George TAYLOR

On The War Memorial Trail….2025 Faces of Groesbeek Exhibition Part 1: Flags Placed At 120 Graves

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June 23, 2025.  In 2021, photos were placed at more than 1,600 graves at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands for three weeks.  The event was so successful that the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, which oversees the cemetery, gave permission for photos to be placed by the graves every two years.  In 2023, almost 2,000 photos, just over 350 more than 2 years ago were placed.  

Several hundred more have been found since then, and it was announced that for the 2025 Exhibition, 80% of the graves now have a photo of the soldier. Photos are printed onto an aluminum backing, making them impervious to rain, and reusable. The 2025 Faces Of Groesbeek Exhibition ran from April 26 to May 18, 2025. 

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

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

The first cemetery we visited was Sleen General Cemetery, where we placed flags at the graves of 4 airmen who lost their lives during the last flight of Halifax DT630.  (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/06/15/on-the-war-memorial-trail-a-visit-to-sleen-general-cemetery/)

The second cemetery to visit on our 2025 European War Memorial Tour was the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, where Pieter placed flags at 120 graves. We arrived at the cemetery at 10 am, after a 1 ½ drive from where we were staying, and didn’t finish until 6:15 pm. 

It was a long and very hot day. I must confess that I tried several times to convince Pieter to divide the flag placing in two trips, but that stubborn Dutchman was determined to place all the flags in one day, no matter how much I complained! 

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

This was the final tally for the 120 graves:

  • 34 were from Nova Scotia
  • 26 from New Brunswick
  • 17 from Prince Edward Island
  • 1 from British Columbia
  • 3 from Saskatchewan
  • 7 from Manitoba
  • 3 from Alberta
  • 14 from Ontario
  • 3 from Quebec
  • 2 from Newfoundland

23 of the graves also received an Acadian flag, and 1 received an Indigenous flag from the Mi’kmaq 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 and Saskatchewan. 

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/)

….A Memorial Wall in the cemetery honours those who have no known grave…

Rifleman Clifford Alexander Blake is listed on Panel 11 of the Memorial Wall at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

We also took photos of the name of one soldier who has no known grave and is listed on Panel 11 of the Memorial Wall.  Clifford Alexander BLAKE of Toronto, Ontario, was the son of William C. and Sarah L. Blake, and husband of Ferne E. Blake.  He died February 16, 1945, aged 23, while serving with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles.  A photo of this soldier is still being sought.

….A cemetery volunteer took our photo at one grave…

Daria and Pieter at the grave of George Taylor in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek. (Photo credit: Else Schaberg)

While in the cemetery we were approached by a volunteer, Else Schaberg, after we placed flags at the grave of George TAYLOR, a soldier from Curve Lake First Nation in Ontario. She asked us if we were Pieter and Daria….and when we said yes, asked if she could take a photo of us.  Don’t we look cheerful?  Luckily, it was only 11 am, and we still had plenty of energy!  (You can read George Taylor’s story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/08/10/on-the-war-memorial-trail-remembering-wwii-soldier-george-taylor/)

..Lunch and a chance to meet up with Alice van Bekkum…

A quick lunch of soup and sandwich at a cafe near the cemetery.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

After meeting Else, we also had a chance to meet and greet Alice van Bekkum, Chair of Faces To Graves Foundation Groesbeek, who we’ve known for many years.  She served us coffee with Dutch Easter bread made with almond paste. Yum yum! Pieter was able to give her photos that people had mailed to us over the past few years.

I did eventually convince Pieter to go for a quick lunch, before returning to place the rest of the flags. You should have seen us after 6:15 pm, when we finished!  We were so tired that we could hardly make it back to the car….and then had to face a 1 ½ hour drive back ‘home’. 

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.  May we never forget the sacrifices made by our Canadian soldiers. Perhaps all of the known graves of Canadians buried in Groesbeek will have a photo displayed by their grave in 2027.

In Part 2, the graves and photos of soldiers from Prince Edward Island whose stories have been told in the past few years will be featured.

If you have a photo of Clifford Alexander Blake, or another soldier buried in 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, 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….. Remembering WWII Soldier George Taylor

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August 10, 2023. The search for a photo of a soldier often involves many people.  When Pieter begins an investigation, he looks for family members or organizations that might be able to help.  This can take him n a journey in which we are reminded of just how many people care about remembering those who’ve served.

The search for a photo of George TAYLOR of the Curve Lake First Nation began with an inquiry to Chief Keith Knott and Councillor Arnold Taylor.  Pieter’s request was sent to Mae Whetung-Derrick, who explained that she had been given Pieter’s name “.…by the Curve Lake First Nation, as I have done some research on Curve Lake veterans and created a slide show for the Remembrance Day luncheon that is held every year after the services (other than COVID years)….”

After contacting Pieter, Mae spoke to Jocelyn Taylor Watson, “…the daughter of Benjamin Taylor, and the niece of Gunner Taylor. Benjamin also served in World War 2….”

Pieter then spoke with Jocelyn who explained that her father, Benjamin, “…was the baby of the family, born two years after George.  He served during WWII but did not go overseas, and died in 2001 at the age of 78….”

Shortly afterwards, Jocelyn’s daughter Autumn Watson got in contact. “…First, I would like to say Chi-Miigwetch (Thank-You) for reaching out to our Chief Keith Knott and Councillor Arnold Taylor, with respect to my great-uncle George Taylor. My mother (Jocelyn Taylor) had mentioned that you spoke with her. As a family we appreciate your dedication to breathing life and respect to our fallen soldiers!…”

improved_photo(19) Taylor coloured

George Taylor.  (Photo submitted by Mae Whetung-Derrick, originally published in the Peterborough Examiner.  Photo restoration by Duane MacEwen.  Photo colourization by Pieter Valkenburg)

…George was a member of the Curve Lake First Nation…

curve lake first nation logoBorn April 28, 1920, George TAYLOR was the son of Lorenzo ‘Dow’ and Eva Taylor, members of the Curve Lake First Nation, a Mississauga Ojibway First Nation located in Peterborough County, Ontario.  (See https://curvelakefirstnation.ca/history/ and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curve_Lake_First_Nation)

When George enlisted in Peterborough, Ontario on July 9, 1941 with the No. 3 ‘A’ District Depot, it was noted that he could speak Chippewa (Anishinaabemowin), as well as being fluent in English.  (See http://www.native-languages.org/ojibwe.htm)

He had worked as a trapper and hunter since 1935, and also worked for a mixed farming operation. His sports interests included swimming, fishing, and playing softball.

…George trained as a gunner…

George began his basic training on July 12, 1941, at No. 32 Canadian Army Basic Training Centre (CABTC) in Peterborough.  He was then sent to No. 3 ‘A’ District Depot’s home base in Kingston, Ontario for additional training.

On August 27, 1941, he was transferred to the 3rd Field Battery, Royal Canadian Artillery for further training as a gunner in Gananoque, Ontario.

George was on the move again on December 1, 1941, this time to Sussex, New Brunswick, when he was attached to the 18th Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery.  A few months later, on February 17, 1942, George was transferred to the 2nd Medium Regiment and sent to Petawawa, Ontario, in preparation for going overseas.

During his training as a gunner, George would have learned to use equipment such as 18/25 Pounders, 25 Pounders, and self-propelled 25 Pounder Sextons.  Gunners in a Medium Artillery Regiment would be trained in weapons such as 6-Inch Howitzers, 4.5-Inch Howitzers, or 5.5-Inch Howitzers.

…George left Canada for overseas service…

On March 20, 1942, George left Canada for the United Kingdom aboard the SS Aorangi, sailing from Halifax, Nova Scotia and arriving in Glasgow, Scotland 9 days later.

The Regiment was assigned to No. 3 Canadian Army Reinforcement Unit (CARU) for a month, while awaiting the arrival of their equipment.

From August 28 to 30, 1943, 2 Medium Regiment participated in Exercise Handspike, as training for the upcoming battles in Italy.

…George was in the Italian Campaign….

SS Argentina

Artist drawing of SS Argentina. (Photo source: By Boston Public Library Fred J Hoertz & Harry H Baumann – The Good Neighbor liners Argentina and Brazil, operated by Moore-McCormack Lines, sailing from New York to the East Coast of South America, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=26243707)

On October 24, 1943, George was with his Regiment when they left Liverpool, England aboard USAT Argentina for Sicily, arriving on November 8, 1943, several months after Sicily had been deemed Allied territory in August 1943.  (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Argentina_(1929))  Their first camp was based in Ionia.

For an idea of what weaponry George used and the conditions encountered, a short YouTube video about Royal Canadian Artillery members travelling to Italy to commemorate their time in Sicily may be of interest:

In March 1944, the Regiment was in Ortona, Italy, as part of the Allied Armies in Italy (AAI) for what became known as the Italian Campaign. (See https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_campaign_(World_War_II)).  May 1944 found the Regiment in Cassino, Italy.  Over the next months the Regiment participated in fighting the Gustav, Hitler, and Gothic Line battles.

On June 21, 1944, George was hospitalized near Rome, Italy with prepatellar bursitis (inflammation of the bursa in front the kneecap), but discharged from hospital on July 4, 1944, when he returned to his Regiment.  (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prepatellar_bursitis)

…George and his Regiment left Italy for northern Europe…

On March 11, 1945, the Regiment left Italy as part of Operation Goldflake, arriving in Marseilles, France two days later.  Operation Goldflake was the codename for moving troops from Italy to North-West Europe.  (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Goldflake)

Now part of the 21st Army Group, troops were moved from France up to the Belgian front, into The Netherlands, through the Reichswald Forest in Germany, and then back into The Netherlands.

The war ended in Europe on May 8, 1945, and the Regiment was in the Den Helder area of The Netherlands. The war diary for the Regiment noted that “…we were occupying our last gun position when hostilities ceased and almost immediately swung into a new role, that of disarming and despatching Germans back to their own country….”

…George died accidentally while in The Netherlands…

In June 1945, the Regiment was based at Arnhem, The Netherlands.  The war diary entry for June 17, 1945 recorded that “…Gunner Taylor…” of ‘Q’ Battery “… had taken sick and died of suffocation…”  A medical report noted that while asleep in his army tent, he had fallen ill and vomited.  Unfortunately, this had caused him to suffocate.  A military court of inquiry ruled his death accidental.

20211016_155710 Jocelyn Taylor at Groesbeek

Jocelyn Taylor Watson at the entrance to the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek.  (Photo courtesy of the Taylor family)

George was buried at the Nijmegen Canadian Military Temporary Cemetery the following morning, on June 18, 1945. He was 25 years old.  Later he was reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands.

20211016_161144 Jocelyn Taylor, at Groesbeek

Jocelyn Taylor Watson at George Taylor’s grave. (Photo courtesy of the Taylor family)

Jocelyn visited the cemetery in 2021 with her daughter Autumn and son-in-law.  “…I sang at his grave and my daughter drummed…” Jocelyn explained during a phone call with Pieter. What a wonderful tribute to George!

Autumn wrote that they found the cemetery a “…beautiful resting place, but emotional to say the least…”  Autumn also included a link to the Lakefield War Veterans, in which George is featured: https://lakefieldwarvets.ca/taylor-george/

…George’s father planted a pine tree…

Jocelyn told us that George is always remembered as her grandfather – George’s father Dow – planted a pine tree when George left to serve in the Canadian Army. Over 80 years later it is still standing, a living remembrance of this well-loved soldier.

Resized_20210606_195838_6246001 Pine tree re George Taylor

Pine tree planted by George’s father Dow. (Photo courtesy of the Taylor family)

Thank you to Jocelyn Taylor and Autumn Watson for sharing photos and information about George Taylor, and to Mae Whetung-Derrick for helping to find family.

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

…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.  For more information see https://nosoldierforgotten.com/

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On The War Memorial Trail….The Faces Of Groesbeek Exhibition Part 2: Indigenous Soldiers

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CIMG9023 Sep 16 2017 Groesbeek Cemetery Ad & Noor Scheepers with Pieter by Gaudets grave

Ad and Noor Scheepers with Pieter at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands in 2017. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

May 18, 2023. In 2021, to commemorate the Anniversary of the Liberation of The Netherlands, photos were placed at more than 1,600 graves at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek for three weeks.  The event was so successful that 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 includes almost 2,000 photos…

This year, The Faces Of Groesbeek Exhibition runs from April 30 to May 21, 2023, with almost 2,000 photos, just over 350 more than 2 years ago!  Photos are 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 this 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. 

IMG_7618 May 6 2023 Cross of Remembrance at Groesbeek from Ad

The Cross of Remembrance at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek. (Photo courtesy of Ad Scheepers)

…4 Indigenous Soldiers Commemorated…

In Part 1, graves and photos of soldiers from Prince Edward Island were featured. In this posting, the graves and photos of four Indigenous soldiers are featured. 

IMG_7611 Tom Chaske from Ad

Tom Chaske. (Photo courtesy of Ad Scheepers)

Tom CHASKE of the Long Plain First Nation in Manitoba served with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles.  On December 12, 1944, he was part of a crew of soldiers being transported to repair a road in The Netherlands.  Unfortunately, the vehicle they were in slipped off a dike and flipped over into a flooded field, pinning them under the vehicle. Tom and six other soldiers drowned that day.  He was 24 years old.

Tom’s name was on the cemetery’s photo wish list, so when Pieter was interviewed by Kevin Rollason of the Winnipeg Free Press, about his research in finding photos of soldiers from Manitoba who are buried in The Netherlands, Tom was one of the 12 names mentioned.  The article, ‘A name without a face’, ran online on November 4, 2022 and in the print edition on November 5, 2022.  You can read the article at https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/2022/11/04/a-name-without-a-face .

Up to now, a newspaper image from Tom’s obituary in the Winnipeg Free Press is all that has been received. 

IMG_8975 Maxwell King from Alice

Maxwell Warren King. (Photo courtesy of Alice van Bekkum)

Maxwell Warren KING, of Christian Island, Ontario, was serving with the Irish Regiment of Canada when he was killed in The Netherlands on April 16, 1945, at the age of 24. Maxwell was a member of what is now the Wasauksing First Nation (formerly Parry Island First Nation). His story will be told in a future blog posting.

IMG_8928 Jack Maracle from Alice

John ‘Jack’ Richard Maracle. (Photo courtesy of Alice van Bekkum)

John ‘Jack’ Richard MARACLE of Midland, Ontario, had deep Mohawk roots on his paternal side.  His paternal grandfather was born on the Tyendinaga Reserve in Ontario, and his paternal grandmother on the Six Nations of the Grand River Reserve, also in Ontario. 

Jack was serving with the 6th Canadian Armoured Regiment when he was hit in the abdomen by a bullet from machine gun fire on March 5, 1945, during Operation Blockbuster in Germany, and died on March 12, 1945, at the age of 20. You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/07/17/on-the-war-memorial-trail-remembering-ww2-soldier-john-jack-richard-maracle/

IMG_7616 George Taylor from Ad

George Taylor. (Photo courtesy of Ad Scheepers)

George TAYLOR of the Curve Lake First Nations Reserve near Peterborough, Ontario, was serving with the Royal Canadian Artillery, 2 Medium Regiment when he accidentally died, aged 25, on June 17, 1945, due to asphyxia (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asphyxia) in The Netherlands, while asleep in his army tent. His story will be told in an upcoming blog posting.

Thank you to Alice van Bekkum and Ad and Noor Scheepers for their kindness in taking these photos. Ad spoke for all of us when he sent his photos: “…May the pictures give comfort to the families….”

In Part 3, the graves and photos of soldiers from Nova Scotia whose families contacted us for the Atlantic Canada Remembers series in 2021 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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Follow our blog

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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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