On The War Memorial Trail In North Bay….. The WWII Soldier Who Was Appointed Company Sergeant Major

June 29, 2022July 1, 2025 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

June 29, 2022. When we knew we would be travelling to North Bay, Ontario in May for an Author Talk at the North Bay Public Library, Pieter also wanted to help the Canadian War Cemeteries in The Netherlands fulfill their photo wish lists of six soldiers from the North Bay area.

Little did we know that a chance meeting with retired history teacher John Hetherington, organized by Don Coutts, to bring together like minded individuals interested in military research, would be the key to receiving one of these photos.

…A meeting that led to a photo of a WWII soldier….

IMG_20220518_195343443_BURST000_COVER May 18 2022 With John Hetherington photo by Don

John Hetherington with Daria and Pieter at the North Bay Public Library. (Photo credit: Don Coutts)

John Hetherington takes groups to visit war memorials and cemeteries in Europe, and we were delighted to meet him one evening during our visit to North Bay. After he and Pieter discussed the soldiers on the photo wish lists from the Canadian War Cemeteries in The Netherlands, John recalled that two nephews of Anthony PETTA, one of the soldiers on the list, had been on one of his tours, and had visited their uncle’s grave.

Leave it with me, he said. He’d look up the contact information and call them. He did, and within a few days, a photo was sent to Pieter by Anthony Repa, which was in turn sent to The Netherlands.

Anthony Petta. (Photo courtesy of Anthony Petta Family. Photo submitted by Anthony Repa. Photo restoration and colourization by Pieter Valkenburg)

Antonio ‘Anthony’ PETTA was born November 8, 1915 in North Bay, Ontario, the son of Michael and Raffaela (nee Rota) Petta. Before enlisting with the Algonquin Regiment in North Bay on May 12, 1941, he was employed as a freight handler with the Temeskaming and Northern Ontario Railroad.

Anthony’s Occupational History Form indicated that he spoke English and Italian fluently, not surprising as both his parents had been born in Italy. He also indicated that after the war he hoped to take a Commercial Agriculture Course and become a chicken farmer.

On July 12, 1941, he was sent for training at Camp Shilo in Manitoba, followed by a promotion to Acting Corporal and a transfer to Newfoundland on August 8, 1942.

On February 16, 1943, he requested a demotion to Private and was sent to Debert, Nova Scotia, a camp that prepared soldiers for overseas service. The demotion lasted one day, and he was reappointed Acting Corporal. On April 6, he was confirmed as Corporal, and the following day, received another promotion, to Lance Sergeant.

By July 2, 1943 he was in the United Kingdom. While in the United Kingdom, he was promoted to Acting Sergeant on February 28, 1944, and then promoted again, this time to Sergeant, on May 28, 1944.

His stay in the United Kingdom ended when he left for Normandy, France with the Algonquin Regiment on July 20, 1944. On July 25, 1944, all four companies of the Algonquin Regiment landed on Juno Beach where, in the following days, they supported the 4th Canadian Armoured Division in closing the Falaise Gap. From there they fought to secure many bridgeheads over canals in The Netherlands and into Germany.

From November 5 to 8, 1944 the Algonquin Regiment had a rest period in the area around Steenbergen, in preparation for Operation Blockbuster, which began in February 1945, part of the final push towards the Rhine. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Blockbuster)

According to his service record, while in Europe Anthony was appointed Acting Company Sergeant Major (CSM) with the rank of Acting Warrant Officer 2. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Company_sergeant_major)

….The Battle of Hochwald Gap was fierce and under wet and muddy conditions….

On February 26, 1945, Anthony’s regiment advanced towards the Hochwald Gap, the scene of what became a fierce battle. (See https://civilianmilitaryintelligencegroup.com/10742/the-battle-of-hochwald-gap-one-of-the-largest-armor-engagements-you-probably-have-never-heard-of)

The war diary for the Algonquin Regiment for February 27, 1945 noted that they were huddled beside the tanks which had brought them forward. Unfortunately, one company and part of another were missing, as the tanks carrying them had bogged down.

The objective for the Algonquin Regiment was a rounded hill which filled the western end of the gap between the Hochwald and the Balberger Wald.

The war diary for the Algonquin Regiment for March 2, 1945 explained that “… ‘D’ Company managed to mount two platoons on the available tanks, and with one platoon on foot, started for their objective. The two platoons on tanks managed to get as far forward as the Lake Superior Regiment position, but by this time 5 of the 8 tanks had been knocked out. The infantry therefore debussed and the tanks returned to the protective cover of the hill….

The third platoon of ‘D’ Company joined the small force of Lake Superior Regiment holding the furthest position forward. ‘A’ Company then tried to get forward to join ‘D’ Company, but they were pinned down by murderous fire from both flanks and were being shelled at every moment. It was decided to abandon this effort as casualties had been very heavy. A/CSM Petta was killed in this action….

Lt Hamilton, taking part in his first action, was also killed. Captain T. P. Richardson, Acting Commander ‘A’ Company, who was with CSM Petta, was missing, believed killed….”

It was later confirmed that Captain Richardson had died. Although the official records state that Anthony Petta died on March 3, 1945, the war diary indicates that he had died a day earlier. His brother Alexander ‘Leslie’ was also in the Algonquin Regiment and survived the war.

…Tanks helped protect infantry regiments…

A 46 minute YouTube video on the Battle of Hochwald Gap explained the fierce battle that took place. While this video depicts the tank battle, it shows the horrifying conditions troops were up against. Infantry units like the Algonquin Regiment depended on the tank regiments for protection.

…The photo at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek that triggered John’s memory…

n346 Maurice Petta and Anthony Repa by John Hetherington

Anthony Repa, left, and Maurice Petta, right, by the grave of Anthony Petta at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek in April 2010. (Photo courtesy of John Hetherington)

After meeting us, John did look for the photo of the two nephews, and sent it to us. When Anthony Repa sent us the photo of his uncle, he also gave permission to include the 2010 photo taken of himself and his cousin in Groesbeek.

Anthony went on to share that he has visited the cemetery in Groesbeek “…three times. The first, I was 23, in 1968 and backpacked around England, Belgium and Holland for 2 weeks. The second trip, I was with my wife and young son in 1987. The third was on John’s tour in 2010.

On the second trip, my wife and son and I were taking a Rhine River cruise which originated in Nijmegen. We booked into a hotel in Nijmegen and after I asked the desk clerk if there was a bus to Groesbeek, he directed us to a bus stop. As we waited at the stop, a bus came from the direction of the cemetery and stopped.

The female driver said something to us in Dutch. I told her we were Canadian and she then said in English that this was the last bus and that she was finished her shift. She then asked where we wanted to go. I said the Groesbeek Cemetery as my uncle was buried there. She told us to get on the bus, turned the bus around and drove us to the cemetery. I offered to pay the fare but she declined.

When we arrived she told us to take as long as we wanted to, that she would wait. After we paid our respects she drove us back to the hotel.

I have told countless people about this experience. I have many wonderful memories of my travels, one of my fondest, is the kindness she showed us on that day….”

…The Memorial Plaque from St. Rita Roman Catholic Church…

Part of the memorial plaque originally placed by St. Rita Roman Catholic Church. (Photo courtesy of Karen Steel)

We thought we had reached the end of the research for Anthony Petta when we were contacted by 92 year old Don Unger, who said he grew up in the neighbourhood around St. Rita’s Roman Catholic Church and remembered seeing a memorial in the church yard. The memorial “….mentions Anthony Petta and other Italian boys who served…” he told Pieter.

The church was closed in 2010, but we asked Don Coutts, who lives in North Bay, if he could see if the memorial was still in the yard. It wasn’t.

Don then went to the Pro-Cathedral of the Assumption and asked Karen Steel if she had any information. Karen explained that “…the plaques were donated to the North Bay Museum…” but she sent us “…a copy of the plaque information that I took for historical purposes before the plaques were taken to the museum. I always knew someday someone would be looking for this information!…”

The July 23, 1946 edition of the North Bay Nugget newspaper had a picture of the war memorial when it was dedicated. The text under the picture said “…His Excellency R. H. Dignan, assisted by Rev R. F. Venti, officiated at the unveiling of a splendid war memorial at St. Rita’s Park on Sunday. Dedicated to the memory of four members of the parish who gave their lives in the Second World War, the memorial is also in honour of those who served during the war.

The four corners are dedicated to Sgt Joe Demarco of the RCAF, Sgt A. Petta, Pte Gordon Hogan, and Cpl William Lafontaine, all of whom gave their lives during the recent conflict. The honour roll is also inscribed on the memorial. The dedication ceremony was an impressive one…” img church memorial for petta North Bay Nugget Jul 23 1946

Thank you to Don Coutts, John Hetherington, and Anthony Repa. Thank you also to Judie Klassen and Shawn Rainville for researching the newspaper and genealogy archives. Thank you to Karen Steel and Don Unger for the information on the memorial from St. Rita’s Church. Thanks also go to the North Bay Nugget newspaper as it had extensive coverage of WWII soldiers from the time period and the newspaper archive is digitized.

Our North Bay adventures continue in upcoming postings. If you know of any soldiers from the North Bay area that are buried in The Netherlands please let Pieter know. You can mail him at memorialtrail@gmail.com, or comment on the blog.

© Daria Valkenburg

….Previous stories told about soldiers who lost their lives during the Battle of Hochwald Gap ….

Two previous stories were told about soldiers who lost their lives during the Battle of Hochwald Gap. Clarence Wilfred Wakegijig was in a tank regiment that supported the infantry. Gerald Coolen, like Anthony Petta, was in an infantry regiment. To read the stories about Clarence and Gerald, see:

Clarence Wilfred WAKEGIJIG, who served with the Canadian Grenadier Guards, lost his life on March 2, 1945. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/08/09/on-the-war-memorial-trail-remembering-ww2-soldier-clarence-wilfred-wakegijig/)
Gerald COOLEN, who served with the Black Watch, lost his life on February 26, 1945. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/11/28/on-the-war-memorial-trail-atlantic-canada-remembers-part-11/)

…Missed the previous postings about our North Bay Memorial Trail visit?…

…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 OnTheWarMememorialTrailinEurope 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 In North Bay….. Remembering WWII Soldier Cecil Edward Goodreau

June 17, 2022February 4, 2026 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

June 17, 2022. Some families span generations of military service, as we discovered when researching the life of WWII soldier Cecil Edward GOODREAU of North Bay, Ontario. Not only did Cecil serve during WWII, but two of his brothers did as well:

Murrel Robert, who worked at National Grocers in North Bay before enlisting in 1942
William (Bill) Joseph, who worked at Rankin’s Grocery in North Bay before enlisting

Both Murrel and Bill returned home from the war. Cecil didn’t.

The three brothers followed in the footsteps of their father Henry (Harry) Goodreau, who enlisted in WWI and served in France. While in England he met and married Margaret Daisy. They had 2 boys born there before returning to Canada in March 1919 on a ship full of troops and their wives and children.

Cecil Edward Goodreau. (Photo courtesy of the Goudreau family. Photo colourization by Pieter Valkenburg)

Cecil was born July 9, 1924 in Cache Bay, Ontario, the son of Harry Joseph and Margaret Daisy Goodreau. He attended St Joseph’s Separate School in Sturgeon Falls, Ontario, and after the family moved to North Bay when he was 12, he was a student at St Mary’s School in North Bay.

Before enlisting in Sudbury, Ontario on March 15, 1943, Cecil worked at the International Nickel Company (Inco) in Copper Cliff, Ontario. He was sent for training as a gunner at Camp Borden, Ontario before going overseas. He left Canada on November 25, 1943 and arrived in the United Kingdom on December 1, where he became part of the Canadian Armoured Corps Reinforcement Unit (CACRU).

While in the United Kingdom, he attended Gunnery and Wireless courses in preparation for the D-Day landings on June 4, 1944 in Normandy. Remarkably, he survived D-Day and on June 9, 1944 was transferred to the 27^th Armoured Regiment (Sherbrooke Fusiliers).

… Cecil lost his life during Operation Blockbuster in Germany….

On November 1, 1944, while still in France, he was wounded when he sustained shell fragment wounds to his head and face, as well as his knee and shin, in an infantry accident. At the time of his death he was still carrying scars of the face and head shell wounds received in November.

Unfortunately, a few months later, Cecil was killed in action in Germany in the Battle of Keppeln on February 26, 1945 during Operation Blockbuster, the last part of Operation Veritable. He had been transferred to the 25^th Armoured Delivery Regiment (Elgin Regiment) just the day before.

Cecil was initially buried near Kalkar, Germany. (For more information, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Blockbuster and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Veritable)

… Cecil’s great-niece contacted us….

Nancy Gribbons, daughter of Cecil’s niece Marie, wrote that “…My grandfather, Harry Goudreau, and Uncle Cecil were brothers. My mother talked of Uncle Cecil staying with them all the time and that they all loved him.

When he was 18, Uncle Cecil moved from North Bay to stay with Harry and Grandma Helene at their home in Copper Cliff, Ontario. Uncle Cecil worked at Inco mines before signing up in Sudbury to join the war.

My grandparents helped many persons by letting them stay at their home while working at the Inco mines. Inco was a large employer and people could make money to save.

In 1940 there was not a lot of work, especially in Northern Ontario, and men flocked to Sudbury to work in the mines. It was a mining town, and still is.

Grandpa Harry never got over losing his brother Cecil. He and Grandma Helen named their next child, a girl, Cecilla after him, and then the next and last was a boy and his name is Cecil Goudreau too.

Uncle Cecil was so loved and was saving to buy a farm in Verner, a farming community between North Bay and Sudbury, near Sturgeon Falls and Cache Bay, where he was born….”

…Memorial Plaque at Pro-Cathedral Of The Assumption Church in North Bay….

20220518_165029 May 18 2022 Procathedral

Pro-Cathedral of the Assumption Catholic Church in North Bay, Ontario.

After Nancy told us that Cecil’s name was listed on a memorial plaque at the Pro-Cathedral of the Assumption Catholic Church in North Bay, we asked Don Coutts if he could arrange a visit there to see it.

Don contacted Karen Steel, Parish Administrator, who was present when we came to view the plaque.

20220518_154353 May 18 2022 Pieter Karen Steel Don Coutts by memorial plaque in Procathedral

Pieter with Karen Steel and Don Coutts beside the memorial plaque at the Pro-Cathedral of the Assumption Catholic Church. Pieter is pointing to Cecil’s name. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

20220518_154254 May 18 2022 Memorial plaque for Goodreau in Procathedral

Memorial plaque at the Pro-Cathedral of the Assumption Catholic Church. Cecil’s name is second from the bottom in the far left column. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

…Cecil’s nephew had a photo….

Nancy Gribbons contacted her uncle Johnny Goudreau, a retired veteran, who wrote “…Thank you for your work on this project….” Johnny and his wife Beverley contributed the photo of Cecil, noting that there was a “…difference in the spelling for our last name. Goudreau is how this branch of the family spells the last name….”

Cecil was initially buried near Kalkar, Germany, before being reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands.

12903776_137245225378 Goodreau from Find A Grave

Cecil Edward Goodreau is buried at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands. (Photo source: http://www.findagrave.com)

Thank you to Johnny and Beverley Goudreau and Nancy Gribbons for sharing anecdotes about Cecil Goodreau and his photo. Heartfelt thanks to Don Coutts and Karen Steel for arranging the visit to the Pro-Cathedral of the Assumption Catholic Church to view the memorial plaque. Thank you also to Judie Klassen and Shawn Rainville for researching the newspaper and genealogy archives.

© Daria Valkenburg

… Stories about other soldiers who lost their lives on February 26, 1945 during Operation Blockbuster…

Frank Edward MCGOVERN: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2020/12/09/the-search-for-a-photo-of-frank-edward-mcgovern-moves-to-youtube/
Bernard ‘Barney’ Reuben MCGUIGAN: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/12/23/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-photo-search-for-barney-mcguigan-is-successful/ and https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2020/08/07/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-search-for-barney-reuben-mcguigan/
Elbridge Wellington MILLER: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/04/15/on-the-war-memorial-trail-atlantic-canada-remembers-part-9/

…Missed the previous postings about our North Bay Memorial Trail visit?…

…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/

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 In North Bay….. The North Bay Cenotaph In Memorial Park

June 8, 2022 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

CIMG5568 May 18 2022 Pieter and Don at North Bay Memorial

Pieter and Don Coutts by a section of the Wall of Honour in Memorial Park in North Bay, Ontario. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

June 8, 2022. Whenever we visit a place, the local Cenotaph or monuments are always on the ‘must see’ list. North Bay, Ontario has the largest municipal war memorial in Canada. The 2000 installation of the Honour Wall listed the names of 636 men and women from the area that lost their lives.

Cenotaph in Memorial Park in North Bay, Ontario. You can see the Wall of Honour in the background. (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

…Soldiers buried in The Netherlands on the photo wish lists by Dutch researchers…

The names of 6 WWII soldiers from the North Bay area who are buried in The Netherlands were on photo wish lists from Dutch researchers, and four of these were on the Cenotaph:

Albert Joseph COTE
Cecil Edward GOODREAU
Anthony PETTA
John Langford ‘Jack’ WALKER

DSCN2391 A J Cote name is at the very bottom

Albert Joseph Cote, buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten. (Photo credit: Don Coutts)

CIMG5565 May 18 2022 North Bay Memorial Cecil Goudreau

Cecil Edward Goodreau, buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

CIMG5564 May 18 2022 North Bay Memorial Anthony Petta

Anthony Petta, buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

John Langford ‘Jack’ Walker, buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten. (Photo credit: Don Coutts)

All four of these soldiers will be featured in upcoming stories on this blog. For a list of all known soldiers from the North Bay area who are buried in The Netherlands, see https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/05/15/on-the-war-memorial-trail-author-talks-in-north-bay/

….End Polio Now Tulips….

DSCN2414 May 18 2022 Tulips at North Bay Memorial Don Coutts

‘End Polio Now’ Tulips by the Cenotaph in Memorial Park in North Bay, Ontario. (Photo credit: Don Coutts)

While at the Cenotaph, we were surprised to learn that the tulips gracing the monument were ‘End Polio Now’ tulips. Pieter grows several varieties of tulips in our yard, but this is one we had never heard of, so we asked Don Coutts for more information.

“… In the Fall of 2020, I had seen an article in The Guardian of how the Rotary Clubs on Prince Edward Island and Atlantic Canada had raised funds for Rotary International’s project to eradicate Polio in the world by selling the End Polio Now Tulip Bulb Boxes.

Around 1985 Rotary International took on a project to eradicate Polio throughout the world. My wife Nora’s uncle, Tom Elliott, was quite involved with the Rotary International in getting the project started. Tom was a senior manager with the North Bay Public District Health Unit at the time. At the present time, there are only a handful of Polio cases in the world.

In 2020, proceeds of $43,192 were made by Rotary Clubs on PEI and in the Atlantic Provinces, plus sales of the bulbs that had been made to the public separately. With matching grants, including the Melinda and Bill Gates’ Foundation for the Polio Eradication Programme, the total amount of money raised was $154,715.00 US Dollars.

In 2021, members of our Rotary District 7010 Rotary Clubs in Ontario bought 665 Tulip Bulb Boxes. The proceeds were $10,267.60 and with matching grants the amount became $30,802.00 Canadian Dollars.

The three (3) Rotary Clubs in North Bay bought 132 Tulip Bulb Boxes and donated many. Other Rotary Clubs in the District bought the Tulip Bulbs and donated them to various organizations as well.

There is only one supplier of the Tulip Bulbs in the world—–they come from Holland (this was music to Pieter’s ears!) Veseys Seed Company was involved and is the sole Canadian Distributor. There are twenty-five (25) Tulip Bulbs in each box. (For more information, see https://www.veseys.com/ca/end-polio-now-tulip-76289.html)

Once Polio has been eradicated, the supplier of the Tulip Bulbs in Holland will no longer produce them….”

I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that the ‘End Polio Now’ Tulips will be on Pieter’s bulb purchase list for this fall!

Thank you to Don Coutts for taking us to the Cenotaph. More North Bay adventures are coming up in the next posting.

Missed the previous posting about North Bay? See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/06/07/on-the-war-memorial-trail-in-north-bay-adventures-in-north-bay/

If you know of any soldiers from the North Bay area that are buried in The Netherlands please let Pieter know. You can mail him at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or send a tweet to @researchmemori1.

…Want to follow our research?….

If you are reading this posting, but aren’t following the blog, you are welcome to do so. See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/ or email me at dariadv@yahoo.ca and ask for an invitation to the blog.

Front cover OnTheWarMememorialTrailinEurope Daria’s book ‘No Soldier Buried Overseas Should Ever Be Forgotten‘ is now available. 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.

© Daria Valkenburg

On The War Memorial Trail….. Author Talks In North Bay

May 15, 2022June 13, 2022 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 2 Comments

May 15, 2022. We very much appreciate the feedback from ‘No Soldier Buried Overseas Overseas Should Ever Be Forgotten’, and enjoy seeing the photos sent in and the opportunity to meet some of you in person. We’re back on the war memorial trail…. this time in North Bay, Ontario.

…Upcoming Author Talks In North Bay….

Meet Daria Valkenburg

Invitations have been received and accepted for two ‘Author Talks’:

Thursday, May 19, 2022 – North Bay, Ontario, presentation at Rotary Club of North Bay-Nipissing. Time noon.
Thursday, May 19, 2022 – North Bay, Ontario, hosted by the North Bay Public Library. Time 7:00 pm.

If you are in the North Bay area, we hope to see you!

….North Bay Area Soldiers Buried In The Netherlands….

We received lists of soldiers from the North Bay area who are buried in the Canadian War Cemeteries in The Netherlands, including a few for which no photo had been found. With the help of Don Coutts, Judie Klassen, and Shawn Rainville, headway has been made in researching these names from the photo wish lists, and families for 3 have been found.

Thank you also to Helen Vaillancourt of the Nipissing Chapter of the Ontario Genealogical Society and North Bay Public Library staff who delved into research after reading about the search for photos and families of soldiers buried in the Canadian War Cemeteries in The Netherlands.

20220514_122907 May 14 2022 Pieter with Shawn Rainville

Shawn Rainville and Pieter Valkenburg had a chance to meet in person. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

…Buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten…

APOSTLE of 12th Manitoba Dragoons – 18th Armoured Car Regiment. KIA 1945-Apr-16, aged 21

Albert Joseph COTE of The Algonquin Regiment. KIA 1944-Oct-05, aged 24

Herbert P. CROOME of Royal Canadian Artillery – 2nd Anti-Tank Regiment. KIA 1945-May-1, aged 27

Theodore S. DUNN of The Algonquin Regiment. KIA 1945-Apr-11, aged 30

William H. K. LOCKE of Royal Canadian Artillery – 4 Field Regiment. KIA 1945-Apr-03, aged 19

John Langford ‘Jack’ WALKER of Governor General’s Foot Guards-21st Armoured Regiment. KIA 1945-May-1, aged 20

…Buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek…

Zave BROWN of Royal Hamilton Light Infantry. KIA 1945-Mar-9, aged 19

Leopold Daniel BRULE of Essex Scottish Regiment. KIA 1945-Feb-19, aged 22

Cecil Edward GOODREAU of Elgin Regiment, 25th Armoured Delivery Regiment. KIA 1945-Feb 26, aged 22

Donald O. GUERTIN of Royal Hamilton Light Infantry. KIA 1945-Mar-2 aged 27

Clifford Stanley JOHNSTON of Royal Canadian Air Force 419 Squadron. KIA 1944-Jun-17, aged 21

John Richard ‘Jack’ MARACLE of 1st Hussars, 6th Armoured Regiment. KIA 1945-Mar-12, aged 19 (Maternal grandfather T. Marshall lived in North Bay)

Anthony PETTA of the Algonquin Regiment. KIA 1945-Mar-3, aged 29

…Buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom…:

Cleo Adelard SEGUIN of The Royal Regiment of Canada. KIA 1944-Sep-28, aged 24 (Wife Georgette Brousseau was from North Bay)

If you know of any other soldiers from the North Bay area that are buried in The Netherlands please let Pieter know. You can mail him at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or send a tweet to @researchmemori1.

…Want to follow our research?….

Front cover OnTheWarMememorialTrailinEurope Daria’s book ‘No Soldier Buried Overseas Should Ever Be Forgotten‘ is now available. 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.

© Daria Valkenburg

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

May 9, 2022November 15, 2025 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

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 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_Tod t)

· 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.

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/

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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Article In ‘De Telegraaf’ – Quest For Faces (Zoektocht naar gezichten)

May 4, 2022July 29, 2024 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 2 Comments

Sep 16 2017 Groesbeek Cemetery Pieter by grave of WA Cannon

Caption in De Telegraaf: Pieter Valkenburg: “No soldier who died abroad during war should be forgotten.” OWN PHOTO (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

May 4, 2022. Sometimes the unexpected happens. Last month, a search for family and photos of WWII soldiers Albert Joseph COTE and John Langford WALKER, who are buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands, began.

On April 18, 2022, a letter to the editor written by Pieter and North Bay resident Donald Coutts was published in the North Bay Nugget. (See https://www.nugget.ca/news/researcher-seeks-information-on-fallen-city-soldiers)

Shortly afterwards, Pieter was contacted by Marcel Vink of De Telegraaf, a newspaper in The Netherlands. He’d read the letter to the editor. Would Pieter be willing to do an interview? Pieter agreed, and the article was published today, May 4, 2022 – which is Dodenherdenking (Remembrance Day) in The Netherlands. This day commemorates Dutch civilians and military who have died in war since the beginning of WWII. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_of_the_Dead)

…De Telegraaf article published May 4, 2022…

For those who can read Dutch, please see PDF of the article (De Telegraaf article Zoektocht naar gezichten). An English translation is below:

Quest for faces

Pieter Valkenburg is fully committed to fallen Canadians

by Marcel Vink

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND • It started as a helping hand, but grew into a true mission. Pieter Valkenburg has been passionately committed to giving fallen war heroes from Canada a face for years. The 78-year-old Dutchman, who lives in Canada, realizes how important it is emotionally for relatives to get clarity about their deceased loved ones, even 77 years after the Second World War.

Valkenburg worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for many years and was posted to various locations around the world, including in Ottawa.

After his retirement, he decided to continue living in the North American country with his Canadian wife Daria, where he discovered that many families often no longer know in detail what happened to relatives that didn’t come back during the Second World War. About 7600 Canadians are buried in the Netherlands who fought for our freedom.

“At the beginning of 2014 I read an article about the Canadian war cemetery in Holten, one of the military cemeteries in The Netherlands,” says Valkenburg.

“There are 1,355 Canadians lying there, and not much was known about some of them at the time. Therefore, around that time, a project was started that strived to literally find the face for every name. I find that very important myself. No soldier who died abroad in war should be forgotten.” (NOTE: there are 1,394, not 1,355.)

‘Reactions from next of kin are priceless’

Background

The native of Leerdam was captivated by the subject and delved into the matter. First in the background with only a few names, but then more and more.

Over the past five years, I have helped researchers at Canadian war cemeteries in the Netherlands in their quest to give each grave a face, and thus also a story. It is quite a puzzle, but the reactions of relatives when it succeeds are priceless. Those involved really appreciate it when they realize that they have never been forgotten. They gave their lives in the struggle for our freedom, in a country foreign to them. It’s much more meaningful when you stand by a grave to pay your respects if you know what the person looked like.”

Investigative Work

While his search was initially limited to the fallen from Prince Edward Island – the western province where he lives – he now focuses on many more areas in Canada. Valkenburg uses the old-fashioned manual search, but also uses many digital sources. (NOTE: Prince Edward Island is on the east coast of Canada!)

Relatives are often emotional about it, he noticed. After he found the family of Lieutenant Norman James Nixon – killed in the Battle of Delfzijl in April 1945, in which twenty Canadians of his regiment were killed, his son called this ‘a total surprise’. “I am immensely grateful,” said the man, who named his own son after his dead father, in tears. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/03/07/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-ww2-soldier-from-st-stephens/)

The work of Pieter and his wife Daria is highly appreciated in the Netherlands as well as in Canada. He has already received several awards. Sometimes he finds new ‘assignments’ in a miraculous way.

“Once we were at a hotel in New Brunswick Province, when a receptionist asked what we were doing. After I told about our searches, he indicated that his great-uncle had also died in the war, and that his grave should be in The Netherlands. Other than that he had no idea. I immediately got to work and found him at the cemetery in Groesbeek. I also found a photo on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial.” (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/08/02/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-ww2-soldier-killed-while-lining-up-to-attend-church/)

In this way, this man also got his face back. “With these results, I say, Canadian-style: this makes my day. I’m 78 now, but as long as I can keep up with this, I will. Because there is still a lot of work to be done.”

This very proud wife thanks Marcel Vink for writing the article about Pieter and De Telegraaf for publishing it on this day of remembrance and commemoration.

If you have photos or information to share, 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/

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2021 Christmas Eve Candle Lighting In The Netherlands

December 26, 2021December 25, 2023 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

December 26, 2021. Social distancing and the threat posed by the omicron variant altered many of the activities we like to participate in during the holidays. In The Netherlands, a Christmas Eve tradition is to light candles by the graves of Allied soldiers and Dutch resistance fighters who are buried in one of the War Cemeteries or in a municipal cemetery. For the second year in a row, the annual event still occurred, but without the public.

…A corrected gravestone for Barney Reuben McGuigan….

Alice van Bekkum, Chair of the Faces to Graves project for the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, wrote us that because of Covid no volunteers or children were allowed to place the candles. Instead, candles were placed by board members of the organization responsible for the Christmas candles. (See https://www.lichtjesavondgroesbeek.nl/)

Alice wanted to let us know that Fred Hulsman, a member of the Faces To Graves Research Team who lives near the cemetery, took a photo of the corrected gravestone for WW2 soldier Barney Reuben McGuigan, of Sturgeon, Prince Edward Island.

Barney had lied about his age when enlisting and his original gravestone did not reflect his age of 16 years at the time of his death. After Pieter and members of Barney’s family contacted the Commonwealth War Graves Commission with proof of Barney’s birth record, the correction was made.

The correction was amazing timing (a Christmas miracle?) as a photo of Barney was recently uncovered! (See https://bordencarletonresearchproject.wordpress.com/2021/12/23/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-photo-search-for-barney-mcguigan-is-successful/)

B R Mc Guigan with candle and corrected gravestone

Grave of Barney McGuigan with his correct age at death. (Photo credit: Fred Hulsman)

…A candle placed at the Halifax L9561 memorial in Wons…

Remko de Jong, a resident of Makkum, coordinates the candle lighting ceremony in his village. He wrote to Pieter on December 24, and explained that “…Unfortunately, again this year candles were placed without an audience…..” Instead, candles were placed by Remko and his family and photos were taken by his son Robin. (For the 2020 candle lighting in Makkum, see: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2020/12/29/christmas-eve-candle-lighting-in-makkum/)

Candles placed at the graves of airmen buried in the Donia Protestant Church Cemetery in Makkum. (Photo credit: Robin de Jong)

In addition to the candles placed at the graves at 38 airmen who are buried in the Donia Protestant Church Cemetery in Makkum, located by Lake Ijsselmeer in the province of Friesland, a candle was placed at the Halifax L9561 memorial in Wons.

This memorial, unveiled in October 2019, honours the crew of Halifax L9561. WW2 pilot Elmer Bagnall MUTTART of Cape Traverse, Prince Edward Island lost his life on October 12, 1941, but the rest of the crew were able to safely bail out of the burning plane. (For a short documentary on the unveiling of the memorial panel and the crew of Halifax L9561, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71Rzg07kPw0&list=PLaJcEVojJra-ZwR6rvb-THj8Zr2QbUXLT&index=2)

Candle placed at Wons memorial by Robin de Jong

Candle placed at the memorial panel in Wons, honouring the crew of Halifax L9561. (Photo credit: Robin de Jong)

…Over 7,600 Canadian soldiers are buried in The Netherlands!…

Kudos to the Dutch, who never forget the sacrifices made by Allied soldiers! There are over 7,600 Canadian soldiers buried in The Netherlands! Thank you to Remko de Jong for sharing his son’s photos, and to Alice van Bekkum for advising about the correction to the gravestone for Barney McGuigan.

If you have a story or photo to share about Canadian military personnel buried in The Netherlands, please contact Pieter 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/

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

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Happy Holidays From The Valkenburgs!

December 24, 2021August 17, 2025 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 6 Comments

multicolor-holiday-christmas-decorations-with-blue-silver-ribbon-snowflakes-header-background-hd-1920x720

December 24, 2021. We’re nearing the end of another challenging and socially distanced year of Covid, but are thankful to have had our three Covid vaccine shots.

Covid or not, we have been very busily working at home. In spite of travel restrictions and social distancing, we nevertheless managed to do a lot, with the help of media, and families stepping forward with photos. This seems a good time to reflect on what happened in 2021 with this research project.

…Pieter Awarded Sovereign’s Medal For Volunteers….

On April 30, 2021, Pieter Valkenburg was presented with the Governor General’s Sovereign’s Medal For Volunteers, awarded in January 2020, for his ongoing research to uncover the stories and photos of those who served in WWI and WWII, and sharing his research findings with the public. The insignia was presented to him by the Hon. Catherine Callbeck, CM, OPEI, LLD, on behalf of the Administrator for Canada, via a virtual ceremony. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/05/04/on-the-war-memorial-trail-pieter-awarded-sovereigns-medal-for-volunteers)

…. WWII Soldiers Listed On The Cenotaph Outside Borden-Carleton Legion …….

This year we told the story of 1 WWII serviceman listed on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion, and we added more information on a WWI soldier whose story had previously been told:

Arthur Clinton ROBINSON
Arnold Dudley TAYLOR

… WWI Related Stories….

We told the story of trying to solve the mystery of a WWI German ‘letter’ found amongst the possessions of Earle DAVISON, which turned out to be an anti-war song dating back to the 19th century.
We shared more observations that WWI soldier Harold Keith HOWATT made in the post WWI period when he was waiting to be demobilized. The history books are filled with official accounts from officers and politicians. Howatt’s observations came from the viewpoint of an ordinary soldier caught up in extraordinary circumstances.

… WWII Related Stories….

We shared a story about a research into the soldiers who died in Wommelgem, Belgium in the fall of 1944.
We shared our experience at the Woudenberg General Cemetery in The Netherlands, to visit the grave of WWII pilot Leonard Arthur UNWIN, who had been a flying instructor at the 9 Service Flying Training School RCAF in Summerside.
We shared a story about the photo tributes by the graves of soldiers at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands, during the first two weeks of May.
We shared the story of how five Canadian soldiers from the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment drowned in a tragic accident in the Battle of Leer in Germany on April 28, 1945, one of the final actions to end WWII in Europe. All 5 soldiers are buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands.
We shared a story from Willy van Ee of The Netherlands, whose father was Indigenous soldier Walter MEKAJI, who let us know that 7 Indigenous soldiers are buried in Adegem Canadian War Cemetery in Belgium.
After reading about the 7 Indigenous soldiers buried in Adegem Canadian War Cemetery, Edwin van der Wolf reported that he and his son have adopted the graves of 2 Canadian Scottish Regiment soldiers. We shared his account and learned about the grave adoption program in Belgium.
We shared the story of the search for a photo of WWII soldier Allan ‘Gordon’ COUTTS, who lost his life in Germany and is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands.
We shared the story of the successful request for a headstone from the Last Post Fund for WWII veteran Alexander McGregor DEANS, who died in 2010 and is buried at the Tryon People’s Cemetery in Prince Edward Island.
We shared the link for a video ‘The Last Flight Of Halifax L9561’ made by Barry and Terry Hunt, sons of the crew’s wireless operator, William Herbert HUNT. Shot down over The Netherlands on October 12, 1941, Canadian pilot Elmer Bagnall MUTTART managed to save his crew and steer the burning plane away from the Dutch village of Wons before losing his own life. Two previous videos made by us about this event were made in 2019 and 2020.

…Indigenous Soldiers….

We were able to tell the stories of the service by several WWII Indigenous soldiers, after an APTN article was published.

WWII Indigenous soldier Thomas Beresford BIG CANOE from Ontario, who was killed in Germany.
WWII Indigenous soldier William ‘Willie’ DANIELS from Saskatchewan, who was killed in The Netherlands.
WWII Indigenous soldier Alfred Louis PITAWANAKWAT (PITWANAKWAT) from Ontario, who was killed in Germany.
WWII Indigenous soldier Eli Ambrose SNAKE from Ontario, who was killed in The Netherlands.
WWII Indigenous soldier Leo Francis TONEY from Nova Scotia, who was killed in The Netherlands.

…. Stories About Servicemen From The Maritimes…

We also featured stories about servicemen from The Maritimes:

WWII soldier Alderic BASQUE, from New Brunswick, who was killed in Germany.
WWII soldier Joseph ‘Ambroise’ COMEAU, from Nova Scotia, one of the 5 soldiers from the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment who drowned in a tragic accident in the Battle of Leer in Germany on April 28, 1945.
WWII soldier Gerald Burnell COOLEN, from Nova Scotia, who was killed in Germany during the Battle of Hochwald Gap.
WWII airman Robert ‘Bob’ James DICKIE, from Prince Edward Island, who lost his life when Lancaster Flight JB312 crashed on the runway as it returned to England from Germany.
WWI soldier Maynard FOY from Prince Edward Island, who served with the 26^th Overseas (New Brunswick) Battalion, and was injured in France during the Battle of Amiens.
WWII soldier Armand GIONET from New Brunswick, who was killed in The Netherlands.
WWII soldier Gordon Frederick JOHNSON from Nova Scotia, who was killed in The Netherlands.
WWII mariner William (Bill) Arnold JOHNSTON from Prince Edward Island, but was born in New Brunswick, who was killed when HMS Itchen, the ship he was serving on, was torpedoed in the Atlantic Ocean.
WWII soldier Gilles LANTEIGNE from New Brunswick, who was killed in Germany.
WWI soldier Heath Ward MACQUARRIE from Prince Edward Island, who was killed in France.
WWII pilot Lorne MACFARLANE from Prince Edward Island, who served with the Royal Canadian Air Force and flew 40 missions and survived the war.
WWII soldier George Edward MAHAR from New Brunswick, who was killed in The Netherlands.
WWII soldier Lewis Wilkieson MARSH, from Nova Scotia, one of the 5 soldiers from the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment who drowned in a tragic accident in the Battle of Leer in Germany on April 28, 1945.
WWII soldier Ruel Kitchener MATHESON, from Prince Edward Island, one of the 5 soldiers from the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment who drowned in a tragic accident in the Battle of Leer in Germany on April 28, 1945.
WWII soldier Lloyd William MURRAY, from Nova Scotia, one of the 5 soldiers from the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment who drowned in a tragic accident in the Battle of Leer in Germany on April 28, 1945.
WWII soldier Norman James NIXON from New Brunswick, who was killed in The Netherlands during the Battle of the Delfzijl Pocket.
WWII soldier Samuel Glazier PORTER from New Brunswick, who was killed in The Netherlands.
WWII soldier Alphonse ROBERT from New Brunswick, who was killed in The Netherlands when a grenade exploded.
WWII soldier John ‘Clifford’ ROGERS from Prince Edward Island, who was killed in Germany in the Balberger Wald on March 3, 1945.
WWII soldier Gordon James ROGERSON from Prince Edward Island, who served with the West Nova Scotia Regiment and was injured in Italy.
WWII Chaplain William ‘Alfred’ SEAMAN from Prince Edward Island, who was killed in France during the Battle of Caen.
WWII soldier Charles ‘Charlie’ Borden TUPLIN from Prince Edward Island, who served with the Black Watch and was fatally wounded in The Netherlands.
WWII soldier Ronald Sidney WATERHOUSE from Nova Scotia, who lost his life in The Netherlands during the Battle of the Scheldt.

…. Stories About Servicemen From Outside The Maritimes…

WWII soldier Edmond COULOMBE, from Manitoba, who was killed in The Netherlands when a grenade exploded.
WWII soldier Howard Milo NICHOLLS, from Ontario, one of the 5 soldiers from the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment who drowned in a tragic accident in the Battle of Leer in Germany on April 28, 1945.

…In Conversation And More….

Not everyone we wrote about this year served in WWI or WWII!

We interviewed RCAF pilot Captain Scott NANTES of Prince Edward Island, who is in active service.
We enjoyed a fascinating conversation with Dr Tim Cook, Director of Research at the Canadian War Museum on the importance of remembrance.
We wrote about a very special luncheon hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea for PEI Korean War Veterans, as a thank you for their service.
We did a 3 part series of postings on the childhood recollections of the Korean War by Korean-born Charlie CHOI, whose family had a harrowing and dangerous journey to safety once the war began.
We reported on the research done to ensure that WWII veteran Alexander McGregor DEANS received a headstone at his grave in the Tryon People’s Cemetery on Prince Edward Island.
We reported on how volunteers at the Borden-Carleton Legion in Prince Edward Island honour deceased veterans by placing flags at the graves and monuments in the area served by the Legion.
We described the Cenotaph Wall Of Remembrance at the Borden-Carleton Legion on Prince Edward Island, the last phase of the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph Research Project. All that is missing are some photos out of the 48 soldiers listed on the Cenotaph, and whose stories have been researched and told over the past years.

…. Interviews To Highlight Search For Photos….

Pieter did several interviews in his quest for photos for:

WWII soldier John Clifford ROGERS, who is buried in The Netherlands in a radio interview on CBC Mainstreet PEI. (Listen at https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-130-mainstreet-pei/clip/15819180-pieter-valkenburg-searching-john-clifford-rogers-information) This search was subsequently successful.
WWII soldiers buried in The Netherlands on CTV Atlantic’s Live At 5 in an interview with Bruce Frisko on January 14, 2021. The response was so heartening that it prompted a series on our research blog entitled Atlantic Canada Remembers. (See Dutch-Canadian man on a mission to tell stories of lost soldiers| CTV News at https://www.ctvnews.ca/atlantic/article/dutch-canadian-man-on-a-mission-to-tell-stories-of-lost-soldiers/)
WII First Nations soldiers William DANIELS and Stanley Owen JONES, who are buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands, in an interview with Brett Forester of APTN news. (See https://www.aptnnews.ca/national-news/dutch-born-p-e-i-man-on-a-mission-to-find-photos-of-first-nations-soldiers-killed-overseas-in-wwii/) This search was successful.
WWII soldier Allan Gordon COUTTS, who is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands, in an interview with Galen Hartviksen of CKFM radio in Olds, Alberta. (See https://ckfm.ca/2021/08/09/11202/) This search was successful.
WWII soldier Edmond COULOMBE, who is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands in an interview with Kevin Rollason of the ‘Winnipeg Free Press’. (See https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/hunting-for-photo-to-honour-manitoban-575687592.html) This search was very successful and resulted in a follow-up article a few days later. (See https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/photo-found-to-honour-manitoba-war-casualty-575714042.html)
A follow-up interview on WWII soldiers buried in The Netherlands ran on November 9, 2021 on CTV Atlantic’s Live At 5 during Remembrance Week, prompting many more responses. Pieter’s research work is cut out for him for the next few months! See Forever grateful: Dutch Canadian tries to put faces to names of soldiers who fell liberating the Netherlands| CTV News https://www.ctvnews.ca/atlantic/article/forever-grateful-dutch-canadian-tries-to-put-faces-to-names-of-soldiers-who-fell-liberating-the-netherlands/
In July, Pieter was interviewed by Sharon Adams of ‘Legion Magazine’, as part of an article on the Faces To Graves project in The Netherlands. This article was published in the November/December 2021 issue in an article entitled Online Monument. See https://legionmagazine.com/en/2021/11/online-monument/)

…. Letters To The Editor For Photo Searches….

Letters to the editor in various newspapers were written in the quest for a photo for:

WWII soldier Gordon Frederick JOHNSON, who is buried in The Netherlands. On June 24, 2021, Pieter’s letter to the editor was published in the ‘Truro News‘. This search was successful.
WWII soldier Alexander James MILLER, who is buried in The Netherlands. On October 29, 2021, Pieter’s letter to the editor was published in the ‘High River Times’. This was at the request of Edwin van der Wolf, who wanted the family to know about a planned memorial plaque being placed in April 2022 in The Netherlands. This search was successful. (UPDATE: The memorial plaque was subsequently placed in 2025.)
WWI soldier Joseph Arthur DESROCHES, who is buried in Ligny-St-Flochel British Cemetery in Averdoingt, France. On November 9, 2021 Pieter’s letter to the editor was published in ‘The Guardian’. This is not the first time that a media request has been made in the search for family and a photo. Up to now the search remains unsuccessful.

… Successful Search For Photos …..

Many WWII soldiers are buried in cemeteries in Europe. After an appeal by Pieter on CTV’s Atlantic Live At Five in early January for photos and information, photos and information came in for WWII soldiers buried in The Netherlands, France, Belgium, and Italy. Their stories were featured on the blog either as separate postings or in a series entitled Atlantic Canada Remembers. No one was forgotten, and photos of soldiers buried in Dutch cemeteries were forwarded to researchers there for their digital archive. Photos were found for:

Buried in Holten Canadian War Cemetery in The Netherlands:

James Grant ANNINGSON
Howard W. ARMSTRONG
Alderic BASQUE
John Angus BEATON
William Herbert “Billy’ BELLAMY
William Harold BROOME
Robert Theodore COLE
Melvin COLLINS
Alexis D. DAIGLE
Allan Gordon COUTTS
William ‘Willie’ DANIELS
Nelson DESROCHES
Francis ‘Frank’ Ivan DOUGAN
Joseph ‘Gerald’ FOUGERE
George Albert FRYDAY
Armand GIONET
Ernest Robert HAYNES
Percy Dexter HIGGINS
Gordon ‘Gordie’ Frederick JOHNSON
Stanley Owen JONES
Douglas JURY
James Gordon KING
Philip LAFORTE
Donald Charles MACKENZIE
Mathieu MICHAUD
John ‘James’ MURRAY
Daniel PEARO
Goldwin Marven POLLICK
Richard Joseph RANEY
Louis Graham RICHARD
Brenton Leroy RINGER
Ford Hilton SPIDLE
Frederick Joseph TAIT
Leo Francis TONEY
Charles ‘Charlie’ Borden TUPLIN
Frederick Christian VAN IDOUR

Buried in Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery in The Netherlands:

Thomas Beresford BIG CANOE
Gerald Burnell COOLEN
Edmond COULOMBE
Percy Clayton CROMWELL
Harry William DOUCETTE
Arnold F. HUPMAN
Gilles LANTEIGNE
Francis ‘Frank’ Lewis LIBBY
Hiram Albion LORD
George Edward MAHAR
Barney Reuben MCGUIGAN
Elbridge Wellington MILLER
Robert (Bobby) Alan NICKERSON
Alfred Louis PITAWANAKWAT (PITWANAKWAT)
Burgess Allison PORTER
Alphonse ROBERT
John ‘Clifford’ ROGERS
Eli Ambrose SNAKE
Stanley SPRAY
William Francis STEWART
Benjamin James WITHERALL

Buried in Bergen Op Zoom Canadian War Cemetery in The Netherlands:

Austin Ephraim BOUTILIER
Gordon Thomas BREWER
Dennis HOARE
Gregory Philip Anthony MCCARTHY
Clayton Wilfred SHANNON
Russell Richard SOBLE
Arnold Ernest “Ernie” THORNTON

Buried in Adegem Canadian War Cemetery in Belgium:

Bruce Wilbur CHURCHILL
Alexander Fraser MACDONALD
Edison Reynolds SMITH
Arthur Brambel ‘Jack’ TAYLOR

Buried in Montecchio War Cemetery in Italy:

Felix GAUDET

Buried in Bény-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery in France:

William ‘Alfred’ SEAMAN

… The Search For Photos On YouTube….

2020 began with a documentary that was posted on YouTube, and ended with a dedicated YouTube Channel: On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter Valkenburg: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ591TyjSheOR-Cb_Gs_5Kw

In 2021 the following videos were posted on the channel:

S2E1 Remembering Lt Norman Nixon
S2E2 Photo Search – WWII Soldier Frank McGuigan
S2E3 Photo Search – WWI Soldier James Cairns
S2E4 Photo Search – WWII Soldier John Clifford Rogers
S2E5 Thank You Atlantic Canada
S2E6 Photo Search – WWI Soldier James Lymon Cameron
S2E7 Photo Search – WWI Soldier Leigh Hunt Cameron
S2E8 Photo Search – WWII Soldier Gordon Frederick Johnson
S3E1 In Remembrance

Thank you for your support and encouragement of this research project!

As 2021 comes to an end, we would like to thank all who helped with researching these stories and contributed photos. We also thank readers of this blog and the On The War Memorial Trail column in the ‘County Line Courier‘ who suggested some of stories you’ve read. A big thank you goes to Mike and Isabel Smith, owners of the ‘County Line Courier‘.

Thank you to the media who helped publicize the search for photos and information – APTN, CTV Live At 5’s Atlantic, CBC Radio’s Mainstreet PEI, CKFM Radio, Truro News, High River Times, The Guardian, and Winnipeg Free Press.

Last, but not least, the YouTube videos and channel would not be possible without the invaluable support of post-production editor Wendy Nattress.

….Happy Holidays…

Pieter and I wish you all the best for the holidays and in 2022. May we never forget those who gave their lives for their freedom.

Merry Xmas from the Valkenburgs 2021

Pieter’s research work continues. If you have photos or information to share, please email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, or comment on the blog.

…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/

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

December 24, 2021March 31, 2025 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

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 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 1^st from France in 1892, the 2^nd 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.

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 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.

… 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/

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 Photo Search For Barney McGuigan Is Successful

December 23, 2021September 28, 2023 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

December 23, 2021. Sometimes you just get plain lucky. That’s the only explanation we have over the outcome of a several years long search for a photo of WW2 soldier Bernard ‘Barney’ Reuben MCGUIGAN of Sturgeon, Prince Edward Island, who is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands.

Barney enlisted in 1943, claiming to be 18 years old, but was actually only 15, and was 16 when he lost his life on February 26, 1945 in Germany, just over the Dutch border, during Operation Blockbuster. He’s believed to be the youngest soldier buried in Groesbeek.

This story so tugged at Pieter’s heartstrings that he did media interviews in the hope of finding a photo. Family members came forward, but no one had a photo of this remarkable young man. (Read Barney’s story at https://bordencarletonresearchproject.wordpress.com/2020/08/07/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-search-for-barney-reuben-mcguigan/)

….WW2 soldier John ‘Clifford’ Rogers was the key….

In 2021 the very long search for another WW2 soldier from the Island, John ‘Clifford’ ROGERS, was successful when the family of his sister, Gladys O’Reilly, contacted us. (Read Clifford’s story at https://bordencarletonresearchproject.wordpress.com/2021/08/24/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-search-for-a-photo-of-john-clifford-rogers-is-successful/)

In addition to having a photo of her brother, Gladys explained that in 1944, Clifford had received training at Coldstream Ranch in Vernon, British Columbia, and was there with 3 other Islanders. One of them was Barney McGuigan!

How did she know that? Pieter asked. Clifford had sent a platoon photo home and on the back he had written down everyone’s names.

With a bit of photoshopping magic, Barney’s image was extracted from the photo by Earle MacDonald and was now visible. Restoration by Earle and Pieter did the rest.

improved_photo in colour Barney McGuigan

Barney McGuigan. (Original group photo courtesy of Gladys O’Reilly. Photo extraction and restoration courtesy of Earle MacDonald and Pieter Valkenburg. Colourization by Pieter Valkenburg.)

….The Coldstream Ranch photo sent home by John ‘Clifford’ Rogers ….

John ‘Clifford’ Rogers was diligent in labelling this Coldstream Ranch photo he sent home, allowing for the photo identification of Barney McGuigan.

DSC_0548 Platoon photo taken at Coldstream Camp Vernon BC

1944 platoon photo at Coldstream Ranch, Vernon, BC. (Photo courtesy of Gladys O’Reilly)

Photo identification per John ‘Clifford’ Rogers:

Top row, left to right: Pte MACRAE of Sydney, Nova Scotia; Pte HAMILTON of Hamilton, Ontario; Pte SINCLAIR of Selkirk, Manitoba; Pte FANCY of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Pte UNDERHILL of New Westminster, British Columbia; Pte YORK of Goose Lake, Alberta; Pte BODDY of Maidstone, Saskatchewan; Pte MCLELLAN of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan; Pte AHL of Winnipeg, Manitoba; Pte FAULKNER of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Pte BRUNELLE of Montreal, Quebec.

Second row from the top, left to right: Pte BUCKLAN of Calgary, Alberta; Pte WEBE of Winnipeg, Manitoba; Pte ROBERTSON of St Mary’s, Nova Scotia; Pte GOWER of River Hebert, Nova Scotia; Pte TOEWS of Winnipeg, Manitoba; Pte John ‘Clifford’ ROGERS of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; Pte Barney Reuben MCGUIGAN of Montague, Prince Edward Island; Pte BAILEY of Niagara Falls, Ontario; Pte STARCHUK of Kamploops, British Columbia; Pte NOLAN of Winnipeg, Manitoba; Pte GOODRICH of Ottawa, Ontario.

Third row from the top, left to right: Pte JONES of Winnipeg, Manitoba; Pte PHYLIPALE of Moosehead, Saskatchewan; Pte BLANCHARD of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island; Pte LAFRANCE of Ottawa, Ontario; Pte LAFONTAINE of Big River, Saskatchewan; Pte BRIMICOMBE of Halifax, Nova Scotia; Pte LAFONTAINE of The Pas, Manitoba; Pte CHARLES of Regina, Saskatchewan; Pte GALLANT of Hope River, Prince Edward Island; Pte ROBISON of Fort William, Manitoba; Pte SMITH of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia; Pte PALMQUIST of Winnipeg, Manitoba; Pte DUPLACEY of Jacquet River, New Brunswick; Pte JUSTICE of Vancouver, British Columbia.

Bottom row, left to right: Pte YOUNG of Vancouver, British Columbia; L/Cpl SQUARK of Winnipeg, Manitoba; L/Cpl HOLLOWAY of Vancouver, British Columbia; Pte AUPINER of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia; Pte THOMAS of Calgary, Alberta; Pte FLUHE of Chiliwack, British Columbia; Lt CASEY of Brantford, Ontario; Sgt CLARK of Toronto, Ontario; Cpl MELVIN of Edmonton, Alberta; Cpl GRAHAM of Vancouver, British Columbia; Pte ECHEMSMILLER of Galt, Ontario; Pte MERRIMAN of Ottawa, Ontario; L/Cpl WARD of Winnipeg, Manitoba; Cpl RENARD of Portage La Prairie, Manitoba; Cpl WHITLIDGE of Winnipeg, Manitoba; Pte PIKE of Winnipeg, Manitoba.

Thank you to Jan and Gladys O’Reilly for sharing the Coldstream Ranch photo, and to Earle MacDonald for help in photo extraction and restoration. If you have photos to share, or recognize any of the names listed in the photo identification, please contact Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or send a tweet to @researchmemori1.

….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/

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.

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…A meeting that led to a photo of a WWII soldier….

….The Battle of Hochwald Gap was fierce and under wet and muddy conditions….

…Tanks helped protect infantry regiments…

…The photo at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek that triggered John’s memory…

…The Memorial Plaque from St. Rita Roman Catholic Church…

….Previous stories told about soldiers who lost their lives during the Battle of Hochwald Gap ….

…Missed the previous postings about our North Bay Memorial Trail visit?…

…Want to follow our research?….

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… Cecil lost his life during Operation Blockbuster in Germany….

… Cecil’s great-niece contacted us….

…Memorial Plaque at Pro-Cathedral Of The Assumption Church in North Bay….

…Cecil’s nephew had a photo….

… Stories about other soldiers who lost their lives on February 26, 1945 during Operation Blockbuster…

…Missed the previous postings about our North Bay Memorial Trail visit?…

…Want to follow our research?….

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…Soldiers buried in The Netherlands on the photo wish lists by Dutch researchers…

….End Polio Now Tulips….

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…Upcoming Author Talks In North Bay….

….North Bay Area Soldiers Buried In The Netherlands….

…Buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten…

…Buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek…

…Buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom…:

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…The Gendringen Monument…

…Einar Victor Isfeld’s Son Attended the Unveiling…

… Canadians commemorated on the Gendringen Memorial….

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…De Telegraaf article published May 4, 2022…

Quest for faces

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…A corrected gravestone for Barney Reuben McGuigan….

…A candle placed at the Halifax L9561 memorial in Wons…

…Over 7,600 Canadian soldiers are buried in The Netherlands!…

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…Pieter Awarded Sovereign’s Medal For Volunteers….

…. WWII Soldiers Listed On The Cenotaph Outside Borden-Carleton Legion …….

… WWI Related Stories….

… WWII Related Stories….

…Indigenous Soldiers….

…. Stories About Servicemen From The Maritimes…

…. Stories About Servicemen From Outside The Maritimes…

…In Conversation And More….

…. Interviews To Highlight Search For Photos….

…. Letters To The Editor For Photo Searches….

… Successful Search For Photos …..

… The Search For Photos On YouTube….

Thank you for your support and encouragement of this research project!

….Happy Holidays…

…Want to follow our research?….

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

… Family of Edmond Coulombe contact us….

.…Other reactions….

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

… We were overwhelmed and delighted at the response….

… Alphonse Robert’s Story….

…Want to follow our research?….

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….WW2 soldier John ‘Clifford’ Rogers was the key….

….The Coldstream Ranch photo sent home by John ‘Clifford’ Rogers ….

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