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4 countries, 6 weeks, 7,000 km – an unforgettable war memorial journey in Europe by Daria Valkenburg.

On The War Memorial Trail….2025 Faces of Holten Exhibition Part 3: Soldiers Killed While Travelling In Vehicles

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Pieter at the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands with the Cross of Remembrance in the background. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

September 1, 2025. Pieter has been involved in finding photos of Canadians who are buried in The Netherlands since 2014, and we’ve tried to tell as many of their stories as we can on this blog. 

While in Europe for the 80th Anniversary of Liberation Commemoration events, he placed flags at the graves of 383 soldiers in 14 cemeteries. At the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands, flags were placed at 156 graves.

Our visit coincided with The 2025 Faces Of Holten Exhibition, which ran for three weeks in May.  It was slow going to place flags as people continually came up to talk to us, curious about the various flags, and were thrilled when they discovered they didn’t have to practice their English as Pieter could talk to them in Dutch.

In Part 1, the graves and photos of soldiers who were killed near Posterenk in April 1945, and are buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, were featured.  (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/08/24/on-the-war-memorial-trail-2025-faces-of-holten-exhibition-part-1-soldiers-killed-near-posterenk/)

In Part 2, the graves and photos of two soldiers listed on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion, were featured. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/08/29/on-the-war-memorial-trail-2025-faces-of-holten-exhibition-part-2-the-soldiers-listed-on-the-cenotaph-in-borden-carleton/)

Now, in Part 3, the graves and photos of four soldiers who lost their lives while travelling in military vehicles, and whose stories have previously been told, are featured. 

…4 soldiers killed while travelling in military vehicles are commemorated…

Grave of Francis ‘Frank’ Ivan Dougan. (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

Francis ‘Frank’ Ivan DOUGAN from Donaldston was killed in The Netherlands, at the age of 26,  on May 16, 1946, while serving with the 48th Canadian General Transport Company of the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps (RCASC), part of the Canadian Army Occupation Force (CAOF) in Germany.  He died in a hospital in Nijmegen following a road accident, in which he was a passenger in a military vehicle, during very bad weather in Nijmegen, while he was on his way from Grave, The Netherlands to Oldenburg, Germany, where he was based. Mechanical failure in the steering mechanism led to the accident. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2024/07/13/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-soldier-from-donaldston-who-died-in-a-vehicle-accident-in-the-netherlands/

Pieter by the grave of Maurice James Hughes. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Maurice ‘Maw’ James HUGHES, from Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, was serving with the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals (RCCS) when the jeep in which he was riding in hit a mine in Germany on May 2, 1945, killing him, aged 25.  Germany had signed an unconditional surrender, ending the war in Europe, on May 8, 1945, just a few days after Maurice lost his life.  You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2024/05/29/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-signalman-from-charlottetown-whose-jeep-ran-over-a-mine-6-days-before-the-war-ended/

Grave of James Gordon King. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

James Gordon KING, from Woodstock, New Brunswick, was serving with the Royal Canadian Artillery when he died in a road accident on August 5, 1945 in Germany, aged 34.  You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/01/16/on-the-war-memorial-trail-atlantic-canada-remembers-part-3/

Grave of John Rusnak. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

John RUSNAK, from Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, was attached to No. 4 Canadian Public Relations Group, Canadian Army Occupation Force (CAOF) as a despatch motorcycle rider.  He lost his life, at the age of 21, when his Harley Davidson motorcycle accidentally collided with a horse drawn wagon in Germany on November 22, 1945. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/08/28/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-despatch-rider-from-portage-la-prairie-who-lost-his-life-in-an-accident-in-germany/

While at the cemetery, we met Jane Kondakova, a Ukrainian refugee from the Kyiv region, currently living in the village of Holten with her two young children.  She was placing flags at the graves of soldiers of Ukrainian descent, including John Rusnak. This was her third year of placing flags, for the soldiers buried in the cemetery and for her husband, who is in the Ukrainian military.

….All of the flags placed at graves were donated…

All of the flags placed at graves were donated.  Our thanks go to: 

  • Alan Waddell, Constituent Assistant, on behalf of Heath MacDonald, MP for Malpeque, for the Canadian flags.
  • Matt MacFarlane, MLA for District 19, Borden-Kinkora, for the Prince Edward Island flags. 
  • Armel ‘Mel’ Lanteigne, President of the Caraquet Legion in New Brunswick for the New Brunswick and Acadian flags.
  • Brad Robertson, Chief of Protocol, Government of Manitoba, on behalf of Wab Kinew, Premier of Manitoba, for the Manitoba flag.

In Part 4, the graves of soldiers killed during Operation Duck will be featured as we continue with our 2025 European War Memorial Tour. Pieter encourages blog readers with photos to come forward so that eventually all the known graves of Canadians buried in Holten will have a photo displayed by their grave. 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/

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

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….2025 Faces of Holten Exhibition Part 2: The Soldiers Listed On The Cenotaph In Borden-Carleton

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Directional sign to the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

August 29, 2025.  Pieter has been involved in finding photos of Canadians who are buried in all three Canadian War Cemeteries in The Netherlands since 2014.  He first started with finding photos of soldiers from Prince Edward Island buried in The Netherlands. 

In 2015, he began researching the names of 48 soldiers listed on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion on Prince Edward Island.  Over the years, all 48 names were identified, each of their stories researched and told on this blog.  For most of the names, families and photos were found, and the Wall of Remembrance is in place at the Legion. 

Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

While in The Netherlands and Belgium for the 80th Anniversary of Liberation Commemoration events, he placed flags at the graves of 383 soldiers in 14 cemeteries. At the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands, flags were placed at 156 graves.

Our visit coincided with The 2025 Faces Of Holten Exhibition, which ran for three weeks in May. Photos were printed onto an aluminum backing, making them impervious to rain, and reusable. Each placard also had a QR code, allowing visitors with cell phones to scan the code and read a brief biography of the soldier.

In Part 1, soldiers who were killed near Posterenk in April 1945 and are buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, were featured. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/08/24/on-the-war-memorial-trail-2025-faces-of-holten-exhibition-part-1-soldiers-killed-near-posterenk/)

…2 soldiers listed on the Cenotaph in Borden-Carleton are commemorated…

Now, in Part 2, the graves and photos of William Douglas SHERREN and George Martin MCMAHON, whose stories have previously been told, are featured. Both are listed on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion. You can read their stories at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2018/01/20/on-the-war-memorial-trail-at-holten-canadian-war-cemetery/

Grave of William Douglas Sherren. (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

William Douglas SHERREN, from Crapaud, Prince Edward Island, was serving with the Royal Canadian Artillery and was severely injured when the vehicle he was travelling in drove over a land mine in Germany on April 25, 1945, just a few days before the end of WWII.  He died of his wounds on April 28, 1945, aged 30.  A month earlier, he had been recognized by King George VI as a Member of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, in recognition of gallant and distinguished service in North West Europe.

Grave of George Martin McMahon. (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

George Martin McMAHON, born in Emerald Junction, Prince Edward Island, and the father of 5 children, was serving with the Royal Canadian Artillery, and accidentally drowned when he fell into a canal in Amsterdam, The Netherlands on the night of August 11, 1945.  He was 32 years old.

….All of the flags placed at graves were donated…

All of the flags placed at graves were donated.  For the flags placed at the graves of Islanders, our thanks go to:  Alan Waddell, Constituent Assistant, on behalf of Heath MacDonald, MP for Malpeque, for the Canadian flags. Prince Edward Island flags were provided by Matt MacFarlane, MLA for District 19, Borden-Kinkora. 

In Part 3, the graves of soldiers killed in vehicle accidents will be featured as we continue with our 2025 European War Memorial Tour. Pieter encourages readers with photos to come forward so that eventually all the known graves of Canadians buried in Holten will have a photo displayed by their grave. Email him at memorialtrail@gmail.com. 

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?…

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

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

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….2025 Faces of Holten Exhibition Part 1:  Soldiers Killed Near Posterenk

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August 24, 2025.  Readers of this blog are aware that Pieter has been involved in finding photos of Canadians who are buried in The Netherlands since 2014. 

We were in The Netherlands and Belgium for the 80th Anniversary of Liberation Commemoration events, and placed flags at the graves of 383 soldiers in 14 cemeteries.

Pieter at the entrance to the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

….Flags placed at the graves of soldiers from all 10 provinces and 1 Territory…

Over the next few postings, soldiers whose stories were previously told, and who are buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, the second largest Canadian War Cemetery in The Netherlands, will be featured. There are 1,394 burials here, of which 1,355 are Canadian.  Flags were placed by Pieter at 156 graves at this cemetery.  This was the final tally for the 156 graves:

  • 38 were from Nova Scotia
  • 46 from New Brunswick
  • 21 from Prince Edward Island
  • 3 from British Columbia
  • 5 from Saskatchewan
  • 20 from Manitoba
  • 2 from Alberta
  • 16 from Ontario
  • 3 from Quebec
  • 1 from Newfoundland
  • 1 from Yukon Territory

22 of the graves also received an Acadian flag, and 2 received Indigenous flags – one from the Mi’kmaq Nation, and one from the Wolastoqey Nation.  All of the graves received a Canadian flag.  Provincial flags were placed at all graves, with the exception of the soldiers from British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Yukon Territory, for which, unfortunately, we did not receive flags.

All of the flags placed on our war memorial tour had been donated, as mentioned in an earlier posting. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/06/04/on-the-war-memorial-trail-flags-and-pins-received-for-our-2025-european-war-memorial-tour/)

This year, for the 80th Anniversary, with photos having been found for 80% of the soldiers buried there, photos were placed at graves for the first time.  The 2025 Faces Of Holten Exhibition ran for three weeks in May.  Photos were printed onto an aluminum backing, making them impervious to rain, and reusable.  Each placard also had a QR code, allowing visitors with cell phones to scan the code and read a brief biography of the soldier.

…7 soldiers who died near Posterenk are commemorated…

In this posting, the graves and photos of seven WWII soldiers whose stories have previously been told are featured.  All were serving in the Carleton & York Regiment at the time of their death and died near Posterenk, The Netherlands.

Grave of François ‘Frank’ Gallant. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

François ‘Frank’ GALLANT, from Mount Carmel, Prince Edward Island, was killed during the Liberation of Posterenk in The Netherlands on April 13, 1945, aged 30.  He was one of 6 soldiers initially buried along the main road to Posterenk, a village near Zutphen. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2024/06/30/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-soldier-from-mount-carmel-killed-during-the-liberation-of-posterenk/

Pieter at the grave of Daniel ‘Dan’ Peter MacKenzie. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Daniel ‘Dan’ Peter MACKENZIE, from Victoria Cross, Prince Edward Island, died from wounds received on April 13, 1945 during the Liberation of Posterenk in The Netherlands, part of Operation Cannonshot. He had been taken to a Canadian hospital in Lochem, where he died that evening, aged 26, despite heroic efforts to save him.  You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/06/29/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-soldier-from-victoria-cross-fatally-wounded-during-the-liberation-of-posterenk/

Grave of James ‘Frank’ Mossey. (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

James ‘Frank’ MOSSEY, from Souris, Prince Edward Island, was killed in action on April 14, 1945 near Posterenk, The Netherlands, aged 25. He was one of 6 soldiers initially buried along the main road to Posterenk, a village near Zutphen. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/08/09/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-soldier-from-souris-killed-during-the-liberation-of-posterenk/

Pieter by the grave of Goldwin ‘Goldy’ Marven Pollick. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Goldwin ‘Goldy’ Marven POLLICK, from Minto, New Brunswick, lost his life on April 13, 1945 in Wilp-Achterhoek, near Posterenk, aged 24. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/01/07/on-the-war-memorial-trail-atlantic-canada-remembers-part-1/

Grave of Samuel Glazier Porter. (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

Samuel Glazier PORTER, from Dow Flat, Victoria County, New Brunswick, lost his life, at the age of 26, on April 15, 1945 as his Regiment advanced to the Apeldoorn Canal in The Netherlands. He was one of 6 soldiers initially buried along the main road to Posterenk, a village near Zutphen.  You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/11/28/on-the-war-memorial-trail-atlantic-canada-remembers-part-11/

Pieter by the grave of Harold Gordon Sabean. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Harold Gordon SABEAN, from Port Lorne, Nova Scotia, was killed on April 15, 1945, as his Regiment advanced to the Apeldoorn Canal in The Netherlands, aged 27.  He was one of 6 soldiers initially buried along the main road to Posterenk, a village near Zutphen. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/10/08/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-soldier-from-port-lorne-who-lost-his-life-during-the-advance-to-the-apeldoorn-canal/

Grave of Frederick Joseph Tait. (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

Frederick Joseph TAIT, from Grand Falls, New Brunswick, was killed on April 15, 1945, as his Regiment advanced to the Apeldoorn Canal in The Netherlands, aged 23.  He was one of 6 soldiers initially buried along the main road to Posterenk, a village near Zutphen. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/03/16/on-the-war-memorial-trail-atlantic-canada-remembers-part-8/

….All of the flags placed at graves were donated…

All of the flags placed at graves were donated.  Our thanks go to:

  • Alan Waddell, Constituent Assistant, on behalf of Heath MacDonald, MP for Malpeque, for the Canadian flags.
  • Matt MacFarlane, MLA for District 19, Borden-Kinkora, for the flags from Prince Edward Island.
  • Armel ‘Mel’ Lanteigne, President of the Caraquet Legion in New Brunswick for the New Brunswick flags and Acadian flags.
  • Kyle Graham, Research Officer, Military Relations, Nova Scotia Intergovernmental Affairs, on behalf of Premier Tim Houston, Province of Nova Scotia, for the Nova Scotia flags

The Dutch continue to stress the importance of remembrance to the next generation so they can continue to remember those who lost their lives in WWII.  ‘Opdat wij niet vergeten’ (Lest We Forget)

In Part 2, graves of soldiers from Prince Edward Island who are listed on the Cenotaph in Borden-Carleton, Prince Edward Island, and are buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, will be featured.

Pieter encourages readers with photos to come forward so that eventually all of the known graves of Canadians buried in Holten will have a photo displayed by their grave. Email him at memorialtrail@gmail.com. 

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?…

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

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

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

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

On The War Memorial Trail…..The WWII Soldier From Kenora Who Lay In An Unknown Grave For 80 Years…. Part 2: The Grave Re- dedication Ceremony

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Arthur Vanance.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

August 22, 2025. The research file for WWII soldier Arthur VANANCE of Kenora, Ontario, who lost his life on February 15, 1945 while serving with the Lake Superior Regiment, remained open for several years because of the uncertainty as to whether he lay buried in an unknown grave – Plot XI, Row H, Grave 5 – in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands. 

Part 1 explained how after his story was sent to Dr. Sarah Lockyer, Casualty Identification Coordinator, Directorate of History and Heritage, Department of National Defence of the Government of Canada, everyone involved had to wait to see what the verdict would be.   (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/08/19/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-soldier-from-kenora-who-lay-in-an-unknown-grave-for-80-years-part-1-what-happened-to-arthur-vanance/)

On March 3, 2025 we were informed that Arthur was indeed buried in that unknown grave, and he would be receiving a new headstone. Now, in Part 2, we attended the grave re-dedication ceremony for Arthur Vanance on May 3, 2025, while on our 2025 European War Memorial Trail. 

….The new headstone for Arthur Vanance was waiting to be unveiled….

The new gravestone for Arthur Vanance was covered until the May 3, 2025 grave rededication ceremony.  The grave to the right is that of Harold Frederick Hilderley. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

On May 1, 2025, we were at the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten to begin placing flags at what turned out to be 156 graves of servicemen that Pieter has researched over the years.  When we saw the covered headstone at what was once an unknown grave, we couldn’t wait for the re-dedication ceremony on May 3!

Arthur is buried next to Harold Frederick HILDERLEY of Stratford, Ontario, with Earl Herbert CARLBOM of Sioux Lookout, Ontario lying in the grave beside Harold Hilderley.  All three men died on February 15, 1945.

….The grave re-dedication ceremony was dignified….

On Saturday, May 3, 2025 a number of us gathered at the Holten Information Centre in anticipation of the grave re-dedication ceremony.  Shortly after 10 am we made our way to the cemetery and briefly spoke with His Excellency, Hugh Adsett, the Canadian Ambassador to The Netherlands, who mentioned he was from Petitcodiac, New Brunswick.  Paul Ledwell, the Deputy Minister of Veterans Affairs, also stopped by to chat.  As well, Pieter spoke with a representative from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in the United Kingdom. 

Pieter with Master Warrant Officer Brian Keene.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

We had a chance to meet Master Warrant Officer Brian Keene of the Directorate History and Heritage (3-3) – Dress and Ceremonial, of the Canadian Armed Forces, who’d been our contact for the date and time of the ceremony.  He said he worked closely with Dr Sarah Lockyer, who we’d originally contacted regarding Arthur Vanance. 

Formation of soldiers for the re-dedication ceremony at the grave of Arthur Vanance.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

No family members were present, but there was a large turnout of Canadian military, including members of the Lake Superior Regiment, the Canadian Armed Forces Band, as well as the dignitaries, volunteers from the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, media….plus us.  We had expected a much smaller event!

Soldiers and the Canadian Armed Forces Band wait for the re-dedication ceremony to start. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

The Military Chaplain of the North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment was the Master of Ceremonies for this very dignified event.  A biography of Arthur Vanance was read out by Captain Corey Nieminen of the Lake Superior Regiment. The poem ‘In Flanders Fields’ and the Act of Remembrance were read out by Chief Warrant Officer Jon O’Connor, also of the Lake Superior Regiment.  Paul Ledwell also said a few words.

Members of the Lake Superior Regiment by the grave of Arthur Vanance. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Wreaths were laid, ‘O Canada’ and ‘God Save The King’ were played, as well as ‘The Last Post’ and ‘Reveille’.  After the ceremony, Pieter placed flags of Canada and Ontario at the grave.

Pieter placing flags of Canada and Ontario at the grave of Arthur Vanance. (Photo credit: Bastien Sjoerts)

Pieter with Captain Corey Nieminen (left) and Chief Warrant Officer Jon O’Connor (right) by the grave of Arthur Vanance.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Following the ceremony, we had a chance to meet and speak with other attendees, but were among the first to leave, as we had another commitment in another town, over 1 ½ hours away.

The following day, Mitch Banks, son of Lt George Calvin ‘Cal’ BANKS, was at the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten with his wife Linda, for the annual commemoration service.  “….The ceremony was very moving, especially when the young children laid white roses on each of the headstones. It brought tears to our eyes….”

While in Holten, Mitch and Linda visited the graves of three members of his father’s platoon: Arthur VANANCE, Harold Frederick HILDERLEY, and his father’s close friend, Earl Herbert CARLBOM.

Mitch Banks by the grave of Earl Herbert Carlbom.  (Photo courtesy of Mitch Banks)

After 80 years of lying in a grave marked as unknown, Arthur Vanance has a headstone that identifies him.  His story has come full circle!

Thank you to Bastien Sjoerts for taking a photo of Pieter placing flags by Arthur Vanance’s grave, and to Mitch Banks for sharing photos about his visit to Holten.  As well, thank you to the following for donating the flags that were placed at Arthur’s grave:

  • Alan Waddell, Constituent Assistant, on behalf of Heath MacDonald, MP for Malpeque, Prince Edward Island, for the Canadian flag.
  • Don Coutts on behalf of the Muttart and Coutts families in memory of Flight Sergeant Elmer Bagnall MUTTART for the Ontario flag.

More highlights of our adventures on the 2025 European War Memorial Trail will be featured in upcoming postings.  If you have a story or photo to share, please contact Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com or comment on the blog. 

 © Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?….

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

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

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

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

On The War Memorial Trail…..The WWII Soldier From Kenora Who Lay In An Unknown Grave For 80 Years…. Part 1: What Happened To Arthur Vanance?

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Arthur Vanance.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

August 19, 2025.  Sometimes research into a soldier takes years to unfold before the file can be closed.  Often a file remains open while a photo is being sought, or additional information.  When it drags on for too many years, it’s often deemed a Cold Case File.  (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/our-cold-cases/)

Other times, a file remains open because of special circumstances.  This happened in the case of WWII soldier Arthur VANANCE of Kenora, Ontario, whose story was written in ‘Holtense Canadezen’, Jan Braakman’s book (in Dutch) about some of the soldiers buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands, which we translated in 2021. 

….Arthur was in the Lake Superior Regiment….

Born January 5, 1919 in Kenora, Ontario, Arthur Vanance (surname also spelled Vanasse) was the son of Emmanuel Joseph and Annie Rosie (nee Halley) Vanance.  After his father died in April 1934, his mother remarried and moved to Powell River, British Columbia.

Before enlisting with the Lake Superior Regiment on July 11, 1940 in Kenora, Arthur worked as a truck driver.

On October 2, 1940, he married Rita Margaret Meservier in Port Arthur (now Thunder Bay), Ontario. Rita had a son, Allan Glenn McGuire, who had been born on July 21, 1939 in Winnipeg, Manitoba.  Rita and Arthur’s son, Arthur Henry Vanance, was born on December 27, 1941 in Thunder Bay.  (After Arthur’s death, Rita married Clayton (Mickey) McGuire, Allan’s father.)

By August 22, 1942, Arthur was in the United Kingdom with his Regiment, and remained there until July 21, 1944, when they were sent to Northwest Europe.  

Pieter in Bokhoven in 2010.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

In February 1945, the Lake Superior Regiment was near Bokhoven, The Netherlands, a place we knew very well, as Pieter’s maternal ancestor, Willem Kremers, lived there and died, along with his daughter Maria Anna, on the night of February 21-22, 1799. Strong winds had pushed up ice floes from the Maas River, and caused the collapse of a barn near a castle, where Willem and Maria Anna had been sheltering, but ended up being buried under the rubble. 

246 years later, on February 15, 1945, the area also proved to be unlucky for Arthur and three other soldiers from the Lake Superior Regiment.

……Arthur lost his life on February 15, 1945…….

An excerpt from ‘Holten Heroes: Stories from a Canadian Field of Honour’, from the chapter ‘Mission across the Maas’ gave an account of what happened on February 15, 1945…..

Map showing location of Bokhoven, Hedel, Zaltbommel, and Ammerzoden. (Map source: Mapbox)

“….In February 1945, his regiment was stationed near Bokhoven, on the south bank of the Maas, north of Hertogenbosch. And there he was deployed early in the morning for the fateful patrol on February 15, 1945. Such patrols were undertaken by both sides. The Germans tried to penetrate the Canadian lines on the Maas at Empel, Crevecoeur, and Gewande. Meanwhile, Canadians crossed the river to carry out reconnaissance of the north side and to check whether the Germans were still occupying their positions. Prisoners of war were captured by both sides during the skirmishes.

After the war, Lieutenant Colonel H.H.A. Parker of the Lake Superior Regiment explained what had happened to the patrol that Vanance was part of. “On the night of 14-15 February, B-Company had a patrol across the River Maas . . . ran into trouble on the way back with the result that only about half of the men got back to our side.” The patrol returned battered. One soldier (Walter Russell Lahoda) had been killed, ten were wounded, and three had fallen into the hands of the enemy. Among them – probably – was Arthur Vanance.

Parker stated in a letter to relatives of the deceased Earl Carlbom that a rescue operation was set up. ‘Sergeant Carlbom, along with Lieutenant Banks and Sergeant Boomhower decided to cross the river again and search for the missing men from their platoon. Unfortunately, they were ambushed, Lieutenant Banks and your son being wounded. Sergeant Boomhower managed to make his escape and he told us that there was little doubt that your son had been taken prisoner, but apparently, his wounds must have been more serious than they appeared. We have twice carried out a search of the whole area but have been unable to locate his grave.’

What happened to Arthur Vanance after that remains unclear. One of the soldiers, W.R. Marsh, later reported that Lance-Corporal Hilderley had been fatally wounded, and that they had been unable to recover his body due to intense enemy fire. But, said the same soldier, if they had had two stretchers, they could have picked up Hilderley and Vanance.

Banks told Marsh that another NCO, Carlbom, would take care of that. But Carlbom was also ambushed and killed. After the war it turned out that Carlbom had been buried by the Germans in the cemetery in Zaltbommel. Hilderley had been buried in occupied Ammerzoden, along with an unidentified Canadian soldier. Where Arthur Vanance had gone was unclear: he was missing. Hilderley’s body was exhumed after the war and reburied in Holten Canadian War Cemetery, in Plot XI, Row H, Grave 6. Carlbom was also reburied in Plot XI, Row H, Grave 7 in the same cemetery. The unidentified Canadian from Ammerzoden also ended up in Holten Canadian War Cemetery, in Plot XI, Row H, Grave 5….”

……The other casualties ……

Private Arthur Vanance wasn’t the only casualty that night….

  • Sgt Earl Herbert CARLBOM of Sioux Lookout, Ontario, aged 27
  • Lance-Corporal Harold Frederick HILDERLEY of Stratford, Ontario, aged 19
  • Private Walter Russell LAHODA of Winnipeg, Manitoba, aged 27

Carlbom and Hilderley are buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten.  Lahoda is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek.

Lt. George Calvin ‘Cal’ Banks. (Photo courtesy of Mitch Banks)

Lt. George Calvin ‘Cal’ BANKS survived.  His son, Mitch Banks, wrote to let us know that “….Private Arthur Vanance is part of my Father’s story as he was his Platoon commander that fateful night on February 15th 1945 when Private Vanance and three others of Dad’s platoon were killed. My Dad was severely wounded and taken prisoner….”

Mitch explained that “…having learned his friend Sergeant Carlbom was killed and Dad having lost a lot of blood, he would have been in a state of shock and probably not sure where he was initially taken….” 

In the Liberated Prisoner of War Questionnaire that was completed after the war ended, Cal stated that he had been captured near Hedel on February 15, 1945, then initially taken to a hospital in Apeldoorn until March 31, 1945, followed by a hospital in Haarlem, where he remained until May 8, 1945.  

……Was Arthur buried in that unknown grave? ……

Was Arthur Vanance in Plot XI, Row H, Grave 5 in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten? (Photo courtesy of the Information Centre Canadian Cemetery Holten)

The account in Jan Braakman’s book ended with the belief that it was Arthur who lay buried in Plot XI, Row H, Grave 5 in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, and was so compelling that the translated excerpt was sent to Dr. Sarah Lockyer, Casualty Identification Coordinator, Directorate of History and Heritage, Department of National Defence of the Government of Canada. 

In a subsequent phone conversation, Dr Lockyer asked if a family member had been found, as that would be very helpful.  Pieter immediately began his research and it wasn’t long before he was in contact with Paulette Alcock of Alberta, who wrote to say that “…I can confirm that Arthur Vanance was my dad’s half-brother.  He spoke of him being missing in the war and remembers his mom receiving a medal. He was young, so it was tough, and my dad has also been gone for over 30 years. If I can help in the further steps, let me know.  It would be nice to have my uncle Arthur as a known soldier….”   Paulette agreed to have her contact information shared with Dr Lockyer, which was done.  

We heard nothing for several years, but did keep Dr Lockyer updated, such as when the translated book was published in English in October 2023 as ‘Holten Heroes: Stories from a Canadian Field of Honour’.  (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/11/01/new-book-about-soldiers-buried-in-the-canadian-war-cemetery-in-holten-the-netherlands/ ) 

In March 2024, Jan Braakman submitted the English language chapter about Arthur Vanance to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), which can be read at: https://www.cwgc.org/stories/stories/private-arthur-vanance-lake-superior-regiment-mission-across-the-river-maas/ 

….The Directorate of Heritage and History wrote to inform us that Arthur’s grave was no longer unknown ….

Then, a year later, on March 3, 2025, we received the following email from Dr. Lockyer:

“….Good morning Mr. and Mrs. Valkenburg,

I am delighted to inform you that the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces have publicly announced the identification of Private Arthur Vanance. His case was adjudicated and accepted at the December 2024 Casualty Identification Review Board and his next of kin was recently notified by the Canadian Armed Forces. I have attached a letter from the Acting Director of History and Heritage thanking you for your submission that ultimately made this happen.

The URLs for the News Release are found below….

ENGLISH: https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/news/2025/03/canadian-soldier-of-the-second-world-war-identified.html

FRENCH: https://www.canada.ca/fr/ministere-defense-nationale/nouvelles/2025/03/identification-dun-soldat-canadien-de-la-seconde-guerre-mondiale.html

The Canadian Armed Forces are aiming to conduct his rededication ceremony in early May to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands commemorative events hosted by Veterans Affairs Canada at Holten Cemetery.

Thank you for your help in making this happen. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

Cheers,

Sarah

Sarah Lockyer, PhD….”

The March 3, 2025 letter to us from Captain Ken Ingram, Acting Director of History and Heritage, Department of National Defence of the Government of Canada, provided the same information as Dr Lockyer, and thanked us for the small part we played in this story:

“….We are pleased to inform you that following extensive research undertaken by both the CWGC and Directorate of History and Heritage (Canadian Armed Forces), the information you submitted was accepted in December 2024 by the Casualty Identification Review Board.

We sincerely thank you for submitting your report to the CWGC. Your excellent research helped to enable this incredible outcome.…”

Media coverage picked up this wonderful outcome…. see https://www.ctvnews.ca/northern-ontario/article/grave-of-missing-northern-ont-solider-identified-after-80-years/

….The Re-dedication Ceremony was planned for May 3, 2025 …

Towards the end of March, we were informed by both Henk Vincent, volunteer at the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, and by Adjum/MWO Brian Keene, Directorate History and Heritage (3-3) – Dress and Ceremonial, of the Canadian Armed Forces that the re-dedication ceremony for Arthur’s grave would be held on the morning of May 3, 2025.  As we would be in The Netherlands during the period, we were able to attend this special event.

Coming up in Part 2….we attend the grave re-dedication ceremony for Arthur Vanance, one of the highlights of our adventures on the 2025 European War Memorial Trail. 

Thank you to Mitch Banks for the information and photos about his father, Lt Banks, and to Yannic Wethly for sending us the Liberated POW Questionnaire.  Thank you to Jan Braakman for permission to quote from his book, with translation into English by Pieter and Daria Valkenburg

If you have a story or photo to share, please contact Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com or comment on the blog. 

 © Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?….

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

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

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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Pieter Valkenburg appointed Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau

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Left to right:  Her Honour Marie Salamoun-Dunne, His Honour Dr Wassim Salamoun, Lt Governor of Prince Edward Island, Daria Valkenburg, Pieter Valkenburg, Her Excellency Margriet Vonno, Ambassador of The Netherlands to Canada, Lt-Colonel  Mark De Wit, Defence Attaché for The Netherlands to Canada.  (Photo credit: Matthew B. MacFarlane)

August 11, 2025.  On July 2, 2025, by Royal Decree of His Majesty Willem-Alexander, King of The Netherlands, Pieter was appointed Knight of the Order of Orange-Nassau.  Created on April 4, 1892, the Order of Orange-Nassau is conferred on people who have made a contribution of outstanding value. Those who are appointed Knights have rendered meritorious service of national importance to The Netherlands.

Invitation to the July 2, 2025 Ceremony.

….The knighthood was in recognition of Pieter’s ongoing military research…

Pieter received his knighthood in recognition of the military research he’s done, and continues to do, to help ensure that Canadian soldiers buried in The Netherlands are not forgotten, and that their stories are told.  The Dutch have never forgotten their Canadian liberators!

English translation of what was in the Staatscourant (Government Gazette):  For services in the field of commemoration of victims of WWII (Dutch wording: voor verdiensten op het terrein van herdenking slachtoffers Tweede Wereldoorlog)

 ….Lt Colonel Mark de Wit provided background on the decoration …

Order of Orange-Nassau. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

The decoration was presented by Her Excellency Margriet Vonno, Ambassador of The Netherlands to Canada, in a beautiful ceremony hosted by His Honour, Dr Wassim Salamoun, Lt Governor of Prince Edward Island.

The ceremony began with greetings by Dr Wassim Salamoun, followed by Lt Colonel Mark de Wit of the Royal Netherlands Air Force, Netherlands Defence Attaché to Canada, who described the decoration to be presented to Pieter.

“…The medal itself is a blue and white cross, topped with the royal crown. In the middle of the cross is a blue medallion with the Dutch lion. Around the lion are the French words: je maintiendrai – I will maintain, ‘ik zal handhaven’.

On the back of the medallion is the letter ‘W’, representing Queen Wilhelmina. Around the ‘W’ are the words: God is met ons – God is with us….”

….The Knighthood was presented to Pieter by Ambassador Vonno…

Her Excellency Margriet Vonno, Ambassador of The Netherlands to Canada with Pieter.  (Photo by Provincial Photographer Evan Ceretti)

In her remarks just before Pieter was presented with his decoration, Her Excellency Margriet Vonno, Ambassador of The Netherlands to Canada, began by saying “…We are all here to honour a Dutchman, and I am glad to see so many of his friends and family gathered today at the Lieutenant Governor’s residence here in Charlottetown.

Pieter is one of these people that has worked endlessly and voluntarily, for over many years now, to do something for our Canadian Liberators who did not return and lie buried in The Netherlands. 

Preserving their stories and literally putting faces to graves. Not a simple task, because we all know that 80 years has passed and finding the families and information about these young soldiers is not easy….”

After listing the accomplishments that led to this honour, Ambassador Vonno concluded by saying  “…Pieter, you have given all your spare time to not only preserve stories of our fallen liberators but also to promote them to a wider public. I know you continue this important work to this day and I hope you will have many more years of success. I am sure that much of this was also due to the incredible support of your wife Daria.

So it is only appropriate to thank you, on behalf of all, for what you have done all those years, and to commend you.

Dear guests, His Majesty King Willem Alexander has decided to award Pieter Anthonie Valkenburg with Knight in the Order of Orange-Nassau and it is my great honour to present the insignia of the order….”

Newly decorated Pieter shakes hands with Her Excellency Margriet Vonno, Ambassador of The Netherlands to Canada.  (Photo by Provincial Photographer Evan Ceretti)

…. Pieter was invited to give his remarks…

Pieter says a few words after his investiture. (Photo by Provincial Photographer Evan Ceretti)

Following his investiture, an emotional Pieter was invited to say a few words, and he began with expressing his thanks.  “….I am deeply humbled by this honour, and a bit overwhelmed. Many thanks are in order.  First, thank you to His Honour, Dr. Wassim Salamoun, Lt. Governor of Prince Edward Island, for hosting this ceremony. Thank you to Her Excellency, Margriet Vonno, Ambassador of The Netherlands to Canada, for nominating me for this precious decoration.

I’m grateful to everyone who wrote a letter of support, and to Wendy Sewell, Assistant Defence Attaché, who coordinated this nomination.

Last, but not least, I would like to thank my wife and soulmate Daria, who says I have a tendency to hide my light under a bushel. Her support has been tremendous. Without her, no one would know about our work…”

Pieter provided a few highlights of what happened since he began researching, and how the project has grown from a modest start in Prince Edward Island.  “….I never dreamed that this small scale Island research project could have grown into a pan-Canadian research project that keeps getting bigger, and has taken me down several paths….”

In conclusion, Pieter noted that “…remembrance of those who gave their lives for our continued freedom is important, and no soldier buried overseas should ever be forgotten….”   

Wendy Sewell, Assistant Defence Attaché, with Pieter and Daria at lunch following the ceremony.  (Photo credit: Mark de Wit)

….The honour came after a very busy trip to Europe for the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of The Netherlands…

Pieter placing flags of Canada and Prince Edward Island at the grave of Elmer Bagnall Muttart. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

This recognition came on top of a busy spring, which found us in Europe for commemoration events for the 80th anniversary of the liberation of The Netherlands. Over our 5 week stay, we visited 14 cemeteries in The Netherlands and Belgium, placing small Canadian and provincial flags at 383 graves of soldiers that Pieter had researched, as well as Acadian flags, where appropriate. We’d even been sent Indigenous flags by families to be placed at the graves of 3 Indigenous soldiers. The graves were of soldiers from all 10 provinces, plus Yukon Territory. 

After having placed 120 flags at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek on April 28, 2025, Pieter was pleased to see the flags still in place when we attended the May 2, 2025 commemoration service for the 80th Anniversary of the Liberation of The Netherlands at the cemetery.  (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/07/19/on-the-war-memorial-trailwe-attended-the-ceremony-at-the-canadian-war-cemetery-in-groesbeek/)

The next day, at the grave re-dedication ceremony at the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten for WWII soldier Arthur VANANCE of Kenora, Ontario, His Excellency Hugh Adsett, Ambassador of Canada to The Netherlands, commented on how much pride he’d felt in seeing so many flags of New Brunswick, his home province, the day before in Groesbeek.

We attended the grave re-dedication as we’d been recognized by the Canadian Armed Forces Casualty Identification Program for our part in finding a family member of the soldier, and for translating documents that helped in determining that the grave of an unknown soldier buried in Holten was actually the resting place of Vanance.  (Note: This story is still to come, plus more stories about our 2025 European War Memorial Tour.)

….Island media interviews …

Following the July 2 ceremony, articles about Pieter’s knighthood ran in Island newspapers:  County Line Courier, The Guardian, and by Josh Lewis of The Eastern Graphic.  Pieter also was interviewed on CBC PEI Radio’s ‘Island Morning With Mitch Cormier’ by Taylor O’Brien.

Taylor O’Brien with Pieter at the CBC studio in Charlottetown.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

See https://www.saltwire.com/prince-edward-island/pieter-valkenburg-of-p-e-i-appointed-knight-of-the-order-of-orange-nassau and https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-30-island-morning/clip/16162199-islander-knighted-king-netherlands

….Previous recognition…

This was the second honour this year from The Netherlands!  In May, we received a Certificate and a Faces To Graves ‘coin’ by the Faces To Graves Groesbeek Foundation for their research into Canadian soldiers buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, and for finding families and sharing photos of over 100 of the soldiers.

Pieter has also been recognized here in Canada, most recently in 2024, when he received the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/recognition/)

Now that the excitement of receiving a Knighthood is over, the research work continues for Pieter, and we’ll continue to share the highlights of our adventures on the 2025 European War Memorial Trail on our journey of remembrance.   

If you have photos or information to share about soldiers buried in The Netherlands or Belgium, please 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/

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

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…..CWGC Volunteer At Cape Traverse Community Cemetery

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CWGC Volunteer Pieter trying to activate the Work App at Cape Traverse Community Cemetery.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

August 8, 2025. Anyone who has visited a War Graves Cemetery managed by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) can attest to how well the graves are cared for and the incredible work done by the gardeners in ensuring that flowers and small shrubs are planted in each row of graves. 

And yes, the grass is kept green and well-watered, as we ourselves experienced while visiting one of the Canadian War Cemeteries in The Netherlands on a very hot day.  It wasn’t that I minded getting drenched, but I didn’t appreciate my carefully written spreadsheet of the graves to visit getting water-soaked!

We knew that the CWGC commemorates and cares for the graves of men and women of the Commonwealth that died during WWI and WWII, but were astounded to learn that this involves 1.7 million graves. Six member countries make up the CWGC– the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, India, and South Africa.

According to the CWGC website, “… 23,000 locations in over 150 countries and territories….” are covered with “…. over 2,000 ‘constructed’ war cemeteries the largest being Tyne Cot in Belgium….” – which we had visited in 2017.

….Who is commemorated in a CWGC grave?…

CWGC commemorates personnel who died between August 4, 1914 and August 31, 1921 for WWI and September 3, 1939 and December 31, 1947 for WWII, while serving in a Commonwealth military force or specified auxiliary organization.

CWGC also commemorates those who died in the same WWI and WWII time period as above, after they were discharged from a Commonwealth military force, if their death was caused by their wartime service.

Commonwealth civilians who died between September 3, 1939 and December 31, 1947 as a consequence of enemy action, Allied weapons of war, or while in an enemy prison camp are also commemorated.

….Pieter is now a volunteer under CWGC’s National Volunteer Program…

Not all Canadians who died during WWI or WWII are buried overseas. They may have died of illness or accidents and were buried in Canada, but still have a CWGC gravestone.  Recently the CWGC asked for volunteers across Canada to be part of the National Volunteer Program and visit local cemeteries and gather information about the condition of CWGC war graves.

Having visited so many CWGC cemeteries, as well as CWGC graves in municipal cemeteries, in Europe, Pieter applied and was accepted as a volunteer.  After receiving training on how to inspect headstones, how to report a grave in need of repair, and how to safely clean headstones where required, he was assigned 4 cemeteries in the South Shore area on Prince Edward Island.   The 4 cemeteries are:

  • Cape Traverse Community Cemetery (3 CWGC graves)
  • Tryon People’s Cemetery (2 CWGC graves)
  • Kelly’s Cross (St Joseph) Parish Cemetery (1 CWGC grave)
  • Seven Mile Bay (St Peter’s) Cemetery  (4 CWGC graves)

….There are 3 CWGC graves at Cape Traverse Community Cemetery…

Pieter with Rev Kent Compton outside the Free Church of Scotland in Cape Traverse. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg

Cape Traverse Community Cemetery, formerly known as the Free Church of Scotland Cemetery, was first on Pieter’s list. A sub-committee of the Cape Traverse Ice Boat Heritage Incorporated maintains the cemetery on behalf of the Free Church of Scotland.  “…The church is still responsible for the cemetery and owns the land….” explained Reverend Kent Compton. 

Jim Glennie (left) and Andrew MacKay (right) with Pieter Valkenburg (centre).  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

“…This is the third summer that we’re cutting the grass at the cemetery…” reflected Andrew MacKay. Andrew and Jim Glennie, two volunteers with the organization, said that the organization had been approached for help by older parishioners in the community.

….Three CWGC graves were inspected at Cape Traverse Community Cemetery…

There are 3 CWGC graves in this cemetery, whose stories have all been told over the years on this blog:

Andrew MacKay (left), Pieter Valkenburg (centre) and Jim Glennie (right) at the grave of Leigh Hunt Cameron.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

….The 6 step process of inspecting and cleaning a grave…

The first grave Pieter inspected and cleaned at the Cape Traverse Community Cemetery was that of Elmyr Kruger…..

Step 1 – Take a photo of Elmyr’s  grave before cleaning begins.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Step 2 – Take a photo of the graves that are around Elmyr’s grave.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Step 3 – Gently brush off dirt on Elmyr’s grave.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Step 4 – Wash Elmyr’s grave with water.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Step 5 – Gently brush dirt off of the sides and back of Elmyr’s grave.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Step 6 – Wash the sides and back of Elmyr’s grave with water.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

….Over 100 years old but a very clean grave now…

Rev Kent Compton and Pieter by the WWI grave of Elmyr Kruger.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

The grave of Elmyr Kruger has been in place in the cemetery since October 1918, and now looks almost like new after being cleaned! Rev Compton and Pieter visited Elmyr’s grave a few days after it was cleaned.

….Can you help with finding photos?…

While a photo of Harold ‘Lloyd’ Lefurgey was provided by family years ago, no photo has yet been found for Elmyr Kruger or Leigh Hunt Cameron.  If you can help with finding a photo, please email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com or comment on the blog.

When asked about his new role as a CWGC volunteer, Pieter had a simple reply. “…It’s an honour for me to take care of those graves, which I’ve already visited several times as a member of the Borden-Carleton Legion Branch, when we place flags at the graves of veterans during Remembrance Week…” (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2024/11/03/on-the-war-memorial-trail-borden-carleton-legion-honours-veterans-by-placing-flags-at-their-graves/)

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?…

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

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

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…..Found – Engine Part From The Last Flight Of Halifax L9561

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Politiek Farm on the left with the village of Wons on the right. (Photo courtesy of Remko de Jong)

July 29, 2025.  After visiting 4 cemeteries in Friesland on the last day of April during our 2025 European War Memorial Tour, we were hot and tired, and faced a long drive back to where we were staying.  (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/07/23/on-the-war-memorial-trail-our-visit-to-4-cemeteries-in-friesland/)

However, we continued on to the village of Bolsward, as Makkum resident Remko de Jong had been informed that part of the engine from the last flight of Halifax L9561, which had been found on the Politiek Farm in Wons, was being displayed at an exhibition in the De Tiid (The Times) Museum in Bolsward. 

Map shows the location of the Politiek farm, the crash site where Halifax L9561 came down, and location of the Memorial Panel placed in 2019 in Wons.  (Map courtesy of Remko de Jong)

When we were at Harlingen General Cemetery earlier that day, we placed flags at the grave of RCAF Flight Sergeant Elmer Bagnall MUTTART of Cape Traverse, Prince Edward Island, who died on the night of October 12, 1941, at the age of 23, when the plane he was piloting was attacked by German nightfighters, and crashed near the village of Wons.  Elmer’s story has been well documented on this blog over the past years. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2017/07/28/the-elmer-bagnall-muttart-story/)

The burning plane had crashed on the Politiek Farm, which we had visited in 2017. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2018/02/07/on-the-war-memorial-trail-at-the-politiek-farm-in-wons/)

….Part of the engine from Halifax L9561 was found in 2023…

On October 22, 2023, Remko de Jong had sent photos, informing Pieter of a surprise discovery….. A piece of the engine from the last flight of Halifax L9561 had been found on the Politek farm in Wons. “… This is the front section attached to the main engine with the three propeller blades. … This engine was found five weeks ago on the land where Elmer Muttart’s Halifax crashed….I don’t yet know what will happen to it or where it will be displayed….”  (NOTE: Translation from the original Dutch)

Engine part from Halifax L9561 found on the Politiek farm in 2023.  (Photo courtesy of Remko de Jong)

On October 30, 2023, Douwe Drijver of the Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation informed Pieter that “…Mr. Cor Politiek from Wons recently informed us that a part of the Halifax had been found….” After photos were received, they were able to “….determine what was pulled from the clay. It’s the transmission from the engine to one of the propellers. The three blades were attached to this….”  (NOTE: Translation from the original Dutch) 

Any excitement about the find was tempered by uncertainty as to what would happen next. “…. If these are found at a depth of more than 30 centimetres, they are considered archaeological finds. This means they must be reported to the municipality or province. Mr. Politiek has since arranged this. There is now a chance that the transmission will be confiscated. Because the municipality responded with understanding, I advised everyone to do business with them….”  (NOTE: 30 cm is 11.8 inches)

….The engine part was sent to a museum in Bolsward…

Remko explained that the part had been found while using a metal detector, and that it was “….buried 1 to ½ metres below the ground…” on the Politiek farm.  “…Because of the depth at which the engine part was found, it was deemed the property of the province and therefore had to be sent to the museum in Bolsward….”  (NOTE: Translation from the original Dutch)

We heard nothing more about the find until this year, when Remko was informed that the engine would be displayed in an air exhibition at the regional museum in Bolsward towards the end of April.  He made an appointment for the three of us to visit the museum and to meet with the curator, as it turned out that no one in the museum was aware of the heroism displayed by Elmer Muttart in saving his crew and the village of Wons …. at the expense of his own life. 

Before we left for our trip, we shared the short documentary we’d made about the events that led up to a memorial panel being placed in Wons…..and we brought newspaper articles for the museum to have in its collection. See ‘He Died That We Might Live …the story of Halifax L9561(S1E2)’ …..

….The engine part was not on display in Bolsward…

When we arrived at the De Tiid Museum in Bolsward, we were met with disappointment.  The Air Exhibition did not display the engine part, nor did we see the curator.  Instead, one of the archivists, Nena Huizinga, came and showed us the engine part – which was on the floor in a closet, and not on display.

Nena Huizinga with Remko de Jong and Pieter beside the engine part sitting on the floor of a closet in De Tiid Museum in Bolsward.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Sketch of the engine part from Halifax L9561, as drawn by Daria Valkenburg

Nena explained that she had watched the video, and was interested in the newspaper articles, as the story about Halifax L9561 was not one that the archivists at the museum were familiar with.  She didn’t know why the engine part was not part of the Air Exhibition, but said she would find out what happened.

Pieter explaining to Nena Huizinga how the plane came down just outside Wons.  (Photo credit: Daria  Valkenburg)

….An explanation on why the engine part was not on display…

The next day, we received an email from Nena about the engine part and why it was sitting in a closet.  “….Today I asked the museum….why the engine block was not on display.…” It had originally been part of the Air Exhibition, but “…apparently it was too heavy and the engine block had fallen through the museum furniture….” on which it had been displayed.  “….It was also leaking oil….”  (NOTE: Translation from the original Dutch) 

She went on to explain that “…next week they will look at it again, and hope to find a solution so that it can still be included in the exhibition….” Remko is actively following up on this story but unfortunately, almost 3 months after our visit, the engine part is still not on display. 

This concluded our visit to Friesland.  We’ll continue to share the highlights of our adventures on the 2025 European War Memorial Trail on our journey of remembrance. 

The research work continues for Pieter. If you have photos or information to share about soldiers buried in The Netherlands or Belgium, please 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/

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

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…..Our Visit To 4 Cemeteries In Friesland

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July 23, 2025.  On a scorching hot sunny day, we travelled 2 hours to the province of Friesland, where we had planned to place flags at 4 cemeteries and to meet with Remko de Jong, a resident of Makkum, who coordinates the Christmas Eve Candle Lighting ceremony in his village and has shared photos with us for several years. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/12/31/2023-christmas-eve-candle-lighting-in-the-netherlands/)

….Flags placed at 11 graves in Harlingen General Cemetery…

Our first stop on the war memorial trail in Friesland was at Harlingen General Cemetery in Harlingen, where we placed flags at 11 graves, 9 of them the graves of Canadian airmen. 

Daria at Harlingen General Cemetery.  (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

Pieter snapped the above photo of me at Harlingen General Cemetery, one of the 4 small cemeteries we visited today in the province of Friesland.  You can see me with a clipboard with names of the men and the provinces they came from so we knew which graves to visit and which provincial flags to place.

Pieter placing flags of Canada and Prince Edward Island at the grave of Elmer Bagnall Muttart. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Our main reason for the trip to this cemetery was to place flags at the grave of RCAF Flight Sergeant Elmer Bagnall MUTTART of Cape Traverse, Prince Edward Island, who died on the night of October 12, 1941, at the age of 23, when the plane he was piloting was attacked by German nightfighters, and crashed near the village of Wons.  Elmer’s story has been well documented on this blog over the past years. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2017/07/28/the-elmer-bagnall-muttart-story/)

Grave of Elmer Bagnall Muttart.  (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

We also placed flags at the grave of an unknown airman, in tribute to Rowan Charles ‘Bunky’ FITZGERALD of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, who lost his life on June 28, 1942, when the plane he was on was attacked and crashed into the sea.  His body has never been identified.  It’s not known if he’s buried in an unknown grave in this cemetery, but we lay flags there as one crew member from Australia was identified and is buried in the row behind Elmer Muttart. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/10/12/on-the-war-memorial-trail-well-never-forget-uncle-bunky/)

We placed flags of Canada and Prince Edward Island at this unknown grave in honour of Rowan Charles ‘Bunky’ FitzGerald.  (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

In addition to visiting these two graves, we also placed flags at the graves of:

  • William Raymond James BROWN of Vancouver, British Columbia, died September 29, 1941 while serving in the RCAF
  • Donald Edward CAMPBELL of Rouleau, Saskatchewan, died June 26, 1943 while serving in the RCAF
  • Francis Arthur DAVIEAUX of Sioux Ste Marie, Ontario, died July 14, 1945 while serving in the Ontario Regiment
  • James MCDOWELL of Port Arthur (now part of Thunder Bay), Ontario, died May 16, 1943 while serving in the RCAF
  • Murray Hudley NESBITT of Toronto, Ontario, died May 13, 1943 while serving in the RCAF
  • John Beverley PLEASENCE of Chatham, Ontario, died July 22, 1942 while serving in the RCAF
  • William Maurice POPPLESTONE of Pilot Mound, Manitoba, died March 26, 1942 while serving in the RCAF
  • Thomas ‘Tommy’ Clayton REID of Toronto, Ontario, died July 22, 1945 while serving in the Sherbrooke Fusiliers
  • Robert WISHART of Hamilton, Ontario, died July 22, 1942 while serving in the RCAF

From Harlingen, we went towards Makkum, stopping at the Halifax L9561 Memorial Panel in Wons to place flags of Canada and Prince Edward Island in honour of the flight’s pilot and sole fatality, Elmer Bagnall MUTTART. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2019/11/18/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-memorial-panel-in-wons-is-unveiled/)

Pieter at the Memorial Panel in Wons, honouring the crew of the last flight of Halifax L9561.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

…..Flags placed at two graves in Makkum…

In Makkum we met with Remko de Jong for lunch, and he joined us in visiting the next 3 cemeteries.  First up was the Donia Protestant Church Cemetery (also known as Wonseradeel (Makkum) Protestant Churchyard) in Makkum.

38 airmen are buried in this cemetery, which is located by Lake Ijsselmeer in the province of Friesland.  Most of the airmen’s bodies were recovered from the foot of the dikes surrounding Makkum, pushed there from the sea by winds blowing in from the southwest. Others were recovered by fishermen from Makkum who brought the corpses to their home port for burial.  (See https://www.zzairwar.nl/dossiers/954.html for more information.)

One of the airmen buried in Makkum is RCAF Flying Officer John Francis Edward TABOR of Ottawa, Ontario, who lost his life when the plane he was in, Halifax LK879 crashed at sea on the night of December 16, 1944 into December 17, 1944.  Remko mentioned that he had a very poor quality photo of this airman and asked for help in finding a better photo.  Pieter will have to add this request to his research list!

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

….We placed flags at one grave in Witmarsum…

Remko de Jong and Pieter at the grave of Stanley Adolfson Bishop. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

From Makkum we travelled to the village of Witmarsum. Our destination was the Wonseradeel (Witmarsum) Protestant Churchyard, where we placed flags at the grave of Stanley Adolfson BISHOP of Quebec, an RCAF Flying Officer serving with 100 Squadron of the Royal Air Force, died May 28, 1943, aged 26, when Lancaster III ED821 HW-A was shot down over The Netherlands by a night fighter. Six of the crew perished, with one survivor who became a prisoner of war.

…..Flags placed at two graves in Kimswerd…

Pieter outside Laurentiuskerk, where the cemetery in Kimswerd is located.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Our last cemetery stop was in the village of Kimswerd, to place flags at the graves of two airmen from 101 (RAF) Squadron, buried in the poorly maintained Wonseradeel (Kimswerd) Protestant Churchyard.  Both men were aboard Wellington III X3654 SR-K, in which all 6 crew members lost their lives.  

Thomas MCBRIDE of British Columbia, an RCAF Warrant Officer serving with 101 Squadron of the Royal Air Force, died August 18, 1942, aged 33.

Pieter and Remko de Jong by the grave of Earl Herbert Brown. To the left is the grave of Thomas McBride. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Earl Herbert BROWN of Ontario, an RCAF Pilot Officer serving with 101 Squadron of the Royal Air Force, also died August 18, 1942, aged 26.

This concluded our visit to the 4 cemeteries in Friesland, but the day was not yet over! The three of us next travelled to De Tiid (The Times) Museum in Bolswerd, to look at an engine part belonging to the last flight of Halifax L9561, found at the crash site where Elmer Bagnall MUTTART lost his life. 

Over the next postings, we’ll continue to share the highlights of our adventures on the 2025 European War Memorial Trail on our journey of remembrance.  Next up – the visit to Bolsward.

The research work continues for Pieter. If you have photos or information to share about soldiers buried in The Netherlands or Belgium, or can contribute a photo of John Francis Edward TABOR, please 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/

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

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…We Attended The Ceremony at The Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek

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July 19, 2025.  Every year we receive an invitation to attend the annual commemoration ceremony in May at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands.  For the first time, however, we were able to accept the invitation as we would be in Europe.

Pieter made sure that flags had been placed ahead of the May 2, 2025 ceremony at all of the 120 graves on our research list at the cemetery, and we were very happy to see them all still in place.  (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/06/23/on-the-war-memorial-trail-2025-faces-of-groesbeek-exhibition-part-1-flags-placed-at-120-graves/)

….A beautiful ceremony…

On May 2, 2025, we were picked up by Henk Vincent, a volunteer at the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, which was near where we were staying.  Henk had offered us a ride, for which we were grateful as traffic was heavy and a 2 hour drive each way was not one we had been looking forward to. 

Pieter and I had assigned seating in the ‘Canadian contingent’ and were placed in the first row. I was next to a woman from Calgary, who was seated with her brother, a retired Assistant Commissioner of the RCMP.  She said there were 9 of them travelling together, all present to honour a soldier named MacDonald….and all were originally from Amaranth, Manitoba, which is near Lake Manitoba and not far from Riding Mountain National Park.  They were amazed to learn that I was also from Manitoba!  Pieter just shook his head.  He said I manage to meet someone from Manitoba everywhere I go.

The Canadian Forces Band marched past us as the ceremony began.  (Photo credit:  Daria Valkenburg)

The ceremony itself was beautiful, but it was very hot and sunny. At 30oC, sitting outside for hours, with the hot sun beating down on everyone, was very uncomfortable.  I ended up covering my head and shoulders with my sweater or I would have gotten heatstroke. 

I wasn’t alone.  There were a number of elderly WWII veterans – the oldest 101 – who had initially been placed in the front, but had to be moved into a shaded area. 

Alice van Bekkum, Chair of Faces To Graves Groesbeek Foundation at the podium, near the Cross of Remembrance, during the ceremony at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

….Caught on TV with a pink sweater on my head…

That evening, when we got back to the cottage we’d rented, there was an email from Don Coutts, saying that he had seen us briefly on CTV… and he sent the link.  Yes…. we were caught on camera…….me with a sweater on my head, and Pieter in a red polo shirt.

CTV National News: ‘You are not forgotten’: Canadians honoured on 80th anniversary of Netherlands liberation- —–Friday, May 2, 2025.  Stop the video at the 1 minute 5 second mark and see if you can spot us: https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/article/you-are-not-forgotten-canadians-honoured-on-80th-anniversary-of-netherlands-liberation/

….Pieter noticed a grave without a photo…

Grave of Donald Montgomery.  (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

Where we were seated, and while waiting for the ceremony to start, Pieter noticed that there was a grave in the row that didn’t have a photo beside it.  Always ready to do research, he took a photo of the grave and later looked up the soldier and found a photo. Donald MONTGOMERY of Prince Rupert, British Columbia, son of Malcolm and Catherine Montgomery, was serving with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry when he lost his life on March 2, 1945, aged 23.  

In a subsequent email to Alice van Bekkum, Chair of Faces To Graves Groesbeek Foundation, he explained what happened.  “….During the ceremony on May 2nd I was near the gravestone of a soldier without a photo, while in the same row most graves had a photo. 

This intrigued me and so I took a photo of the gravestone. It is Donald Montgomery, he is buried in: XXIV. A. 15. 

I found the accompanying photo on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial. So now he has a face….” 

Donald Montgomery.  (Photo courtesy of Canadian Virtual War Memorial)

In 2027, during the next Faces of Groesbeek Exhibition, Donald Montgomery will have a photo by his grave!

….A tobacco pouch was placed at the grave of John Henry Lavigne…

Grave of John Henry Lavigne, who was serving with 9 Field Ambulance of the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps when he died on August 21, 1945, aged 21. (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

Nova Wolf, Knowledge Keeper Musqueam First Nation, who was from Vancouver, was one of the first performers at the Commemoration Ceremony in Groesbeek.  He spoke about his grandfather, and he sang and danced. 

In his presentation, he mentioned how the Musqueam had fought the Haida First Nation in the past. Afterwards we spoke with him briefly, mentioning we had researched the story of Stanley Owen JONES, a WWII soldier and Haida Nation member of the Massett Band in British Columbia, who is buried in Holten. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/09/05/on-the-war-memorial-trail-remembering-wwii-soldier-stanley-owen-jones/)

He asked about Indigenous soldiers in the cemetery in Groesbeek, and we said there were several, including a soldier from Restigouche, Quebec, John Henry LAVIGNE, at whose grave we had placed a Lnu (Mi’kmaw) flag.  “…Where is the grave?…” he asked.  We took him to it, and were very touched when he placed a tobacco pouch at his grave.  What a thoughtful and kind young man!

Nova Wolf holds a tobacco pouch that he placed at the grave of John Henry Lavigne.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Thank you to the Faces To Graves Groesbeek Foundation for inviting us to attend the ceremony, and to Don Coutts for sending the CTV video clip.  Thank you also to Della Maguire who had provided Lnu (Mi’kmaw) flag on behalf of the Toney/Smith Family in memory of Pte Leo Francis TONEY (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mi’kmaq and https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/05/22/on-the-war-memorial-trail-remembering-ww2-soldier-leo-francis-toney/)

Over the next postings, we’ll continue to share the highlights of our adventures on the 2025 European War Memorial Trail on our journey of remembrance.

The research work continues for Pieter. If you have photos or information to share about soldiers buried in The Netherlands or Belgium, please 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/

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

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.