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

/ 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 85th 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 Joseph Hudson PALLISTER, from Alberta, who was killed in action during the Battle of the Leopold Canal on October 6, 1944.
  • 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:

…. 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:

  1. Percy Joseph BARRY
  2. Archibald BUNGAY
  3. Harry Henry DAVIS
  4. Theophile DUPERE
  5. Gerald Edward FERGUSON
  6. Arthur G. FLIEGER
  7. Clive Elbert Steele GEROW
  8. Frank GUIMOND
  9. Merle Vincent HAMILTON
  10. Lawrence Edward LUCAS
  11. Neil Roderick MACLEAN
  12. Joseph Taylor MACLEOD
  13. Joseph ‘Felicien’ MALLEY
  14. Stanley Leigh MCBEATH
  15. Archibald ‘Archie’ Phillip MCLEAN
  16. Ralph Foster MCLENAHAN
  17. Sydney Guy MOSHER
  18. Frank Eugene MUNROE
  19. James ‘Gordon’ MURPHY
  20. Seth Everett MURRAY
  21. Herbert ‘Murray’ RAFUSE
  22. Roslyn Ernest SANDS
  23. Sanford Steven SAULIS
  24. George Edward SHERWOOD
  25. Ronald Eugene SMITH
  26. James Edward SULLIVAN
  27. James Oliver THOMAS
  28. Gustav Evald ‘Ernie’ WINSA

Buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery in The Netherlands:

  1. Walter Conrad BENJAMIN
  2. Thomas Alfred BROWN
  3. Norman Victor BUCHANAN
  4. Alexander Parke CALDWELL
  5. Cyrille CAISSIE
  6. Tom CHASKE
  7. Henri CORMIER
  8. Raymond Stavely ELLIOTT
  9. John ‘Jack’ Charles FORWARD
  10. Jean FRIGAULT
  11. Edgar M. GUITARD
  12. Lester L. HANLEY
  13. Raymond Arthur HOSSACK
  14. Maxwell KING
  15. Albert Noel LAMONTAGNE
  16. Gordon Archibald MACCALLUM
  17. Leo Alexander MACDOUGALL
  18. Neale Warren MERRITT
  19. Reginald Vincent MOOERS
  20. Austin Havelock MUNROE
  21. Delphis ROY
  22. Lawrence Arthur RUDOLPH
  23. Oxaird J. SAVOIE
  24. Thomas ‘Tom’ Hector SUTHERLAND
  25. George TAYLOR
  26. John Lewis WALLACE
  27. Harry WRIGHT

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

  1. Earl AGNEW
  2. Robert Oswald BLAKE
  3. Gerald Joseph BOUCHER
  4. James Burnes CARRUTHERS
  5. Donald Whitman COOK
  6. Adam KLEIN
  7. Denis Joseph LANDRY
  8. Harold Edward Roy MARTIN
  9. James A. ‘Jim’ MACLEOD
  10. Joseph Edmond NOELAN (NOWLAN)
  11. Ernest Patrick OWENS
  12. John Colin (Jack) POND
  13. Peter William PORTER
  14. Orville ‘Skip’ REEVES
  15. Elmer Daniel SCHOFIELD
  16. Leopold THERIAULT

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

  • John PALMER

Buried in Sleen General Cemetery in The Netherlands:

  1. Jack ‘Douglas’ MACKENZIE
  2. 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.

  1. 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.
  2. Douglas Gordon BLACK of Amherst, Nova Scotia, son of Sherman and Alice Black, died March 3, 1945, while serving with the Algonquin Regiment.
  3. 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.
  4. James Lyman CAMERON, born in Victoria-By-The-Sea, Prince Edward Island, son of Edward H. and Susan (Harrington) Cameron, died July 24, 1916, aged 23, while serving with the 7th Canadian Infantry Battalion (1st British Columbia). (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
  5. Leigh Hunt CAMERON, born in Albany, Prince Edward Island, son of Anna Cameron, died May 5, 1916, aged 17, shortly after enlisting with the 105th Battalion, C Company. (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
  6. William Galen CAMPBELL, born in Wellington, Prince Edward Island, son of John G. and Grace Emma Campbell, died April 24, 1953, aged 55, many years after being discharged from the 8th Siege Battery of the 3rd Brigade Canadian Garrison Artillery. (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
  7. Karl CHRISTENSEN, from Alberta, but born in Starheim, Nordfjord, Norway, son of Kristian Kristiansen Hafsas and Marie K. Hafsas, died April 10, 1945, aged 41, while serving with the 8th Field Squadron, Royal Canadian Engineers.
  8. 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.
  9. Lorne Mart COLFORD of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, but born in Chezzetcook, Nova Scotia, son of Howard and Jeanette Colford, died April 14, 1945, aged 22, while serving with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry.
  10. Bazil CORMIER, born in Tignish, Prince Edward Island, son of Joseph Cormier and Mary Arsenault, died August 12, 1918, aged 20, while serving with the 26th (New Brunswick) Battalion. (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
  11. Eric John CRUE of Moncton, New Brunswick, son of John and Margaret Crue, died April 6, 1945, aged 23, while serving with the Algonquin Regiment.
  12. James Frank DOLMAN of Flatlands, New Brunswick, son of Frank Dolman and Lydia Thompson, husband of Henriette Gertrude Lyons, died April 14, 1945, aged 32, while serving with the New Brunswick Rangers -10th Ind. Machine Gun Company.
  13. Samuel George ENGEN of The Pas, Manitoba, died April 23, 1945, aged 27, while serving with the Lake Superior Regiment.
  14. Douglas Bernard FARROW of Amherst, Nova Scotia, died April 26, 1945, aged 27, while serving with the Algonquin Regiment.
  15. 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.
  16. 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)
  17. 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.
  18. 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.
  19. 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.
  20. 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.
  21. 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 – 6th Field Regiment.
  22. Wallace Herbert LARLEE of Perth, New Brunswick, died April 24, 1945, aged 19, while serving with the North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment.
  23. 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.
  24. Charles W. LOWTHER, born in North Carleton, Prince Edward Island, son of Bessie Lowther, died September 25, 1918, aged 21, while serving with the 25th Battalion, Canadian Infantry. (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
  25. 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.
  26. 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.
  27. 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.
  28. 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)
  29. Harry ROBINSON, born in Augustine Cove, Prince Edward Island, son of Thomas and Sarah Robinson, husband of Clara J. Robinson, died June 27, 1916, aged 34, while serving with the 105th Battalion, C Company. (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
  30. 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.
  31. 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.
  32. 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, or comment on the blog.  

© Daria Valkenburg

…Want to follow our research?…

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

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

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On The War Memorial Trail….. Remembering WWII Soldier Stanley Owen Jones

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September 5, 2022. Pieter continues to diligently work his way through photo wish lists from Dutch researchers at the Canadian War Cemeteries in The Netherlands.  Two names on the lists from the cemetery in Holten were members of First Nations: William ‘Willie’ DANIELS, a Cree Nation member from Saskatchewan, and Stanley Owen JONES, a Haida Nation member of the Massett Band in British Columbia.

After an interview on APTN with Brett Forester, families of both soldiers provided photos.  (To read the article, see https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/dutch-born-p-e-i-man-on-a-mission-to-find-photos-of-first-nations-soldiers-killed-overseas-in-wwii/)  Willie Daniels was featured in a posting last year.

This posting is about Stanley Owen JONES, who was born September 29, 1924 in Massett, British Columbia, the son of David and Elizabeth Jones.

….A family member from Alaska gets in contact….

It took several months, but one day Michelle Eakman, granddaughter of Stanley’s youngest sister, contacted Pieter from her home in Alaska. “…Thank you for all your hard work and dedication.  My grandmother Marina was the last living sibling and she passed away on April 6, 2019...”  She included a photo, explaining that “…this picture of the picture is all I’ve had…”

Jones improved_photo(10) colourized

Stanley Owen Jones. (Photo submitted by Michelle Eakman.  Photo restoration and colourization by Pieter Valkenburg)

….Stanley enlisted in 1944….

Before enlisting at the No. 11 Recruiting Detachment in Vancouver, British Columbia on March 10, 1944, Stanley was employed as a fisherman for 4 years around the Queen Charlotte Islands (now called Haida Gwaii) with Nelson Brothers of Vancouver.  (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haida_Gwaii)

After his father had died in 1938, Stanley cut short his schooling in order to work.  He’d already lost one brother and five sisters during the 1930s. His mother and five siblings remained – one brother in a sanatorium due to tuberculosis, and four sisters.

An interviewer noted in his Personnel Selection Record that Stanley used to play football, lacrosse, baseball, and basketball.  He enjoyed reading westerns and could play the piano.

He was described as having a “…quiet nature, man of few words. Has self-confidence…”  He was recommended for an infantry unit since he told the interviewer that he “.…has done a lot of hunting.…”

Stanley was sent for basic training to the Canadian Army Basic Training Centre (CABTC) in Prince Albert Saskatchewan.  Once that was completed, he was transferred to the Canadian Infantry Training Centre (CITC) in Shilo, Manitoba on May 28, 1944.

On October 13, 1944 he was transferred to the No. 1 Training Brigade in Debert, Nova Scotia in preparation for overseas service.

….Stanley left Canada on Christmas Eve 1944….

On December 24, 1944, Stanley left Canada for the United Kingdom, arriving on December 31, 1944. Then, on February 12, 1945 he was sent to northwest Europe and transferred to the Regina Rifle Regiment for a few weeks.

On March 13, 1945 he was transferred to the Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary’s) which was stationed in Kleve, Germany, just across the border from The Netherlands.

….Stanley was wounded during the liberation of Wagenborgen….

finalphasecanscottish

Stanley Owen Jones was injured during the liberation of Wagenborgen.  (Map courtesy of http://www.canadiansoldiers.com)

In April 1945, the Regiment travelled back and forth between The Netherlands and Germany, encountering Germany opposition but pushing through successfully.  On April 21, 1945, the Battle of Delfzijl Pocket began in a fight to liberate the Dutch village of Wagenborgen, south of Delfzijl, and the surrounding area. German resistance was heavy, resulting in Canadian Scottish casualties of 23 killed and 41 wounded before Wagenborgen was liberated on April 24. (See https://www.canadiansoldiers.com/history/battlehonours/northwesteurope/wagenborgen.htm)

Stanley was wounded in the early morning of April 24 in a blast that ruptured his right ear drum, resulting in ‘nerve deafness’.  Not only was his hearing impaired, but his balance would have been as well.

 ….Stanley drowned in an accident….

Stanley returned to the Canadian Scottish Regiment on May 24, 1945.  On September 8, 1945, while the Regiment was part of the Canadian Army Occupation Force (CAOF) in Germany, Stanley was on a duty run in a carrier that was carrying rations from the Supply Company to the detachment at Sengwarden Radio Station.  Sengwarden is a village north of Wilhelmshaven, Germany.

The driver, Pte Randle, testified that a track came off the carrier, causing it to lurch to the right and to overturn in a ditch.  Stanley and Pte Jaschinsky were the other occupants in the vehicle when it overturned.

Randle testified in a Court Of Inquiry that after freeing himself he called out to the other two men.  “…Pte Jaschinsky answered and told me he was all right but that Jones must be under the carrier. He had been riding in the front as my co-driver, so I felt around to see if I could locate him.  I felt his body under water and tried to lift him to my side but couldn’t budge him…”

A vehicle from the Régiment de la Chaudière rescued Randle and Jaschinsky and pulled the carrier off Stanley, who had been pinned under the carrier, and tried unsuccessfully to revive him through artificial respiration.

In Jaschinsky’s testimony in the Court Of Inquiry, he explained that he was a cook at the Supply Company and had received a pass to travel to Sengwarden in order to see how the detachment was managing with rations.  “….We were proceeding down the Sengwarden Wilhelmshaven highway at approximately 1620 hours when I heard a strange noise and looked around and saw a carrier track lying on the road…. I saw we were heading toward a tree.  Just before colliding with the tree the remaining track dropped in a slit trench throwing the carrier at right angles. In the same motion it turned upside down….”

The Court Of Inquiry ruled that Stanley’s death was due to accidental drowning.  The Jones family had suffered another loss in their family.

 ….Stanley was buried in The Netherlands….

Stanley was initially buried in Osterscheps, Germany and later reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands.

2227447_t1 Jones

Stanley Owen Jones in buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in The Netherlands.  (Photo courtesy of Canadian Virtual War Memorial)

Thank you to Michelle Eakman for providing a photo.  If you have a story to tell, please let Pieter know. Email him at memorialtrail@gmail.com, or comment on the blog.

© Daria Valkenburg

…Want to follow our research?….

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

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

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On The War Memorial Trail….. Remembering WW2 Soldier Eli Ambrose Snake

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December 13, 2021. After an interview about the photo quest for soldiers buried in the Canadian War Cemeteries in The Netherlands ran on APTN, Pieter was contacted by Carolyn Henry about her great-uncle Eli SNAKE, who is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands.

(To read the APTN article, see https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/dutch-born-p-e-i-man-on-a-mission-to-find-photos-of-first-nations-soldiers-killed-overseas-in-wwii/)

Carolyn explained that “….I saw your article on the APTN Facebook page. Here is a picture of my great-uncle Eli Snake (my dad’s mother’s brother) from Munsee Delaware First Nation. My dad spoke about him often as if he was a hero in our family….”

Eli Snake family

Eli Snake (circled) in 1937 with his family, including his brother Gordon (far left), sister Rose Ann (seated) and brother William (far right).  Children are Rose’s children Marilyn, Bruce, Arnold, and Leo.  (Photo courtesy of Carolyn Henry).

Eli Ambrose SNAKE was born November 29, 1919 on the Munsee Reserve, the son of Eli and Marjorie (nee Peters) Snake.  Munsee-Delaware Nation, also known as Lenni Lenape, is one of several subgroups of Delaware, the Unalachtigo, the Unami, and the Minisink (later known as the Munsee), located in southwest Ontario. (For more information see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Munsee-Delaware_Nation)

Prior to joining the Canadian Army, Eli worked as a farm labourer.  He enlisted on May 6, 1942 at the No.1 District Depot in Chatham, Ontario, after having earlier completed 60 days of basic training at the #12 Basic Training Centre, also in Chatham.  Eli had originally enlisted on November 15, 1941 in London, Ontario, under the National Resources Mobilization Act.

In October 1943, he was described in his Personnel Selection Record as “… quiet and well-built…” and who “…likes the Army… and gets along well with other fellows...”

On November 3, 1943 he was transferred to the No 1 Training Brigade in Debert, Nova Scotia, in preparation for being sent for overseas service the following month.  On December 21, 1943 he arrived in the United Kingdom and taken on strength as part of No 3 Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit (CIRU).

On January 11, 1944 he was transferred to the Lincoln & Welland Regiment. By July 25, 1944 he was with his Regiment in France and then later further into Northwest Europe.

…Operation Elephant was a battle to capture the island of Kapelsche Veer….

By January 1945 the Regiment was in The Netherlands, preparing for Operation Elephant on January 25, 1945.  The objective of this battle, also known as the Battle of Kapelsche Veer, was to clear a small island, Kapelsche Veer, north of the Maas River in The Netherlands.

The island was flat, cold, windy, and water-logged during a January winter, and offered no cover against German paratroopers who already held a defensive position between two brick houses (codenamed ‘Grapes’ and ‘Raspberry’) there.  Troops were issued white snowsuits and trained in French-built canoes in preparation for an attack to capture the island.

…Eli Snake lost his life on January 28, 1945….

The Lincoln and Welland Regiment war diary for January 28, 1945 noted that it was “….clear and cold…”

The struggle to clear the island was continuing from the day before with no respite. Rising temperatures had turned ice into mud.  At 23:50 on January 27, the war diary noted that “…one tank was reported bogged down….” blocking the tank behind it.

At 1 am in the morning of January 28, there was “…heavy mortaring of forward company positions from the north bank of the River Maas…”  One tank had moved forward, but ran into heavy fire with many casualties.

At noon the war diary noted that “… ‘D’ Company came under heavy mortar fire but continued to advance…” At 12:30 pm Lt Thompson “…took 30 rafts to relieve the situation…. where the enemy was making an effort to split our forces…”

At some point in all this on January 28, 1945, Eli was killed in action.  He was initially buried in ‘s’Hertogenbosch before his reburial in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands.

Grave of Eli Snake

Grave of Eli Snake at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek.  (Photo credit: Ad Scheepers)

Thank you to Carolyn Henry for contacting us about Eli Snake, and to Ad Scheepers for taking the photo of Eli’s grave at the cemetery.  If you have information to share about Eli SNAKE or other Canadian soldiers, please contact Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or send a tweet to @researchmemori1.

© Daria Valkenburg

… More about Operation Elephant…

To learn more about Operation Elephant, see:

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/

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On The War Memorial Trail….. Remembering WWII Soldier Thomas Beresford Big Canoe

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October 7, 2021. After an interview about the photo quest for soldiers buried in the Canadian War Cemeteries in The Netherlands ran on APTN, Pieter was contacted by Pat Stewart about Thomas Beresford BIG CANOE of Georgina Island, Ontario, who is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands.

(To read the APTN article, see https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/dutch-born-p-e-i-man-on-a-mission-to-find-photos-of-first-nations-soldiers-killed-overseas-in-wwii/)

Pat wrote “…I live in southwest Saskatchewan now but came from Ontario 20 years ago. I worked as a journalist for the Georgina Advocate back then. Thank you for what you are doing. It is so very important to remember….” In 1999, Pat had written an article about a Dutch couple, Bill and Ellie Gertzen, who had adopted the grave of Thomas Big Canoe.  Bill had been an interpreter for the Canadian and American armies during WWII.

Thomas Beresford Big Canoe from Cdn Virtual War Memorial

Thomas Beresford Big Canoe.  (Photo source: Canadian Virtual War Memorial)

….Thomas was a member of the Chippewas Georgina Island First Nation….

Thomas Beresford BIG CANOE was born on Georgina Island, Ontario on October 13, 1925, the son of Thomas and Hannah (nee Porte) Big Canoe.  Georgina Island, located on Lake Simcoe, is an Indigenous reserve of the Chippewas Georgina Island First Nation, an Ojibwa (or Anishinaabeg) band.  (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chippewas_of_Georgina_Island_First_Nation)

Thomas had begun work as a labourer at T.A. Wilson Lumber Company in Denbigh, Ontario when he enlisted at the #2 District Depot in Toronto on June 12, 1944.

He had keen eyesight and his medical exam noted he had 20/20 vision.  He was sent to the #26 Canadian Armoured Corps Basic Training Centre (CACBTC) in Orillia, Ontario.  On October 6, 1944 he was transferred to the A-10 Canadian Infantry Training Centre (CITC) in Camp Borden, Ontario.

After his basic training, and once he  turned 19 years old (the minimum age for overseas service), Thomas left for United Kingdom just before Christmas 1944. He remained in the United Kingdom until February 9, 1945, after which he was sent to Northwest Europe as part of the contingent of troops needed for the Battle of the Rhineland. The goal of this battle? Occupy the Rhineland and cross the Rhine River.

Thomas was assigned to the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, where he was a member of the Scout Platoon.  The Scout Platoon’s role was to gain information on German activity through advance patrols, quite often behind enemy lines.

….Thomas lost his life during Operation Blockbuster….

In the push for the Battle of the Rhineland, Thomas was in the midst of Operation Blockbuster, which aimed to clear the Rhine River in Xanten, Germany, a battle that was fought between February 8 and March 10, 1945, and followed Operation Veritable.  These two Operations took 31 days.  (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Blockbuster)

On March 8, 1945, Phase II of Operation Blockbuster began. According to the war diary of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Division, of which the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry was part of, “…At 0530 this morning Op BLOCKBUSTER II began, designed to capture XANTEN and the ground to the SE. By last light 4 Cdn Inf Bde had reached all their objectives, after some very heavy fighting...” (Source: https://map.project44.ca/)

Operation Blockbuster II

It was dark that early in the morning, and raining heavily.  In Pat Stewart’s article, she quotes Bill Gertzen as explaining that on the morning of March 8, 1945, Thomas and his group from the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry had been “…directed to shape a bridgehead over the Rhine…But the Germans were expecting them and, in the battle that followed, there were only 26 survivors out of a company of 200….”

Although we don’t know exactly what happened, Thomas unfortunately lost his life at some point in the March 8, 1945 battle.  He was only 19 years old.

Thomas was temporarily buried in Xanten, Germany before being reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands.

IMG_8567-AVB Grave of Thomas Big Canoe in Groesbeek

Grave of Thomas Beresford Big Canoe at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek.  (Photo credit: Ad Scheepers)

Thank you to Pat Stewart for contacting us about Thomas Beresford Big Canoe, and to Ad Scheepers for taking the photo of Thomas’s grave at the cemetery.  If you have information to share about Thomas Beresford Big Canoe or other Canadian soldiers, please contact 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/

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/

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On The War Memorial Trail….. Remembering WWII Soldier William (Willie) Daniels

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July 23, 2021. Over the past months, Pieter has been diligently working his way through photo wish lists from Dutch researchers at the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands.  Two names on the lists were members of First Nations: William ‘Willie’ DANIELS, a Cree Nation member from Saskatchewan, and Stanley Owen JONES, a Haida Nation member from British Columbia.  Both men are buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands.

Pieter had no luck in finding family so, as he has done over the past years, he turned to the media for help, this time from APTN, where he was interviewed by Brett Forester.  (To read the article, see https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/dutch-born-p-e-i-man-on-a-mission-to-find-photos-of-first-nations-soldiers-killed-overseas-in-wwii/)

CIMG5084 Mar 17 2021 Pieter Valkenburg

Pieter on a Zoom interview with Brett Forester of APTN.  (Photo credit:  Daria Valkenburg)

Several readers of the article came forward to share photos and information about Indigenous soldiers, and these will be featured in future postings as Pieter completes his research.  (The story of Leo Francis TONEY was told previously.  See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/05/22/on-the-war-memorial-trail-remembering-ww2-soldier-leo-francis-toney/)

… William Daniels was a member of the Sturgeon Lake First Nation…

What about the two soldiers mentioned in the article?  A photo of William ‘Willie’ DANIELS was sent by Dakota Ballantyne on behalf of Vince Daniels, with a note saying that “…Willie Daniels from Sturgeon Lake First Nation, Saskatchewan was his uncle….”

William Daniels

William ‘Willie’ Daniels. (Photo courtesy of Vince Daniels)

The son of John Daniels, Willie was born March 20, 1925 on the Big River Reserve in Depton, Saskatchewan.  On September 24, 1941, he enlisted in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, stating that he was born in 1922.  He was sent for training as a Sapper with the Royal Canadian Engineers, until it was discovered he was underage. He was discharged in March 1942 for being “…under 17 years of age at date of application….”

On October 19, 1943, Willie re-enlisted.  According to his military records, his parents were dead and he listed a brother, Narcisse Daniels, as his next-of-kin.  He also noted that he spoke English and Cree. This time he was allowed to stay in the army, but on Canadian soil as soldiers under 19 years of age were not to be sent overseas.

It wasn’t until May 1, 1944 that he left for the United Kingdom, arriving on May 8 for additional training.  On July 7, 1944 he was transferred to the Royal Winnipeg Rifles as a Rifleman and sent to Northwest Europe.

… The Royal Winnipeg Rifles were in Germany and The Netherlands in 1945…

The war diary of the Royal Winnipeg Rifles gives an indication of what Willie Daniels and his fellow soldiers experienced in 1945. By January 1945 the Royal Winnipeg Rifles were in The Netherlands, and spent the New Year in ‘s-Hertogenbosch.  The war diary for January 1, 1945 states that “…the Germans precipitated the New Year by opening up with considerable SA and mortar fire a few minutes before midnight.  Our artillery answered directly at midnight…..”

On February 1, 1945, the war diary recorded that the Regiment was informed of the part that the men “…would play in Operation Veritable…” This would take them into Germany. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Veritable)

The Regiment arrived in Millingen, Germany on February 9, 1945.  The weather was uncooperative “…cloudy with rain….” and led to flooding.  In one area, the water rose “…another six feet, the only high ground in the area being in and near Keeken…”

They were ordered to move further back, but some of the men were stranded due to a shortage of equipment to get them out, or because the equipment itself got “…bogged down or diverted for other purposes….”

By February 16, 1945 the Regiment was based in Essen, Germany, as they cleared German positions in flooded areas of the Rhine flood plain and the Reichswald forest, which is close to the Dutch-German border.

On March 11, 1945 the Regiment began moving back towards ‘s-Hertogenbosch.  “…The whole day was spent in building the new camp….”  There were some peaceful days and time for training before the men moved back towards a base in Essen to participate in Operation Plunder. (See https://canadianbattlefieldtours.ca/operation-plunder/)

The war diary for March 27, 1945 reported that “…Orders to move came through in the early hours of the morning ….. and after many starts and stops we finally crossed the Rhine River at 1700 hours…”

On April 10, 1945 the war diary noted that the Regiment “….would take over from the Regina Rifle Regiment…” and returned to The Netherlands, this time based in Almelo.  Then, on April 18, they were ordered to Groningen.

Map showing Appingedam

Purple arrow on the map indicates movement from Groningen towards Delfzijl, and Appingedam, where Willie Daniels lost his life.  The map also indicates the location of Loppersum, where he was initially buried.

On April 21, 1945 the Regiment was ordered to move towards Appingedam.  The war diary noted that on April 21, 1945 “…civilian reports claim mines set in cement….Blown bridges, snipers, and machine guns make the going very difficult.  Our casualties are becoming very heavy….”

At some point on April 22, 1945, a few weeks after his 20th birthday, Willie Daniels lost his life.  The movement of troops through Appingedam was the very beginning of the Battle of the Delfzijl Pocket. Willie was initially buried in Loppersum General Cemetery in Groningen.  After the war Willie was reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten.

initial gravemarker for Willie Daniels

Initial burial marker for Willie Daniels.  (Photo courtesy of Library and Archives Canada, service file for William Daniels)

In March 1948, Mrs. W.G. Verbeek-Hermans of Enschede sent a letter to Veterans Affairs, asking that her letter be forwarded to a family member of Willie.  She wanted to let the family know that she had adopted Willie’s grave, a volunteer program that was organized by the Netherlands War Graves Committee. A separate letter for the family was enclosed, explaining that she was the mother of 4 children and felt it was her duty to look after the grave.  She also offered to send a photo of his grave.

This was not unusual. Many family members of soldiers that we have met over the years have explained that their families had been in contact with Dutch citizens who adopted a grave.

In 1995, the Stefanus Church in Holwierde placed a plaque to commemorate Canadian soldiers who lost their lives during the Battle of the Delfzijl Pocket.  Willie Daniels was one of the men commemorated.

Plaque at Stefanus Church in Holwierde

Plaque at Stefanus Church in Holwierde, The Netherlands.  (Source: https://www.tracesofwar.nl/sights/40531/Herinneringsplaquette-Stefanus-Kerk.htm)

Current grave of Willie Daniels

Grave of Willie Daniels at the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten.  (Photo courtesy of Canadian Virtual War  Memorial)

Thank you to Dakota Ballantyne and Vince Daniels for sharing a photo of William ‘Willie’ Daniels.  Thank you also to Brett Forester and APTN for the article on the search for photos of Indigenous soldiers buried in The Netherlands.

If you have information to share about William ‘Willie’ Daniels or other Canadian soldiers buried in The Netherlands, please contact Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, or comment on the blog.

© Daria Valkenburg

…Other soldiers who lost their lives during the Battle of the Delfzijl Pocket …..

For previous stories on soldiers who lost their lives during the Battle of the Delfzijl Pocket, please see:

…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/

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