Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery

On The War Memorial Trail….. Remembering WW2 Soldier Clarence Wilfred Wakegijig

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

August 9, 2021. After an interview about the photo quest for soldiers buried in the Canadian War Cemeteries in The Netherlands ran on APTN, Pieter was contacted by Annelind Wakegijig. (ee 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/)

She sent us a photo of Clarence Wilfred WAKEGIJIG, and wrote that “…I recently saw your story featured on APTN. My great-uncle, Clarence WAKEGIJIG was from the Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory on Manitoulin Island, Ontario. He died in Holland on March 2, 1945. He is buried in Groesbeek…”  (For more information on the Wiikwemkoong First Nation, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiikwemkoong_First_Nation )

Annelind explained that “… He was the youngest son of Josephine (Shawanda) Wakegijig and Joachim Wakegijig. His siblings were:

  • Victoria Corbiere 
  • Christine Wakegijig 
  • Ethel Wakegijig –  who had suffered a childhood illness and died at 5 years of age 
  • John Wakegijig -also a veteran of WWII, who died in 1971 in a motor vehicle accident 

and 

  • Raymond Wakegijig – who drowned in his late 20s 

 Clarence was a Guardsman with the Canadian Grenadier Guards….” 

Clarence Wakegijig

Clarence Wilfred WAKEGIJIG.  (Photo Courtesy of Clarence Wakegijig Family)

Clarence was born January 9, 1925 in Cutler, Ontario, the son of Joachim and Josephine Wakegijig (nee Shawanda), of Krugersdorf, Ontario. He enlisted on September 25, 1941 with the Sault Ste Marie and Sudbury Regiment in Sudbury, Ontario, giving his birth year as 1922 and birthplace as Wikwemikong (Wiikwemkoong in Ojibwe).  The fact that he was only 16 years old, not 19, doesn’t seem to have been discovered.

He was sent to the Basic Training Centre in North Bay, Ontario.  In February 1942 Clarence was sent to the Driving and Maintenance Training School in Woodstock, Ontario, where he learned driver mechanics and how to drive a motorcycle.

On April 22, 1942 he was posted to Trois-Rivières, Quebec as reinforcement to Infantry (MG) TC A-17 – a Machine Gun Training Centre.

….Clarence arrived in Europe in 1942….

 By the end of September 1942, Clarence was on his way to the United Kingdom, arriving on October 9, 1942 and assigned to the Machine Gun Reinforcement Unit (MGRU), where he underwent additional training.

By June 1943 he had received a promotion to Trooper and was assigned to the 32nd Reconnaissance Regiment.  On September 18, 1943 he was awarded a Good Conduct Badge.

On March 19, 1944 he was assigned to the 22nd Armoured Regiment, known as the Canadian Grenadier Guards, taking further training as a driver mechanic in preparation for the Regiment moving into action in France.

The Regiment arrived in France on July 23, 1944, and underwent heavy fighting in Normandy during Operation Totalize and Operation Tractable, which led to the capture of Falaise. (For more information, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Totalize and https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Tractable)

Clarence survived these actions, and continued on with the Regiment as they left Normandy, France for North West Europe, fighting in Belgium, The Netherlands, and Germany.

….The Battle of Hochwald Gap was a fierce tank battle….

According to the war diary for the Canadian Grenadier Guards, the Regiment had travelled from The Netherlands just over the border into Germany, to participate in the Battle of Hochwald Gap, part of Operation Blockbuster, the final push towards the Rhine River, along with several other Canadian Regiments. (For more information, see https://canadianbattlefieldtours.ca/operation-blockbuster/ and https://civilianmilitaryintelligencegroup.com/10742/the-battle-of-hochwald-gap-one-of-the-largest-armor-engagements-you-probably-have-never-heard-of)

On February 26, 1945 they were travelling southeast from Kalkar, Germany, getting bogged down in mud and clay, and through farm fields in which mines had been hidden by the Germans, causing many casualties.

Map showing route thru Hochwald Gap

The Regiment’s objective was to reach Xanten, the last town on the western side of the Rhine, but first they had to get through the very narrow Hochwald Gap. They reached the west end of the Hochwald Gap just after dawn on February 28, 1945.

The weather continued to be uncooperative. An early thaw meant that the tanks got bogged down in mud, making them ‘sitting ducks’ for German troops who were positioned to pick them off, one by one.

The Canadian Grenadier Guards war diary entry for March 2, 1945 noted “… Weather – cloudy, gusts of rain. ...” Artillery fire had caused a temporary halt before starting up again.

“…Charge was successful and the 1st objective taken, despite the fact that 6 tanks bogged before then. Confused fighting took place from here on – Lt Ferris (2 tanks) and C Company passed through, but ran into opposition in the form of a Tiger….” Clarence was in C Company.  A Tiger was a German tank.

The war diary entry continued.  “…Somewhere in here, Lt Ferris and his other tank were knocked out, and Lt Ferris was wounded by a sniper...”

At some point in this chaos, Clarence lost his life, most likely when one of the tanks was hit by German fire. A 46 minute YouTube video on the Battle of Hochwald Gap explained the fierce battle that took place.  Watching it made it clear to us that it was a miracle that anyone survived at all, a testament to the determination and courage of those who were in the midst of it.

Clarence was temporarily buried in Xanten, Germany before being reburied in 1946 in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands.

Grave of Clarence Wakegijig

Grave of Clarence Wilfred Wakegijig.  (Photo credit: Ad Scheepers)

Thank you to Annelind Wakegijig for sharing a photo and information about her great-uncle.  If you have information to share about Clarence Wilfred WAKEGIJIG or other Canadian soldiers, please contact Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or send a tweet to @researchmemori1.

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?….

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

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

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

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

Never miss a posting!  Subscribe below to have each new story from the war memorial trail delivered to your inbox.

On The War Memorial Trail….. The Children Who Died Along With WW2 Soldier George Edward Mahar

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

August 6, 2021. After reading the posting about George Edward MAHAR and how he lost his life while the soldiers were lining up to go to church, Alice van Bekkum, Chair of Faces To Grave Project for the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, wrote with information about the two little girls who died in the same attack on November 26, 1944 as George Edward Mahar and Douglas Reginald SCHOFIELD.  (See https://bordencarletonresearchproject.wordpress.com/2021/08/02/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-ww2-soldier-killed-while-lining-up-to-attend-church/)

The two little girls were sisters, Christobel and Lisette Jurgens, children of Jan Jurgens and Joy Anderson.  At the time of their deaths, Christobel was 9 years old, and Lisette was 5 years old.

Alice explained that “…The parents from the two little girls that died in this tragic moment wrote a message on their memory card, which is touching! The father was Dutch and the mother was British, parents of four children, before this tragic event took their two youngest children. They honoured the Allied soldiers in the Memorial card for their children…”

The message, addressed to ‘Allied soldiers, Airbornes, and Workshop Boys’, was;

‘What good friends you were to us. How we loved you,
How you spoiled us, and how we enjoyed your kindness.
We regret we had to part from you so suddenly, be sure
That we shall not forget you. We pray God that He
will bless you, and reward you for your splendid effort.’

Alice was kind enough to send the memory card for Christobel and Lisette Jurgens:

Alice also identified the names of the two soldiers who subsequently died of their injuries following the attack:  Lyle L. BOICE and Francis K. BLACK.

Thank you to Alice van Bekkum for sharing the memory tribute to the Jurgens sisters.  It’s a reminder of the many civilian casualties in war.  If you have photos or information to share on the November 26, 1944 incident please email Pieter at dariadv@yahoo.ca, comment on the blog, or tweet to @researchmemori1. 

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

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

You are 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….. The WW2 Soldier Killed While Lining Up To Attend Church

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

20210715_094818 Jul 15 2021 Ken Barkhouse grand nephew of George Edward Mahar

Pieter with Ken Barkhouse (left), grand-nephew of George Edward Mahar.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

August 2, 2021. During a recent stay in Fredericton, New Brunswick, we met Ken Barkhouse, and talked about his grandfather’s brother, George Edward MAHAR, who lost his life during WW2. 

George Edward Mahar Cdn Virtual War Memorial

George Edward Mahar (Photo courtesy of Canadian Virtual War Memorial)

Born in St George, New Brunswick on June 2, 1914, George was the son of Wellington Dorcas Ellen Mahar of Blacks Harbour, New Brunswick. At the time of his enlistment with the 8th Anti-Aircraft Battery in St John, New Brunswick on September 20, 1939, he was married to Freda Augusta and employed as a tin decorator with Connors Brothers, a canning plant in Black’s Harbour.  He and Freda had a daughter, Donna Blanche, born in 1939.  A son, Edward, was born in 1942.

After receiving training as a Gunner, he transferred to the 50th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Battery in Aldershot, Nova Scotia on August 15, 1942, and appointed to the rank of Bombardier.

On February 10, 1944 his request to revert to the rank of Gunner so he could ‘join a reinforcement stream’ was accepted.  He was re-allocated to an Infantry unit with the rank of Private. 

On July 13, 1944 he arrived in the United Kingdom and assigned to the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders Regiment on August 16. The next day he was with the Regiment in northwest Europe, serving in Belgium and The Netherlands.

Screenshot 2021-08-02 at 11-40-25 Project '44

Map shows the area around Beek, where the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders Regiment was on November 26, 1944.  (Map source: https://map.project44.ca/)

On November 22, 1944, the Regiment was in the area of Beek, The Netherlands for a seven day period of training, kit inspections, bath parades, and pay parades. 

November 26, 1944 was a Sunday.  The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders war diary for that day notes that the “…sun shows signs of being out for awhile today. Mild…” Three church services had been organized that morning.

At 9:50 am, as the “…troops were falling in for first Church Parade, disaster struck. Conflicting reports as to exact missile were received but it is thought either a rocket or bomb struck. It demolished a house across road and broke all windows in Battalion building….”

The war diary notes that “…Anti-Aircraft was active some ten minutes ago so it’s quite likely a plane was responsible for this. One observer reports having seen 4 Foch Wolfs, one of which dropped a parachute, prior to the explosion. Exact casualties not yet known but two little girls were killed. The Battalion casualties are 2 killed and 13 wounded….”

George Edward Mahar was one of the two casualties killed that day.  The other was Douglas Reginald SCHOFIELD of Guelph, Ontario.  Two more men subsequently died. 

George is buried at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands. 

Grave of George Edward Mahar

Grave of George Edward Mahar at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek.  (Photo source: http://www.findagrave.com)

Thank you to Ken Barkhouse for telling us about his grand-uncle.  Do you have photos or information to share on George Edward Mahar or about the November 26, 1944 incident?  If so, please email Pieter at dariadv@yahoo.ca, comment on the blog, or tweet to @researchmemori1. 

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

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

You are 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….. Atlantic Canada Remembers – Part 10

/ On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 2 Comments

July 11, 2021. More of the photos submitted about Atlantic Canadian soldiers buried overseas are featured in Part 10. Pieter continues to ensure that photos of soldiers buried in The Netherlands are forwarded to the appropriate cemetery for their digital archives. 

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

Armand Gionet and family from Mel

Armand Gionet, far right, and his family.  (Photo courtesy of Edmonde Lanteigne)

Armel ‘Mel’ Lanteigne, President of the Caraquet branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, submitted a photo of Armand GIONET of Middle Caraquet, New Brunswick, explaining that he had found “…a picture for Armand Gionet, taken in front of the family farm and house.  From left to right: Lazare Gionet, Nicholas Hébert, Paul-Aurèle Gionet, Hectorine Gionet, Analda Gionet and at the end Armand Gionet, no name for the dog, sorry. 

Armand was a fisherman and a farmer. I took the house’s picture and did the leg work and phone calls.  I got the family’s picture from Edmonde Lanteigne, she is the daughter of Hectorine and Nicolas.  The house is owned by Victoria and Nicole, the daughters of Paul-Aurèle Gionet, Armand’s brother...”

After the photo was submitted to the researchers at the Information Centre at the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, journalist Jan Braakman, one of the researchers at the Centre, wrote us that the photo “…has a very special meaning for me. Armand Gionet died in my town of birth (Laren, province of Gelderland) at the same place, same time and same way as my grandmother, Dina Koeslag. They were caught in flames after their hiding place had been hit by a German pantzerfaust (according to the cause of death as noted by my grandmothers’ doctor.)...” A pantzerfaust is a bazooka.

I have never had a chance to know my grandmother (nor my grandfather, who had been arrested and was killed in a concentration camp near Hamburg). But every once in a while I find pieces of her life and death. This is such a piece. Thanks very much for forwarding this photo to the Information Centre….” 

Armand was born April 26, 1924 in Middle Caraquet, New Brunswick, the son of Lazare Gionet and Laura Hebert.  One of 8 children, he worked on his parents’ farm.  He was also in the Reserve Labour Pool for the port of Halifax, and worked as a freight handler at the port on an as needed basis.

On March 25, 1944 he enlisted. After basic training he was sent to England, arriving on December 25, 1944.  By February 1945 he was in continental Europe and assigned to Le Regiment de Maisonneuve.

At the beginning of April 1945, the Regiment was in The Netherlands.  On April 4, the Regiment prepared to cross the Twente Canal near Almen for an attack from the bridgehead towards the village of Laren. The battle began at 8 pm and went throughout the night.  (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twentekanaal)

The Regiment’s war diary for April 5, 1945 simply stated that: “…During the attack last night, we had 23 casualties and we captured 40 prisoners…” 

In a translated excerpt of a Dutch language article written by Jan Braakman, he summarized what happened. “…  Among the 23 casualties (wounded and killed) was Armand Gionet. During the fighting he ended up at a group of farms along the Zutphenseweg, just outside the church of Laren. Many civilians hid there from the violence of war. When Gionet and his mates arrived, the inhabitants were convinced that they had been liberated. They emerged from their hiding places in a euphoric mood.

Civilians and soldiers were festive on the road when suddenly fire was opened again by German soldiers. In panic everyone ran to a safe place. Armand Gionet took a position in the Klein Veldkamp farm, where many civilians… were looking for a safe place. But after a while the danger proved too great to stay there. The farm was on fire. Everyone had to go outside.

Fear reigned. In total chaos, everyone ran in one direction. Civilians were sent back by a wounded Canadian soldier as they walked towards the German fire. In the end, the neighbours found a makeshift shelter in a cowshed. Canadian soldiers sat upstairs.

The sky didn’t clear until late in the afternoon when Canadian jeeps pulled into the yard…..”

In the aftermath, among the casualties were Armand Gionet and Jan Braakman’s grandmother, who both had perished at the Klein Veldkamp farm.  (To read the original Dutch article, see https://wp.janbraakman.nl/armand-gionet-kon-zijn-ambitie-niet-waarmaken/)

Armand is buried at the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands.  He was 19 years old. 

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

gilles lanteigne WWII

Gilles Lanteigne. (Photo courtesy of Dan Lanteigne)

Armel ‘Mel’ Lanteigne, President of the Caraquet branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, submitted a photo of Gilles LANTEIGNE, explaining that the photo came from “….Dan Lanteigne’s private collection.  He does research on the Lanteigne family…”

Born March 27, 1924 in Caraquet, New Brunswick, the son of Ella and Prospère Lanteigne, Gilles was a labourer before enlisting on February 10, 1944.  On July 19, 1944 he arrived in the United Kingdom as a member of the Canadian Infantry Reserve Unit.  On August 12, 1944 he arrived in France and transferred to Le Regiment de Maisonneuve.

While serving with Le Regiment de Maisonneuve, he was severely wounded on March 8, 1945, and taken to a field hospital.  A day later, on March 9, 1945, he “…died of wounds…” received in action in Germany.  He was initially buried in Bedburg Military Cemetery before being reburied a year later in the Canadian Military Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands.

Mariner Lost At Sea

William Arnold Johnston

William ‘Bill’ Johnston.  (Image courtesy of Canadian Virtual War Memorial)

Don Coutts wrote that “…I have been enjoying your articles.  My grandmother, Annie Bagnall Muttart, came from a large family, a total of nine boys and girls.  One of her brothers was Andrew Bagnall.  Andrew and his wife, Gussie, had four children: Kay, Eleanor, Ted, and Dick.

Kay married William (Bill) Arnold JOHNSTON on June 16th, 1940. He was a Lieutenant in the Royal Canadian Navy. His ship, the HMS Itchen, was torpedoed … and he lost his life. 

The Bagnall Family encountered two deaths of young men (Elmer in October 1941, and Bill in September 1943) during WWII….”  Don’s uncle, Elmer Bagnall MUTTART, has been previously featured on this blog.  (See https://bordencarletonresearchproject.wordpress.com/2017/07/28/the-elmer-bagnall-muttart-story/ and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71Rzg07kPw0&list=PLaJcEVojJra-ZwR6rvb-THj8Zr2QbUXLT&index=2)

Born November 25, 1918 in Moncton, New Brunswick, Bill was the son of Frank Ariel and Eudaviela Waters Johnston, of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.  On May 17, 1937 he enlisted in the Militia in Charlottetown, and remained a member over the next few years, while employed as a teller at the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce in Charlottetown.  On June 17, 1940, a day after his marriage, he was enlisted in the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve.

On December 13, 1941 he was appointed to serve aboard HMCS Charlottetown.  Unfortunately, the ship was torpedoed and sunk on September 11, 1942 in the St. Lawrence River along the northern shore of Gaspé Peninsula, while returning to base from convoy duty.  Bill was one of the survivors.  (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMCS_Charlottetown_(1941)#Sinking)

After a stint of survivor’s duty at HMCS Stadacona in Halifax and short training courses, he was assigned to HMS Itchen on April 19, 1943, which was involved in anti-submarine warfare exercises off the coast of Scotland until September 1943, when it was assigned to convoy escort duty. 

While in the Atlantic Ocean, several ships in the convoy were attacked, beginning on September 19, 1943.  On September 20, HMCS St Croix was sunk.  81 survivors were picked up by HMS Itchen. 

HMS Itchen (K227)

Red dot shows location of sinking of HMS Itchen.  (Image source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Itchen_(K227))

Just after 2 am on September 23, 1943, HMS Itchen was torpedoed, causing the frigate to blow up, with a loss of 230 lives, including Bill. He was 24 years old.

Two people from HMS Itchen and one from HMCS St Croix survived and were picked up by a Polish steamer. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Itchen_(K227) and https://www.uboat.net/allies/merchants/ship/3079.html)

Don Coutts noted that “…Kay and Bill had a son Tom who was born on March 18, 1943. Tom died a number of years ago. Kay married a Bob Mills from Nova Scotia…they split their time between Port Royal, NS (late Fall/Winter/early Spring) and Stanhope, PEI (late Spring/Summer/early Fall)...”

As his body was never recovered, Bill’s name is listed on the Halifax Memorial in Point Pleasant Park in Halifax, Nova Scotia. 

To read previous stories about other mariners listed on the Halifax Memorial, please see:

Thank you to Jan Braakman, Don Coutts, Armel ‘Mel’ Lanteigne, and Edmonde Lanteigne for sharing photos and anecdotes to ensure that Atlantic Canadians who are buried overseas are not forgotten.

More photos and stories in Atlantic Canada Remembers – Part 11! To share photos or information, please email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or tweet to @researchmemori1. 

© Daria Valkenburg

…Previous postings in the Atlantic Canada Remembers series…

Missed the previous postings in this series? See:

…Want to follow our research?….

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

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

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

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

Never miss a posting!  Subscribe below to have each new story from the war memorial trail delivered to your inbox.

The Photo Tribute At The Canadian War Cemetery In Groesbeek

/ On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment
20210505_091943 May 5 2021 Dutch flag on Liberation Day

The Dutch flag flies proudly at the Valkenburg household on Liberation Day. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

May 10, 2021. In the last blog posting, we featured photos at the graves of 7 soldiers buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands.  As part of the Liberation Day 2021 commemoration, photos of over 1,600 soldiers were placed by their graves and will remain until May 17. 

In that posting, photos of the graves of 4 soldiers from PEI whose stories have already been told in this blog, and 3 Indigenous soldiers that Pieter is currently researching, were featured. (See https://bordencarletonresearchproject.wordpress.com/2021/05/05/commemorating-liberation-day-at-the-canadian-war-cemetery-in-groesbeek/)

Recently, we received information on one more Indigenous soldier, who has been added to Pieter’s research list.  We asked Alice van Bekkum, Chair of the Groesbeek Faces to Graves Committee, to take the photo of his grave.

…. Grave of 1 Indigenous Soldier….

 

IMG_8567-AVB Grave of Thomas Big Canoe in Groesbeek

Grave of Thomas Beresford Big Canoe. (Photo courtesy of Alice van Bekkum)

Thomas Beresford BIG CANOE, son of Thomas H. and Hannah Bigcanoe, of Georgina Island, Ontario, was serving with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry when he lost his life on March 8, 1945, at the age of 19.

…. The Faces Of Groesbeek video….

Alice sent a short film about the photo exhibition at the cemetery, entitled ‘The Faces of Groesbeek’.   Make sure you have tissues handy when you watch this.  There will be tears once you see the piper playing as he walks, row by row, through the cemetery.

Thank you to Alice van Bekkum for taking the photos of the grave of Thomas Beresford Big Canoe, and for sharing ‘The Faces of Groesbeek’ video.

If you have photos or information to share about any Canadian soldiers buried in The Netherlands, please contact Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or send a tweet to @researchmemori1. 

© Daria Valkenburg

…Want to follow our research?…

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

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

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

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

Never miss a posting!  Subscribe below to have each new story from the war memorial trail delivered to your inbox.

Commemorating Liberation Day At The Canadian War Cemetery In Groesbeek

/ On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 2 Comments
20210505_091943 May 5 2021 Dutch flag on Liberation Day

The Dutch flag flies proudly at the Valkenburg household on Liberation Day. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

May 5, 2021.  Last year, one of the events planned for the 75th Anniversary of the Liberation of The Netherlands was to place photos by the graves of soldiers at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek.  Unfortunately, due to social distancing measures, this had to be cancelled.  Instead, white tulips were placed at each grave.  (See   https://bordencarletonresearchproject.wordpress.com/2020/05/05/tulips-placed-at-each-grave-at-the-canadian-war-cemetery-in-groesbeek/)

This year, the planned photo tribute was possible, with photos placed at more than 1,600 graves. They will remain in place until May 17. Readers of this blog are aware that Pieter has been working towards finding as many photos as possible from the Atlantic region over the past few years.  Here on PEI, all but two soldiers buried in this cemetery have their photo tributes.  We asked Alice van Bekkum, Chair of the Groesbeek Faces to Graves Committee,  to take photos of 4 soldiers whose stories have been previously told here.

….Graves of 4 PEI soldiers ….

IMG_8528 Grave of Willie Cannon

Grave of William ‘Willie’ Alfred Cannon. (Photo courtesy of Alice van Bekkum)

To read about William ‘Willie’ Alfred CANNON of Mt Mellick, please see https://bordencarletonresearchproject.wordpress.com/2018/08/04/canadian-war-graves-netherlands-foundation-project/

IMG_8522 Grave of Joe Hennebery

Grave of Joseph ‘Joe’ Edmund Hennebery. (Photo courtesy of Alice van Bekkum)

To read about Joseph ‘Joe’ Edmund HENNEBERY of Morell, please see https://bordencarletonresearchproject.wordpress.com/2020/05/31/on-the-war-memorial-trail-a-face-for-joseph-hennebery/

IMG_8526 Grave of George Preston Smith

Grave of George Preston Smith.  (Photo courtesy of Alice van Bekkum)

To read about George Preston SMITH of Kinkora, please see:

IMG_8523 Grave of William Weatherbie

Grave of William Weatherbie.  (Photo courtesy of Alice van Bekkum)

To read about William WEATHERBIE of Charlottetown, please see https://bordencarletonresearchproject.wordpress.com/2019/09/29/a-face-for-ww2-soldier-william-weatherbie/

Alice shared a short video in which she is interviewed, and volunteers can be seen placing the photos by the graves.  The photos were printed onto an aluminum backing, making them impervious to rain.  Whether you understand Dutch or not, the video is wonderful as it shows the care and precision taken for this photo tribute.

….Graves of 3 Indigenous soldiers….

Recently, several photos have come in for soldiers whose stories Pieter is still researching.  Three of these are of Indigenous soldiers, which came about after an article about Pieter’s search for photos was written by 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/) Their stories will be told in a future posting.

Pieter asked his friend and former colleague, Ad Scheepers, if he would take photos of 3 graves at the cemetery in Groesbeek.  Ad visited the cemetery and placed an orange flower beside each grave he took a photo of.

Grave of Alfred Pitwanakwat

Grave of Alfred Louis Pitwanakat.  (Photo credit: Ad Scheepers)

Alfred Louis PITAWANAKWAT (PITWANAKWAT) was born September 12, 1924 in Little Current, Ontario, son of Agatha Pitwanakwat, of Wikwemikong, Ontario.

Grave of Eli Snake

Grave of Eli Snake. (Photo credit: Ad Scheepers)

Eli SNAKE was born November 29, 1919 on the Muncey Reserve, the son of Eli and Marjorie Snake.

Grave of Clarence Wakegijig

Grave of Clarence Wilfred Wakegijig.  (Photo credit: Ad Scheepers)

Clarence Wilfred WAKEGIJIG was born January 9, 1925 in Wikemwikong, Ontario, the son of Joachim and Josephine Wakegijig (nee Shawanda), of Krugersdorf, Ontario.

Ad wrote that while he was near the grave of Alfred Pitwanakat, “….a boy visiting the site with his family put a Canadian flag in front of the grave of Alfred….”

Child places flag by Alfreds grave

A young boy places a flag by the grave of Alfred Pitwanakat. (Photo credit: Ad Scheepers)

Child by Alfreds grave

A young boy inspects the flag he placed by the grave of Alfred Pitwanakat.  (Photo credit: Ad Scheepers)

It’s clear that the Dutch pass on the importance of remembrance to the next generation so they can continue to remember those who lost their lives in WW2!

Thank you to Alice van Bekkum and Ad Scheepers for their kindness in taking the photos of the graves.  If you have information to share about any Canadian soldiers buried in The Netherlands, please contact Pieter at  memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or send a 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/

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

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

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

Never miss a posting!  Subscribe below to have each new story from the war memorial trail delivered to your inbox.

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

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

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:

…..Want to follow our research?….

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

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

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

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

Never miss a posting!  Subscribe below to have each new story from the war memorial trail delivered to your inbox.

On The War Memorial Trail….. Atlantic Canada Remembers – Part 7

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

February 22, 2021. We continue to feature more of the photos submitted by Atlantic Canadians of soldiers buried overseas. Pieter is ensuring that every email is acknowledged, and that the photos of soldiers buried in The Netherlands will be forwarded to the appropriate cemetery for their digital archives.  Thank you to the various members of Royal Canadian Legions in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick for their help.

The volunteers at all three Canadian War Cemeteries in Holten, Groesbeek, and Bergen Op Zoom are now active, and Pieter has received wish lists for photos from all three cemeteries.  Submissions for soldiers buried in municipal cemeteries are being held until Pieter gets the go-ahead that those volunteers are active again.

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

Ken Dennis of Yarmouth let us know about the Wartime Heritage Association website, which features some of the soldiers from the area who served in WW2.  One of the profiles, written by Flip Jonkman, was of a soldier on the photo wish list of the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten…. Brenton Leroy RINGER. (See http://wartimeheritage.com/whaww2ns2/wwii_ringer_brenton_leroy.htm)

Born on March 22, 1925 in Northfield, Nova Scotia, the son of Ralph and Alberta Ringer of Clementsport, he was an electrician’s helper when he enlisted, at age 18, with the North Nova Scotia Highlanders in Halifax on January 17, 1944.  He later transferred to the 10th Armoured Regiment on March 27, 1945, and lost his life on April 12, 1945 during the liberation of Heino, The Netherlands, when the Sherman tank he was in was hit on the road to Zwolle. 

There were 5 men in the tank, with one survivor.  The survivor knocked on the door of a nearby farmhouse to ask for help, the home of Flip Jonkman’s parents.  Flip was not born at the time, but always remembered the story, and in 2020, was instrumental in getting a memorial stone placed near the site of the attack.  (See the article in Dutch for more information: https://www.destentor.nl/raalte/vurige-wens-in-vervulling-voor-flip-jonkman-73-uit-heino-nu-gedenksteen-is-geplaatst~a694b86d/?referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fduckduckgo.com%2F)

Another of the names on the photo wish list for the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten was found on the Wartime Heritage Association website…. that of Louis Graham RICHARD. (See http://wartimeheritage.com/whaww2ns/wwii_richard_louis_graham.htm)

Born February 13, 1918, the son of Raphael Daniel and Mary Ann Richard of Londonderry, Nova Scotia, Louis was a store clerk before enlisting with the No 2 Canadian Armed Corps in Halifax on February 17, 1943 as a trooper.  On October 14, 1944 he was sent to the United Kingdom, and then on March 31, 1945 to Western Europe with the 9th Armoured Regiment (BC Dragoons).  

Louis was killed in action in The Netherlands during the Battle of Delfzijl Pocket on April 26, 1945, at the age of 27, and was temporarily buried in Wirdum in the province of Groningen, The Netherlands before being reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten. (For more information on this battle, see https://www.canadiansoldiers.com/history/battlehonours/northwesteurope/delfzijlpocket.htm)

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

Percy Clayton Cromwell photo only

Percy Clayton Cromwell.  (Photo submitted by Ken Dennis)

Ken Dennis submitted a photo of Percy Clayton CROMWELL, explaining that “…I am a member of the Yarmouth Branch 61 Legion…” After receiving a wish list of photos from Pieter, he noticed one name from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.  “…Having been shown this email, I decided to trace his local roots…”

“…He was a labourer, then for CP out of the Halifax area and upon enlisting moved his family to Yarmouth where they grew up….” CP refers to the Canadian Pacific Railway.

Percy was born in Yarmouth on February 12, 1914, the son of James Alfred and Annie May Cromwell.  He enlisted with the West Nova Scotia Regiment in Aldershot, Nova Scotia on May 14, 1940.

Percy was with the Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers when he drowned in The Netherlands on February 8, 1945.  He’d been on guard duty along a canal in the Dutch province of Brabant on a very dark, windy, and rainy night, and it would have been very easy to lose his bearings and accidentally fall into the canal.  His body was not found until March 12, 1945.  He left behind a wife, Lillian Beryl, and four children. 

Frank Lewis Libby photo only

Francis Lewis Libby. (Photo from the New Brunswick Military Recognition Booklet)

Kent Caldwell, a member of the Royal Canadian Legion in New Brunswick, sent an entry on Francis ‘Frank’ Lewis LIBBY from one of the annual issues of the New Brunswick Military Recognition Booklet, explaining that the photo was a copy from a newspaper clipping.  The entry stated that “…Francis served with the Calgary Highlanders in England and Northwest Europe.  He was killed in The Netherlands in 1945…” 

Francis was born February 21, 1918 in Milltown, New Brunswick, the son of Clifford and Mary Christine Libby.  Before enlisting on July 25, 1941, he worked at the Canadian Cottons Plant in Milltown.  On October 4, 1941, he married Dorothy Louise Caswell.  He and Dorothy had a son Francis Brian in 1944 while he was overseas in Europe, and where he transferred to the Calgary Highlanders in September 1944. Francis lost his life on January 5, 1945 after being killed along the Dutch-German border. He was temporarily buried in Nijmegen, before his reburial, on July 30, 1945, in Groesbeek.

Hiram Albion Lord photo only

Hiram Albion Lord. (Photo from the New Brunswick Military Recognition Booklet)

Kent Caldwell, a member of the Royal Canadian Legion in New Brunswick, also sent an entry on Hiram Albion LORD from one of the annual issues of the New Brunswick Military Recognition Booklet, explaining that the photo was a copy from a newspaper clipping.  The entry stated that “…Hiram served with the North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment during the Second World War and was killed in action in 1945…” 

Born November 7, 1924 in Lords Cove, Deer Island, New Brunswick, the son of Minnie Smith, Hiram was a fisherman before enlisting on November 4, 1943 and served in Canada until his arrival in the United Kingdom on July 21, 1944.   On August 17, 1944 he went with his unit to Western Europe and lost his life on January 8, 1945 near Nijmegen, The Netherlands.

Stanley Spray

Stanley Spray. (Photo submitted by Royal Canadian Legion Branch #20 in Digby)

Donna Flaherty, President of Royal Canadian Legion Branch #20 in Digby, Nova Scotia, submitted a photo of Stanley SPRAY, writing “…This picture hangs on our Memorial Wall….”

Born April 24, 1913 in Nottinghamshire, England, the son of Edgar and Edith Spray, Stanley immigrated to Canada, and settled in Digby, Nova Scotia, where he ran a small farm and worked for J. J. Wallis as a printer before his enlistment on July 6, 1940 with the 52nd Anti-Tank Battery.  He was married to Alda May and the father of two daughters, Jean Carolyn and Joan Carol. 

He received several promotions, and was a battery quartermaster sergeant with the Royal Canadian Artillery when WW2 ended.  Stanley lost his life in a tragic vehicle accident near Nijmegen, The Netherlands on July 23, 1945, when he was catapulted out of the back of an army truck that collided with an oncoming military vehicle.

Thank you to Kent Caldwell, Ken Dennis, and Donna Flaherty for sharing photos and anecdotes.  Atlantic Canadians remember their loved ones who are buried overseas. If you have a higher resolution photo of Percy Clayton Cromwell, Frank Lewis Libby, or Hiram Albion Lord, please send it in to us.

More photos and stories in Atlantic Canada Remembers – Part 8! 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:

…..Want to follow our research?….

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

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

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

Never miss a posting!  Subscribe below to have each new story from the war memorial trail delivered to your inbox.

On The War Memorial Trail….. Pieter Thanks Atlantic Canadians For Sending Photos Of WW2 Soldiers

/ On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment
20210220_111030 Feb 20 2021 Pieter with photo wish lists

Pieter surrounded by some of the photo wish lists for Atlantic Canada from the Canadian War Cemeteries in The Netherlands.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

February 20, 2021.  On January 4, 2021, Pieter was interviewed on CTV Atlantic’s Live At 5, where he asked viewers in Atlantic Canada for photos of soldiers buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands. The response was encouraging! (See https://bordencarletonresearchproject.wordpress.com/2021/01/05/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-search-for-ww2-soldiers-buried-in-the-netherlands-featured-on-ctvs-atlantic-live-at-5/ for more information.) 

Missed the January 4 broadcast? Click here:  https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=2111996&jwsource=em

Since the broadcast, submissions continue to come in for soldiers buried in Canadian War Cemeteries in The Netherlands, Belgium, and Italy. All submissions of Canadian soldiers buried in other cemeteries are welcome for the Atlantic Canada Remembers postings. 

While the original broadcast discussed a wish list of photos for soldiers from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick from the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, wish lists soon reached Pieter from the Canadian War Cemeteries in Groesbeek and Bergen Op Zoom.  (A wish list for photos of soldiers from Prince Edward Island has been mostly fulfilled.)

20210220_111052 Feb 20 2021 Photo wish lists from Dutch cemeteries

Wish lists for photos of soldiers from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick who are buried in The Netherlands are slowly being fulfilled.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

On January 13, 2021, CTV Atlantic’s Live At 5 ran an update, which included interviews with Edwin van der Wolf, a volunteer at the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands, and with Darlene and David Roberts, who had submitted a photo of David’s uncle, Bobby Nickerson.  (See https://bordencarletonresearchproject.wordpress.com/2021/01/13/on-the-war-memorial-trail-atlantic-canada-remembers-part-2/)

Missed the January 13 broadcast? Click here: https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=2118019&jwsource=em

CIMG9119 Sep 18 2017 Holten Cemetery Pieter & Edwin van der Wolf by grave of WD Sherren

Pieter with Edwin van der Wolf at the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

On January 14, 2021 CTV posted a web story today to go with the January 13, 2021 broadcast…. See https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/dutch-canadian-man-on-a-mission-to-tell-stories-of-lost-soldiers-1.5266404

Now Pieter has prepared a ‘Thank You Atlantic Canada’ video for all who have contributed photos and stories of WW2 soldiers who are buried overseas.  You can watch it here:

Thank you to all who have shared photos and anecdotes, and to post-production editor Wendy Nattress, who made this YouTube video a reality, and of course to CTV Atlantic’s Live at 5 for helping to get the word out about the photo wish lists.

We will continue to feature photos and stories in our Atlantic Canada Remembers postings. If you have photos or information to share, please email Pieter at dariadv@yahoo.ca, comment on the blog, or tweet to @researchmemori1. 

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

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….. Atlantic Canada Remembers – Part 6

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

February 9, 2021. We continue to feature more of the photos submitted by Atlantic Canadians of soldiers buried overseas. Pieter is ensuring that every email is acknowledged, and that the photos of soldiers buried in The Netherlands will be forwarded to the appropriate cemetery for their digital archives. 

Currently, only the volunteers at the Canadian War Cemeteries in Holten and Groesbeek are active.  Submissions for Bergen Op Zoom and for any soldiers buried in municipal cemeteries are being held until Pieter gets the go-ahead that volunteers are active again.

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

Howard Armstong

Howard W. Armstrong. (Photo submitted by Marion Fryday-Cook)

Marion Fryday-Cook, President of The Royal Canadian Legion, Nova Scotia/Nunavat Command, submitted a photo of Howard W. ARMSTRONG of Chester, Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia, explaining that “…This is the information gathered by Branch 44 in Chester, NS for our Command’s Veterans Recognition Service Book. Howard’s family still reside in Chester…” 

Howard was with the Fort Garry Horse – 10th Armoured Regiment, and lost his life on September 5, 1945 due to an accidental death after a misstep on a dark and unlit street in Amsterdam led to him falling into a canal and drowning.

Douglas Jury1

Douglas Jury. (Photo courtesy of the Jury Family)

On behalf of the Jury family, Dara Legere of Branch 4 of The Royal Canadian Legion in Joggins, Nova Scotia, submitted a photo of Douglas JURY, writing “…I have attached a photo of Sapper Douglas Jury of Joggins, NS who is buried in Holten Cemetery, Holland. Douglas Jury was related to my family. My mom’s sister Mary was married to Douglas’s brother Roy. There were three Jury brothers who served in WW2, Douglas, Roy, and William. William was taken prisoner by the Germans shortly after D-Day and was forced to work in the coal mines in Germany…”

Douglas was with the Royal Canadian Engineers, 18th Field Company, and lost his life on August 17, 1945. Dara explained that “…Douglas remained in Holland after the war ended, repairing dykes and bridges, etc with the Canadian Engineers. The vehicle he was travelling in rolled off one of the dykes and he was trapped under it and drowned. Such a sad story….”

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

Harry William Doucette

Harry William Doucette.  (Photo courtesy of the Doucette Family)

On behalf of the Doucette family, Cyrille LeBlanc and Andre Boudreau of Legion Branch 155 in Wedgeport, Nova Scotia submitted a photo of Harry William DOUCETTE. Cyrille wrote that he “….was a private in the North Nova Scotia Highlanders, Royal Canadian Infantry Corps. He was born May 25, 1925 in Bell Neck, Sainte-Anne Catholic Parish, Yarmouth County, Nova Scotia.

Private Doucette was the son of John and Celina Mary Doucette. He had eight brothers and one sister. Two brothers served in the RCAF during World War II.  He completed Grade 8 at the age of fourteen and left school to work as a lumber-man in the woods. He enjoyed reading western and veteran stories.  

 He enlisted in Halifax at age 18 October 6, 1943, and served in Canada from October 4, 1943 to October 13, 1944; in the United Kingdom from October 14, 1944 to November 23, 1944 and in France, Belgium, Netherlands, and Germany from November 24, 1944 to March 25, 1945.  He was killed in action against the enemy in Germany March 25, 1945 at age 19….”

Harry William lost his life during the Battle of Bienen in Germany, in which  44 members of the North Nova Scotia Highlanders lost their lives and 68 were wounded.  In 2000 a memorial plaque was placed in Bienen to honour those who lost their lives in this battle.  (See http://wikimapia.org/17003812/Commemorative-plaque-of-Battle-of-Bienen)

Cyrille went on to explain that “…Private Doucette was remembered and honoured May 5, 2020, September 12, 2020 and November 11, 2020 – the 75th anniversary year of the liberation of The Netherlands….”  He also was kind enough to include a link to a YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GR3SowfKA_E

Arnold Hupman

Arnold F Hupman.  (Photo submitted by Marilyn Hupman)

Marilyn Hupman sent a photo and information on her grandfather, Flying Officer Arnold F. HUPMAN, writing that “… He was the only boy of 7 children, born and raised in East Side of Ragged Island, Shelburne County, Nova Scotia. 

Margaret Nickerson and he married and had 3 sons, Arnold, Robert and Arthur.  Arthur is the only surviving child.  My father, Arthur, was 7 years old when he last saw his father, just before he went overseas. 

From the stories I heard as a child he was asked to stay in Canada and teach pilots, but being a true Canadian he said no that he signed up to fight and he was going over.

Our family is very proud of our Grandfather and the rest of the family that fought. The only loss was F.O. A.F. Hupman….”

Arnold lost his life when the Lancaster bomber he was in crashed on the outskirts of Arnhem on the night of June 16 to 17, 1944, after being shot down by a German nightfighter. All 7 members of the crew of Lancaster VR-V lost their lives.  They were temporarily buried in the Netherlands Reformed Church Cemetery in Huissensedijk on June 29, and later reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek.   

In addition to Arnold Hupman, the other crew members were: Donald MORISSEN, Gerald QUINN, Harold FLETCHER, Clifford JOHNSTON, Philip MCMANUS, and Edward FAHY. (More information can be found in this English translation of an article by the late Willem Tiemans: https://airbornearnhem.nl/WillemTiemens/Elden%20bomber%20crash.htm)

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

Austin Boutilier photo from Judy MacKenzie

Austin Ephraim Boutilier. (Photo submitted by Judy MacKenzie)

Judy MacKenzie submitted a photo of her great-uncle, Austin Ephraim BOUTILIER, who was killed in action in Belgium during the Battle of the Scheldt on September 29, 1944, aged 26, while serving with the Black Watch Regiment.  (See https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/history/second-world-war/scheldt)

Judy MacKenzie explained that “…He was gone long before I was born. His father was Ansil Boutilier. He was married to Hannah Hershman. They lived in Tantallon, Nova Scotia. They would have been my great grandparents. I remember stories that he joined the military before he was old enough.  However, if he was 26 when he died, that would appear to be untrue. All of Austin’s siblings are gone. Several of Austin’s siblings fought in the war, including my grandfather, who married Austin’s sister. Everyone else made it home, some with shrapnel in them….”

Judy’s uncle, Ernest ‘Ernie’ MacKenzie, wrote that “…our Uncle Austin is buried at Bergen op Zoom Canadian War Cemetery. We did visit Austin’s grave in 2011….” 

According to the Field Service record, Austin was initially buried in Belgium on September 30, 1944 “…on the south side of the road between Ryckevorsel towards St. Leonard...” before being reburied in Bergen Op Zoom in The Netherlands.

Thank you to André Boudreau, Marion Fryday-Cook, the Doucette family, Marilym Hupman, Cyrille LeBlanc, Dara Legere, Ernie MacKenzie, and Judy MacKenzie for sharing photos and anecdotes.  Atlantic Canadians remember their loved ones who are buried overseas.

More photos and stories in Atlantic Canada Remembers – Part 7! If you have photos or information to share, please email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or tweet to @researchmemori1. 

© Daria Valkenburg

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

Missed the previous postings in this series? See:

…..Want to follow our research?….

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

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

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

Never miss a posting!  Subscribe below to have each new story from the war memorial trail delivered to your inbox.