’m still on the go. I had a bullet go through my pant leg and a piece of shrapnel hit my steel helmet, so I think that’s close enough ….”

The last letter written by Edison was on October 6, 1944 to his uncle, Roland Myers. “…I am in Belgium now and we are having pretty good weather these last few days, nice and warm.….”

What Edison was unable to explain was that he was in the midst of the Battle of the Scheldt, which had begun on October 2, 1944. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Scheldt and https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/canada-and-the-battle-of-the-scheldt)

On October 6, 1944, Operation Switchback, the second main operation of the Battle of the Scheldt began, with the goal of clearing the ‘Breskens Pocket’ – the German defences around Breskens in The Netherlands. (See https://www.canadiansoldiers.com/history/battlehonours/northwesteurope/breskenspocket.htm)

….How Edison Lost His Life….

Edison was initially buried between Hoofdplaat and Terneuzen, The Netherlands. (Map source: ‘No Retreating Footsteps’ by Will R. Bird)

On October 16, 1944, the North Nova Scotia Regiment was in The Netherlands, tasked with attacking a heavily defended dyke. Sadly, it was the day that Edison lost his life, as was related in a November 17, 1944 letter to his aunt from Captain L.C. Niuhold, ‘C’ Company, North Nova Scotia Highlanders: “…As second-in-command of the company in which your nephew served, I was present on the 16^th of October in the battle in which he was killed. …

It was part of the campaign in the Scheldt in Holland which eventually opened the great port of Antwerp. On the 16^th of October the company was leading the battalion in an attack along a stubbornly defended dyke. The going was slow and difficult but owing to the courage and determination of your nephew and his pals, the position was eventually taken.

It was after we had reached our first objective and your nephew was bringing in some prisoners, that a burst of machine-gun fire from another direction hit him and instantly killed him. The same burst of fire killed his platoon officer and another one of his pals who were with him.

Your nephew was buried, along with the other boys who died that day, in a pretty orchard in Southern Holland, with a funeral service held by our battalion padre.

I wish to extend my heartfelt sympathy to you in the loss of your nephew. He is missed by everyone in the company as he was one of our best soldiers…”

… Edison is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Adegem…

Edison was initially buried between the towns of Hoofdplaat and Terneuzen, The Netherlands. After the war ended, Edison was reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Adegem, Belgium. Pieter’s cousin, François Breugelmans visited Edison’s grave with his wife, Mieke de Bie, and ensured a Canadian flag was placed by his headstone.

François Breugelmans by the grave of Edison Reynolds Smith at the Canadian War Cemetery in Adegem. (Photo credit: Mieke de Bie)

Thank you to Angela Leighton for providing photos, Edison’s letters, and information. Thank you also to François Breugelmans and Mieke de Bie for visiting Edison’s grave at the cemetery in Adegem. Do you have a story to tell? Email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or send a tweet to @researchmemori1.

….Want to follow our research?….

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

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

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On The War Memorial Trail….. Part 1: The WWII Letters Of Edison Reynolds Smith

December 7, 2023December 13, 2023 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 2 Comments

December 7, 2023. Whenever Pieter researches someone who has served in the military, we ask if there is any correspondence that the families might have. Sometimes a letter or postcard survives, which is wonderful.

In 2021, in the Atlantic Canada Remembers series, Angela Leighton submitted a photo of her uncle, Edison Reynolds SMITH, who was killed in action in The Netherlands on October 16, 1944, during the Battle of the Scheldt, while serving with the North Nova Scotia Highlanders. He’s buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Adegem, Belgium. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/01/07/on-the-war-memorial-trail-atlantic-canada-remembers-part-1/)

Edison Reynolds Smith. (Photo courtesy of Angela Leighton)

After the article was posted, Angela wrote us with more information. “…Edison Reynolds Smith was born May 11, 1924 on Port Hood Island, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia to parents Guy and Grace (nee Watts) Smith. After his parents passed, Edison and his siblings were taken in by their aunt and uncle, Elsie and Roland Myers, and lived in Cooks Cove, Guysborough County, Nova Scotia from 1929 until 1944….”

Edison’s sense of duty was strong, and he enrolled in the 2^nd (Reserve) Battalion of the Pictou Highlanders on August 24, 1942. “…Edison joined the Militia in August 1942 and worked as a lumberman for his uncle until he enrolled in the Canadian Army on August 30, 1943….” He enlisted at the No. 6 District Depot in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Angela Leighton, whose mother Dorothy was the younger sister of Edison Reynolds Smith, kept the letters he wrote to family. (Photo submitted by Angela Leighton)

Angela then mentioned that she had letters that Edison had written during the time of his military service! The letters reveal an engaging man who had suffered much tragedy in his young life, but never lost his optimistic spirit, even when he encountered more loss. He was deeply interested in his family and friends, and kept up an active correspondence. As time went on, he yearned to be back in Nova Scotia, surrounded by those he loved.

This was confirmed by Angela, whose mother Dorothy (Dot) was Edison’s sister. “…His mother (my grandmother) died on January 11, 1928. Her husband (my grandfather) died January 30, 1929. …It is no wonder Edison had such a love of family after such tragedy in those years before and really wanted to come back home….”

Edison (left) with his sister Dorothy and younger brother Wesley in 1943. (Photo courtesy of Angela Leighton)

… Edison began his army training in September 1943…

After enlisting, Edison was sent to No. 60 Canadian Army Basic Training Centre (CABTC) in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia on September 17, 1943.

On November 19, 1943, he was sent to A14 Canadian Infantry Training Centre (CITC) in Aldershot, Nova Scotia for further training. He received embarkation leave, from January 22 to February 4, 1944, the last chance he had to see his family.

After returning from leave, Edison remained in Aldershot until February 20, 1944, when he was transferred to the No.1 Training Brigade in Debert, Nova Scotia for final training and preparation for overseas service.

In a March 15, 1944 letter to his sister Dorothy, written from No 2 Temporary Transit Camp in Debert, Edison related one of the experiences and mentioned a friend from back home: “…We just got back off of our three day scheme. We slept out in the woods two nights and we marched about 26 miles altogether. I didn’t mind it though. It was a change from sleeping in the barracks…I saw Victor Shea up here the other day, he just came here about three or four days ago….It was terrible cold here right after I came back off of my weekend. It was about 20 below zero one night. But it’s a lot warmer now. We moved today to a different part of the camp…”

An April 1, 1944 letter to Dorothy, also written from Debert, noted that: “…my eyes have been paining me a little lately….I went on sick parade, but they only gave me a few tablets.…”

… Edison left Canada for overseas service in April 1944…

Not mentioned in the letter was that Edison was on his way to the United Kingdom. On April 6, 1944 he left Canada, arriving in the United Kingdom on April 12, 1944, where he was assigned to No 4 Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit (CIRU).

Edison’s initial impression of England was positive, as he related in an April 14, 1944 letter to his sister Dorothy, written from No 4 CIRU: “…It’s lovely weather over here except it rains once in a while…I spent Easter in the middle of the Atlantic. It was a nice place to spend Easter, wasn’t it?….I had a good trip coming across but it was a little crowded….”

Not long afterwards, Edison was sent to No 10 Battalion, Canadian Base Reinforcement Group (CBRG), but was still in England. A poignant May 11, 1944 letter to his aunt, Elsie Myers, reflected that “…Today is my birthday. I hope I will be home my next birthday…”

… Edison loved getting mail from back home…

In a May 25, 1944 letter, written from No 10 Battalion CBRG in England, Edison answered his sister Dorothy’s query about Victor Shea. “…I got two letters today and both from you. There’s nothing cheers me up any more than getting letters…..I haven’t seen Vic for a while. He is not with me at all now. He was with me all the time coming across on the ship from Canada and he ate and slept right where I did all the way coming across…”

Victor SHEA had joined the Canadian Parachute Battalion in 1942. When more soldiers were needed for battle on the beaches of Normandy after D-Day, he transferred to infantry and was on the front lines, joining the North Nova Scotia Highlanders. He received France’s Croix de Guerre (Medal of Valour) for his bravery in the liberation of France.

Before ending his letter, Edison assured his sister that he appreciated a parcel she’d sent. “…Thank you so much for the box you sent me. We get lots to eat but it’s nice to have a change from army grub…”

Dorothy wasn’t the only one to inquire about Victor Shea and other soldiers from their area. In a May 25, 1944 letter to his cousin Abbie, daughter of his uncle Roland and aunt Elsie Myers, Edison explained that “…Vic Shea isn’t where I am at all now so there isn’t any one from home with me now….They are about the only ones anyways handy from home. But I know a lot of the boys here by now because I went through all my training in Canada with them….If they send me a box from home, tell them to send me a few apples because I never tasted a bit of fruit of any kind since I came over here…”

… Edison leaves for France and the D-Day invasion with the North Nova Scotia Highlanders…

On June 2, 1944, Edison was assigned to the North Nova Scotia Highlanders, as they prepared to leave the United Kingdom for France as part of the 21^st Army Group.

The war diary for the North Nova Scotia Highlanders for June 3, 1944 noted that they “… embarked from G1 Hard, Stokes Bay…..” and were “…lying out in the Southampton waters just outside Netley…” while awaiting clearance to cross the English Channel.

There was a delay in leaving due to heavy winds on June 4, so it wasn’t until June 5, 1944 that the crossing began. “…At 1400 hours the flotilla moved out to the open sea and formed up with the other craft taking part in the invasion…” This, of course, was to be what we know as D-Day.

On June 6, 1944, the war diary recorded that “…by 1400 hours all our troops were ashore, but as the Eighth Canadian Infantry Brigade had not found the going as easy as expected, we were unable to get through the town and were unable to assemble at ‘ELDER’, near Beny-Sur-Mer, as planned, and the Commanding Officer decided to assemble in a field….”

D-Day was Edison’s first experience of fighting, but he survived.

… Tragedy strikes but Edison was not yet aware of another loss…

In early June, 1944, a telegram was sent to Edison’s brother, Wesley Smith in Cooks Cove, Nova Scotia, stating that Edison had been wounded on June 9, 1944, but remained on duty with his unit. A notice of his being wounded is also recorded in Edison’s service file. However, Edison later stated to his family that he was not wounded.

Edison (left) and Wesley Smith. (Photo courtesy of Angela Leighton)

What Edison didn’t know – and apparently neither did the military who sent the telegram – was that his younger brother Wesley, who was in the Reserves, had drowned on May 27, 1944. He was only 16 years old.

….Coming up in Part 2…

In Part 2, Edison sees active service in France, Belgium, and The Netherlands and learns about the loss of his younger brother.

Thank you to Angela Leighton for sharing photos and letters written by her uncle. Do you have information to share about Canadian soldiers, please email us at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or send a tweet to @researchmemori1.

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On The War Memorial Trail….. The WWII Soldier Killed By Mortar Fire When His Brother Was Two Years Old

November 29, 2023December 6, 2023 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 4 Comments

November 29, 2023. After posting a photo search request for WWII soldier James ‘Jim’ Andrew MACLEOD on a Restigouche Facebook page, Pieter was contacted by Sheila Braun, who wrote that “…his brother Earle lives on Prince Edward Island…” and she let Earle know about the request.

Very quickly Pieter and Earle were in touch with each other and we met him and his wife Nancy at their home in Little Sands. “…I was only 2 years old when my brother died...” Earle explained.

CIMG6667 Nov 17 2023 Pieter with Nancy & Earl MacLeod

Pieter with Nancy and Earle MacLeod. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

… Jim altered his birth year in order to enlist…

Born in Campbelltown, New Brunswick, James ‘Jim’ Andrew MacLeod was the son of John Earle and Christina MacLeod. According to his Attestation form and Militia documents, he was born on December 19, 1924, but Earl and Nancy explained that he lied about his age and he was actually a year younger. This matches what was filled out by his mother on the Estate Form, listing his date of birth as December 19, 1925.

When Jim enlisted with the No. 7 District Depot in Fredericton, New Brunswick on July 16, 1943, he had already been in the 2^nd Battalion, 103^rd Battery Non-Permanent Militia since October 25, 1941. He also had a full time position as a watchman at Fraser Company, a pulp and paper mill in Campbelltown.

James ‘Jim’ Andrew MacLeod. (Photo courtesy of Earle and Nancy MacLeod on behalf of the MacLeod Family. Photo colourization: Pieter Valkenburg)

The interviewer for his Canadian Army Personnel Selection Record noted that Jim enjoyed “…hockey, swimming, fishing….” and wanted to be in the “…infantry so as to take Basic and Advanced Training in New Brunswick with friends…”

On August 5, 1943, Jim was sent to No. 70 Canadian Army Basic Training Centre (CA(B)TC) in Fredericton for basic training. On September 28, 1943, his Personnel Selection Record was updated, stating that Jim “…is not satisfied with Infantry. He had training in the Royal Canadian Artillery Reserve and desires an allocation to that arm…..He had some experience as a truck driver and as a mechanic’s helper. Could be used as a driver i/c …”

On October 8, 1943 he was posted to the A-30 Canadian Infantry Training Centre at Camp Utopia, located northeast of St. George, New Brunswick. After his 5^th week of training, his Personnel Selection Record was updated. “…Very good progress in Advanced training (Infantry)….Good stability, well disciplined….Outstanding in platoon….”

… Jim became a driver mechanic…

On December 5, 1943, Jim was sent to Woodstock, Ontario for a Driver Course i/c course at the S-5 Canadian Driving and Maintenance School (CD & M School). He successfully completed this on January 21, 1944 and was qualified as a Driver i/c Class III. (The term ‘Driver i/c’ refers to ‘Driver, internal combustion’. Class III meant he was qualified to drive heavy trucks and armoured cars.)

Jim remained in Woodstock to take a Driver Mechanic Course, and on March 15, 1944 was qualified as a Driver Mechanic Class I.

On March 18, 1944, Jim returned to the A-30 Canadian Infantry Training Centre at Camp Utopia in preparation for overseas service. He received two weeks of embarkation leave, from April 14 to 27, 1944, the last time he would see his family.

James ‘Jim’ Andrew MacLeod on his last day at home. (Photo courtesy of Earle and Nancy MacLeod on behalf of the MacLeod Family.)

… Jim left Canada for overseas service in May 1944…

On May 1, 1944 Jim left Canada for the United Kingdom. Upon arriving on May 7, 1944 he was assigned to No 4 Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit (CIRU).

While in the United Kingdom, Jim continued his training, completing a First Aid Course shortly after his arrival, and then qualifying as a Driver i/c (T) Q2 in July 1944.

On September 10, 1944 he was sent to France with the X-L infantry reinforcement troops of the 21^st Army Group.

… Jim joined the Algonquin Regiment in Belgium…

Screenshot 2023-11-28 at 11-59-28 Assenede · Belgium with arrows

James ‘Jim’ Andrew MacLeod joined the Algonquin Regiment in Assenade, Belgium, as they travelled towards Brasschaat. (Map source: Google maps)

On September 19, 1944 he was assigned to the Algonquin Regiment, joining them in Assenade, Belgium, located not far from the Dutch border. The Regiment had suffered heavy losses during the battles to capture the canals around Moerkerke and needed reinforcements as they slowly advanced towards the Scheldt and the need to liberate the port of Antwerp.

By October 18, 1944, the Regiment was near Westmaele, north-east of Antwerp. In ‘Warpath The Story of the Algonquin Regiment 1939-1945’, author Major G. L. Cassidy wrote that “… on October 19th, a battalion reconnaissance party went north to Camp de Brasschaet for a look at the terrain where the next day’s battle was to be fought…..”

… Jim was hit by a mortar shell while on patrol…

Screenshot 2023-11-26 at 13-48-12 Where is Esschen in Belgium

Map shows the location of Essen, Belgium, where James ‘Jim’ Andrew MacLeod lost his life. (Map source: Google)

That night, orders came to “…advance and capture the town of Esschen, moving along two centre lines in two brigade groups….”

While the Algonquin Regiment was in Esschen (Essen in English), Belgium, the October 23, 1944 War Diary entry recorded that “…patrols were sent out during the night. An ‘A’ Company patrol which went out to recce a bridge east of town came under heavy mortar fire and one man was killed and two wounded…”

‘Warpath’ provided a bit more clarity. “….An ‘A’ Company patrol, sent out to recce a bridge to the east, came under a mortar concentration and lost two men wounded, Ptes J. Burant and J. Bordignon, and one man killed, Pte J. A. MacLeod….” Jim was only 18 years old.

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

Grave of Jim MacLeod in BOZ from Find A Grave

Grave of James ‘Jim’ Andrew MacLeod at the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom. (Photo source: http://www.findagrave.com)

Jim was initially buried in Brasschaat, Belgium, along a road at the entrance to the Sanatorium, before being reburied the following year in the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom, The Netherlands.

Earle remembers that “…my mother would never put up the Christmas tree before December 19 after Jim died. That was the first official Christmas day….” Needless to say, this is a family that never forgot the loss of a beloved son and brother.

Thank you to Earle and Nancy MacLeod for providing photos and information. Thank you also to Sheila Braun for help with contacting family. Do you have a story to tell? Email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or send a tweet to @researchmemori1.

….Want to follow our research?….

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

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….Tom lost his life during the Battle of Moyland Wood….

….The search for a photo of Tom began with a Letter To The Editor….

…. Tom’s family provided photos and information….

…. Tom’s last letter was written two days before his death….

…. A September 1947 letter left us with an unsolved mystery…

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….The search for a photo of Sydney was successful….

…. Sydney enlisted in the fall of 1943….

…. Sydney left the United Kingdom in July 1944….

…. Sydney’s Regiment was ordered near Weener to relieve Polish troops….

…. Sydney lost his life on April 24, 1945 ….

…. It turned out the bridge to Leer no longer existed ….

….Other soldiers from the North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment who lost their lives on April 24, 1945….

….Sydney is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten….

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…. Frank’s niece provided a photo….

…. Frank enlisted in June 1941….

…. Frank left Canada for service overseas in December 1941 ….

…. Frank was transferred to the North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment….

…. Frank lost his life on April 24, 1945 ….

….Other soldiers from the North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment who lost their lives on April 24, 1945….

….Frank is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten….

…. We met another niece in Richibucto….

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… Lawrence left Canada for overseas service in December 1943…

… Lawrence left for France in July 1944 with his Regiment…

… Lawrence lost his life during Operation Blockbuster…

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

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….Donia Protestant Church Cemetery in Makkum….

…Eindhoven General Cemetery in Eindhoven…

….Children placed candles at the graves in Holten…

….Over 7,600 Canadian soldiers are buried in The Netherlands!…

…Previous postings about Christmas Eve Candle Lighting…

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…Book ‘Holten Heroes: Stories from a Canadian Field of Honour’….

…We received a 2023 Heritage Recognition Award from the PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation….

…We received a Legionnaire of the Year Award ….

…Presentation ‘Up Close With A Halifax Bomber’….

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

… WWI Related Stories….

… WWII Related Stories….

…Indigenous Soldiers….

…. Stories About Servicemen From The Maritimes…

…. Stories About Servicemen From Outside The Maritimes…

…In Conversation And More….

…. Interviews To Highlight Search For Photos….

…. Letters To The Editor For Photo Searches….

… Successful Search For Photos …..

… Unsuccessful Search For Photos …..

… The YouTube Channel….

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

….Happy Holidays…

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…Previous Postings About The Book…

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… Edison was transferred to the Canadian Scottish Regiment…

… Edison was heartbroken to learn that his brother Wesley had died…

… Edison related some of what he was experiencing …

… Edison longed for the war to end …

… Edison delighted in getting a care package from home …

… Edison felt the tide of war was turning …

….How Edison Lost His Life….

… Edison is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Adegem…

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… Edison began his army training in September 1943…

… Edison left Canada for overseas service in April 1944…

… Edison loved getting mail from back home…

… Edison leaves for France and the D-Day invasion with the North Nova Scotia Highlanders…

… Tragedy strikes but Edison was not yet aware of another loss…

….Coming up in Part 2…

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*…Book ‘**Holten Heroes: Stories from a Canadian Field of Honour’….*

… *Unsuccessful Search For Photos …..***