Edmond COULOMBE

On The War Memorial Trail…..Remembrance Week 2025 – The WWII Soldier Who Was Never Forgotten By His Girlfriend And Her Family

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November 15, 2025.  Sometimes Pieter helps the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands to find photos of a few soldiers for which research had already been done, but no photo could be found.  He’s found that it’s almost as much work as it is do a complete research project on a soldier, as there is a reason photos aren’t readily available – they can be very difficult to find!

My father was from Ukraine, so the search for soldiers with a Ukrainian heritage is a priority when Pieter gets a photo wish list, which is why one of the soldiers whose photo search he undertook was that of Peter HYDICHUK of Theodore, Saskatchewan.  Born April 12, 1917, Peter was the son of Alexander and Annie (nee Procupuik) Hydichuk, who had immigrated to Canada in 1903 from what today is part of Western Ukraine. (You can read Jim Little’s story about Peter here: https://www.facestograves.nl/LifeStories/HYDICHUK%20Peter-JLE-bio-EN.pdf )

Theodore is a village located on the Yellowhead Highway, in southeastern Saskatchewan. (Map source: Google maps)

….The search for a photo of Peter Hydichuk seemed doomed for failure….

At first, it seemed as though the search for a photo of Peter would not take long, as he had many siblings.  Besides himself, three of his brothers also served during WWII: Nick, John, and Matt. 

Matt, who was married and the father of two daughters, was killed in France on August 23, 1944, aged 29, while serving with the South Saskatchewan Regiment, and is buried in Bretteville-Sur-Laize Canadian War Cemetery in France, 14 km south of Caen.

Peter also served in the South Saskatchewan Regiment, and died the following year, on March 31, 1945, in Germany.  Nick and John survived the war.

At the end of January 2024, Pieter was in contact with one of Matt’s daughters, Pam Neilson, who lives near Birmingham, Alabama. Pam did her best, getting in touch with various family members in Canada, but with no success.  She sadly reported to Pieter that the family threw away the photos.      

When no other avenues of research turned up a photo, we reluctantly placed his name on the Cold Case List. Sometimes, that has resulted in a photo being found by someone who saw the name and could help with a photo or information. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/our-cold-cases/)

….The Cold Case List led to a photo….

Just as Remembrance Day 2025 came around the corner, we received an email from Garry Bodnaryk, who had seen Peter’s name on the Cold Case List!  “…I came across your site today while searching for Peter Hydichuk from Theodore, Saskatchewan, Canada. The Hydichuks were neighbours of my grandparents, and my mother dated Peter until he was killed. … I’m glad that people like you are working to put faces to names, and helping to keep the memory of these soldiers alive….”

Peter Hydichuk. (Photo courtesy of Garry Bodnaryk)

Wow!  Garry not only made our week, he shared how much Peter’s memory meant to his mother, and therefore to her family, even long after she passed away.  “…Her maiden name was Anne Polowick. The Polowicks were friends and neighbours of the Hydichuks, and attended the same church and school in the area.  My mother died almost 50 yrs ago, but she had always had Peter’s picture in her purse. My late father always thought it was sweet that she did. I kept the photos as they meant a lot to her….”

Anne (nee Polowick) Bodnaryk with one of her cousins.  (Photo courtesy of Garry Bodnaryk)

….Anne and her family never forgot Peter….

Garry noted that his mother “…was the key figure in saving the photo, and in me even knowing who Peter was…”

Peter (left) with a neighbour on horseback. (Photo courtesy of Garry Bodnaryk)

Happier days before WWII.  Peter Hydichuk (red arrow) and Anne (nee Polowick) Bodnaryk (purple arrow). (Photo courtesy of Garry Bodnaryk)

Garry included a photo that included both Peter and Anne.  “….My cousin confirmed that the man on the left is Peter Hydichuk. My mother is on the left, in front of him. I believe all the men served in the army during the war (my uncle next to Peter did). Other family members, and neighbours, are in the photo…”

A photo of the Hydichuk brothers, which Garry was kind enough to send, was in the ‘Theodore and District History’ book, which had a limited printing in the 1980s. 

Photo of the Hydichuk brothers in 1940 from the ‘Theodore and District History’ book.  Peter identified by red arrow.

…. Peter was killed near the German border….

On March 29, 1945 the South Saskatchewan Regiment arrived in Bienen, Germany, taking over from the Highland Light Infantry following the Battle of Bienen on March 25. The following day, the Regiment moved towards Gendringen, located in The Netherlands near the German border. 

Per the March 30, 1945 war diary entry of the South Saskatchewan Regiment, a three Phase attack for the 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade was set in place to “….capture the line from Terborg to Etten to Ziek…”  Phase I was to be carried out by “….(1) Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal attacking Wieken, (2) 8 Canadian Recce Regiment…” to take over the position currently held by the “….Camerons of Canada in Netterden….” and then “…(3) on consolidation of Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal, Camerons of Canada to take out Veldhunten. This completes Phase I….”   

The South Saskatchewan Regiment was held in reserve until Phase II, when it was ordered to capture Etten. Phase III called for the 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade to “….cross the Oude IJssel River for the purpose of taking the town of Terborg….”

However, the plan for carrying out Phase III of the 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade was initially cancelled that evening.  “…At 2115 hours the plan was cancelled owing to the Camerons of Canada failing to take Veldhunten…” 

A new plan was made an hour later.  “… ‘A’ Company to move to Gendringen…” and take up a position.  “… ‘B’ Company to move at 2315 hours….and send fighting patrol….passing through ‘A’ Company. ‘C’ Company to move at 2345 hours…. ‘D’ Company to move at 2400 hours…4 Platoon to send 1 section of Wasps under command of ‘A’ Company and 1 section to ‘B’ Company….”

Fighting continued throughout the night of March 30/March 31. Gendringen was liberated by mid-afternoon of March 31, 1945, in spite of heavy enemy shelling. 

The war diary for March 31, 1945 recorded that “…at 1430 hours the casualty reports from the Companys were turned in to Command Post.  They were 1 officer and 14 other ranks wounded and 3 other ranks killed….” 

Peter Hydichuk was one of the fatal casualties that day, killed in action at the age of 27.  Per Maarten Koudijs, an amateur researcher in the Gendringen area, and author of ‘Tussen Grens En Hoop’, he was “…killed near Alofs’s house on the Tappenweg in Etten….”  (Translated from the original Dutch) 

In addition to Peter, Maarten wrote that the other casualties were James Joseph MALONEY and William SERNOWSKI.

One of the severely wounded, Michael Joseph MACDERMOTT, was transferred to the Canadian General Hospital in England, where he died on August 5, 1945.

….Peter was temporarily buried in Megchelen….

Peter was temporarily buried on the farmland of A. Friesen in Megchelen, at the end of a row of 18 burials.

Temporary grave of Peter Hydichuk in Megchelen. (Photo courtesy of Garry Bodnaryk)

Garry had one more story to relate.  “…In talking to one of my cousins, I found out that my mother’s father was at the train station (which had the telegraph office) when the news of Peter’s death came. My grandfather is the one that took the telegram and, stopping at home to get his bible, proceeded to the Hydichuk farm to break the news to the family….”

….We were in Gendringen this past May….

On a rainy Saturday in May 2025, we were in the Achterhoek area, and stopped in Gendringen.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

This past May we followed the route taken by Canadian forces into Germany, as far as Bienen, and on the way back into The Netherlands, we stopped in the Achterhoek, in the province of Gelderland, the area where Peter died. 

There is a memorial in the cemetery in Gendringen, which we visited. No soldiers’ names are mentioned on the memorial, though.  (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/05/09/on-the-war-memorial-trail-monument-unveiled-in-gendringen/)

The text on the panel of the memorial means ‘so that we don’t forget’, or, as said more commonly during Remembrance services, ‘lest we forget’.  It was a solemn moment, with rain falling steadily, a fitting tribute that perhaps reflected the tears shed by families who lost their loved ones. 

Pieter by the memorial in the cemetery in Gendringen.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

 ….Peter was reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek….

Pieter stands behind the grave of Peter Hydichuk in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

At the end of January 1946, Peter was reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek.  We visited his grave this spring when we were in The Netherlands for our 2025 European Memorial Tour, and Pieter placed a Canadian flag by his grave. For most soldiers (383 in 14 cemeteries) we placed provincial flags as well, but as we had never received flags for Saskatchewan, we could only place a Canadian flag.

….Stories about 2 soldiers from Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal who were also originally buried in Megchelen….

Edmond Coloumbe, born in Fannystelle, Manitoba, and Alphonse Robert, of Caraquet, New Brunswick, were among 5 members of Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal who died during an attack on Gendringen, The Netherlands on March 30, 1945. Both were initially buried in Megchelen, and their stories were previously told on this blog.

The flag placed at Peter’s grave was donated.  Our thanks go to Alan Waddell, Constituent Assistant, on behalf of Heath MacDonald, MP for Malpeque.

Thank you to Garry Bodnaryk for providing photos and information about Peter Hydichuk, and for saving his mother’s photos.  A big thank you is due to his mother Anne for never forgetting a friend and neighbour who never had the chance to return home and live out his life during peacetime.

Thank you also to Maarten Koudijs for information on Peter’s death and the names of the other South Saskatchewan Regiment casualties. (Information on his book, available in Dutch, can be found at https://www.tussengrensenhoop.nl/)

The work of remembrance of those who served continues.  More Remembrance Week stories to come.

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/

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On The War Memorial Trail….The Faces Of Groesbeek Exhibition Part 6: A Few More Soldiers

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CIMG8928 Sep 15 2017 Daria at Groesbeek cemetery

Daria at entrance to Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, with flowers to place at the grave of Frank Edward McGovern. (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

May 27, 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.  

…Six More Soldiers 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. Part 5 featured soldiers from the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment whose stories were told in the Battle of Bienen series.

The Faces Of Groesbeek Exhibition series concludes with Part 6, where the graves and photos of six more soldiers are featured.

IMG_8965 Edmond Coulombe from Alice

Edmond Coulombe. (Photo courtesy of Alice van Bekkum)

Edmond COULOMBE, of Fannystelle, Manitoba, was serving with the Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal, along with Alphonse ROBERT, when he was killed on March 30, 1945 during an attack on Gendringen, The Netherlands, near the German border, at the age of 22. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/12/24/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-successful-search-for-a-photo-of-ww2-soldier-edmond-coulombe/

IMG_7652 May 16 2023 John Delipper from Ad

John Delipper. (Photo courtesy of Ad Scheepers)

JOHN DELIPPER of Russell, Manitoba was serving with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles.  Along with Tom CHASKE and James Edward DUFFY, he was part of a crew of soldiers being transported to repair a road in The Netherlands, but drowned on December 12, 1944, along with six other soldiers, when the vehicle they were in slipped off a dike and flipped over into a flooded field, pinning them under the vehicle. He was 37 years old. We were in contact with his grandson, Dwayne Delipper, during the search for a photo of Tom Chaske.

IMG_8923 JE Duffy from Alice

James Edward Duffy. (Photo courtesy of Alice van Bekkum)

James Edward DUFFY of Parrsboro, Nova Scotia was serving with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles.  Along with Tom CHASKE and John DELIPPER, he was part of a crew of soldiers being transported to repair a road in The Netherlands, but drowned on December 12, 1944, along with six other soldiers, when the vehicle they were in slipped off a dike and flipped over into a flooded field, pinning them under the vehicle. He was 23 years old.  His name was on the cemetery’s photo wish list, and was sent to Pieter a few months ago by the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 45 in Parrsboro, Nova Scotia.

IMG_7579 Cecil Goodreau from Ad

Cecil Edward Goodreau. (Photo courtesy of Ad Scheepers)

Cecil Edward GOODREAU of North Bay, Ontario, was serving with the 25th Armoured Delivery Regiment (Elgin Regiment) when he was killed in action during the Battle of Keppeln in Germany on February 26, 1945, at the age of 20. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/06/17/on-the-war-memorial-trail-in-north-bay-remembering-ww2-soldier-cecil-edward-goodreau/

IMG_7656 May 16 2023 Frank McGovern from Ad

Frank Edward McGovern. (Photo courtesy of Ad Scheepers)

Frank Edward MCGOVERN of Chipman, New Brunswick, was serving with the North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment when he was killed in action during the Battle of Keppeln in Germany on February 26, 1945, at the age of 19. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2020/12/09/the-search-for-a-photo-of-frank-edward-mcgovern-moves-to-youtube/

IMG_8951 Anthony Petta from Alice

Anthony Petta. (Photo courtesy of Alice van Bekkum)

Anthony PETTA of North Bay, Ontario, was serving with the Algonquin Regiment when he was killed in action during the Battle of the Hochwald Gap in Germany on March 3, 1945, at the age of 29. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/06/29/on-the-war-memorial-trail-in-north-bay-the-ww2-soldier-who-was-appointed-company-sergeant-major/

Thank you to Alice van Bekkum and Ad Scheepers for their kindness in taking these photos. A big thank you goes to all of the families who provided photos, making a project like the one in Groesbeek possible.

This concludes The Faces Of Groesbeek Exhibition series for 2023. In 2021, we featured 8 soldiers, and this year 36 soldiers were featured – 44 in total. Perhaps we will have more photos to share in 2025!

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…

…Want to follow our research?…

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

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On The War Memorial Trail….. Monument Unveiled In Gendringen

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CIMG5542 May 5 2022 Pieter by Dutch flag for Liberation Day

Pieter by the Dutch flag which was put out for Liberation Day on May 5, 2022. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

May 9, 2022. Last year, stories of two WWII soldiers who lost their lives in this area on March 30, 1945, were told.  Both Edmond COULOMBE of Manitoba and Alphonse ROBERT of New Brunswick served with Les Fusiliers Montreal and were killed on the same day.

We learned about the Gendringen connection when we were contacted by Maarten Koudijs, a volunteer researcher in this Dutch village along the German border with eyewitness accounts of how Robert and several members of his Regiment, including Coulombe, lost their lives when a shell exploded.

Missed the stories about Edmond COULOMBE and Alphonse ROBERT?  See:

 …The Gendringen Monument…

The Gendringen Monument

The Gendringen Monument was unveiled on May 6, 2022. Translation of the Dutch text: So that we never forget.  (Photo submitted by and courtesy of Maarten Koudijs)

On May 6, 2022, a monument was unveiled in Gendringen, The Netherlands.  Maarten Koudijs was kind enough to share some photos, and explained that “… Nearly 500 people are commemorated on this memorial. 

·       23 Dutch Soldiers (from Genkoppen and Wisch) during the raid in May 1940

·       114 Citizens from Wisch

·       111 Citizens from Gendringen

·       30 Dutch citizens from the labor camps in Rees

·       27 forced labourers from Gendringen en Wisch

·       3 men from the resistance

·       46 Executed citizens of Rademakersbroek

·       12 Citizens working for Organization TODT (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organisation_Todt)

·       41 Canadian military personnel and Air Force crew members

·       44 English soldiers and Air Force crew members

·       167 German soldiers who fell in the former municipality of Gendringen en Wisch (now Oude IJsselstreek)

·       1 Irish aircrew member flying for the RAF

·       1 Australian aircrew member flying for the RAF

·       2 New Zealand crew members flying for RAF

·       1 American Spitfire pilot flying for RCAF….” 

Note: RAF refers to Royal Air Force.  RCAF refers to Royal Canadian Air Force.

QR codes on panels

Panels by the monument have QR codes which provide information, plus buttons for audio descriptions in Dutch, English, and German.  (Photo submitted by and courtesy of Maarten Koudijs)

…Einar Victor Isfeld’s Son Attended the Unveiling…

Dennis Isfeld, son of Einar Victor ISFELD of the Queen’s Own Highlanders, attended the unveiling.  In a short video (under 3 minutes in both Dutch and English), he was interviewed with an eyewitness, who was 11 years old in 1945.

… Canadians commemorated on the Gendringen Memorial…. 

Maarten identified the names of 41 Canadians, including the Regiment they were serving in at the time of death and their final resting place. “…The following Canadian soldiers were killed near the former municipality of Genkoppen. The former municipality of Genkoppen en Wisch is now OUDE IJsselstreek Achterhoek….”

Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders Of Canada:

  • Harry Gregory BOZAK, died March 30, 1945, aged 20, buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery
  • Francis Walter Andrew GLOSSOP, died March 30, 1945, aged 28, buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery
  • Einar Victor ISFELD, died of wounds April 6, 1945, aged 30, buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery
  • Anton W. KOHLRUSS, died March 31, 1945, buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery
  • Frederick LISSOWAY, died March 30, 1945, aged 37, buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery
  • John Graham MACFIE, died March 30, 1945, buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery
  • Vincent Albert MOORE, died March 30, 1945, aged 29, buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery
  • Edward Oliver OBERG, died March 30, 1945, aged 19, buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery
  • William PROW, died March 30, 1945, aged 24, buried in Holten Canadian War Cemetery
  • Rocco Andrew SPEZIALI, died March 30, 1945, aged 26, buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery
  • Bert J. THOMAS, died March 30, 1945, buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery
  • Charles Joseph YOUNES, died March 30, 1945, aged 33, buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery

Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal:

  • Roland A. BARRY, died March 30, 1945, buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery
  • Joseph Paul Roland CARON, died of wounds April 5, 1945, buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery
  • Edmond COULOMBE, died March 30, 1945, aged 22, buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery
  • Jacques FORTIN, died March 30, 19455, aged 21, buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery
  • Bernard Gaston PILON, died March 30, 1945, aged 19, buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery
  • Alphonse ROBERT, died March 30, 1945, aged 21, buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery

South Saskatchewan Regiment:

  • Peter HYDICHUK, died March 31, 1945, buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery
  • James Joseph MALONEY, died March 31, 1945, buried in Holten Canadian War Cemetery
  • Michael Joseph MCDERMOTT, died of wounds August 5, 1945, buried in Kilgobbin Burial Ground, Ireland
  • William SERNOWSKI, died March 31, 1945, buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery

8th Canadian Recce Regiment (14th Canadian Hussars):

  • Laurenzo DUBE, died March 30, 1945, aged 26, buried in Holten Canadian War Cemetery
  • Leslie Albert DUCKETT, died March 30, 1945, aged 24, buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery
  • William LAWRYSYN, died March 30, 1945, aged 27, buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery
  • Wilfred Charters STEWART, died March 29, 1945, aged 22, buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery

Royal Canadian Artillery:

  • Ivan Rayburn NILSSON, died April 1, 1945, aged 21, buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery

 Black Watch Of Canada:

  • Ernest George GRAHAM, died April 1, 1945, aged 29, buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery
  • Robert WALKER, died of wounds April 1, 1945, aged 19, buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery

  Royal Canadian Air Force:

  • Duncan Eric CAMPBELL, died June 12, 1943, aged 28, buried in Wisch (Varsseveld) General Cemetery
  • Ralph Perry DAVIES, died June 12, 1943, aged 24, buried in Wisch (Varsseveld) General Cemetery
  • James HEATH, died June 17, 1944, aged 35, buried in Wisch (Varsseveld) General Cemetery
  • Allan Lockwood HOME, died May 13, 1943, aged 26, buried in Gendringen Roman Catholic Cemetery
  • Albert James MACLACHLAN, died June 12, 1943, aged 21, buried in Wisch (Varsseveld) General Cemetery
  • Hugh Columba MACNEIL, died May 13, 1943, aged 24, buried in Gendringen Roman Catholic Cemetery
  • James Edward MCDONALD, died June 2, 1942, aged 26, buried in Gendringen Roman Catholic Cemetery
  • Henry Augustin SHEEHAN, died May 13, 1943, aged 21, buried in Gendringen Roman Catholic Cemetery
  • Frederick John SMITH, died October 31, 1942, aged 21, buried in Gendringen Roman Catholic Cemetery
  • Louis-Phillipe Roma TAILLEFER, died June 12, 1943, aged 24, listed on the Runnymede Memorial in Surrey, England
  • Milford Glen THOMAS, died May 13, 1943, aged 26, buried in Gendringen Roman Catholic Cemetery
  • Rudolph ZEIDEL, died June 12, 1943, aged 21, listed on the Runnymede Memorial in Surrey, England

Thank you to Maarten Koudijs for letting us know about this commemoration event.  Do you have photos or information to share? Email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, or comment on the blog.

© Daria Valkenburg

…Want to follow our research?….

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

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

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

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On The War Memorial Trail….. The Successful Search For A Photo Of WWII Soldier Edmond Coulombe

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December 24, 2021. Occasionally, a posting on this blog leads to information that adds to the original story, giving a ripple effect.  This spring a story about a WWII soldier from New Brunswick, Alphonse ROBERT of Caraquet, New Brunswick, led a volunteer researcher in a small Dutch village along the German border to contact us with eyewitness accounts of how Robert and 4 other members of his Regiment lost their lives when a shell exploded. 

The soldiers were identified, and one of them was Edmond COULOMBE, listed as being from Pine Falls, Manitoba.  I’m from Manitoba and Pine Falls was very familiar to both Pieter and me, as it was near where my parents had lived. 

“…We have to find a photo of this soldier…” we both decided, and that led us on a photo quest that soon proved that ‘Friendly Manitoba’ on the province’s licence plates was not just a slogan.

The first ‘surprise’ was when Pieter’s research found that Edmond was born on February 15, 1923, the son of Ulric and Yvonne Coulombe in Fannystelle, Manitoba, NOT in Pine Falls.  To Pieter’s amusement, I had a childhood memory of Fannystelle, a small community not far from Winnipeg.  My father travelled a lot in his business, and sometimes he had to work on weeknights and weekends.  Quite often all of us would be loaded in the car and travel with him.   I was in Fannystelle many times as a child.

Edmond’s father was from Quebec, his mother from Manitoba.  By 1943, Edmond was working at the paper mill in Pine Falls, and the family was living in nearby St.-Georges.  When he enlisted on May 7, 1943, his service file noted that he spoke both French and English.

On January 3, 1945, Edmond was sent overseas to the United Kingdom as part of the Oxford Rifles.  By March 3, 1945 he was in Northwest Europe and transferred to Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal.  He lost his life a few weeks later, at the age of 22.

…The Winnipeg Free Press publicizes the quest for a photo….

While Pieter could find information on Edmond’s military service, he had little luck finding family members or a photo.  So we asked ‘Winnipeg Free Press‘ reporter Kevin Rollason for help. 

On November 6, 2021, Kevin’s interview with Pieter ran in the ‘Winnipeg Free Press‘: https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/hunting-for-photo-to-honour-manitoban-575687592.html  (If you can’t access the article, let me know and I’ll send a PDF.)

As soon as people began reading the newspaper, replies came in. Diane Dube of the Winnipeg River Heritage Museum in St.-Georges wrote: “…Good Morning. I am reading the Winnipeg Free Press and have just now come across the article that you are looking for photos of Coulombe. I will be looking in the archives this afternoon as I think I may have a photo of him visiting his family in Pine Falls during the war. These photos were donated to the museum last year…”

By the afternoon, Diane had sent us 4 photos.  “…We are very thankful for all of the work you have put into this project recognizing our fallen soldiers and very pleased that we had some photos to share….”

Edmond Coulombe with kit bag

Edmond Coulombe with his kit bag.  (Photo courtesy Winnipeg River Heritage Museum)

Kevin Rollason lost no time in interviewing Diane for a follow-up article, which ran on November 11, 2021, with the 4 photos: https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/photo-found-to-honour-manitoba-war-casualty-575714042.html   (If you can’t access the article, let me know and I’ll send a PDF.)

… Family of Edmond Coulombe contact us….

Family of Edmond also contacted us.  Niece Lauri Romaniuk explained that “… My Dad Lionel was one of the youngest of the 12 children of Ulric and Yvonne Coulombe and he was a child when Ed was killed in the war. None of the siblings are alive now….”

Edmond Coulombe siblings and parents from Lauri Romaniuk

The Coulombe family in the 1950s.  (Photo courtesy of Lauri Romaniuk)

Lauri shared a photo that she received from her mother of “…. the siblings in the early 1950s. Edmond’s picture is on the wall behind the group. There was another brother missing that died as a child.  Mrs. Coulombe is in this picture but Mr. C already passed at this point. My Dad is the youngest male – on the far right. He passed in 1992 at age 57…”  Edmond’s father died in 1946.  It was wonderful to see that Edmond himself had not been forgotten.

Another niece, Linda Cyr, wrote “…I’m beyond grateful for the work you both are doing to honour our Canadian soldiers especially my uncle Edmond Coulombe.  Edmond was my Mother’s brother…” 

Edmond Coulombe 2 from Linda Cyr cropped

Edmond Coulombe.  (Photo courtesy of Linda Cyr)

 .…Other reactions….

In addition to family of Edmond Coulombe, and the Winnipeg River Heritage Museum, we heard from interested readers, many offering help regarding the search for a photo and several sharing photos and stories of family members buried in The Netherlands. 

Vic Mollot wrote that he was researching the history of Fannystelle, which “…was founded in 1889 by a French Countess by the name of ‘La Comtesse d’Albufera’ who was a Parisian philanthropist.

There were 3 waves of settlers who came to settle in Fannystelle, the 1st from France in 1892, the 2nd from Quebec in 1895 and the third from the British Isles and central Europe. The Coulombes were part of the second wave from Quebec…”

Leah Boulet and Marcel Pitre let us know that Marcel’s 94 year old father Marcel put together a book of soldiers from the Pine Falls area, and sent the page about Edmond.  “…When the Royal Canadian Legion put together the books about the soldiers a number of years back, Dad did a lot of legwork gathering info and submitting it for their book.  He also put together his own version for this area…”  

…How 5 members of Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal lost their lives….

How did Edmond Coulombe lose his life?  Dutch researcher Maarten Koudijs, who initially wrote about Alphonse Robert, explained that 5 members of Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal died during an attack on Gendringen, The Netherlands on March 30, 1945.  Four of them, including Edmond Coulombe, were initially buried in Megchelen, The Netherlands, just across the border with Germany. 

Map Megchelen

Maarten explained that “…during the attack on Gendringen, a number of infantrymen were following a tank. A German shell exploded behind the tank and 5 infantry soldiers were killed.   

The soldiers who immediately lost their lives were Roland Alfred Barry, Edmond Coulombe, Jacques Fortin, and Alphonse Robert. They were temporarily buried, next to each other, in a field grave in Megchelen.  

Bernard Gaston Pilon was seriously injured and was transferred to Bedburg Military Hospital, where he died and was also temporarily buried there….”  Bedburg is in Germany. 

All 5 infantrymen from Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal were later reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands.

Grave of Edmonde Coulombe

Grave of Edmond Coulombe in Groesbeek, The Netherlands.  (Photo taken by Wouter van Dijken)

… We were overwhelmed and delighted at the response….

We are grateful to Kevin Rollason and the Winnipeg Free Press for publicizing the appeal for a photo of WWII soldier Edmond Coulombe. 

Diane Dube of the Winnipeg River Heritage Museum in St.-Georges went above and beyond to look in the archives on a Saturday afternoon, find photos, and forward them.  We are often successful with media appeals for photos, but Diane’s quick response was done with ‘supersonic speed’.  We are heartened by the interest and care she took, a true act of research kindness.

We thank family members Linda Cyr and Lauri Romaniuk for sharing photos, and Maarten Koudijs for providing the additional information on the 5 soldiers from Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal.

We also thank the many Winnipeg Free Press readers who submitted photos and stories of relatives buried in The Netherlands.  Pieter has his research projects for the winter months lined up and we look forward to sharing those stories. 

If you have photos and information to share about Canadian soldiers buried in The Netherlands please contact Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, or comment on the blog. 

© Daria Valkenburg

… Alphonse Robert’s Story….

To read the postings about Alphonse Robert, see:

…Want to follow our research?….

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

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

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On The War Memorial Trail….. An Update On The Story Of WWII Soldier Alphonse Robert

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

October 12, 2021.   In April 2021, in Part 9 of the Atlantic Canada Remembers series, the story of Alphonse ROBERT of Caraquet, New Brunswick, was briefly told.  His service file had very little information on the circumstances of his death and noted that he died on March 30, 1945 in Germany while serving with Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal, and was buried in Germany. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/04/15/on-the-war-memorial-trail-atlantic-canada-remembers-part-9/)

Alphonse Robert

Alphonse Robert.  (Photo courtesy of the Robert Family)

Recently we received an email from Maarten Koudijs, who wrote that Alphonse Robert died during an attack on Gendringen, The Netherlands, and was initially buried in Megchelen, The Netherlands, just across the border with Germany.  After additional research to verify what Maarten told us, we have more information on what happened on March 30, 1945.

…Was Alphonse Robert buried in The Netherlands or Germany?….

Map Megchelen

The first question we had was whether Alphonse Robert had been initially buried in Germany, as stated in the service file, or in The Netherlands.  Megchelen is a small village on a tiny hook of land surrounded on three sides by the German border.  It’s easy to understand how a mistake could have been made in the official records, but was Megchelen the correct location?

We contacted Alice van Bekkum, Chair of the Groesbeek Faces to Graves Committee, and asked if she could check the cemetery record and see where Alphonse Robert had been originally buried.

Alice confirmed it was Megchelen.  “…I have a list from CWGC with the coordinates of the temporary burial site where the body was exhumed when it was transferred to Groesbeek. It says Megchelen…”  (CWGC refers to Commonwealth War Graves Commission.)  The service file record was incorrect.

…How 5 members of Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal lost their lives….

How did Alphonse Robert lose his life?  Maarten explained that “…during the attack on Gendringen, a number of infantrymen were following a tank. A German shell exploded behind the tank and 5 infantry soldiers were killed.   

The soldiers who immediately lost their lives were Roland Alfred Barry, Edmond Coulombe, Jacques Fortin, and Alphonse Robert. They were temporarily buried, next to each other, in a field grave in Megchelen.  

Bernard Gaston Pilon was seriously injured and was transferred to Bedburg Military Hospital, where he died and was also temporarily buried there….”  Bedburg is in Germany.

All 5 infantrymen from Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal were later reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek.

Pieter then looked at the War Diary for Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal. On March 29, 1945, the diarist recorded being in the Reichswald Forest.  “…Battalion with its F Echelon vehicles crosses the Rhine at night without incident...”

On March 30, 1945, the diarist wrote the location as Germany.  “…In the morning troops proceed to positions…Light opposition with intermittent shelling and mortaring...”

On March 31, 1945, the diarist still wrote Germany as the location.  “…Battalion sweeps north again against stiffening resistance this time.  Mortaring and shelling. The attack was supported by tanks.  Gendringen was entered…”   Gendringen is in The Netherlands, near Megchelen.

…Two eye-witnesses saw what happened….

In an interview in ‘De Ganzenveer’ (‘The Quill’), Hans Bresser and Rudie Grin, witnesses to the attack, stated that “…At Wieskamp’s house, between Striekwold and Giezen, a Canadian tank was firing. There were also a number of infantrymen. A German shell exploded in between, possibly killing five or more Canadian soldiers. The grenade was…fired from somewhere from the Pol near Ulft. The fallen soldiers were given a field grave in Megchelen on Friesen’s land on the Nieuweweg...”  (Account translated from the original Dutch)

…The other members of Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal who lost their lives….

  • Roland Alfred BARRY, son of Horace and Rose Alma Barry of Montreal, Quebec, died March 30, 1945, aged 20.
  • Edmond COULOMBE, son of Ulric and Yvonne Coulombe, of Pine Falls, Manitoba, died March 30, 1945, aged 22.
  • Jacques FORTIN, son of Henri and Yvonne Fortin, of Chicoutimi, Quebec, died March 30, 1945, aged 21.
  • Bernard Gaston PILON, son of Emile and Emilie Pilon, of Rockland East, Ontario, died March 30, 1945, aged 19.

Thank you to Maarten Koudijs for contacting us with the additional information on Alphonse Robert, and to Alice van Bekkum for verifying that he was previously buried in Megchelen, The Netherlands.

If you have further information to share about Alphonse Robert or the other Canadian soldiers mentioned here, please contact Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com or comment on the blog.

Remembrance-Day-2019-Images-1024x520

With Remembrance Week coming up, please take a look through your photo albums and in your attics in case you have a photo or information to share about Canadian soldiers.

© Daria Valkenburg

…..Want to follow our research?….

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

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

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

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.