Adam KLEIN

2025 Christmas Eve Candle Lighting At The Canadian War Cemetery In Bergen Op Zoom

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

January 10, 2026.  For decades, it’s been a Christmas Eve tradition in Europe to light candles by the graves of Allied soldiers who are buried in War Cemeteries or in municipal cemeteries.

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.

This year, we include photos of the candlelit graves for 8 soldiers – that Pieter has researched and whose stories have been previously told – who are buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom, The Netherlands.  This cemetery began the tradition of lighting candles on Christmas Eve in 1991, with candles placed by many volunteers.

The photos are courtesy of Faces To Graves Bergen Op Zoom Chair Caroline Raaijmakers, who arranged to send us photos of the graves of the soldiers we wanted to feature this year.

…8 graves from Bergen Op Zoom are featured….

Candles were placed at all 1,119 graves at the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom.  8 of them are featured in this posting….

Candle placed at the grave of James ‘Walter’ Auld.  (Photo Courtesy of Caroline Raaijmakers)

WWII soldier James ‘Walter’ AULD, born in Glenwood, Prince Edward Island, was serving with the Algonquin Regiment when he killed in The Netherlands, aged 21, on November 1, 1944 during Operation Suitcase, one of the actions during the Battle of the Scheldt. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2020/07/07/on-the-war-memorial-trail-a-face-for-james-walter-auld/)

Candle placed at the grave of Edward ‘Ed’ Dalton Chisholm.  (Photo Courtesy of Caroline Raaijmakers)

WWII soldier Edward ‘Ed’ Dalton CHISHOLM, from Hallowell Grant, Nova Scotia, was serving with the Algonquin Regiment when he was killed in action during the Battle for the North Shore of the Scheldt in Belgium on October 20, 1944. He was 19 years old, only two weeks away from his 20th birthday. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2024/07/24/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-soldier-from-hallowel-grant-who-lost-his-life-during-the-battle-for-the-north-shore-of-the-scheldt/)

We were pleased to see a photo of Ed and a few mementos at his grave, placed by his family during a visit.  Last summer, Ed’s nephew Martin Sullivan wrote about an upcoming visit he and his wife Claire planned to make.  “….I was very touched to see you have been awarded the Knight of the Order of the Orange Nassau. You both have given so much to so many families who lost loved ones overseas. Edward is now a part of our family conversations to all the Chisholms and Sullivans. I look forward to completing the second leg of our journey in late October to see where Edward gave his life fighting near Kruisstraat along with the Dutch Orange Brigade and the Belgian White Brigade. We will be thinking of you both as we travel along his route with the Algonquins from Antwerp to Bergen op Zoom….”

Candle placed at the grave of Adam Klein.  (Photo Courtesy of Caroline Raaijmakers)

WWII soldier Adam KLEIN, from Disley, Saskatchewan, was serving with the Algonquin Regiment, when he died in The Netherlands while crossing the Maas River on January 18, 1945, aged 21. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/07/20/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-soldier-from-disley-who-lost-his-life-while-swimming-across-the-maas-river/)

Candle placed at the grave of Milton Evangeline Livingtone.  (Photo Courtesy of Caroline Raaijmakers)

WWII soldier Milton Evangeline LIVINGSTONE, born in Gladstone, Prince Edward Island, was serving with the Lincoln & Welland Regiment when he was accidentally killed, aged 26, on November 6, 1944 when a fellow soldier’s gun was fired in a house in Steenbergen, The Netherlands.  Milton was sitting at a kitchen table reading a Dutch-English dictionary when he was fatally shot.  (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/08/05/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-soldier-who-died-while-reading-a-dutch-english-dictionary/)

Candle placed at the grave of Harold Edward Roy Martin.  (Photo Courtesy of Caroline Raaijmakers)

WWII soldier Harold Edward Roy MARTIN, born in Caradoc, Ontario, was serving with the Essex Scottish Regiment when he was killed in The Netherlands during the Battle of the Scheldt on October 14, 1944, aged 32. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/02/11/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-soldier-remembered-by-his-daughters-friend/)

Candle placed at the grave of Leonard William Porter.  (Photo Courtesy of Caroline Raaijmakers)

WWII soldier Leonard William PORTER from Moncton, New Brunswick, was serving with the Calgary Highlanders when he was killed in action during the Battle of Walcheren Causeway in The Netherlands on November 1, 1944, aged 26.  (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/11/20/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-soldier-from-moncton-who-lost-his-life-during-the-battle-of-walcheren-causeway/)

Candle placed at the grave of Russell Richard Soble.  (Photo Courtesy of Caroline Raaijmakers)

WWII soldier Russell Richard SOBLE, born in Ameliasburg, Ontario, was serving with the Essex Scottish Regiment when he died on October 6, 1944, aged 20, one of 12 members of the regiment killed in action in Putte, a town on the Dutch-Belgian border, in a fight on October 5, 1944 that marked the beginning of the Battle of the Scheldt.  (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/01/13/on-the-war-memorial-trail-atlantic-canada-remembers-part-2/)

Candle placed at the grave of William Ernest Stone.  (Photo Courtesy of Caroline Raaijmakers)

WWII soldier William Ernest STONE, from Clyde River, Prince Edward Island, was serving with the Black Watch of Canada, when he was killed during a fierce battle during the Attack On Hoogerheide in The Netherlands on October 10, 1944, at the age of 25. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2024/10/12/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-soldier-from-clyde-river-who-lost-his-life-during-the-attack-on-hoogerheide/)

Thank you to Caroline Raaijmakers for arranging to send us these photos from the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom, The Netherlands.

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

© Daria Valkenburg

…Previous postings about Christmas Eve Candle Lighting…

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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…..Remembrance Week 2023 – Updates To Previous Stories

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November 10, 2023.  When we write a story on the blog, we often receive additional information.  As we reflect on the service and sacrifices made by those who’ve served, it’s a good time to provide updates on previous stories and share our visit to the beautiful Springhill Cenotaph in Springhill, Nova Scotia.

…Update to the story about WWII pilot Jack MacKenzie….

After reading the story about WWII pilot Jack MacKenzie, from Winnipeg, Manitoba, who died at the controls of his plane, Halifax DT630, after being attacked on February 3, 1943 over The Netherlands, Yannic Wethley, a board member for the Air Research Drenthe Foundation (Stichting Luchtoorlog Onderzoek Drenthe) contacted us.

Memorial panel Halifax DT630

Memorial panel honouring the crew of Halifax DT630.  (Photo courtesy of Stichting Luchtoorlog Onderzoek Drenthe – http://www.slodrenthe.nl)

The Foundation, which began in 2015, had installed a memorial panel for the crew of Halifax DT-630 near the crash site, and to explain the circumstances of what happened.  (See Halifax Mk.II DT630 VR-T – Stichting Luchtoorlog Onderzoek Drenthe.)

You can read Jack’s story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/02/19/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-pilot-killed-at-the-controls-of-his-halifax-bomber/ and about the 2022 Christmas Eve candle lighting ceremony at Sleen General Ceremony, where Jack is buried, at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/12/26/2022-christmas-eve-candle-lighting-in-the-netherlands/

Several photos of crew members were missing, and Yannic explained that the panel would be updated once pictures of all crew members were found.  “…We are still searching for the pictures of Warrant Officer Second Class Raymond Hepton ‘Ray’ Hill and Sergeant Eric Raymond Marquand...”

Hill was from Montreal, Quebec, and Marquand was from Winnipeg, Manitoba, and we offered to help the Foundation in their photo search quest.  A newspaper photo of Hill was subsequently found.  Jamie Nelson-Dixon, the granddaughter of Eric ‘Raymond’ MARQUAND’s sister Louisa, provided a photo of her great-uncle.

Eric Raymond Marquand

Eric ‘Raymond’ Marquand.  (Photo courtesy of Jamie Nelson-Dixon)

With all the photos of the crew members of Halifax DT630 now found, the memorial panel will be updated, likely in 2024.

…Update to the story about WWII soldier Adam Klein….

After we did a story about WWII soldier Adam KLEIN, from Disley, Saskatchewan, who died in The Netherlands while crossing the Maas River in January 1945, , and is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom, The Netherlands, we heard from Peter-Willem Langebeeke of the War Museum in Veen, The Netherlands.

“…Nice to read your story about Adam Klein. We also have contact with the family, two sisters and their daughters…. Adam’s story is also an important part of our battlefield tour….” Peter-Willem wrote. (Translation from the original Dutch) 

We asked if tours were available in English as well as Dutch, and the answer was yes.  It’s on our ‘must visit’ list for our next trip to The Netherlands! For more information, please visit their website: www.oorlogsmuseumveen.nl or send an email to oorlogsmuseumveen@gmail.com.

Adam’s story was told in this posting: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/07/20/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-soldier-from-disley-who-lost-his-life-while-swimming-across-the-maas-river/  

His story was close to home as Pieter and I are very familiar with the location where he lost his life.  Many of Pieter’s ancestors are from this area and we have been there many times over the decades in tracing his family history. 

Adam’s great-nephew Mike Wilson wrote on behalf of himself and his mother Joyce: “…Thank you so much or including Adam Klein in your project and blog. We are very honoured and moved by your work…”

…Family member of WWII soldier Robert Theodore Cole contacted us….

We love hearing from family members and very much appreciated it when Susan (Cole) Getson contacted us through our blog about Robert Theodore COLE of Coles Island, New Brunswick.  Robert’s story was briefly told as part of the Atlantic Canada Remembers series we did in 2021 (see https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/01/27/on-the-war-memorial-trail-atlantic-canada-remembers-part-5/).  He’s buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands.

“…I sincerely appreciate all the hard work you do. Mr. Robert Theodore Cole which you have listed is my great uncle. My father was only 8 when his uncle died but the stories of Uncle Robert have lived on. I have his medals and his military records which I cherish. My own grandchildren know of their 3x great uncle and his sacrifice and as a family, we go to the monument in our area which lists his name and place flags and poppies for him and other relatives who served. Thank you so much for your hard work, I for one truly appreciate it....”

…Family members of WWII soldier Sanford Saulis visited Holten….

We were delighted to hear from Conrad Saulis, nephew of WWII soldier Sanford Steven SAULIS of Maliseet, New Brunswick, who is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands.  (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/02/27/on-the-war-memorial-trail-remembering-sanford-steven-saulis/)

358120622_10168075551440442_8702984731432200329_n grave of Sanford Saulis

The Saulis family at the grave of Sanford Steven Saulis in Holten. (Photo courtesy of Conrad Saulis.)

Conrad wrote us, saying “…Woliwon. I’m sending you some pics from a trip I made this July to the Netherlands, in particular to visit my Uncle Sanford’s grave. It was very emotional for sure. I thought about my dad as we stood at Sanford’s grave playing a Wolastoqey honour song…”

Crew at Holten welcome centre

The Saulis family at the Holten Canadian Cemetery Information Centre. (Photo courtesy of Conrad Saulis)

“…We had good talks with the folks from the Welcome Centre in the ‘Crew’ pic.  (L to R) Robert (a volunteer for the Centre) – my sister Vickie, her hubby Terry, their daughter (my niece) Torie, Jan (from the Centre), me and my son Garrett. The folks from the Centre were so welcoming to us and helped us in so many ways including Robert’s wife Rosa…” 

…We visited the Springhill Cenotaph….

Every year we try to visit a memorial or monument honouring a soldier or airman whose story we told.  This past summer we visited Springhill, Nova Scotia, home of the Anne Murray Centre.

CIMG6421 Jul 8 2023 Pieter by Anne Murray Centre

Pieter outside the Anne Murray Centre. The singer is a favourite of his! (Photo credit:  Daria Valkenburg)

Down the street from the Anne Murray Centre is the Springhill Cenotaph. (See https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/national-inventory-canadian-memorials/details/467)

CIMG6423 Jul 8 2023 Pieter by Springhill monument

Pieter by the Springhill Cenotaph. (Photo credit:  Daria Valkenburg)

We were there to pay our respects to Lt Donald Charles MACKENZIE of Springhill, Nova Scotia, who lost his life on April 22, 1945, during the Battle of the Delfzijl Pocket, while serving with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles.   Donald was initially buried in Loppersum General Cemetery in Groningen, before being reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands. 

For more information on Donald, please see:

Jul 8 2023 Pieter by Springhill monument with MacKenzie name

Pieter by the listing for Donald Charles MacKenzie on the Springhill Cenotaph.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

…Looking for a photo of one name listed on the Springhill Cenotaph….

WWII soldier Logan Elwood LESLIE is also listed on the Springhill Cenotaph, but unfortunately no photo for him has been found to date.  He was born in Oxford, Nova Scotia, the son of John J. and Georgie Mary Leslie who moved to Moncton, New Brunswick.  Logan died April 9, 1945, while serving with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, and is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands.  

Thank you to Yannic Wethley of the Air Research Drenthe Foundation for letting us know about the memorial panel for the crew of Halifax DT630.  Thank you to Jamie Nelson-Dixon for sharing a photo of her great-uncle, Eric ‘Raymond’ Marquand.

Thank you to Peter-Willem Langebeeke of the War Museum in Veen, The Netherlands for letting us know that Adam Klein is remembered in the battlefield tours.  Thank you also to Adam’s great-nephew Mike Wilson. 

Thank you to Susan (Cole) Getson for contacting us about Robert Theodore Cole.  Thank you to Conrad Saulis, nephew of Sanford Steven Saulis, for sharing photos of his family’s visit to Holten.

If you can help with the photo search for Logan Elwood Leslie, or have a story to tell, please let Pieter know. You can email him 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/

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

… Adam enlisted at the age of 19…

Uncle Adam Klein picture #2

Adam Klein. (Photo courtesy of the Klein Family)

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

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

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

… Adam took courses to qualify as a Driver…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Map showing where Adam Klein died

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

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

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

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

… German prisoners attacked Adam…

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

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

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

… A dangerous swim across the Maas River…

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

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

… Adam died before reaching shore…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Grave of Adam Klein from findagrave

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

…Klein Island is named in honour of Adam…

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

Joyce Forshaw (nee Klein)

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

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

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

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

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

© Daria Valkenburg

…Want to follow our research?…

Follow our blog

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

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

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

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