Charles Marshall CARSON

On The War Memorial Trail….The Faces Of Groesbeek Exhibition Part 5: Soldiers Who Lost Their Lives In Bienen

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IMG_7596 May 4 2023 RCMP Musical Ride in Groesbeek Ad with 2 mounties

Ad Scheepers with two members of the RCMP Musical Ride in Groesbeek on May 4, 2023. (Photo courtesy of Ad and Noor Scheepers)

May 25, 2023. After a successful exhibition where photos were placed at more than 1,600 graves at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek for three weeks in 2021 to commemorate the Anniversary of the Liberation of The Netherlands, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which oversees the cemetery, gave permission for photos to be placed by the graves every two years.

…The Faces Of Groesbeek Exhibition 2023 included almost 2,000 photos…

This year, The Faces Of Groesbeek Exhibition ran from April 30 to May 21, 2023, with almost 2,000 photos, just over 350 more than 2 years ago!  All photos submitted by families and volunteer researchers were printed onto an aluminum backing, making them impervious to rain, and reusable.

The many volunteers from Faces To Graves Foundation Groesbeek, of which Alice van Bekkum is the Chair, worked tirelessly to make the exhibition possible.  They also organized the Liberation Day commemoration events.

Pieter has been involved in finding photos of Canadians who are buried in all three Canadian War Cemeteries in The Netherlands since 2014, with many of their stories told on this blog.

This spring we did a 12 part series on soldiers from the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment who lost their lives during the Battle of Bienen in Germany on March 25, 1945, and are buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek.

…8 Soldiers Who Lost Their Lives In Bienen Commemorated…

In Part 1, graves and photos of soldiers from Prince Edward Island were featured.  Part 2 featured Indigenous soldiers.  Part 3 featured soldiers from Nova Scotia, whose stories were told in the Atlantic Canada Remembers series from 2021.  Part 4 featured soldiers from New Brunswick, whose stories were told in the Atlantic Canada Remembers series from 2021.

In Part 5, eight soldiers from the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment whose stories were told in the Battle of Bienen series are featured.  Part 1 of The Faces Of Groesbeek Exhibition series featured Ralph Schurman BOULTER and Edison Alexander SMITH, while Harry William DOUCETTE was featured in Part 3.

IMG_7565 Clifford Bateman from Ad

Clifford Bateman. (Photo courtesy of Ad Scheepers)

Clifford BATEMAN, of La Poile, Newfoundland, was serving with the North Nova Scotia Highlanders when he was killed on March 25, 1945, during the Battle of Bienen in Germany, at the age of 20. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/03/16/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-battle-of-bienen-part-4-the-wwii-soldier-from-a-small-fishing-village-in-newfoundland-who-lost-his-life-in-germany/

IMG_8944 John Bohon from Alice

John Joseph Bohon. (Photo courtesy of Alice van Bekkum)

John Joseph BOHON, of Toronto, Ontario, was serving with the North Nova Scotia Highlanders when he was killed on March 25, 1945, during the Battle of Bienen in Germany, at the age of 20. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/03/18/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-battle-of-bienen-part-5-the-wwii-soldier-whose-parents-immigrated-to-save-their-family-from-war/

IMG_8946 Charles Marshall Carson from Alice

Charles ‘Marshall’ Carson. (Photo courtesy of Alice van Bekkum)

Charles ‘Marshall’ CARSON, of Cape Tormentine, New Brunswick, was serving with the North Nova Scotia Highlanders when he was killed on March 25, 1945, during the Battle of Bienen in Germany, at the age of 23. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/03/12/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-battle-of-bienen-part-3-the-wwii-soldier-from-cape-tormentine-who-lost-his-life-in-germany/

IMG_8963 Marven Harvey from Alice

Marven Glenroy Harvey. (Photo courtesy of Alice van Bekkum)

Marven Glenroy HARVEY, of North Noel Road, Nova Scotia, was serving with the North Nova Scotia Highlanders when he was killed on March 25, 1945, during the Battle of Bienen in Germany, at the age of 19. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/03/26/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-battle-of-bienen-part-8-the-wwii-soldier-with-7-brothers-who-also-served/

IMG_8959 Kitchener Langille from Alice

Kitchener ‘Kitty’ Langille. (Photo courtesy of Alice van Bekkum)

Kitchener ‘Kitty’ LANGILLE, of New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, was serving with the North Nova Scotia Highlanders when he was killed on March 25, 1945, during the Battle of Bienen in Germany, at the age of 28. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/03/21/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-battle-of-bienen-part-6-the-wwii-soldier-from-new-glasgow-nicknamed-kitty/

IMG_7560 Marvin McGregor from Ad

Marvin William McGregor. (Photo courtesy of Ad Scheepers)

Marvin William MCGREGOR, of West Jeddore, Nova Scotia, was serving with the North Nova Scotia Highlanders when he was killed on March 25, 1945, during the Battle of Bienen in Germany, at the age of 20. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/04/02/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-battle-of-bienen-part-9-the-wwii-soldier-from-west-jeddore-killed-in-germany/

POWER Wilfred Joseph - XVII H 02 from Faces To Graves Groesbeek

Wilfred ‘Willy’ Joseph Power. (Photo courtesy of Faces To Graves Groesbeek)

Wilfred ‘Willy’ Joseph POWER, of Rosetown, Saskatchewan and later New Westminster, British Columbia, was serving with the North Nova Scotia Highlanders when he was killed on March 25, 1945, during the Battle of Bienen in Germany, at the age of 20. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/04/10/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-battle-of-bienen-part-10-the-wwii-soldier-who-wanted-to-be-a-paratrooper/

IMG_7573 Louis Sexton from Ad

Louis Allan Sexton. (Photo courtesy of Ad Scheepers)

Louis Allan SEXTON, of Maria East, Quebec, was serving with the North Nova Scotia Highlanders when he was killed on March 25, 1945, during the Battle of Bienen in Germany, at the age of 22. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/03/23/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-battle-of-bienen-part-7-the-wwii-soldier-from-quebec-who-has-never-been-forgotten-by-his-family/

Thank you to Alice van Bekkum and Ad Scheepers for sending these photos. The Faces Of Groesbeek Exhibition series concludes in Part 6, where the graves and photos of more soldiers whose stories we’ve told will be featured.

If you have a photo of a soldier buried at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek or one of the other cemeteries in The Netherlands, Pieter encourages you to email him at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or tweet to @researchmemori1.

© Daria Valkenburg

…Previous postings about The Faces Of Groesbeek Exhibition at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek…

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On The War Memorial Trail….. The Battle of Bienen – Part 3: The WWII Soldier From Cape Tormentine Who Lost His Life In Germany

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March 12, 2023. Sometimes uncovering a photo of a soldier leads to a much larger investigation. That’s what happened when Pieter looked into the service file of Charles ‘Marshall’ CARSON, one of the names on the photo wish list from the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands. He was from Cape Tormentine, New Brunswick, which is just across the Northumberland Strait from where we live on Prince Edward Island.

Screenshot 2023-03-05 at 10-18-15 cape tormentine map

Red marker identifies Cape Tormentine, New Brunswick. Prince Edward Island is across the Strait. (Map source: Wikipedia)

“…He died on my birthday! I was just one year old!…” Pieter exclaimed after reading that Carson died during the Battle of Bienen in Germany on March 25, 1945. He soon learned that 39 soldiers from the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment who were killed during the battle are buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek. 

Pieter was determined to find a photo and contacted the Cape Tormentine Legion.  Perhaps they had a photo or knew of family members?  Sonny McCarron wrote back that there was a photo in a memorial book in the Legion but it would take him a few days to get there and digitize it.  We just happened to be in Nova Scotia and on our way home would be driving right past the exit to Cape Tormentine.  Perhaps we could stop by?

The answer was yes.  Sonny was unable to be there, but Joe Simpson would let us into the Legion and show us the memorial book.   That’s exactly what happened! 

…The Cape Tormentine Legion had a photo of Charles ‘Marshall’ Carson…

Charles Marshall Carson

Charles ‘Marshall’ Carson. (Photo courtesy of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 81 in Cape Tormentine, New Brunswick)

We got a photo of Pte Charles ‘Marshall’ Carson, and learned that his brother Vance, who died in 2005, served in the Canadian Infantry Corps during the war, but survived and returned home.

Born in Cape Tormentine on October 29, 1921, Marshall was the son of Charles J. and Clara Frances (nee McGlashing) Carson.  His father, who came from Newfoundland, unfortunately died in 1930, leaving Clara to bring up three children – Marshall, his younger brother Ira Vance, and a sister Beverly.

…Marshall wanted to be a paratrooper….

Marshall enlisted with the 1st Anti-Aircraft Battery in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia on June 19, 1940 at the age of 18.  After leaving school at the age of 16, he’d worked at Fundy Construction Company in Halifax, Nova Scotia for a year, until just before his enlistment date.

After basic training, Marshall was sent on an anti-aircraft course and was a gunner on an anti-aircraft crew in various anti-aircraft units.  In a December 14, 1942 interview his interest in paratrooper training was mentioned, but he was not selected for this specialized training.

It was noted that his spare time was spent studying and he liked to read detective stories.  He enjoyed sports, especially hockey.    He had a pleasant, friendly manner, and was soft spoken. 

…Marshall spent a year in Goose Bay as a gunner with an anti-aircraft battery….

Marshall remained with an anti-aircraft battery.  On July 2, 1943 he was transferred back to the 1st Anti-Aircraft Battery and sent to Goose Bay, Labrador for a year, returning to Dartmouth, Nova Scotia on July 6, 1944. (NOTE: Newfoundland and Labrador became part of Canada on March 31, 1949.)

Canada had built a massive air base at Goose Bay, Labrador as an alternative to Gander for transatlantic operations. This base became operational in late 1941. (See https://www.heritage.nf.ca/articles/politics/goose-bay-base.php) The bases at Gander and Goose Bay were vital links in the ferrying of military aircraft to Britain.  Anti-aircraft crews were part of coastal defence. 

On August 19, 1944, Marshall was sent to No. 1 Transit Camp in Windsor, Nova Scotia in preparation for going overseas.  Then, on August 30, 1944, he was transferred to the No. 1 Infantry Training Brigade Group in Debert, Nova Scotia.

…Marshall left Canada for overseas service in November 1944….

He left Canada on November 21, 1944, arriving in the United Kingdom on November 28, 1944 and posted to No. 3 Canadian Infantry Training Regiment (CITR).

On January 8, 1945 he left the United Kingdom for Northwest Europe, and was transferred to the 10th Battalion for a few weeks, before receiving his final transfer – to the North Nova Scotia Highlanders – on January 25, 1945.

The Regiment had reached Kellen, Germany near Kleve, just on the other side of the border with The Netherlands, on February 12, 1945.  On February 14, using amphibious vehicles, the North Novies evacuated Warbergen as they made their way to Emmerich.

Next, the Regiment participated in Operation Blockbuster.  (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Blockbuster). 

In March, the Regiment prepared for Operation Plunder, which began March 21, and involved crossing the Rhine River to the north of the Ruhr industrial region in western Germany. With aerial and military support, this took place on the night of March 23, 1945 near Rees, a town situated on the right bank of the Rhine River, approximately 20 km (12.4 miles) east of Kleve. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Plunder)

…Marshall lost his life in the Battle of Bienen ….

On the next afternoon, March 24, 1945, they encountered fierce German resistance near the village of Bienen. On March 25, 1945, the North Nova Scotia Highlanders were in Bienen, Germany for the climax of 9 Canadian Infantry Brigade’s role in Operation Plunder. The one day battle proved devastating in terms of casualties, both dead and wounded, as they fought in a deadly battle on open ground.  

Aerial Bienen post-war

Post-war aerial of Bienen (view to the southeast towards Rees). The aerial clearly demonstrates the tactical importance of Bienen, laying astride the narrow neck of land. The main road from Rees to Emmerich (nowadays Emmericher Strasse) runs straight through Bienen. (Photo source: http://www.WW2Talk.com and identified as ‘Courtesy Becker’)

March 25, 1945 was Palm Sunday – one week before Easter.  The war diary for March 25, 1945 noted the fierce challenges faced by the North Novies.  “….The first hint of trouble came when ‘A’ Company reported at 0825 hours to be pinned down along dyke, under machine gun fire, snipers and moderate mortaring. Shortly after, ‘B’ Company reported to be under fire but close to Start Line. Both ‘A’ and ‘B’ Companies were suffering casualties. However, the fire plan was to start at 0845 hours with smoke and ‘A’ and ‘B’ Companies were ordered to proceed quickly to Start Line under its protection and form up and attack. At 0905 hours ‘B’ Company reported being pinned down in front of Start Line, with two platoons out of contact and suffering fairly heavy casualties. ‘A’ Company also reported being pinned down with a platoon out of contact and suffering severe losses….”

During the heavy fighting, Marshall lost his life.  Like Ralph Schurman BOULTER, Marshall was temporarily buried the next day in the military cemetery in Rees, Germany before being reburied the following year in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands.

carson, charles m. - 17 g 12_img_8404(1)

Grave of Charles ‘Marshall’ Carson at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands.  (Photo courtesy of Groesbeek Cemetery Faces To Graves Foundation, taken by Frans van Cappellen)

Thank you to Sonny McCarron and Joe Simpson of the Royal Canadian Legion in Cape Tormentine for providing a photo.  When Pieter thanked Sonny for arranging the visit, he was told “…thanks for taking an interest in our veterans…”  Pieter’s reply? “…We sure do.  Their sacrifice will never be forgotten!…”

Out of the 39 North Nova Scotia Highlanders killed on March 25, 1945 during the Battle of Bienen that are buried in Groesbeek, 12 were on a photo wish list. Pieter has been successfully working his way through this list and we hope to tell the stories of those he’s found in upcoming postings. Coming up in Part 4: Clifford Bateman.

If you have a story to tell, please let Pieter know. Email him at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or tweet to @researchmemori1. 

© Daria Valkenburg

….Previous stories about North Novies killed during the Battle of Bienen and buried in Groesbeek….

…Want to follow our research?….

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

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

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