Gregory Philip Anthony MCCARTHY

On The War Memorial Trail…..Our 2025 Visit To The Canadian War Cemetery In Bergen Op Zoom

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Entrance to the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom.  Pieter can be seen in the distance carrying the bag of flags!  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

January 12, 2026. Readers of this blog are aware that Pieter has been involved in finding photos of Canadians who are buried in The Netherlands since 2014.  Last spring 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. 

….Flags placed at the graves of soldiers from 5 provinces…

After visiting a number of cemeteries in The Netherlands and Belgium during our 2025 European War Memorial Tour, we travelled back to The Netherlands to visit the last cemetery on our list – the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom. 

Many Canadians who are buried here lost their lives during the Battle of the Scheldt. Others were reburied here from other cemeteries, while some, mostly airmen, had drowned and their bodies washed up.

There are 1,119 WWII Commonwealth burials, 968 of them Canadian. There are also 109 casualties from the United Kingdom, 6 from New Zealand, 5 from Australia, and 31 that are unidentified. Flags were placed by Pieter at 51 graves at this cemetery:

  • 14 were from Nova Scotia
  • 21 from New Brunswick
  • 7 from Prince Edward Island
  • 1 from Saskatchewan
  • 8 from Ontario

9 of the graves also received an Acadian flag.  All of the graves received a Canadian flag.  Provincial flags were placed at all graves, with the exception of the soldier from Saskatchewan, for which, unfortunately, we did not receive flags.

.…This was our second visit to Bergen Op Zoom…

We’d first been to the cemetery in 2019. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2019/12/07/on-the-war-memorial-trail-our-2019-visit-to-the-canadian-war-cemetery-in-bergen-op-zoom/)

The cemetery was an hour’s drive from our hotel in Tilburg.  In The Netherlands, no one talks kms, it’s all about the time it takes to get to a destination….and that varies depending on the time of day, if it’s a weekend or holiday, or a normal weekday.  Distances aren’t far by North American standards, but traffic is so congested – and drivers so impatient and aggressive – that it can take an hour or longer to travel a distance that would take 10 or 15 minutes back home.

As always, when we are in a war cemetery, we write an entry in the visitors’ book.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Whenever we visit a war cemetery, we always make time to write in the visitors’ book, and this time I wrote that we were here to place flags at 51 graves.

….A surprise encounter led to one more grave receiving a Canadian flag…

While in the cemetery, we met a family from Calgary, Fred and Tasha Best, and their two children, who’d come to visit Fred’s great-uncle, Hans Karl GRAFFUNDER, a soldier from British Columbia who died on October 1, 1944, aged 23, while serving with the Calgary Highlanders.

Standing behind the grave of Hans Karl Graffunder, from left to right: Tasha, Samantha, Fred (the soldier’s great-nephew), and Nate Best of Calgary, Alberta. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Pieter contributed a Canadian flag to be placed by the grave. After Pieter explained about the search for photos of soldiers, they immediately emailed a photo of Hans Karl to us, which was then shared with Caroline Raaijmakers, Chair of Faces To Graves Bergen Op Zoom. If only it was that easy to get all the photos on the wish lists!

Fred Best explained that originally it was thought that his great-uncle was a German soldier, due to his surname, blond hair, and blue eyes, but once he was identified as Canadian, he was buried in Bergen Op Zoom.

….It took us 2 hours to place flags…

It was not as hot and humid as in previous days, and as the cemetery is smaller than the other two Canadian War Cemeteries in The Netherlands, we were finished in 2 hours, an amazing feat.

Pieter stands behind the grave of Albert James Lounsbury.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

When we visited the grave of WWII soldier Albert James LOUNSBURY, of Petitcodiac, New Brunswick, we brought a photo of him with us.  Pieter placed the photo at the grave along with flags of Canada and New Brunswick.  The photo was later given to Caroline Raaijmakers.  While serving with the Black Watch of Canada, Albert lost his life on October 13, 1944, aged 36.  His story will be coming up in a future posting.

Pieter stands behind the grave of Gregory Philip Anthony McCarthy. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

WWII soldier Gregory Philip Anthony MCCARTHY, born in Grand Falls, New Brunswick, was serving with the 10th Independent Machine Gun Company, New Brunswick Rangers when he killed in The Netherlands, aged 22, on January 19, 1945, when the company’s own mortar misfired and exploded. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/03/16/on-the-war-memorial-trail-atlantic-canada-remembers-part-8/)

Pieter stands behind the grave of Arnold Ernest ‘Ernie’ Thornton. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

WWII soldier Arnold Ernest ‘Ernie’ THORNTON, born in Amherst, Nova Scotia, was serving with the Calgary Highlanders when he killed in Belgium, eight days before his 23rd birthday, on September 22, 1944, during the Battle of the Scheldt. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/01/16/on-the-war-memorial-trail-atlantic-canada-remembers-part-3/)

….An invitation to lunch…

We finished placing flags a few minutes before we were scheduled to meet Caroline Raaijmakers and her husband Han.  They invited us to their home for lunch, where we enjoyed a delicious bowl of white asparagus soup and sandwiches.

Caroline Raaijmakers, Daria, Pieter, and Han Raaijmakers. Pieter holds a plaque from the family of Alvah Leard, a soldier from Prince Edward Island. (Photo credit: Dorus Raaijmakers)

Caroline showed us some of the material left at graves by Canadian students visiting the cemetery a few weeks before us. They saved everything as otherwise it would have been discarded or ruined by rain.  It was amazing!  Some students had painted pictures to be placed by graves. Plaques, photos, letters to the deceased soldiers, pins, and little ceramic animals were also left. 

All of the material will be saved for the upcoming Visitors Centre, located between the Canadian and British War Cemeteries, and which is scheduled to open in May 2026.

….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.
  • 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.
  • Don Coutts on behalf of the Muttart and Coutts families in memory of Flight Sergeant Elmer Bagnall Muttart for the Ontario flags.
  • Jean-Claude D’Amours, MLA for Edmundston-Madawaska Centre, Minister responsible for Military Affairs, with the help of Cécile LePage, Province of New Brunswick, for the New Brunswick flags.
  • La Société acadienne de Clare at the request of Simone Comeau for the Acadian flags.

Thank you to Caroline and Han Raaijmakers for inviting us for lunch, and letting us see what the Canadian students had left at the graves they visited.  Thank you also to the Best family for sending a photo of Hans Karl Graffunder. 

We arrived back at our hotel after 4:30 pm, and enjoyed an early dinner and relaxing evening.  More adventures awaited this droopy but dynamic duo as we continued with our 2025 European War Memorial Tour. 

Meanwhile, long after our return home, 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/

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On The War Memorial Trail….. Atlantic Canada Remembers – Part 8

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March 16, 2021. More of the photos submitted by Atlantic Canadians of soldiers buried overseas are featured in this posting. Pieter is ensuring that every email is acknowledged, and that the photos of soldiers buried in The Netherlands are forwarded to the appropriate cemetery for their digital archives.  Thank you to the members of Royal Canadian Legions in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick for their help.

Soldiers buried at the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands

Fryday published in Toronto Newspaper

George Albert Fryday.  (Photo submitted by Marion Fryday-Cook.)

Marion Fryday-Cook, President of the Royal Canadian Legion’s Nova Scotia/Nunavat Command, submitted a photo of George Albert FRYDAY, explaining that “…I am a relative of Rifleman George A. Fryday, Service Number B/136751, who is buried in Holten Canadian War Cemetery, Netherlands.  He was born in Toronto, Ontario. Thank you for honouring our fallen….” 

At the age of 15, George joined the Merchant Marine, and later the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserve.  However, once it was established that he was under age, he was discharged.  At the age of 17, he enlisted in the Canadian Army and was sent overseas in December 1944.  He was serving in the Queen’s Own Rifles Regiment when he lost his life on May 4, 1945, aged 19. 

Frederick Joseph Tait

Frederick Joseph Tait. (Photo submitted by the Grand Falls branch of the Royal Canadian Legion)

Patrick Côté of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 21 in Grand Falls, New Brunswick, submitted a photo of Frederick Joseph TAIT, born April 26, 1921 in Grand Falls, New Brunswick, the son of Herbert Henry Tait and Louise Emeline Leclair.

Patrick referenced a book, ‘Military Heritage – The Greater Grand Falls Region’, by Jean-Guy Plourde, which explained that “…. Prior to the war, he worked in a grocery store…”  Before enlistment on February 1, 1943 in Fredericton, he served in the New Brunswick Cadet Corps, and had been an Instructor in Infantry Training with the 2nd Carleton & York Regiment since 1940.

According to the Personnel Selection Record of his service file, he was fluent in both French and English and was assessed as “…good NCO instructor material…”  (NCO refers to Non-Commissioned Officer.)  He had a “…confident bearing…” and “…stability above average….” Unfortunately, his educational background was “…not high enough for commissioned rank…” 

After being deployed overseas in December 1943 he served in Sicily, where he fell ill and was hospitalized for 8 months.  After being released from hospital, he “…went on leave to England….” Over Christmas 1944 he was able to meet his brother Clair, also with the Canadian Army.

Clair survived WWII but Frederick didn’t.  While serving with the Carleton & York Regiment as the unit advanced to the Apeldoorn Canal in The Netherlands on April 15, 1945, he lost his life and was temporarily buried in Posterenk, near Zutphen.

CIMG9297 Sep 25 2017 Edwin and Pieter with CYR list

Edwin van der Wolf and Pieter in Posterenk in 2017.  Pieter holds up a list of the 6 Carleton & York Regiment soldiers who were temporarily buried in the village.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

In September 2017, Pieter and I visited the village of Posterenk with Edwin van der Wolf, one of the research volunteers at the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten.  Edwin explained that “… the Carleton & York Regiment came from Italy to Marseilles, and then into The Netherlands where, on April 13, 1945, the village of Posterenk was liberated.  Six soldiers from the Regiment were buried here temporarily….” 

Edwin gave us a list of the 6 soldiers from the Carleton & York Regiment who were temporarily buried in the village.  Frederick Joseph Tait was one of these men!

Posterenk list of 6 CYR members

List of 6 Carleton & York Regiment soldiers temporarily buried in Posterenk in 1945.

Soldiers buried at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands

Photo Burgess Porter

Burgess Allison Porter.  (Photo submitted by Everett Dalton)

Everett Dalton submitted a photo of Burgess Allison PORTER, writing that Burgess was “…the son of Annie ‘Laura’ (nee Porter) McCall…” Born October 2, 1922 in Grafton, Nova Scotia, his mother died when he was 2 years old.  Although his biological father, Reg McCall was still alive, it was his mother’s wish that her son be raised by “…Frank Oscar and Lennie Alma (nee Pineo) Porter….”  

While not formally adopted, he was raised by them and was known by the surname Porter. His service file identifies Frank and Lennie Porter as his grandparents. 

Born October 2, 1922, Burgess was from Grafton, Nova Scotia, and a store clerk before he enlisted in Halifax on April 14, 1941.  On January 20, 1942 he arrived in the United Kingdom as part of the Artillery Holding Unit, and in April 1942 was attached to the 4th Field Regiment of the Royal Canadian Artillery as a bombardier. 

On July 7, 1944 his unit landed in France, and unfortunately Burgess was killed on February 21, 1945 in Germany and was temporarily buried in Bedburg, Germany.

Soldiers buried at the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom, The Netherlands

Clayton Wilfred Shannon virtual war memorial BoZ

Clayton Wilfred Shannon.  (Photo from Canadian Virtual War Memorial)

Patrick Côté of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 21 in Grand Falls, New Brunswick sent the link to the Canadian Virtual War Memorial page for Clayton Wilfred SHANNON, who had served with the Calgary Highlanders and lost his life on September 22, 1944.

Patrick referenced a book, ‘Military Heritage – The Greater Grand Falls Region’, by Jean-Guy Plourde, which explained that Clayton, born August 2, 1920 in Grand Falls, the son of Frederick Herman Shannon and Bertha Mulherin, “…was musically inclined… playing guitar and singing.  Before his army service, he had even made a couple of records….”

In 1940 “…with his cousin, Adrien Mulherin, he left home to enlist in the Carleton & York Regiment….”   After serving 4 years in Canada, he went overseas “…in July 1944, with the Calgary Highlanders…. While in combat near the border of Holland and Belgium, Clayton was killed, only a few weeks after arriving in Europe…”

Clayton lost his life in Belgium during the Battle of the Scheldt, and was initially buried in Wommelgem, on the outskirts of Antwerp, one of 11 members of the Calgary Highlanders buried there before being reburied in Bergen Op Zoom. (For more information on what happened in Wommelgem, see https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/02/13/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-search-for-soldiers-who-died-in-wommelgem-belgium-in-fall-1944/)

Gregory P. A. McCarthy (2)

Gregory Philip Anthony McCarthy.  (Photo submitted by the Grand Falls branch of the Royal Canadian Legion)

Patrick Côté of the Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 21 in Grand Falls, New Brunswick, submitted a photo of Gregory Philip Anthony MCCARTHY, born February 28, 1922 on a farm in California Settlement in Grand Falls, son of Thomas and Agnes McCarthy. 

Patrick referenced a book, ‘Military Heritage – The Greater Grand Falls Region’, by Jean-Guy Plourde, which explained that Gregory “…was the youngest of 11 children….He had …. helped on the farm for 8 years and also worked in lumbering prior to his enlistment…. On 26 March 1941 Gregory enlisted in the Canadian Army at Woodstock, NB…”

After completing his basic training, he was “… transferred to the 1st Battalion New Brunswick Rangers….on 19 May 1941….”  After a promotion to Lance Corporal on December 1, 1941 he went to Labrador as a Driver Mechanic. 

On September 10, 1943 he left for the United Kingdom “… where he completed a mortar course and remained until his deployment to France with the 10th Independent Machine Gun Company, NB Rangers, arriving on 22 July 1944….”

His commanding officers described him as “…dependable, reliable, and well-thought of in his unit….”  While serving in Germany and The Netherlands, he was a member of a mortar detachment responsible for engaging the enemy. On January 19, 1945, near Waalwijk in The Netherlands, their own mortar misfired and exploded, causing 3 members of the team to be seriously wounded, with fatal consequences for Gregory.  He was initially buried in Tilburg.

Thank you to Patrick Côté, Everett Dalton, and Marion Fryday-Cook for sharing photos and anecdotes.  Atlantic Canadians remember their loved ones who are buried overseas.

More photos and stories in Atlantic Canada Remembers – Part 9! To share photos or information, please email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, or comment on the blog. 

© Daria Valkenburg

…..Previous postings in the Atlantic Canada Remembers series….

Missed the previous postings in this series? See:

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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/

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

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