Bergen Op Zoom Canadian War Cemetery

On The War Memorial Trail…..Remembrance Week 2023 – Updates To Previous Stories

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

1200x600-remembrance-day-1-1024x512

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. 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

… Milton made three attempts to actively serve…

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

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

private livingstone Lincolns from Robert Catsburg

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

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

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

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

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

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

… Milton left Canada for overseas service…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CIMG3398 Oct 7 2019 Bergen Op Zoom Milton Livingstone

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

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

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

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

© Daria Valkenburg

…Want to follow our research?…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

… Adam enlisted at the age of 19…

Uncle Adam Klein picture #2

Adam Klein. (Photo courtesy of the Klein Family)

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

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

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

… Adam took courses to qualify as a Driver…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Map showing where Adam Klein died

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

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

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

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

… German prisoners attacked Adam…

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

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

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

… A dangerous swim across the Maas River…

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

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

… Adam died before reaching shore…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Grave of Adam Klein from findagrave

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

…Klein Island is named in honour of Adam…

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

Joyce Forshaw (nee Klein)

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

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

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

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

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

© Daria Valkenburg

…Want to follow our research?…

Follow our blog

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

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

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

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

On The War Memorial Trail….. The WWII Soldier Remembered By His Daughter’s Friend

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

February 11, 2023.  Burnie Reynaert’s uncle, Lewis Wilkieson MARSH, of Sydney Mines, 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/2021/05/18/on-the-war-memorial-trail-a-tragic-drowning-on-the-leda-river-in-germany-part-4/)

Recently, Burnie wrote to let us know that “…my best friend’s father, Pte. Harold Edward Martin, served in the army with the Essex Scottish Regiment, and is buried in The Netherlands…”

Burnie explained further, saying “…I have known June Anne Martin most of my life – in public school, high school. I was her maid of honour when she married Jack Andrews. She was my confidant and best friend. June Anne died November 25, 2002. She was so young….”

June Anne and Jack had three sons.  “….Harold’s grandchildren do not have any information on his service…” Burnie said.  Would Pieter add Harold to his research list?

Pieter’s initial investigation determined that Harold died on October 14, 1944 and is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen op Zoom, The Netherlands.  The search was on!

The son of Herbert Edward and Harriet Jane (nee Leavesley) Martin, Harold Edward Roy MARTIN was born November 13, 1912 in Caradoc, Ontario, a rural area about 35 kms (21.75 miles) west of London, Ontario.

On April 15, 1939 he married Tilly Frances Dolney in Leamington, Ontario.  Tilly had been born in Yorkton, Saskatchewan.

…Harold enlisted in 1940….

When he enlisted on July 28, 1940 with the No. 1 District Depot in London, Ontario, he stated in his Soldiers Qualification Card that he had been employed as a truck driver with Longfield Lumber Company in Mount Bridges, Ontario, and that his family owned the Martin’s Fruit Company in Leamington, Ontario.  He expected to have his own fruit business after his military service.  He also noted that he played hockey, in the position of goalie.

On August 21, 1940 he was transferred from No. 1 District Depot to join his unit of the Royal Canadian Engineers at the Thames Valley Camp in London, Ontario.  At the beginning of 1941 he was assigned to the 9th Field Company.

On April 30, 1941 he was entitled to draw additional Trades Pay as a Carpenter Class ‘B’, and then on May 2, 1941 was transferred to #1 Canadian Base Units Construction Company (CBUCC) of the Royal Canadian Engineers in Petawawa, Ontario.

…Harold and Tilly welcome the birth of their daughter in 1941….

Tilly and Harold’s daughter June Anne was born July 3, 1941.  Burnie submitted a photo of the new family unit, explaining that June Anne’s “…son Brad and his brother Jack found this amazing picture of her and her parents….”

IMG-0945 Harold and Tillie with baby

Harold and Tilly Martin with new born daughter June Anne.  (Photo courtesy of the Andrews family)

 …Harold was sent overseas shortly after his daughter’s birth….

Harold didn’t have much time with his daughter, as he was on his way overseas with the No. 1 Canadian Base Units Construction Company, Royal Canadian Engineers, arriving in the United Kingdom on July 19, 1941.  He was stationed in Bramshott, as a Carpenter and Joiner Class ‘B’.

On May 1, 1942 the name of his unit was changed to 5 CCC (Canadian Construction Company), Royal Canadian Engineers.  Important work was done by units such as 5 CCC, such as building defences that included beach obstacles, pill-boxes, anti-tank ditches, and minefields. They also improved British roadways to improve the movement of military traffic, constructed military and air bases, and even built the Canadian wing of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in East Grinstead.

On July 28, 1942, Harold was awarded a Good Conduct Badge, and then on August 21, 1942, he received a permanent grade of Sapper.

On May 1, 1944, Harold was transferred to #1 Canadian Engineer Reinforcement Unit (CERU).  Then on August 25, 1944 he was assigned to the Winnipeg Grenadiers for a few weeks, before leaving for France on September 28, 1944, and being reassigned to the Canadian Infantry Corps the next day.

…Harold’s Regiment fought in the Battle of the Scheldt….

On October 10, 1944 Harold was transferred to the Essex Scottish Regiment, which had moved steadily from Antwerp, Belgium at the beginning of October into The Netherlands.  The Regiment had positions on both sides of the border for the Battle of the Scheldt. (See https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/canada-and-the-battle-of-the-scheldt and https://www.holland.com/global/tourism/holland-stories/liberation-route/the-battle-of-the-scheldt.htm)

To have an idea of what was faced by Canadian troops, you can watch a short, but excellent, YouTube video explaining about the Battle of the Scheldt (just under 13 minutes):

According to the war diary for the Essex Scottish Regiment for October 14, 1944, the Battalion was in position at Hoogerheide. “…The enemy continued to be fairly aggressive and some of the positions reported heavy mortaring…”  At some point during the day, Harold Martin lost his life.

Harold Martin Scheldt Estuary

…Harold is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom….

Harold was initially buried at the Ossendrecht Roman Catholic Civil Cemetery in Ossendrecht, before being reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom in March 1946.

12724585_137285083670 Grave of Harold Martin

Grave of Harold Edward Martin at the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom, The Netherlands. (Photo source http://www.findagrave.com)

Thank you to Burnie Reynaert for telling us about Harold Edward Martin and to the sons of June Anne Andrews for sharing a family 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.  For more information see https://nosoldierforgotten.com/

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

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

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

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

header

December 24, 2022.  It’s hard to believe how quickly 2022 has raced by.  It seems like only yesterday that Pieter was preparing his research plan for the year, and I was working on the final chapters of a book.

It’s been a busy year.  Several long-standing searches for photos were successful, meaning Pieter could complete his files for those soldiers.  New research files were added, such as the request to find photos and family for 4 soldiers of Ukrainian descent, and Pieter was able to finish his research for many of the unfinished files from 2021.  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.

While we didn’t get to travel as much as we had hoped, we were able to meet several families, which we very much appreciated.  We were able to able much with the help of media, and the many families that came forward to share photos and information.  What follows in the rest of this posting is a summary of what happened in 2022 with this research project.

…Book ‘No Soldier Buried Overseas Should Ever Be Forgotten’….

In February 2022 a book Daria wrote about our 2017 war memorial tour in Europe through 4 countries was published, and is available in print and e-book formats.  See www.nosoldierforgotten.com for more information.

OnTheWarMememorialTrailinEurope_Barcode

…Pieter Honoured With PEI Senior Islander of the Year Award….

On October 21, 2022, Pieter Valkenburg received the PEI Senior Islander of the Year Award, for his ongoing research to uncover the stories and photos of those who served in WWI and WWII, and sharing his research findings with the public.

The certificate was presented by the Hon. Matthew Mackay, Minister for the Department of Social Development and Housing, and Audrey Morris, Chairperson, PEI Seniors Secretariat, in a ceremony at the Loyalist Inn in Summerside.   (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/10/23/pieter-receives-pei-senior-islander-of-the-year-award/)

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

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

  • After a 7 year search we received a photo for WWI soldier James CAIRNS of Kinkora, Prince Edward Island, who died during the Battle of Amiens and is buried in France.
  • After another 7 year search we received a photo for WWII soldier Leonard Stephen AVERY of Bedeque, Prince Edward Island, who died after he was accidentally shot through the head while examining a rifle. He’s buried on Prince Edward Island.

 … WWI Related Stories….

  • We explained what a Field Post Card was and shared more observations from WWI soldier Harold Keith HOWATT, giving a comparison of what went into the Field Post Card and what he actually experienced that didn’t go into the card.
  • We shared the story of how a photo of WWI soldier Lloyd Clifton SHORTLIFF of Barton, Nova Scotia, whose named is inscribed on the Vimy Memorial in France, was saved when a Legion member bought it at an auction. A Legion in Nova Scotia will be taking possession of this picture.

 … WWII Related Stories….

  • We shared a story about the 2021 candle lighting at graves of Canadian soldiers in The Netherlands.
  • We shared on update on a 2020 posting about Ralph Gordon MCCUTCHEON, a WWII flight student at the No. 9 Service Flying Training School RCAF in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, who died in a plane crash in North Tryon, Prince Edward Island.
  • We shared a visit that Pieter made to Coffeen Nature Preserve in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida, site of a WWII era JB-2 missile launching test site. The JB-2 flying robot bombs were the American version of the German V1 flying bombs.
  • We shared a story about the 2022 commemoration of 8 Carleton and York Regiment soldiers who lost their lives during the liberation of the village of Posterenk in The Netherlands on April 13, 1945.
  • We shared a story about the May 6, 2022 unveiling of the Monument in Gendringen, The Netherlands to commemorate those who lost their lives, including 41 Canadian soldiers and airmen.
  • We shared the story of the successful outcome of a photo search for WWII soldier Allan ‘Gordon’ COUTTS of the North Nova Scotia Highlanders, who is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands.
  • We shared a story of the tribute to 27 Ukrainian-Canadian soldiers at the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands.
  • We shared a story about the search for WWII soldier Wilfred GIROUX who was in Gilze Rijen, The Netherlands in December 1944 and befriended a Dutch couple, and whose daughter wished to repatriate a photo and two Christmas cards to the Giroux family.
  • We shared the heart-warming story about how WWII soldier Frank MACEWEN and his friends made Christmas 1944 in England memorable for the Pearce family.

…Indigenous Soldiers….

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

  • WWII Indigenous soldier Philip LAFORTE from Manitoba, who was killed in The Netherlands.
  • WWII Indigenous soldier John ‘Jack’ Richard MARACLE from Ontario, who was killed in Germany.
  • WWII Indigenous soldier Stanley Owen JONES from British Columbia, who drowned on September 8, 1945 in Germany when the carrier he was in overturned in a ditch.

…. Stories About Servicemen From The Maritimes…

We also featured stories about servicemen from The Maritimes:

  • WWI soldier Theodore (Ted) Francis ARSENAULT from Prince Edward Island, who lost his life during the Battle of Amiens in France.
  • WWII soldier Bruce Wilbur CHURCHILL from Nova Scotia, who was accidentally killed in The Netherlands when a bullet from a Bren Gun ricocheted and hit him.
  • WWII airman Rowan Charles ‘Bunky’ FITZGERALD from Prince Edward Island, who was on the last flight of Halifax W1175 of the 405th Squadron when it was hit by shellfire and crashed onto a sandbank in the Wadden Sea off the Dutch coast.
  • WWII soldier Carman Edward GILLCASH from Prince Edward Island, who lost his life during the Battle of the Delfzijl Pocket in The Netherlands.
  • WWI soldier George Stanley HENNESSEY from Prince Edward Island, who was in the 1st Canadian Engineers Battalion and survived the war.
  • WWI soldier Chesley William HOWATT from Prince Edward Island, who was in the 50th Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force, and survived the war.
  • WWII soldier Richard Lea HOWATT from Prince Edward Island, who was a despatch rider and scout and survived the war.
  • WWI soldier John David MACDONALD from Prince Edward Island, who was in the 26th Battalion (New Brunswick Regiment) and survived the war.
  • WWII soldier Donald Charles MACKENZIE, from Nova Scotia, who was killed in The Netherlands.
  • WWII soldier George ‘Ivan’ MACKINNON, from Prince Edward Island, who was killed in The Netherlands during the defence of the Nijmegen Salient.
  • WWII soldier Michael Joseph ‘Joe’ MCKENNA, from Prince Edward Island, who was killed in The Netherlands during the Battle of Rha.
  • WWII soldier James ‘Frank’ MOSSEY, from Prince Edward Island, who was killed in The Netherlands while serving in the Carleton & York Regiment.
  • WWII soldier Harold Gordon SABEAN, from Nova Scotia, who was killed in The Netherlands while serving in the Carleton & York Regiment.
  • WWI soldier William ‘James’ SEAMAN from Prince Edward Island, who was in the 105th Overseas Battalion and survived the war.

…. Stories About Servicemen From Outside The Maritimes…

  • WWII soldier Elie ANTONYSZYN, from Manitoba, who died on July 15, 1945 in The Netherlands.
  • WWII soldier Albert Joseph COTE, born in Quebec but grew up in Ontario, who died on October 5, 1944, of wounds received during the Battle of the Leopold Canal in a prisoner of war field hospital in Germany,
  • WWII soldier Cecil Edward GOODREAU, from Ontario, who was killed in Germany during the Battle of Keppeln on February 26, 1945.
  • WWII soldier Andrew KERELCHUK, born in Manitoba but who moved to Ontario, and who was killed in Germany on April 19, 1945, during the Battle of the Küsten Canal.
  • WWII soldier Sam MATVICHUK, born in Saskatchewan but lived in Alberta, who was killed in The Netherlands on April 14, 1945 during the Battle of Groningen.
  • WWII soldier Neville William NESBIT, from Manitoba, who was killed in Germany on May 2, 1945 following the Battle for Bad Zwischenahn.
  • WWII soldier Anthony PETTA, from Ontario, who was killed in Germany during the Battle of Hochwald Gap on March 2, 1945, but whose death is recorded as March 3, 1945.
  • WWII soldier John RUSNAK, from Manitoba, who died in Germany on November 22, 1945 following a collision between his despatch motorcycle and a farm wagon.
  • WWII soldier John ‘Jack’ Langford WALKER, from Ontario, who was killed in Bad Zwischenahn, Germany on May 1, 1945.

…In Conversation And More….

  • We shared a few adventures that we had in North Bay in May, including people we met, a visit to the North Bay Cenotaph, and an Author Talk at the North Bay Public Library.
  • We wrote about the Author Talk at the Victoria Playhouse in Victoria-By-The-Sea in August.
  • 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 several interviews:

  • On Friday, November 11, 2022, Pieter was interviewed by Todd van der Heyden of CTV news in a feature entitled Military researcher identifies 200 fallen soldiers | CTV News.
  • Charlotte MacAulay of the Eastern Graphic wrote about the successful photo search for WWII soldier George ‘Ivan’ MACKINNON, who is buried in The Netherlands. The article, ‘Sturgeon soldier’s photo discovered in church’, ran in the newspaper on November 9, 2022.
  • On Monday, November 7, 2022, Pieter was interviewed by Ceilidh Millar of CTV Atlantic News At 5 about the search for 4 soldiers of the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment who died during the Battle of Bienen on March 25, 1945. You can read the article and watch the video.  See P.E.I. man identifying Canadian soldiers in the Netherlands | CTV News https://www.ctvnews.ca/atlantic/article/maritime-man-appeals-to-public-for-help-in-identifying-lost-canadian-soldiers-overseas/
  • Kevin Rollason of the Winnipeg Free Press wrote about Pieter’s search for photos and featured the story of WWII Indigenous soldier Thomas CHASKE, then listed the names of several other soldiers from Manitoba who are buried in The Netherlands.  The article, ‘A name without a face’, ran online on November 4, 2022 and in the print edition on November 5, 2022.  See https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/2022/11/04/a-name-without-a-face
  • Charlotte MacAulay of the Eastern Graphic wrote about the photo search for WWII soldier George ‘Ivan’ MACKINNON, who is buried in The Netherlands. The article, Researcher seeking photo of Second World War soldier, ran in the newspaper on September 21, 2022.  This search was successful.
  • Pieter was interviewed by Charlotte MacAulay of the Eastern Graphic, about the photo search for WWII soldier James Frank MOSSEY, who is buried in The Netherlands.  The article, Researcher seeks photo of Souris soldier from Second World War, ran in the newspaper on June 1, 2022.  This search was successful.
  • Pieter and Daria were interviewed by Peter J. Wilson of the North Bay Nugget, about their research into soldiers buried in The Netherlands.  The article Couple devoted to telling fallen soldiers’ stories | North Bay Nugget ran in the online version on May 19, 2022 and in the print version on May 20, 2022.  See https://www.nugget.ca/news/couple-devoted-to-telling-fallen-soldiers-stories
  • Pieter was interviewed by Marcel Vink of De Telegraaf, a newspaper in The Netherlands, about his research into Canadian soldiers buried in The Netherlands.  The article Zoektocht naar gezichten (Quest For Faces) ran in the newspaper on May 4, 2022 – Remembrance Day in The Netherlands. See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/05/04/article-in-de-telegraaf-quest-for-faces-zoektocht-naar-gezichten/
  • Pieter was interviewed by Charlotte MacAulay of the Eastern Graphic, about the successful photo search for WWII soldier Barney McGuigan, who is buried in The Netherlands.  The article Search for teen soldier’s photo is successful, ran in the newspaper on January 13, 2022.  See https://www.peicanada.com/eastern_graphic/search-for-teen-soldier-s-photo-is-successful/article_eaee52fa-72e6-11ec-b539-d33f425bb7c3.html

…. Letters To The Editor For Photo Searches….

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

… 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. Elie ANTONYSZYN
  2. William Eben BROWN
  3. Albert Joseph COTE
  4. John CULBERTSON
  5. Theodor ‘Ted’ HENSCHEL
  6. Andrew KERELCHUK
  7. Amil Adolph LARSON
  8. Donald Charles MACKENZIE
  9. Sam MATVICHUK
  10. Neville William NISBET
  11. Joseph Edmond ROBICHEAU
  12. John RUSNAK
  13. Harold Gordon SABEAN
  14. John Langford ‘Jack’ WALKER
  15. William Henry ‘Barney’ WEBB

 Buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery in The Netherlands:

  1. Clifford BATEMAN
  2. John Joseph BOHON (BOHONKO)
  3. Charles ‘Marshall’ CARSON
  4. James Edward DUFFY
  5. Cecil Edward GOODREAU
  6. James Edward ‘Eddy’ DUFFY
  7. Marven Glenroy HARVEY
  8. Kitchener ‘Kitty’ LANGILLE
  9. John Richard ‘Jack’ MARACLE
  10. George ‘Ivan’ MACKINNON
  11. Marvin William MCGREGOR
  12. Laurie Douglas PAGE
  13. Wilfred Joseph ‘Willy’ POWER
  14. Anthony PETTA
  15. Louis Allan SEXTON

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

  1. Milton Evangeline LIVINGSTONE
  2. Robert K. VIDITTO

 Buried in an unmarked grave in The Netherlands following an aircrash:

  1. Rowan Charles ‘Bunky’ FITZGERALD

 Buried in Adegem Canadian War Cemetery in Belgium:

  1. David ‘Dave’ Stinson HENDERSON
  2. Ronald ‘Ronnie’ Sidney HOOLE

… The YouTube Channel….

In 2022 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

  • S3E1 Book Trailer for ‘No Soldier Buried Overseas Should Ever Be Forgotten’
  • S3E2 Photo Search-WW2 Soldier Austin Havelock Munroe

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

As 2022 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 the media who helped publicize the search for photos and information – Bay Today, CBC Radio’s Mainstreet PEI, CTV News, CTV Atlantic News, Dauphin Herald, De Telegraaf, Eastern Graphic, North Bay Nugget, The Guardian, 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.

….Happy Holidays…

Pieter and I wish you all the best for the holidays and in 2023. May we never forget those who gave their lives for our freedom.

Xmas 2022 photo

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 the blog, you are welcome to do so.  Our blog address: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/. 

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

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

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

On The War Memorial Trail….. Author Talks In North Bay

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

May 15, 2022. We very much appreciate the feedback from ‘No Soldier Buried Overseas Overseas Should Ever Be Forgotten’, and enjoy seeing the photos sent in and the opportunity to meet some of you in person.  We’re back on the war memorial trail…. this time in North Bay, Ontario.

…Upcoming Author Talks In North Bay….

Meet Daria Valkenburg

Invitations have been received and accepted for two ‘Author Talks’:

  • Thursday, May 19, 2022 – North Bay, Ontario, presentation at Rotary Club of North Bay-Nipissing.  Time noon.
  • Thursday, May 19, 2022 – North Bay, Ontario, hosted by the North Bay Public Library.  Time 7:00 pm.

If you are in the North Bay area, we hope to see you!

….North Bay Area Soldiers Buried In The Netherlands….

We received lists of soldiers from the North Bay area who are buried in the Canadian War Cemeteries in The Netherlands, including a few for which no photo had been found.  With the help of Don Coutts, Judie Klassen, and Shawn Rainville, headway has been made in researching these names from the photo wish lists, and families for 3 have been found.

Thank you also to Helen Vaillancourt of the Nipissing Chapter of the Ontario Genealogical Society and North Bay Public Library staff who delved into research after reading about the search for photos and families of soldiers buried in the Canadian War Cemeteries in The Netherlands.

20220514_122907 May 14 2022 Pieter with Shawn Rainville

Shawn Rainville and Pieter Valkenburg had a chance to meet in person.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

…Buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten…

APOSTLE of 12th Manitoba Dragoons – 18th Armoured Car Regiment. KIA 1945-Apr-16, aged 21

Albert Joseph COTE of The Algonquin Regiment. KIA 1944-Oct-05, aged 24

Herbert P. CROOME of Royal Canadian Artillery – 2nd Anti-Tank Regiment. KIA 1945-May-1, aged 27

Theodore S.  DUNN of The Algonquin Regiment.  KIA 1945-Apr-11, aged 30

William H. K. LOCKE of Royal Canadian Artillery – 4 Field Regiment. KIA 1945-Apr-03, aged 19

John Langford ‘Jack’ WALKER of Governor General’s Foot Guards-21st Armoured Regiment. KIA 1945-May-1, aged 20

…Buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek…

Zave BROWN of Royal Hamilton Light Infantry. KIA 1945-Mar-9, aged 19

Leopold Daniel BRULE of Essex Scottish Regiment.  KIA 1945-Feb-19, aged 22

Cecil Edward GOODREAU of Elgin Regiment, 25th Armoured Delivery Regiment. KIA 1945-Feb 26, aged 22

Donald O. GUERTIN of Royal Hamilton Light Infantry. KIA 1945-Mar-2 aged 27

Clifford Stanley JOHNSTON of Royal Canadian Air Force 419 Squadron. KIA 1944-Jun-17, aged 21

John Richard ‘Jack’ MARACLE of 1st Hussars, 6th Armoured Regiment. KIA 1945-Mar-12, aged 19 (Maternal grandfather T. Marshall lived in North Bay)

Anthony PETTA of the Algonquin Regiment.  KIA 1945-Mar-3, aged 29

…Buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom…:

Cleo Adelard SEGUIN of The Royal Regiment of Canada. KIA 1944-Sep-28, aged 24 (Wife Georgette Brousseau was from North Bay)

If you know of any other soldiers from the North Bay area that are buried in The Netherlands please let Pieter know. You can mail him 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 the blog, you are welcome to do so.  See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/ or email me at dariadv@yahoo.ca and ask for an invitation to the blog.

Front cover OnTheWarMememorialTrailinEuropeDaria’s book ‘No Soldier Buried Overseas Should Ever Be Forgotten‘ is now available.  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.

© Daria Valkenburg

Happy Holidays From The Valkenburgs!

/ On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 6 Comments

multicolor-holiday-christmas-decorations-with-blue-silver-ribbon-snowflakes-header-background-hd-1920x720

December 24, 2021.  We’re nearing the end of another challenging and socially distanced year of Covid, but are thankful to have had our three Covid vaccine shots.

Covid or not, we have been very busily working at home.  In spite of travel restrictions and social distancing, we nevertheless managed to do a lot, with the help of media, and families stepping forward with photos. This seems a good time to reflect on what happened in 2021 with this research project.

…Pieter Awarded Sovereign’s Medal For Volunteers….

On April 30, 2021, Pieter Valkenburg was presented with the Governor General’s Sovereign’s Medal For Volunteers, awarded in January 2020, for his ongoing research to uncover the stories and photos of those who served in WWI and WWII, and sharing his research findings with the public.   The insignia was presented to him by the Hon. Catherine Callbeck, CM, OPEI, LLD, on behalf of the Administrator for Canada, via a virtual ceremony.   (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/05/04/on-the-war-memorial-trail-pieter-awarded-sovereigns-medal-for-volunteers)

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

This year we told the story of 1 WWII serviceman listed on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion, and we added more information on a WWI soldier whose story had previously been told:

  • Arthur Clinton ROBINSON
  • Arnold Dudley TAYLOR

 … WWI Related Stories….

  • We told the story of trying to solve the mystery of a WWI German ‘letter’ found amongst the possessions of Earle DAVISON, which turned out to be an anti-war song dating back to the  19th century.
  • We shared more observations that WWI soldier Harold Keith HOWATT made in the post WWI period when he was waiting to be demobilized. The history books are filled with official accounts from officers and politicians. Howatt’s observations came from the viewpoint of an ordinary soldier caught up in extraordinary circumstances.

 … WWII Related Stories….

  • We shared a story about a research into the soldiers who died in Wommelgem, Belgium in the fall of 1944.
  • We shared our experience at the Woudenberg General Cemetery in The Netherlands, to visit the grave of WWII pilot Leonard Arthur UNWIN, who had been a flying instructor at the 9 Service Flying Training School RCAF in Summerside.
  • We shared a story about the photo tributes by the graves of soldiers at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands, during the first two weeks of May.
  • We shared the story of how five Canadian soldiers from the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment drowned in a tragic accident in the Battle of Leer in Germany on April 28, 1945, one of the final actions to end WWII in Europe. All 5 soldiers are buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands.
  • We shared a story from Willy van Ee of The Netherlands, whose father was Indigenous soldier Walter MEKAJI, who let us know that 7 Indigenous soldiers are buried in Adegem Canadian War Cemetery in Belgium.
  • After reading about the 7 Indigenous soldiers buried in Adegem Canadian War Cemetery, Edwin van der Wolf reported that he and his son have adopted the graves of 2 Canadian Scottish Regiment soldiers. We shared his account and learned about the grave adoption program in Belgium.
  • We shared the story of the search for a photo of WWII soldier Allan ‘Gordon’ COUTTS, who lost his life in Germany and is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands.
  • We shared the story of the successful request for a headstone from the Last Post Fund for WWII veteran Alexander McGregor DEANS, who died in 2010 and is buried at the Tryon People’s Cemetery in Prince Edward Island.
  • We shared the link for a video ‘The Last Flight Of Halifax L9561’ made by Barry and Terry Hunt, sons of the crew’s wireless operator, William Herbert HUNT. Shot down over The Netherlands on October 12, 1941, Canadian pilot Elmer Bagnall MUTTART managed to save his crew and steer the burning plane away from the Dutch village of Wons before losing his own life.  Two previous videos made by us about this event were made in 2019 and 2020.

…Indigenous Soldiers….

We were able to tell the stories of the service by several WWII Indigenous soldiers, after an APTN article was published.

  • WWII Indigenous soldier Thomas Beresford BIG CANOE from Ontario, who was killed in Germany.
  • WWII Indigenous soldier William ‘Willie’ DANIELS from Saskatchewan, who was killed in The Netherlands.
  • WWII Indigenous soldier Alfred Louis PITAWANAKWAT (PITWANAKWAT) from Ontario, who was killed in Germany.
  • WWII Indigenous soldier Eli Ambrose SNAKE from Ontario, who was killed in The Netherlands.
  • WWII Indigenous soldier Leo Francis TONEY from Nova Scotia, who was killed in The Netherlands.

…. Stories About Servicemen From The Maritimes…

We also featured stories about servicemen from The Maritimes:

  • WWII soldier Alderic BASQUE, from New Brunswick, who was killed in Germany.
  • WWII soldier Joseph ‘Ambroise’ COMEAU, from Nova Scotia, one of the 5 soldiers from the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment who drowned in a tragic accident in the Battle of Leer in Germany on April 28, 1945.
  • WWII soldier Gerald Burnell COOLEN, from Nova Scotia, who was killed in Germany during the Battle of Hochwald Gap.
  • WWII airman Robert ‘Bob’ James DICKIE, from Prince Edward Island, who lost his life when Lancaster Flight JB312 crashed on the runway as it returned to England from Germany.
  • WWI soldier Maynard FOY from Prince Edward Island, who served with the 26th Overseas (New Brunswick) Battalion, and was injured in France during the Battle of Amiens.
  • WWII soldier Armand GIONET from New Brunswick, who was killed in The Netherlands.
  • WWII soldier Gordon Frederick JOHNSON from Nova Scotia, who was killed in The Netherlands.
  • WWII mariner William (Bill) Arnold JOHNSTON from Prince Edward Island, but was born in New Brunswick, who was killed when HMS Itchen, the ship he was serving on, was torpedoed in the Atlantic Ocean.
  • WWII soldier Gilles LANTEIGNE from New Brunswick, who was killed in Germany.
  • WWI soldier Heath Ward MACQUARRIE from Prince Edward Island, who was killed in France.
  • WWII pilot Lorne MACFARLANE from Prince Edward Island, who served with the Royal Canadian Air Force and flew 40 missions and survived the war.
  • WWII soldier George Edward MAHAR from New Brunswick, who was killed in The Netherlands.
  • WWII soldier Lewis Wilkieson MARSH, from Nova Scotia, one of the 5 soldiers from the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment who drowned in a tragic accident in the Battle of Leer in Germany on April 28, 1945.
  • WWII soldier Ruel Kitchener MATHESON, from Prince Edward Island, one of the 5 soldiers from the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment who drowned in a tragic accident in the Battle of Leer in Germany on April 28, 1945.
  • WWII soldier Lloyd William MURRAY, from Nova Scotia, one of the 5 soldiers from the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment who drowned in a tragic accident in the Battle of Leer in Germany on April 28, 1945.
  • WWII soldier Norman James NIXON from New Brunswick, who was killed in The Netherlands during the Battle of the Delfzijl Pocket.
  • WWII soldier Samuel Glazier PORTER from New Brunswick, who was killed in The Netherlands.
  • WWII soldier Alphonse ROBERT from New Brunswick, who was killed in The Netherlands when a grenade exploded.
  • WWII soldier John ‘Clifford’ ROGERS from Prince Edward Island, who was killed in Germany in the Balberger Wald on March 3, 1945.
  • WWII soldier Gordon James ROGERSON from Prince Edward Island, who served with the West Nova Scotia Regiment and was injured in Italy.
  • WWII Chaplain William ‘Alfred’ SEAMAN from Prince Edward Island, who was killed in France during the Battle of Caen.
  • WWII soldier Charles ‘Charlie’ Borden TUPLIN from Prince Edward Island, who served with the Black Watch and was fatally wounded in The Netherlands.
  • WWII soldier Ronald Sidney WATERHOUSE from Nova Scotia, who lost his life in The Netherlands during the Battle of the Scheldt.

…. Stories About Servicemen From Outside The Maritimes…

  • WWII soldier Edmond COULOMBE, from Manitoba, who was killed in The Netherlands when a grenade exploded.
  • WWII soldier Howard Milo NICHOLLS, from Ontario, one of the 5 soldiers from the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment who drowned in a tragic accident in the Battle of Leer in Germany on April 28, 1945.

…In Conversation And More….

Not everyone we wrote about this year served in WWI or WWII!

  • We interviewed RCAF pilot Captain Scott NANTES of Prince Edward Island, who is in active service.
  • We enjoyed a fascinating conversation with Dr Tim Cook, Director of Research at the Canadian War Museum on the importance of remembrance.
  • We wrote about a very special luncheon hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea for PEI Korean War Veterans, as a thank you for their service.
  • We did a 3 part series of postings on the childhood recollections of the Korean War by Korean-born Charlie CHOI, whose family had a harrowing and dangerous journey to safety once the war began.
  • We reported on the research done to ensure that WWII veteran Alexander McGregor DEANS received a headstone at his grave in the Tryon People’s Cemetery on Prince Edward Island.
  • We reported on how volunteers at the Borden-Carleton Legion in Prince Edward Island honour deceased veterans by placing flags at the graves and monuments in the area served by the Legion.
  • We described the Cenotaph Wall Of Remembrance at the Borden-Carleton Legion on Prince Edward Island, the last phase of the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph Research Project. All that is missing are some photos out of the 48 soldiers listed on the Cenotaph, and whose stories have been researched and told over the past years.

…. Interviews To Highlight Search For Photos….

Pieter did several interviews in his quest for photos for:

…. 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 Gordon Frederick JOHNSON, who is buried in The Netherlands.  On June 24, 2021, Pieter’s letter to the editor was published in the ‘Truro News‘. This search was successful.
  • WWII soldier Alexander James MILLER, who is buried in The Netherlands. On October 29, 2021, Pieter’s letter to the editor was published in the ‘High River Times’. This was at the request of Edwin van der Wolf, who wanted the family to know about a planned memorial plaque being placed in April 2022 in The Netherlands. This search was successful. (UPDATE:  The memorial plaque was subsequently placed in 2025.)
  • WWI soldier Joseph Arthur DESROCHES, who is buried in Ligny-St-Flochel British Cemetery in Averdoingt, France.  On November 9, 2021 Pieter’s letter to the editor was published in ‘The Guardian’.  This is not the first time that a media request has been made in the search for family and a photo.  Up to now the search remains unsuccessful.

… Successful Search For Photos …..

Many WWII soldiers are buried in cemeteries in Europe.  After an appeal by Pieter on CTV’s Atlantic Live At Five in early January for photos and information, photos and information came in for WWII soldiers buried in The Netherlands, France, Belgium, and Italy.  Their stories were featured on the blog either as separate postings or in a series entitled Atlantic Canada Remembers.  No one was forgotten, and photos of soldiers buried in Dutch cemeteries were forwarded to researchers there for their digital archive. Photos were found for:

Buried in Holten Canadian War Cemetery in The Netherlands:

  1. James Grant ANNINGSON
  2. Howard W. ARMSTRONG
  3. Alderic BASQUE
  4. John Angus BEATON
  5. William Herbert “Billy’ BELLAMY
  6. William Harold BROOME
  7. Robert Theodore COLE
  8. Melvin COLLINS
  9. Alexis D.  DAIGLE
  10. Allan Gordon COUTTS
  11. William ‘Willie’ DANIELS
  12. Nelson DESROCHES
  13. Francis ‘Frank’ Ivan DOUGAN
  14. Joseph ‘Gerald’ FOUGERE
  15. George Albert FRYDAY
  16. Armand GIONET
  17. Ernest Robert HAYNES
  18. Percy Dexter HIGGINS
  19. Gordon ‘Gordie’ Frederick JOHNSON
  20. Stanley Owen JONES
  21. Douglas JURY
  22. James Gordon KING
  23. Philip LAFORTE
  24. Donald Charles MACKENZIE
  25. Mathieu MICHAUD
  26. John ‘James’ MURRAY
  27. Daniel PEARO
  28. Goldwin Marven POLLICK
  29. Richard Joseph RANEY
  30. Louis Graham RICHARD
  31. Brenton Leroy RINGER
  32. Ford Hilton SPIDLE
  33. Frederick Joseph TAIT
  34. Leo Francis TONEY
  35. Charles ‘Charlie’ Borden TUPLIN
  36. Frederick Christian VAN IDOUR

 Buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery in The Netherlands:

  1. Thomas Beresford BIG CANOE
  2. Gerald Burnell COOLEN
  3. Edmond COULOMBE
  4. Percy Clayton CROMWELL
  5. Harry William DOUCETTE
  6. Arnold F. HUPMAN
  7. Gilles LANTEIGNE
  8. Francis ‘Frank’ Lewis LIBBY
  9. Hiram Albion LORD
  10. George Edward MAHAR
  11. Barney Reuben MCGUIGAN
  12. Elbridge Wellington MILLER
  13. Robert (Bobby) Alan NICKERSON
  14. Alfred Louis PITAWANAKWAT (PITWANAKWAT)
  15. Burgess Allison PORTER
  16. Alphonse ROBERT
  17. John ‘Clifford’ ROGERS
  18. Eli Ambrose SNAKE
  19. Stanley SPRAY
  20. William Francis STEWART
  21. Benjamin James WITHERALL

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

  1. Austin Ephraim BOUTILIER
  2. Gordon Thomas BREWER
  3. Dennis HOARE
  4. Gregory Philip Anthony MCCARTHY
  5. Clayton Wilfred SHANNON
  6. Russell Richard SOBLE
  7. Arnold Ernest “Ernie” THORNTON

 Buried in Adegem Canadian War Cemetery in Belgium:

  1. Bruce Wilbur CHURCHILL
  2. Alexander Fraser MACDONALD
  3. Edison Reynolds SMITH
  4. Arthur Brambel ‘Jack’ TAYLOR

Buried in Montecchio War Cemetery in Italy:

  1. Felix GAUDET

 Buried in Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery in France:

  1. William ‘Alfred’ SEAMAN

… The Search For Photos On YouTube….

2020 began with a documentary that was posted on YouTube, and ended with a dedicated YouTube Channel: On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter Valkenburg: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ591TyjSheOR-Cb_Gs_5Kw

In 2021 the following videos were posted on the channel:

  • S2E1 Remembering Lt Norman Nixon
  • S2E2 Photo Search – WWII Soldier Frank McGuigan
  • S2E3 Photo Search – WWI Soldier James Cairns
  • S2E4 Photo Search – WWII Soldier John Clifford Rogers
  • S2E5 Thank You Atlantic Canada
  • S2E6 Photo Search – WWI Soldier James Lymon Cameron
  • S2E7 Photo Search – WWI Soldier Leigh Hunt Cameron
  • S2E8 Photo Search – WWII Soldier Gordon Frederick Johnson
  • S3E1 In Remembrance

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

As 2021 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 the media who helped publicize the search for photos and information – APTN, CTV Live At 5’s Atlantic, CBC Radio’s Mainstreet PEI,  CKFM Radio, Truro News, High River Times, The Guardian, and Winnipeg Free Press.

Last, but not least, the YouTube videos and channel would not be possible without the invaluable support of post-production editor Wendy Nattress.

….Happy Holidays…

Pieter and I wish you all the best for the holidays and in 2022. May we never forget those who gave their lives for their freedom.

Merry Xmas from the Valkenburgs 2021

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 on the book, please see https://nosoldierforgotten.com/

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

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

On The War Memorial Trail….. CTV’s Atlantic Live At 5 Update On The Photo Search For Soldiers Buried In The Netherlands

/ On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment
CIMG5370 Nov 9 2021 Pieter has Zoom interview with Bruce Frisko of CTV News

Pieter being interviewed by CTV’s Bruce Frisko over Zoom.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

November 15, 2021.  Since the January 2021 interview with CTV’s Atlantic Live at 5, the response was heartening and we are just finishing up the last of the research and stories that came out of that appeal for photos of soldiers buried in The Netherlands. 

Screenshot First at Five A Face To A Name

Screenshot from the November 9 broadcast on CTV’s Atlantic Live At 5.

On November 9, 2021, CTV’s Atlantic Live At 5 did a follow-up interview, along with a web article written by Bruce Frisko.   See Forever grateful: Dutch Canadian tries to put faces to names of soldiers who fell liberating the Netherlands| CTV News https://www.ctvnews.ca/atlantic/article/forever-grateful-dutch-canadian-tries-to-put-faces-to-names-of-soldiers-who-fell-liberating-the-netherlands/

…How many photos are still on the photo wish lists?…

Out of the original photo wish lists from the 3 Canadian War Cemeteries in The Netherlands the outstanding requests for photos of soldiers from the Maritimes are:

  • 90 from Nova Scotia
  • 71 from New Brunswick (one cemetery has not yet identified soldiers from this province)
  • 1 from Prince Edward Island (family was found, but no one in the family has a photo)

Better quality photos and information from families were received for soldiers NOT on the photo wish list, plus photos were received of soldiers who died in the Battle of the Scheldt and were buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Adegem, Belgium. 

In addition to the 3 Canadian War Cemeteries in The Netherlands, several servicemen are buried in municipal cemeteries, most of them from air crew that crashed during WWII.

…How many stories were told following the January 2021 interview?….

We also received a few photos for soldiers from the Maritimes buried in other European cemeteries.  As a direct result of the CTV interview we were able to tell several stories of soldiers from the Maritimes:

  • 32 soldiers buried at in Holten, The Netherlands
  • 16 soldiers buried in Groesbeek, The Netherlands
  • 7 soldiers buried in Bergen Op Zoom, The Netherlands
  • 4 soldiers buried in Adegem, Belgium
  • 1 soldier buried in Montecchio War Cemetery in Italy
  • 1 chaplain buried at the Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery in France

….Response following the November 9, 2021 interview…

Following the November 9, 2021 interview, we received several responses, which will lead to more stories about soldiers buried in The Netherlands and Belgium.  We thank all who responded.  Pieter’s research agenda for this coming winter is full!

We also received several comments, of which two are included below:

Simone Comeau, whose uncle’s story was told earlier this year, wrote:  “… I am writing to congratulate you Pieter in being awarded that well deserved medal. If I may speak for all families of WWII casualties, we cannot thank you enough for your tireless efforts to honour our dearly departed servicemen and women….” (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/05/17/on-the-war-memorial-trail-a-tragic-drowning-on-the-leda-river-in-germany-part-3/)

Roman Berezowsky wrote: “…Congratulations, Pieter, for the dedication and perseverance. And also to you, Daria. You have both done wonders to enrich and comfort the lives of so many people. Just remarkable. We will be sharing this clip with several others who we know will also appreciate it…” 

Thank you to both Simone Comeau and Roman Berezowsky for these kind words.  We hope it will help encourage more people to submit photos and stories about Canadian soldiers!

Thank you to Bruce Frisko, Jayson Baxter, Maria Panopalis, and all at CTV’s Atlantic Live At 5 for featuring this quest of remembrance. If you can help with a photo or information, 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 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/

Screenshot_2021-02-27 On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter Valkenburg

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

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

On The War Memorial Trail….. Remembering WWII Soldier Ronald Sidney Waterhouse

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

November 3, 2021.  Recently, Cheryl Topping of Nova Scotia wrote to Pieter about a WWII soldier on the photo wish list from the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom, saying that she was “…a descendant of Ronald Sidney Waterhouse. He was my grandmother’s brother….”  Cheryl followed up with photos and contacted Ronald Sidney’s daughter, Merrilyn O’Brien.

Ronald Sidney Waterhouse frame

Ronald Sidney Waterhouse.  (Photo courtesy Cheryl Topping Family Collection)

Ronald Sidney WATERHOUSE was born March 21, 1913 in Toronto, Ontario, the son of Harold Victor and Ellen Elizabeth (nee Payne) Waterhouse.

…A young father enlists….

When he enlisted with the No. 6 District on August 24, 1942 in Sydney, Nova Scotia, he was already married, to Nina Meredith MacLeod, and the father of Merrilyn Ronalda, who was born July 18, 1942 in Sydney.

Nina and baby Merrilyn Waterhouse-1

Nina Waterhouse with daughter Merrilyn. (Photo courtesy Cheryl Topping Family Collection)

His enlistment record indicated that he played softball and rugby, and had been a travelling salesman.  Both his father and brother Harold Henry were in the police force in Toronto, with his father identified as a detective.

In September 1942 Ronald was sent to #61 Canadian Army Basic Training Centre in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, and then in November 1942 to the Canadian Armoured Corps Advanced Training Centre (CACATC) in Borden, Ontario.

In a January 29, 1943 interview, it was noted that Ronald had completed Basic and Advanced CAC training and that he wished to apply to the Canadian Provost Corps. He was described as having a “...good appearance, straight forward manner...” It noted that he was a “…strong, healthy normal man in all respects...” with a “…sound practical education…” and a “…good position in civilian life…”

In March 1943 he was transferred to #3 CACRU (Canadian Armoured Corps Reinforcement Unit) to go overseas, arriving in the United Kingdom on March 17. Over a year later, on August 11, 1944, he was transferred to the Canadian Fusiliers Regiment.  On September 18, 1944, he was in France with the Regiment, part of the Canadian Infantry Corps.

…The Lincoln and Welland Regiment was in the Battle of the Scheldt….

On September 29, 1944, Ronald was transferred to the Lincoln and Welland Regiment.  Unfortunately, on November 2, 1944 he was killed in action during the Battle of the Scheldt. This was a series of military operations that took place between October 2 and November 8, 1944, to open up the port of Antwerp, Belgium and fought in northern Belgium and southwestern Netherlands. (See https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/history/second-world-war/scheldt)

Map Bergen op Zoom · Netherlands

Map showing location of Antwerp, Bergen Op Zoom, and Steenbergen.  (Map source: Google)

The war diary for the Lincoln and Welland Regiment for November 2, 1944 indicates the Regiment was in Bergen Op Zoom, The Netherlands, and that it was a bright and warm day….

“… 17:00 …final orders were issued.  The general plan being that the Lincoln & Welland Regiment on the left and the Algonquin Regiment on the right would attack and hold positions along the road…”  This was to provide protective cover for troops advancing towards Steenbergen.

“…20:05… A Company reached their objective… and were under semi-automatic and shell fire. They suffered heavy casualties...” One of the casualties was Ronald Sidney Waterhouse.

A short video featuring old newsreel coverage of the Battle of the Scheldt can be seen here:

Ronald Sidney was initially buried in Bergen Op Zoom, and later received a permanent headstone at the Canadian War Cemetery there.

temporary grave marker from service file

Initial grave marker in Bergen Op Zoom for Ronald Sidney Waterhouse.  (Photo source:  military service file)

…A daughter’s reflections….

His daughter Merrilyn wrote to explain that “…I was only 2 years old when my Dad died so I never really knew him….  My Mother said that my Dad was a great guy and he seemed to be happy (always smiling) in a lot of old pictures that I have.  He worked for Lever Brothers….”

Merrilyn went on to explain what happened after her father left to go overseas.  “…My Mother and I lived for the first 8 years of my life with my maternal grandparents in Sydney.  When I was 8 years old my Mother married Herman F. Slade. My half-brother, Barry James, was born in 1955.  We moved to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia in 1955.  Barry presently lives in Guelph, Ontario.  My Mother and Barry moved to Guelph to be closer to her brother, Rev. Merrill MacLeod….”  

Nina died in 1982.  Merrilyn now lives in Massachusetts, USA.   

Thank you to Merrilyn O’Brien and Cheryl Topping for sharing photos of Ronald Sidney Waterhouse.  If you have photos and information to share about Canadian soldiers buried in The Netherlands, please contact 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/

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/

Screenshot_2021-02-27 On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter Valkenburg

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

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

On The War Memorial Trail….. Atlantic Canada Remembers – Part 8

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

March 16, 2021. More of the photos submitted by Atlantic Canadians of soldiers buried overseas are featured in this posting. Pieter is ensuring that every email is acknowledged, and that the photos of soldiers buried in The Netherlands are forwarded to the appropriate cemetery for their digital archives.  Thank you to the members of Royal Canadian Legions in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick for their help.

Soldiers buried at the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands

Fryday published in Toronto Newspaper

George Albert Fryday.  (Photo submitted by Marion Fryday-Cook.)

Marion Fryday-Cook, President of the Royal Canadian Legion’s Nova Scotia/Nunavat Command, submitted a photo of George Albert FRYDAY, explaining that “…I am a relative of Rifleman George A. Fryday, Service Number B/136751, who is buried in Holten Canadian War Cemetery, Netherlands.  He was born in Toronto, Ontario. Thank you for honouring our fallen….” 

At the age of 15, George joined the Merchant Marine, and later the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve.  However, once it was established that he was under age, he was discharged.  At the age of 17, he enlisted in the Canadian Army and was sent overseas in December 1944.  He was serving in the Queen’s Own Rifles Regiment when he lost his life on May 4, 1945, aged 19. 

Frederick Joseph Tait

Frederick Joseph Tait. (Photo submitted by the Grand Falls branch of the Royal Canadian Legion)

Patrick Côté of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 21 in Grand Falls, New Brunswick, submitted a photo of Frederick Joseph TAIT, born April 26, 1921 in Grand Falls, New Brunswick, the son of Herbert Henry Tait and Louise Emeline Leclair.

Patrick referenced a book, ‘Military Heritage – The Greater Grand Falls Region’, by Jean-Guy Plourde, which explained that “…. Prior to the war, he worked in a grocery store…”  Before enlistment on February 1, 1943 in Fredericton, he served in the New Brunswick Cadet Corps, and had been an Instructor in Infantry Training with the 2nd Carleton & York Regiment since 1940.

According to the Personnel Selection Record of his service file, he was fluent in both French and English and was assessed as “…good NCO instructor material…”  (NCO refers to Non-Commissioned Officer.)  He had a “…confident bearing…” and “…stability above average….” Unfortunately, his educational background was “…not high enough for commissioned rank…” 

After being deployed overseas in December 1943 he served in Sicily, where he fell ill and was hospitalized for 8 months.  After being released from hospital, he “…went on leave to England….” Over Christmas 1944 he was able to meet his brother Clair, also with the Canadian Army.

Clair survived WWII but Frederick didn’t.  While serving with the Carleton & York Regiment as the unit advanced to the Apeldoorn Canal in The Netherlands on April 15, 1945, he lost his life and was temporarily buried in Posterenk, near Zutphen.

CIMG9297 Sep 25 2017 Edwin and Pieter with CYR list

Edwin van der Wolf and Pieter in Posterenk in 2017.  Pieter holds up a list of the 6 Carleton & York Regiment soldiers who were temporarily buried in the village.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

In September 2017, Pieter and I visited the village of Posterenk with Edwin van der Wolf, one of the research volunteers at the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten.  Edwin explained that “… the Carleton & York Regiment came from Italy to Marseilles, and then into The Netherlands where, on April 13, 1945, the village of Posterenk was liberated.  Six soldiers from the Regiment were buried here temporarily….” 

Edwin gave us a list of the 6 soldiers from the Carleton & York Regiment who were temporarily buried in the village.  Frederick Joseph Tait was one of these men!

Posterenk list of 6 CYR members

List of 6 Carleton & York Regiment soldiers temporarily buried in Posterenk in 1945.

Soldiers buried at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands

Photo Burgess Porter

Burgess Allison Porter.  (Photo submitted by Everett Dalton)

Everett Dalton submitted a photo of Burgess Allison PORTER, writing that Burgess was “…the son of Annie ‘Laura’ (nee Porter) McCall…” Born October 2, 1922 in Grafton, Nova Scotia, his mother died when he was 2 years old.  Although his biological father, Reg McCall was still alive, it was his mother’s wish that her son be raised by “…Frank Oscar and Lennie Alma (nee Pineo) Porter….”  

While not formally adopted, he was raised by them and was known by the surname Porter. His service file identifies Frank and Lennie Porter as his grandparents. 

Born October 2, 1922, Burgess was from Grafton, Nova Scotia, and a store clerk before he enlisted in Halifax on April 14, 1941.  On January 20, 1942 he arrived in the United Kingdom as part of the Artillery Holding Unit, and in April 1942 was attached to the 4th Field Regiment of the Royal Canadian Artillery as a bombardier. 

On July 7, 1944 his unit landed in France, and unfortunately Burgess was killed on February 21, 1945 in Germany and was temporarily buried in Bedburg, Germany.

Soldiers buried at the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom, The Netherlands

Clayton Wilfred Shannon virtual war memorial BoZ

Clayton Wilfred Shannon.  (Photo from Canadian Virtual War Memorial)

Patrick Côté of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 21 in Grand Falls, New Brunswick sent the link to the Canadian Virtual War Memorial page for Clayton Wilfred SHANNON, who had served with the Calgary Highlanders and lost his life on September 22, 1944.

Patrick referenced a book, ‘Military Heritage – The Greater Grand Falls Region’, by Jean-Guy Plourde, which explained that Clayton, born August 2, 1920 in Grand Falls, the son of Frederick Herman Shannon and Bertha Mulherin, “…was musically inclined… playing guitar and singing.  Before his army service, he had even made a couple of records….”

In 1940 “…with his cousin, Adrien Mulherin, he left home to enlist in the Carleton & York Regiment….”   After serving 4 years in Canada, he went overseas “…in July 1944, with the Calgary Highlanders…. While in combat near the border of Holland and Belgium, Clayton was killed, only a few weeks after arriving in Europe…”

Clayton lost his life in Belgium during the Battle of the Scheldt, and was initially buried in Wommelgem, on the outskirts of Antwerp, one of 11 members of the Calgary Highlanders buried there before being reburied in Bergen Op Zoom. (For more information on what happened in Wommelgem, see https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/02/13/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-search-for-soldiers-who-died-in-wommelgem-belgium-in-fall-1944/)

Gregory P. A. McCarthy (2)

Gregory Philip Anthony McCarthy.  (Photo submitted by the Grand Falls branch of the Royal Canadian Legion)

Patrick Côté of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 21 in Grand Falls, New Brunswick, submitted a photo of Gregory Philip Anthony MCCARTHY, born February 28, 1922 on a farm in California Settlement in Grand Falls, son of Thomas and Agnes McCarthy. 

Patrick referenced a book, ‘Military Heritage – The Greater Grand Falls Region’, by Jean-Guy Plourde, which explained that Gregory “…was the youngest of 11 children….He had …. helped on the farm for 8 years and also worked in lumbering prior to his enlistment…. On 26 March 1941 Gregory enlisted in the Canadian Army at Woodstock, NB…”

After completing his basic training, he was “… transferred to the 1st Battalion New Brunswick Rangers….on 19 May 1941….”  After a promotion to Lance Corporal on December 1, 1941 he went to Labrador as a Driver Mechanic. 

On September 10, 1943 he left for the United Kingdom “… where he completed a mortar course and remained until his deployment to France with the 10th Independent Machine Gun Company, NB Rangers, arriving on 22 July 1944….”

His commanding officers described him as “…dependable, reliable, and well-thought of in his unit….”  While serving in Germany and The Netherlands, he was a member of a mortar detachment responsible for engaging the enemy. On January 19, 1945, near Waalwijk in The Netherlands, their own mortar misfired and exploded, causing 3 members of the team to be seriously wounded, with fatal consequences for Gregory.  He was initially buried in Tilburg.

Thank you to Patrick Côté, Everett Dalton, and Marion Fryday-Cook for sharing photos and anecdotes.  Atlantic Canadians remember their loved ones who are buried overseas.

More photos and stories in Atlantic Canada Remembers – Part 9! To share photos or information, please email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, or comment on the blog. 

© Daria Valkenburg

…..Previous postings in the Atlantic Canada Remembers series….

Missed the previous postings in this series? See:

…..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/

Screenshot_2021-02-27 On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter Valkenburg

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

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