Bergen Op Zoom Canadian War Cemetery

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

/ On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 5 Comments

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Book cover front and back

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

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

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

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

…We received a Legionnaire of the Year Award ….

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

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

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

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

Crapaud Hall Nov 7 2023 Presentation title page

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

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

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

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

 … WWI Related Stories….

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

 … WWII Related Stories….

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

…Indigenous Soldiers….

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

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

…. Stories About Servicemen From The Maritimes…

We also featured stories about servicemen from The Maritimes:

  • WWII soldier Ralph Schurman BOULTER from Prince Edward Island, who was killed in action during the Battle of Bienen in Germany on March 25, 1945.
  • WWII soldier Charles ‘Marshall’ CARSON from New Brunswick, who was killed in action during the Battle of Bienen in Germany on March 25, 1945.
  • WWII airman John ‘Hubert’ HALL from Prince Edward Island, who was aboard the last flight of Wellington Z1203 when it crashed over The Netherlands on March 29, 1942. All crew members survived, and Hubert spent the remainder of the war years as a POW in Stalag Luft III.
  • WWII airman William Andrew HOOD from Nova Scotia, who was aboard the last flight of Halifax JD215 when it was shot down over The Netherlands on June 29, 1943, with no survivors.
  • WWII soldier Kitchener ‘Kitty’ LANGILLE from Nova Scotia, who was killed in action during the Battle of Bienen in Germany on March 25, 1945.
  • WWII soldier Milton Evangeline LIVINGSTONE from Prince Edward Island, who was fatally shot when a fellow soldier’s gun went off in The Netherlands, while he was reading a Dutch-English dictionary on November 6, 1944.
  • WWII soldier Lawrence Edward LUCAS from Nova Scotia, who was killed in action in Germany on April 23, 1945.
  • WWI soldier Angus Clayton MACDONALD from Prince Edward Island, who served with the 85th Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders), and was injured in Belgium during the Passage of the Grande Honnelle Battle.
  • WWII soldier Daniel ‘Dan’ Peter MACKENZIE from Prince Edward Island, who died from wounds received on April 13, 1945 during the liberation of Posterenk in The Netherlands, part of Operation Cannonshot.
  • WWII soldier James ‘Jim’ Andrew MACLEOD from New Brunswick, who was killed in action in Belgium on October 23, 1944.
  • WWII soldier Archibald Phillip ‘Archie’ MCLEAN from New Brunswick, who died from wounds received on April 13, 1945 during Operation Cannonshot in The Netherlands.
  • WWI soldier Merrill Augustus MARSHALL from Prince Edward Island, who was killed in action during the Battle of Vimy Ridge in France on April 9, 1917.
  • WWII soldier Austin Havelock MUNROE from Nova Scotia, who was killed in action during the Battle of Bienen in Germany on March 25, 1945.
  • WWII soldier Leonard William PORTER from New Brunswick, who was killed in action during the Battle of Walcheren Causeway in The Netherlands on November 1, 1944.
  • WWII soldier Joseph ‘Edmond’ ROBICHEAU from Nova Scotia, who was killed in action during the Battle of Five Woods in The Netherlands on April 14, 1945.
  • WWII soldier Edison Alexander SMITH from Prince Edward Island, who was killed in action during the Battle of Bienen in Germany on March 25, 1945.
  • WWII soldier John Lewis ‘Ducky’ WALLACE from Nova Scotia, who was killed in action during the Battle of Bienen in Germany on March 25, 1945.

…. Stories About Servicemen From Outside The Maritimes…

  • WWII soldier Clifford BATEMAN from Newfoundland, who was killed in action during the Battle of Bienen in Germany on March 25, 1945.
  • WWII soldier John Joseph BOHON, from Ontario, who was killed in action during the Battle of Bienen in Germany on March 25, 1945.
  • WWII soldier Clive Elbert Steele GEROW, from Ontario, who was killed in action during the liberation of Deventer in The Netherlands on April 10, 1945.
  • WWII soldier Theodor ‘Ted’ HENSCHEL, born in Manitoba, but from British Columbia, who was killed in action during the Battle for Wagenborgen in The Netherlands on April 22, 1945.
  • WWII soldier Adam KLEIN, from Saskatchewan, who died in The Netherlands while crossing the Maas River in January 1945.
  • WWII pilot Jack ‘Douglas’ MACKENZIE, from Manitoba, who died at the controls of his plane, Halifax DT630, after being attacked on February 3, 1943 over The Netherlands.
  • WWII soldier Harold Edward Roy MARTIN, from Ontario, who was killed in The Netherlands during the Battle of the Scheldt on October 14, 1944.
  • WWII pilot George Glenn ‘Dusty’ MILLAR, from Manitoba, who died on September 28, 1944 in The Netherlands.
  • WWII soldier Joseph Hudson PALLISTER, from Alberta, who was killed in action during the Battle of the Leopold Canal on October 6, 1944.
  • WWII soldier Wilfred ‘Willy’ Joseph POWER, from British Columbia, who was killed in action during the Battle of Bienen in Germany on March 25, 1945.
  • WWII soldier Louis Allan SEXTON, from Quebec, who was killed in action during the Battle of Bienen in Germany on March 25, 1945.
  • WWII soldier Harry Elwood WRIGHT, from Nova Scotia, who was killed in action in The Netherlands on April 17, 1945.

…In Conversation And More….

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

…. Interviews To Highlight Search For Photos….

Pieter did the following interviews:

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

…. Letters To The Editor For Photo Searches….

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

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

… Successful Search For Photos …..

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

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

Buried in Holten Canadian War Cemetery in The Netherlands:

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

Buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery in The Netherlands:

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

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

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

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

  • John PALMER

Buried in Sleen General Cemetery in The Netherlands:

  1. Jack ‘Douglas’ MACKENZIE
  2. Raymond Hepton ‘Ray’ HILL

 Buried in Uden War Cemetery in The Netherlands:

  • George Glenn ‘Dusty’ MILLAR

 Buried in Adegem Canadian War Cemetery in Belgium:

  • Joseph Hudson PALLISTER

 Buried in Ligny St. Flochel British Cemetery in France:

  • Joseph ‘Arthur’ DESROCHES

 Listed On The Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France:

  • Merrill Augustus MARSHALL

Buried in Coriano Ridge War Cemetery in Italy:

  • Millard Emery ALLEN

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

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

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

… Unsuccessful Search For Photos …..

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

  1. John Frederick BARTLETT of Moreton’s Harbour, Newfoundland, son of Alfred and Jessie Bartlett, died February 27, 1945, aged 47, while serving with the South Alberta Regiment.
  2. Douglas Gordon BLACK of Amherst, Nova Scotia, son of Sherman and Alice Black, died March 3, 1945, while serving with the Algonquin Regiment.
  3. Clifford Alexander BLAKE of Toronto, Ontario, son of William C. and Sarah L. Blake, husband of Ferne E. Blake, died February 16, 1945, aged 23, while serving with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles.
  4. James Lyman CAMERON, born in Victoria-By-The-Sea, Prince Edward Island, son of Edward H. and Susan (Harrington) Cameron, died July 24, 1916, aged 23, while serving with the 7th Canadian Infantry Battalion (1st British Columbia). (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
  5. Leigh Hunt CAMERON, born in Albany, Prince Edward Island, son of Anna Cameron, died May 5, 1916, aged 17, shortly after enlisting with the 105th Battalion, C Company. (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
  6. William Galen CAMPBELL, born in Wellington, Prince Edward Island, son of John G. and Grace Emma Campbell, died April 24, 1953, aged 55, many years after being discharged from the 8th Siege Battery of the 3rd Brigade Canadian Garrison Artillery. (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
  7. Karl CHRISTENSEN, from Alberta, but born in Starheim, Nordfjord, Norway, son of Kristian Kristiansen Hafsas and Marie K. Hafsas, died April 10, 1945, aged 41, while serving with the 8th Field Squadron, Royal Canadian Engineers.
  8. John Edward COLEMAN of Moncton, New Brunswick, son of Edward J. and Florence Coleman, husband of Della Coleman, died June 17, 1945, aged 32, while serving with the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers.
  9. Lorne Mart COLFORD of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, but born in Chezzetcook, Nova Scotia, son of Howard and Jeanette Colford, died April 14, 1945, aged 22, while serving with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry.
  10. Bazil CORMIER, born in Tignish, Prince Edward Island, son of Joseph Cormier and Mary Arsenault, died August 12, 1918, aged 20, while serving with the 26th (New Brunswick) Battalion. (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
  11. Eric John CRUE of Moncton, New Brunswick, son of John and Margaret Crue, died April 6, 1945, aged 23, while serving with the Algonquin Regiment.
  12. James Frank DOLMAN of Flatlands, New Brunswick, son of Frank Dolman and Lydia Thompson, husband of Henriette Gertrude Lyons, died April 14, 1945, aged 32, while serving with the New Brunswick Rangers -10th Ind. Machine Gun Company.
  13. Samuel George ENGEN of The Pas, Manitoba, died April 23, 1945, aged 27, while serving with the Lake Superior Regiment.
  14. Douglas Bernard FARROW of Amherst, Nova Scotia, died April 26, 1945, aged 27, while serving with the Algonquin Regiment.
  15. Clifford Glen FORSYTH born in Brandon, Manitoba, son of Alexander ‘Sandy’ Forsyth and Margaret McDougall, died April 11, 1945, aged 20, while serving with the Lake Superior Regiment.
  16. Ernest Ramey GALLANT, born in Borden (now Borden-Carleton), Prince Edward Island, son of John P. and Mary Blanche Gallant, died May 20, 1943, aged 27, while with the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment. (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
  17. William James ‘Jimmy’ Sutherland HOLE born in Carman, Manitoba, son of William and Eva Alise Hole, died April 22, 1945, aged 20, while serving with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles.
  18. Claude Pearley HUBLEY of Chipman, New Brunswick, son of Joshua and Adelia Hubley, husband of Agnes Myrtle Hubley, died April 25, 1945, aged 29, while serving with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry.
  19. John Lewis HUGHES born in Eriksdale, Manitoba, son of Ebenezer George and Ellen (nee Rogan) Hughes, husband of Irene (nee Goodwin) Hughes of Winnipeg, Manitoba, died November 2, 1944, aged 28, while serving with the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corp – 10th Field Dressing Station.
  20. George Mcdonald JOHNSTON of Toronto, Ontario, son of William and Annie Johnston, died April 2, 1945, aged 27, while serving with the Lake Superior Regiment.
  21. Lloyd Edward KITCHING of Winnipeg, Manitoba, son of Robert Burns Lloyd Kitching, and stepson of Eva L. Kitching, died May 1, 1945, aged 25, while serving with the Royal Canadian Artillery – 6th Field Regiment.
  22. Wallace Herbert LARLEE of Perth, New Brunswick, died April 24, 1945, aged 19, while serving with the North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment.
  23. Logan Elwood LESLIE, born in Oxford, Nova Scotia, died April 9, 1945, son of John J. and Georgie Mary Leslie of Moncton, New Brunswick, while serving with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry.
  24. Charles W. LOWTHER, born in North Carleton, Prince Edward Island, son of Bessie Lowther, died September 25, 1918, aged 21, while serving with the 25th Battalion, Canadian Infantry. (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
  25. John Redmond MAHONEY, born in Port Elgin, New Brunswick, son of John J. and Gertrude C. Mahoney, died April 12, 1945, aged 30, while serving with the New Brunswick Rangers-10th Independent Machine Gun Company.
  26. Francis Leslie MULCAHY of Halifax, Nova Scotia, son of Daniel and Mary Mulcahy, died April 24, 1945, aged 21, while serving with the North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment.
  27. Archibald Henry NELSON born in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, son of William Henry and Winnifred Frances Nelson, died April 18, 1945, aged 34, while serving with the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment.
  28. Arthur Clinton ROBINSON, born in Tryon, Prince Edward Island, son of Albert J. and Flora P. Scruton Robinson, died March 27, 1916, aged 19, while serving with the 26th (New Brunswick) Battalion. (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
  29. Harry ROBINSON, born in Augustine Cove, Prince Edward Island, son of Thomas and Sarah Robinson, husband of Clara J. Robinson, died June 27, 1916, aged 34, while serving with the 105th Battalion, C Company. (Listed on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph)
  30. Charles Patrick SHEFFIED of Sundridge, Ontario, son of Charles and Mrs Sheffield, husband of Bessie Alice Butler from Botwood, Newfoundland, and father of Patrick William Wallace Sheffield, died May 4, 1945, aged 24, while serving with the Algonquin Regiment.
  31. Charles Bernard STAFFORD of Halifax, Nova Scotia, son of Charles Bernard and Blanche Stafford, husband of Winifred Leitha Stafford of Intake, Sheffield, England, died April 18, 1945, aged 28, while serving with the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps – 9th Field Ambulance.
  32. Harry WHITE of Halifax, Nova Scotia, son of Wilfred and Mary White, died May 19, 1945, aged 27, while serving with the West Nova Scotia Regiment.

… The YouTube Channel….

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

  • S4E1 Battle Of Bienen
  • S4E2 The Last Flight Of Halifax JD215

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

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

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

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

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

….Happy Holidays…

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

Xmas greetings from Pieter and Daria

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

© Daria Valkenburg

…Want to follow our research?…

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

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

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

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

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

CIMG6667 Nov 17 2023 Pieter with Nancy & Earl MacLeod

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

… Jim altered his birth year in order to enlist…

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

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

Jim MacLeod coulourized photo2

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

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

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

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

… Jim became a driver mechanic…

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

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

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

The last day at home

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

… Jim left Canada for overseas service in May 1944…

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

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

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

… Jim joined the Algonquin Regiment in Belgium…

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Grave of Jim MacLeod in BOZ from Find A Grave

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

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

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

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

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?….

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

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

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On The War Memorial Trail….. The WWII Soldier From Moncton Who Lost His Life During The Battle of Walcheren Causeway

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November 20, 2023. When Pieter began his research into WWII soldier Leonard William PORTER of Moncton, New Brunswick, he discovered they had something in common, as he wrote to Leonard’s son, Peter Porter.  “…I noticed that he was born on the same day as myself but 26 years earlier, on the 25th of March 1918….” 

This was a promising start to the research, which continued after he quickly received a photo of Leonard after reaching out to Peter, and then we were able to meet Peter and his son Shane.  Asked how he felt about being approached for a photo, Peter said “…I think this is wonderful…”

CIMG6567 Oct 23 2023 Shane Peter Pieter

Shane and Peter Porter with Pieter.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Born March 25, 1918 in Moncton, New Brunswick, Leonard was the son of Andrew and Ella Elizabeth (nee Beers) Porter. 

At the time of his marriage to Kathryn Doris Meaghan on December 6, 1941 in Moncton, Leonard listed his occupation as Sergeant in the New Brunswick Regiment (Tanks), a non-Permanent Active Militia unit.  He didn’t mention that he was also employed by the T. Eaton Company.

….Leonard was in the militia for several years….

Leonard had joined the militia on March 12, 1939, and qualified as a Sergeant on June 20, 1940.  He served in Borden, Ontario, St John, New Brunswick, and Shediac, New Brunswick. As of August 11, 1940 he had been appointed as an Instructor with A & T Staff 19th (Reserve) Army  Tank Regiment.

Leonard William Porter from Peter Porter

Leonard William Porter while serving with the New Brunswick Regiment (Tank) militia.  (Photo courtesy of Peter Porter)

He qualified as a Driver i/c Class III on June 4, 1942, after successfully completing a 6 week driving course at the S-5 Canadian Driving and Maintenance School (CD & M School) in Woodstock, Ontario. This meant he was qualified to drive heavy trucks and armoured cars. 

On June 10, 1942, Leonard was promoted to Squadron Sgt-Major Warrant Officer II (SSM (WOII)). 

On October 3, 1942, he was sent to the A-30 Canadian Infantry Training Centre at Camp Utopia, located northeast of St. George, New Brunswick to attend a Mortar and Grenade course.

On January 13, 1943, he was sent to Buctouche, New Brunswick.  While posted there he took a Browning Machine Gun course. 

Leonard and Kathryn’s son Peter James was born on February 19, 1943 in Moncton, New Brunswick.

From March to August 1943 Leonard served in Richibucto and Sussex, then from September until November 15, 1943 he was in Tracadie and Fredericton, all in New Brunswick. 

While he was in the Militia, with the New Brunswick Regiment (Tanks), Leonard also held a full time position for 5 years as a grocery clerk with the T. Eaton Company, a department store, in Moncton.

….Leonard enlisted for active service in the Canadian Army….

On November 16, 1943, he enlisted in the active service force at the No. 7 District Depot in Fredericton, New Brunswick.  In the interview for his Personnel Selection Record, it was noted that Leonard was “...fond of bowling. Does some hunting and fishing. Reads Esquire, Readers Digest, and fiction….”  Peter Porter mentioned that his father also “….played a piano-accordion...”

Although Leonard had spent several years in the Militia, he was still sent for basic training, like any new recruit.  On December 7, 1943, he reported to No. 70 Canadian Army Basic Training Centre (CA(B)TC) in Fredericton. But, he was given a 5 day pass for Christmas leave, from December 23 to 28, the last Christmas he would spend with his family.

On February 15, 1944, Leonard returned to the A-30 Canadian Infantry Training Centre at Camp Utopia, located northeast of St. George, New Brunswick.  After his 5th week of training, his Personnel Selection Record was updated.  “….Leadership ability is apparent, exerts influence over his fellows. Quiet, steady, confident… Interested and ambitious…..Watch for promotions….”

Leonard was selected for the 3 inch mortar training course, which ran from April 10 to April 29, 1944.  After receiving his qualification in this course, on May 4, 1944 he was sent to Woodstock, Ontario for a Carrier Driver Course at the S-5 Canadian Driving and Maintenance School (CD & M School).  He had been there in 1942 while with the militia.

On June 14, 1944, he received his qualification as a Driver i/c Class III (Wheeled) (3 inch Mortarman). The term ‘Driver i/c’ refers to ‘Driver, internal combustion’.  Class III meant he was qualified to drive heavy trucks and armoured cars. Wheeled refers to wheeled vehicles.  As a mortarman,  Leonard could not only drive vehicles containing bombs, but also be part of the mortar crew firing them. (See https://www.canadiansoldiers.com/weapons/lightweapons/mortars/3inchmortar.htm)

On June 24, 1944, Leonard returned to the A-30 Canadian Infantry Training Centre at Camp Utopia in preparation for overseas service.  He received two weeks of embarkation leave, from June 29 to July 12, 1944, the last time he would see his family.

… Leonard left Canada for overseas service in July 1944…

On July 20, 1944, Leonard left Canada for the United Kingdom.  Upon arriving on July 27, 1944 he was assigned to No 4 Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit (CIRU). 

His stay in the United Kingdom was short, as on September 1, 1944 he was sent to France with the X-L infantry reinforcement troops of the 21st Army Group.

Screenshot 2023-11-19 at 12-54-37 Loon-Plage · 59279 France

Leonard joined the Calgary Highlanders in Loon Plage, France.  (Map source: Google maps)

On September 12, 1944, he was transferred to the Calgary Highlanders, joining them in Loon Plage, France, not that far from the Belgian border.   The Regiment, part of the Canadian 5th Infantry Brigade, was engaged in patrolling operations and needed to be constantly on the alert from the heavily fortified Dunkirk (Dunkerque in French).

The War Diary entry for September 12, 1944 for the Calgary Highlanders reported that “…. during the evening, heavy bombers were heard roaring out toward German territory and heavy shelling and mortaring were heard coming from the direction of Dunkerque….” The situation intensified in the days that followed.  On September 14, 1944, the War Diary entry recorded that “…forty-four other ranks arrived as reinforcements to the Battalion...”  Leonard would have been one of these men.

… The Regiment was in the Battle of the Scheldt…

By September 18, 1944 the Calgary Highlanders had crossed into Belgium and were temporarily based in Wommelgem, just outside Antwerp, while the Regiment was engaged in the preparations for and participation in the Battle of the Scheldt, which began officially on October 2 and lasted until November 8, 1944.

The Battle of the Scheldt’s objective was to free up the way to the Port of Antwerp in Belgium for supply purposes. Canadians suffered almost 8,000 casualties (wounded and dead) in what turned out to be the battle with the most Canadian casualties in The Netherlands. (See https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/history/second-world-war/scheldt)

During their stay in the Wommelgem area, several members of the Calgary Highlanders lost their lives, and were temporarily buried there, before being reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom.  (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/02/13/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-search-for-soldiers-who-died-in-wommelgem-belgium-in-fall-1944/)

On October 7, 1944, the Regiment left Belgium and arrived in The Netherlands in the early morning, with the War Diary recording that “…at 05:50 hours the group crossed the border into Holland…” and was based at Jansen Farm.

On October 11, 1944, the Regiment moved again, to De Geest, then on October 15, 1944 to Hinkelenrood and based at Van De Maegdenburg’s Farm.  Their task was mainly recce patrol.  On October 22, 1944 the Regiment arrived in Ossendrecht.   Then, on October 26, 1944, the Regiment arrived in Woensdrecht.

… The Regiment was involved in the Battle of Walcheren Causeway…

The stay in Woensdrecht was short, as on October 28, 1944 the Regiment made its way across the isthmus towards South Beveland.  By October 31, 1944, the Calgary Highlanders were to cross the Sloe Channel in assault boats towards the German-held Walcheren Island. 

The original plan to cross the Sloe Channel failed, as the Black Watch of Canada, the troops of the 5th Canadian Brigade that were in the lead, found that assault boats were useless in the deep mud of the channel.

The only route open was the Walcheren Causeway (known as Sloedam in Dutch), a land bridge from South Beveland to the Island. The Causeway was a dyke – 1,600 metres (1 mile) long and just 45 metres (40 yards) in width.

Walcheren2

Map showing troops at the beginning of the Battle of Walcheren Causeway.  (Map source: Wikipedia)

In what became known as the Battle of Walcheren Causeway, part of the larger Battle of the Scheldt, the struggle to cross the Causeway was hampered.  A deep crater on the causeway had been blown by German engineers as an anti-tank obstacle and the surrounding landscape was severely damaged by bombing.

After the Black Watch of Canada suffered heavy losses during the crossing on the evening of October 31, 1944, the Calgary Highlanders sent two companies over in succession, one close to midnight on the 31st and the other just before dawn on November 1. The first attack, on October 31, stalled just past the bomb crater on the Causeway.

In the November 1 early morning attack, carried out under artillery fire, Canadian troops reached the other side of the dam and opened up a bridgehead on the island. The Germans continued to fire upon troops, and it wasn’t until that evening that Canadian survivors succeeded in getting back to the Beveland side.

The November 1, 1944 War Diary entry for the Calgary Highlanders starkly summed up what happened. “…Fighting along the Causeway had been terrific for the last 40 hours and words are inadequate to express all the difficulties that had to be surmounted to make an advance along the ….narrow Causeway.  The memory of it will live long in the minds of the Calgary Highlanders….”

(For more information, see https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Walcheren_Causeway and https://www.canadiansoldiers.com/history/battlehonours/northwesteurope/walcherencauseway.htm)

… Leonard lost his life in the Battle of Walcheren Causeway…

Location Lewedorp on google maps

Leonard was initially buried in Lewedorp.  (Map source: Google maps)

64 members of the Calgary Highlanders were either killed or wounded in this battle.  One of them was Leonard, who died on November 1, 1944, aged 26.  He was initially buried on Walcheren Island in Lewedorp, behind the Roman Catholic Church.

Lewedorp,_de_Rooms_Katholieke_kerk_in_straatzicht_foto4_2015-09-29_17.19 from Wikimedia

The Roman Catholic Church in Lewedorp.  (Photo source: Wikipedia)

The Germans surrendered the area on November 5, 1944.  Today, the Causeway that caused so many casualties no longer exists. Land on both sides of the dyke has been reclaimed and the Sloe Channel is now farmland. However, remnants of German concrete fortifications still exist both on Walcheren Island and South Beveland.

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

Leonard was reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom, The Netherlands in 1946.

Grave of Leonard Porter from Findagrave

Grave of Leonard William Porter at the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom. (Photo source: Find A Grave)

Leonard’s widow never remarried.  Her son Peter explained that “….my mother was a hairdresser, and owned her own business.  She became president of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Royal Canadian Legion and was involved in the Poppy Campaign.  She also used to send money to people in The Netherlands who were adopting graves…”

Peter reflected that being involved in the Legion was his mother’s “…way to commemorate.  Every September until November 11, she was busy….” 

Thank you to Peter Porter for providing a photo and information about his parents. Do you have a story to tell? Email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, or comment on the blog.  

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?….

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

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

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

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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. 

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

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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/

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

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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/

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

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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/

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

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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. 

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