Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation

On The War Memorial Trail…..The Memorial Panel In Wons Is Unveiled!

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November 18, 2019. On October 12, 2019, the day of the unveiling of the memorial panel in The Netherlands to honour the crew of Halifax L9561 finally arrived, with a series of events organized by the Stichting Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation, a non-profit volunteer organization based in the province of Friesland. In the last posting about the events, we had a brief introduction to the crew members of Halifax L9561 at Het Hannemahuis Museum in Harlingen (See On The War Memorial Trail…..The Halifax L9561 Crew).

When we walked out of the Het Hannemahuis Museum in Harlingen, the dry but cloudy skies we had at the Harlingen General Cemetery had changed to rain.  Out came the umbrellas as we made the long walk to the bus for the trip to Wons.   We were keeping our fingers crossed that this was just a shower, but it wasn’t to be.  Instead it rained even harder, meaning the memorial panel was to be unveiled in the rain.  It didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits though.

IMG_6364 Oct 12 2019 Memorial plaque Wons

Waiting for the unveiling of the memorial plaque in Wons. You can see the flags of the United Kingdom, The Netherlands, and Canada flying. (Photo credit: Sikko Drijver)

IMG_6355 Oct 12 2019 Memorial plaque Wons flag of Wons

The memorial panel was hidden from view by the flag of Wons when we first arrived. (Photo credit: Sikko Drijver)

The memorial panel is located along a bicycle path and overlooking a field on the Politiek farm where Halifax L9561 came down.  In addition to our Canadian and British group and volunteers from the Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation, we were joined by dignitaries and citizens from the village of Wons and nearby communities.

One of the dignitaries was Colonel Timothy Young, Canadian Defence Attaché to The Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, based at the Canadian Embassy in The Hague, who attended the day’s events with his wife Michelle.

CIMG3484 Oct 12 2019 Pieter Col Young Elmer in Wons

Three proud Canadians… Pieter Valkenburg, Colonel Timothy Young, Elmer MacDonald. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Finally the moment to unveil the memorial panel arrived, and the unveilers represented organizations that had provided funding towards the memorial panel.  The unveilers were:

  • Knilles Elgersma, on behalf of Dorpsbelang Wons
  • Maarten Offinga, on behalf of the municipality of Súdwest Fryslân (Southwest Friesland)
  • Pieter Valkenburg, on behalf of the Tryon & Area Historical Society
  • Hans Groeneweg, on behalf of the Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation
CIMG3489 Oct 12 2019 Wons

Unveiling of the memorial panel. Left to right: Maarten Offinga, Knilles Elgersma, Hans Groeneweg, Pieter Valkenburg. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

The memorial panel was highly anticipated and didn’t disappoint.  The title was a quote from Halifax L9561 Co-Pilot Norman Frank Trayler “He died that we might live”.  The story of Flight Halifax L9561 on October 12, 1941 was briefly told, from when it left Middleton St. George airbase, how it was attacked by a German nightfighter, the burial of Elmer Muttart in Harlingen General Cemetery on October 16, 1941, the fate of the rest of the crew in POW camps in Germany, and ends with the unveiling of the memorial panel in Wons on October 12, 2019.  At the bottom of the panel are photos of each crew member.

CIMG3496 Oct 12 2019 Wons

The memorial panel in Wons, overlooking the field on the Politiek farm where Halifax L9561 came down. The title translates to “He died that we might live…”, a quote from co-pilot Norman Frank Trayler. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

The memorial panel unveiled, the remembrance ceremony began, with the playing of the Last Post by Sgt Major Piet Bergsma of the Dutch Air Force, followed by a minute of silence and then the playing of the Reveille.  Next came the laying of wreaths by:

  • Maarten Offinga, on behalf of the municipality of Súdwest Fryslân (Southwest Friesland).
  • Cor Politiek, grandson of eyewitness to the crash Cor Politiek, on behalf of Dorpsbelang Wons.
  • Colonel Timothy Young, Canadian Defence Attaché to The Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, on behalf of the Government of Canada. He was accompanied by Elmer MacDonald.
  • Shane Aldridge, grandson of Halifax L9561 crew member David Cotsell, on behalf of the Embassy of Great Britain.
  • Fred Jackson, on behalf of the Middleton Saint George Memorial Association.
  • Douwe Drijver and Alexander Tuinhout, on behalf of the Stichting Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation.
20191012_154132 Oct 12 2019 Wreath laid by Canada

Wreath laid by Colonel Timothy Young, Canadian Defence Attaché to The Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg. (Photo credit: François Breugelmans)

IMG_6397 Oct 12 2019 Memorial plaque Wons

Colonel Timothy Young, left, who laid the wreath on behalf of the Government of Canada. On the right, Shane Aldridge, grandson of David Cotsell, laid a wreath on behalf of the Embassy of Great Britain. (Photo credit: Sikko Drijver)

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Some of the wreaths and flags laid by the memorial panel in Wons. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

CIMG3553 Oct 13 2019 Memorial panel in Wons message from Middleton St George

Card with the wreath placed by the Middleton Saint George Memorial Association. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

After the official ceremony was finished, family members were invited to get a closer look at the memorial panel.

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Pam Alexander, daughter of Halifax L9561 Navigator Reg Alexander, at the memorial panel. (Photo credit: François Breugelmans)

The Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation volunteers are commended for the wonderful job they did in designing the memorial panel.

IMG_6402 Oct 12 2019 Memorial plaque Wons

Members of the Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation by the memorial panel in Wons. Left to right: Hans Groeneweg, Douwe Drijver, Alexander Tuinhout, Sietse Kuiper. (Photo credit: Sikko Drijver)

CIMG3565 Oct 13 2019 Pieter by memorial panel

A remembrance project that has come full circle for Pieter with the permanent recognition given to the crew of Halifax L9561. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Once everyone had a chance to see the memorial panel, we were invited to the community hall in Wons for a small reception.  Back on the bus we went!

Thank you to François Breugelmans and Sikko Drijver for sharing their photos.  If you have stories or photos to share about the crew or the events of October 12, 2019, please contact Pieter at dariadv@yahoo.ca or comment on the blog.

© Daria Valkenburg

On The War Memorial Trail…..The Presentations At Het Hannemahuis in Harlingen

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October 17, 2019. On October 12, 2019, the day of the unveiling of the memorial panel Netherlands to honour WW2 pilot Flight Sgt Elmer Bagnall MUTTART and the crew of Halifax L9561 finally arrived, with a series of events organized by the Stichting Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation, a non-profit volunteer organization based in the province of Friesland. (See Unveiling of the Memorial Panel for Downed WW2 Plane Halifax L9561 in Wons) In the last posting, our group visited the Harlingen General Cemetery where Muttart is buried. (See On The War Memorial Trail…..The Visit To Harlingen General Cemetery)

From the cemetery, we were invited for lunch and presentations at Het Hannemahuis, a museum in Harlingen.  Our bus was too big to navigate the narrow streets of this maritime city, and we had to walk across the canal to the other side of the canal where the museum is located in the centre of the city, and reached through a very narrow street.

IMG_2702 Oct 12 2019 Harlingen

Boats line the canal in Harlingen. (Photo credit: Annie Lee MacDonald)

IMG_2703 Oct 12 2019 Harlingen

We cross the canal and walk through a narrow street towards Het Hannemahuis in Harlingen. (Photo credit: Annie Lee MacDonald)

We were treated to a much appreciated warm cup of coffee or tea, cookies and sandwiches for lunch, and had a chance to meet and visit with the Dutch guests invited for the official commemoration events.

CIMG3470 Oct 12 2019 Harlingen Hannemahuis

Harlingen Mayor Roel Sluiter (right) chats with Elmer MacDonald. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

CIMG3468 Oct 12 2019 Harlingen Hannemahuis

Museum volunteer Bauke Posthuma, who researched the men buried in the Commonwealth War Graves section of Harlingen General Cemetery, including Elmer Bagnall Muttart, chats with Pieter and gives an update on the publication of his book. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Everyone had a chance to see a model of the type of Halifax plane flown on the night of October 12, 1941, made by Lex Bosma.

IMG_0266 Replica of Halifax plane made by Lex Bosma

Model of Halifax plane made by Lex Bosma. (Photo credit: Ralph & Valerie Muttart)

The master of ceremonies for the presentations was Hans Groeneweg, President of the Stichting Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation, who introduced the speakers.

CIMG3472 Oct 12 2019 Harlingen Hannemahuis

Harlingen Mayor Roel Sluiter gives a greeting. On the right, Douwe Drijver manages the slide presentation. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Mayor of Harlingen, His Worship Roel Sluiter, gave a warm welcome to all of us:

“Welcome in Harlingen!  Very nice to have you here on this occasion on which you can look with mixed feelings.

On the one hand: we are celebrating our liberation, 75 years ago, every day now, since the liberation of our country started in the south of the Netherlands in early September 1944.

On the other hand: we remember these days also all the sacrifices that were made and all the losses we suffered, before our liberation was a fact. Mixed emotions; joy, gratitude and also sadness by the ancestors of the liberators that were killed in action.

Our attention this afternoon is concentrated on the tragic adventure of the Halifax L9561 that was attacked by a German fighter plane and crashed near the village of Wons in October 1941.

Seven crewmembers of the Halifax rescued themselves by parachute, the pilot, Elmer Muttart, however, did not survive. You just visited his grave, here in Harlingen.

That we are here today in remembrance of the events of that dark night of 12 October 1941 is also to be seen as a great “thank you” for all the efforts that were needed to eventually liberate our country! I hope you will have a very pleasant afternoon!”

The main event was an excellent presentation by Alexander Tuinhout and Douwe Drijver, who gave a summary of the events that led to the crash on the night of October 12, 1941 and what happened to the crew members in the aftermath.  The quote “He died that we might live….” had been made by co-pilot Norman Frank TRAYLER.

CIMG3474 Oct 12 2019 Harlingen Hannemahuis

A presentation about the crew of Halifax L9561 was made by Alexander Tuinhout and Douwe Drijver at Het Hannemahuis. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Following the presentation, Elmer MacDonald and Donald Coutts were invited to give remarks about Flight Sgt Elmer Muttart.

CIMG3476 Oct 12 2019 Harlingen Hannemahuis

Elmer MacDonald gave heartfelt remarks about Flight Sgt Elmer Muttart. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

“Your Worship, the mayor of Harlingen; Colonel Timothy Young, Canadian Defence Attaché to The Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg; Mr. Shane Aldridge, representative of the British Embassy and a grandson, I understand, of one of Muttart’s crew; distinguished guests, including the families of Muttart’s crew aboard  the Halifax L9561 on that fateful day; members of the Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation who organized this event and Mr. Pieter Valkenburg of the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph Research Project of Prince Edward Island, Canada.

My name is Roderick Elmer MacDonald. I have come from Prince Edward Island, Canada for this very special occasion. We owe a debt of gratitude to Mr. Pieter Valkenburg, who took a special interest in Elmer Bagnall Muttart’s name that was inscribed on the War Memorial outside the Borden-Carleton Legion in Prince Edward Island. He researched his role in World War Two. He learned and shared the events that unfolded in this area that led to him sacrificing his life for the sake of a village.  Only through Pieter did we learn the details and only now can we truly appreciate his sacrifice. We are most appreciative, also, to the Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation for their work in providing us with this opportunity.

It is especially meaningful for me to be here today because I have a special connection. You see the Muttarts and the MacDonalds on Prince Edward Island were close family friends. On March 20,1940, when my parents were married,  Elmer was Best Man for my father. On October 12,1941, the Halifax L9561 plane was shot down and the only fatality was the pilot Elmer Muttart. This news was devastating to the families. In 1943 I was born and I was named after him in his memory. I always treasured the fact I was called after him but only through Pieter’s research did I come to realize the sacrifice he made and to learn what an extraordinary Canadian he was.

 I want to introduce you now to Elmer Bagnall Muttart’s close relative, who is here today, his only sister Helen’s son, Mr. Don Coutts from North Bay, Ontario, Canada.”

CIMG3479 Oct 12 2019 Harlingen Hannemahuis

Don Coutts, nephew of Elmer Muttart, addresses the audience. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

“Your Worship, the Mayor of Harlingen, distinguished dignitaries and guests, including the families of Elmer Bagnall Muttart’s crew aboard the HALIFAX L9561, members of the Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation who has organized today’s ceremonies and activities…my name is Don Coutts.

On behalf of my mother, Helen Muttart Coutts, my late father Elgin Coutts who died just over two (2) months ago who knew that I would be coming to Holland for these ceremonies, my brother Peter, and our families, we thank you for being here and for today’s ceremonies.

The Coutts, the Muttart families, and relatives would like to thank Mr. Pieter Valkenburg for taking the interest in the names on the Borden-Carleton, Prince Edward Island Cenotaph. We are indebted to him for his research into Elmer Muttart and his crew on that fateful day—–October12th, 1941. A special thanks to Daria, Pieter’s wife for her assistance in this project.

As mentioned, my Mother is Helen Muttart Coutts.  Her brother was the late Elmer Bagnall Muttart. Their parents were Annie Bagnall and Louis Muttart of Cape Traverse, Prince Edward Island, Canada. Mom and Elmer’s father, Louis was a farmer in Cape Traverse, Prince Edward Island.

Elmer was named after his uncle Elmer Bagnall who had looked after the Bagnall Farm in Hazelgrove, Prince Edward Island during WORLD WAR 1 and died quite suddenly in August 1917 at a very young age. Elmer Bagnall Muttart was born on March 14TH, 1918—–just seven (7) months after his uncle had died.

Elmer had three (3) uncles who fought in WORLD WAR 1. They were Gordon Bagnall, Harold Bagnall, and Fred Bagnall who was wounded at Sanctuary Wood, in France.

Elmer graduated from Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada with a Bachelor’s Degree in Science (Engineering) in 1939. Elmer had enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in June 1940. He had started the process to enlist in the RCAF in the fall of 1939 but it took some time for the paperwork to be completed.

Shortly after Elmer had been shot down, my grandparents had received a cablegram that he was missing in action. On New Year’s Eve, December 31st, 1941 my grandparents received a cablegram that Elmer had been buried in the Harlingen General Cemetery on October 16TH, 1941. My Family has visited Elmer’s grave on two (2) previous occasions.

I never met my Uncle as I was not born until October 1950, some nine (9) years after he died. My grandparents always had a framed picture of Elmer in his pilot’s uniform in their house in Cape Traverse, in their house in Bedeque, Prince Edward Island where they moved to in 1949, and in Toronto, Ontario, Canada where they moved to in 1965 to be closer to my Mother and our family.

My mother has a framed picture of Elmer in her Retirement Residence in Toronto, and previously it was displayed in our homes in Toronto.

Once again, thank you for today’s ceremonies.”

Thank you to Het Hannemahuis for hosting us.  Enormous thanks to Alexander Tuinhout and Douwe Drijver for their presentation.  An overview of the crew of Halifax L9561 will be the subject of the next blog posting before we move on to the unveiling of the memorial panel in Wons.  If you have stories or photos to share about the crew or the events of October 12, 2019, please contact Pieter at dariadv@yahoo.ca or comment on the blog.

© Daria Valkenburg

 

On The War Memorial Trail…..The Visit To Harlingen General Cemetery

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October 15, 2019. Over the past few years, plans for a memorial panel outside the village of Wons in The Netherlands to honour WW2 pilot Flight Sgt Elmer Bagnall MUTTART and the crew of Halifax L9561 have been underway.  On October 12, 2019, the day of the unveiling of the memorial panel finally arrived, with a series of events organized by the Stichting Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation, a non-profit volunteer organization based in the province of Friesland!  (See Unveiling of the Memorial Panel for Downed WW2 Plane Halifax L9561 in Wons)

Before the unveiling of the memorial panel in Wons, however, we went to Harlingen, with the first stop at the Harlingen General Cemetery where Muttart is buried.

CIMG3433 Oct 12 2019 the bus

We travelled in comfort on this tour bus, which picked everyone up at the Oranje Hotel in Leeuwarden. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

CIMG3436 Oct 12 2019 On the bus Photo by Douwe

On the bus. We were very happy that we weren’t responsible for navigating the narrow streets! (Photo credit: Douwe Drijver)

The weather was very inclement, but luckily the rain held off while we were at the cemetery.  Two members of the Royal Canadian Legion in The Netherlands were present to lay a wreath.

CIMG3448 Oct 12 2019 Harlingen General Cemetery

Left to right: Legion president Martin Reelick, retired RAF member Ian Aldridge, Legion vice-president Wim Poppenk, retired RAF member Mark Aldridge. Ian and Mark Aldridge were present to honour crew member David Cotsell, flight engineer. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

In addition to the wreath placed by the Royal Canadian Legion, flowers had been placed earlier on behalf of Pam Alexander and her sister Carolyn Moncur, whose father Reg Alexander was the navigator on Halifax L9561.  The family of David Cotsell, flight engineer on Halifax L9561, placed a small cross. Flower bouquets were also placed by Pieter and Daria Valkenburg, Annie Lee and Elmer MacDonald, and Don Coutts, nephew of Elmer Muttart, on behalf of the Coutts family.

CIMG3431Oct 12 2019 Pieter Annie Lee Don Oranje Hotel Leeuwarden

Left to right: Pieter Valkenburg, Annie Lee MacDonald, Don Coutts with flower bouquets for the visit to Elmer Muttart’s grave. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Don Coutts, nephew of Elmer Muttart, placed small flags of Canada and Prince Edward Island by his uncle’s grave. In memory of Elmer Muttart’s birthplace of Cape Traverse and his ancestor Lewis Muttart, who was the owner and captain of the Cape Traverse ice boat, Lori Eggert brought a T-shirt saying ‘Cape Traverse Ice Boat Crew’.

CIMG3447 Oct 12 2019 Harlingen General Cemetery Lori Eggert with Cape Traverse Tshirt

Lori Eggert with T-shirt saying ‘Cape Traverse Ice Boat Crew’. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

In addition to the families of the British crew members, ten Canadians made the trip to The Netherlands.  The Canadian contingent gathered behind the grave of Elmer Muttart for a group photo.  Flying proudly behind Elmer Muttart’s grave were the flags of Canada and Prince Edward Island.

CIMG3446 Oct 12 2019 Harlingen General Cemetery Cdn contingent

Canadian contingent by Elmer Muttart’s grave. Left to right: Pieter Valkenburg, Annie Lee MacDonald, Daria Valkenburg, Don Coutts, Elmer MacDonald, Robert O’Brien, Valerie Muttart, Ralph Muttart, Heidi Eggert, Lori Eggert. (Photo credit: Pam Alexander)

CIMG3444 Oct 12 2019 Harlingen General Cemetery wreath & flowers

Grave of Elmer Muttart at Harlingen General Cemetery. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Flight Sgt Elmer Muttart is not the only Canadian buried in Harlingen General Cemetery.  There are 9 more known servicemen, and two unidentified servicemen.  While we were there, Pieter, with the help of Alexander Tuinhout and Sietse Kuiper of the Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation, placed a Canadian flag at the graves of the two unknown Canadians and at each of these graves:

  • William Raymond James BROWN, died September 29, 1941
  • Donald Edward CAMPBELL, died June 26, 1943
  • Francis Arthur DAVIEAUX, died July 14, 1945
  • James MCDOWELL, died May 16, 1943
  • Murray Hudley NESBITT, died May 13, 1943
  • John Beverley PLEASENCE, died July 22, 1942
  • William Maurice POPPLESTONE, died March 26, 1942
  • Thomas ‘Tommy’ Clayton REID, died July 22, 1945
  • Robert WISHART, died July 22, 1942

The ceremonies at the Harlingen General Cemetery over, we next went to the museum for lunch and presentations.

A big thank you goes to the caretakers at Harlingen General Cemetery for arranging the flags for this special memorial visit.  Thank you also to the Office of Senator for Prince Edward Island Mike Duffy for providing the flag of Canada, and to Borden-Kinkora MLA Jamie Fox, Minister of Fisheries and Communities, for providing the flag of Prince Edward Island.

If you have information to share about the Canadian soldiers buried in Harlingen General Cemetery, please contact Pieter at dariadv@yahoo.ca or comment on the blog.

© Daria Valkenburg

Unveiling of the Memorial Panel for Downed WWII Plane Halifax L9561 in Wons

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October 6, 2019.  Next week, the long journey to providing a memorial panel to honour Flight Sgt Elmer Bagnall MUTTART and the crew of Halifax L9561 will end with its unveiling in Wons on October 12.  (See Update For Those Intending To Go To The Netherlands For The Memorial Panel Unveiling In Wons To Honour the Crew of Halifax L9561)

This project, initiated by Pieter in 2017 after researching what happened to Muttart, one of the names on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion, became possible with the help and support of the Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation, the Tryon & Area Historical Society that coordinated donations, and the many people who generously donated towards the preparation and installation of a memorial panel.  This project was given ongoing media coverage by the County Line Courier newspaper and CBC PEI, making it possible to tell the story of Elmer Muttart to Islanders.

Recently we met with the organizers from the Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation in Leeuwarden, who gave us a few hints about what to expect on October 12.

CIMG3185 Sep 30 2019 Leeuwarden with Pieter Daria Douwe Alexander

We get a few hints on what to expect on October 12! Left to right: Alexander Tuinhout, Pieter Valkenburg, Daria Valkenburg, Douwe Drijver.

Family of the crew of Halifax L9561 will meet in Leeuwarden before going to commemorative events in Harlingen and Wons. Representatives from the Dutch municipal government, the Canadian and British embassies, the Royal Canadian Legion in The Netherlands and Canada, the citizens of Wons, and the many researchers who worked so hard on this project will attend these special events that have been organized by the Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation, a non-profit organization of volunteers in Friesland dedicated to remembering the Allied flights that crashed in the province.

As so many Canadians are not aware of the efforts of the Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation, we invited them to explain a bit about their organization in a video clip about the story behind this upcoming event:

Excerpted translation of an article from the press release from the Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation:

On Saturday, October 12, 2019, it will be 78 years ago that an eyewitness in the Wons area saw Halifax L9561 “burning, sliding and zigzagging through the cloud cover”. The bomber with a crew of eight people left the English airport in Middleton Saint George an hour and a half earlier for a bombing of the port city of Bremen, but it never reached its target.

Above the North Sea the aircraft was already noticed by the German radar station “Tiger” on the island of Terschelling. Experienced fighter pilot Leopold “Poldi” Fellerer succeeded in shooting the Halifax shortly afterwards. The plane crashed just outside Wons at 10:17 p.m.

Elmer Bagnall Muttart (2)

Elmer Bagnall Muttart (Photo from Canadian Virtual War Memorial at http://www.veterans.gc.ca)

The next morning it became clear that 23-year-old Canadian pilot Elmer Bagnall Muttart did not survive the crash. “He was a gallant Captain and he died that we might live …” co-pilot Norman Trayler would later say about Muttart. The fact that the pilot was able to keep the damaged aircraft under control for a long time gave the remaining seven crew members the chance to escape from the burning bomber. All survivors fell into German captivity and only got their freedom back in 1945.

John Duffield from Oxford, a tail gunner, was admitted with serious injuries in the German section of Leeuwarden’s Boniface Hospital. He received regular visits to his sickbed from Poldi Fellerer and from Fellerer’s gunner Georg Lotze. In 1955 – fourteen years after the crash of the L9561 – Lotze, from Germany, even made an attempt to come into contact with Duffield again.

In his home country of Canada, fallen pilot Elmer Muttart has never been forgotten. His name is on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph, a monument near his birthplace of Cape Traverse on Prince Edward Island. For a long time, the exact story behind Muttart’s death was unknown.  Dutch born Canadian Pieter Valkenburg, who lives on Prince Edward Island, delved into the history of all fallen soldiers on the Cenotaph and, as of 2016, delved into the life of Muttart. He soon joined forces with the Frisian based Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation (SMAMF), which has been investigating the air war over the province since the 1970s.

The initiative of Valkenburg and the Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation to permanently remember Elmer Muttart’s last flight with a memorial panel at the crash location becomes a reality on 12 October.“

Halifax No. 76 Squadron

Halifax Bomber used by No. 76 Squadron. (Photo courtesy of Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation)

For those who wish to read the original Dutch, please see ( Onthulling informatiepaneel vliegtuigcrash Halifax L9561 in Wons )

Thank you to the Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation for sharing this article from their press release and allowing it to be translated into English.  An enormous thank you goes to Wendy Nattress, who graciously volunteered to do the post-production work on the short video explaining how the effort to place a memorial panel began. If anyone has more information to share on the Halifax L9561 crew, please contact Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com or comment on the blog.

© Daria Valkenburg

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CBC Radio Interview With Pieter Valkenburg & Elmer MacDonald

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September 20, 2019. Regular readers of this blog are aware of the project to put up a memorial panel in Wons, The Netherlands, to honour WW2 pilot from Cape Traverse, Elmer Bagnall MUTTART, and the crew of Halifax L9561.  (See The Elmer Bagnall Muttart Story and On the War Memorial Trail ….. At Harlingen General Cemetery and On the War Memorial Trail ….. At The Politiek Farm In Wons)

This special commemoration event will occur on October 12 of this year. A radio interview with Pieter and Elmer MacDonald, one of the Islanders who will be travelling to The Netherlands and whose parents were close friends of Elmer Muttart, recently ran on CBC Radio’s Mainstreet PEI with interviewer Matt Rainnie.

CIMG3145 Sep 12 2019 Matt Elmer Pieter

At the CBC PEI studio in Charlottetown. Left to right: Interviewer Matt Rainnie, Elmer MacDonald, Pieter Valkenburg. Pieter is holding the invitation issued by the Stichting Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

From the CBC Mainstreet PEI website:

“Two Islanders are travelling to the Netherlands next month for the unveiling of a memorial panel in honour of World War 2 Flight Sergeant Elmer Muttart of Cape Traverse. The memorial came about because of Pieter Valkenburg’s extensive research and Elmer MacDonald i Muttart’s namesake.“

https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-130-mainstreet-pei/clip/15737113-war-memorial

Thank you to CBC PEI for forwarding the link to this broadcast so that it can be shared.  If you have a story to share about a WW2 soldier buried in The Netherlands, please contact Pieter at dariadv@yahoo.ca or comment on the blog.

 © Daria Valkenburg

Update For Those Intending To Go To The Netherlands For The Memorial Panel Unveiling In Wons To Honour the Crew of Halifax L9561

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May 25, 2019.  For those readers who are intending to go to The Netherlands in October for the unveiling of the memorial panel to honour the crew of Halifax L9561, piloted by Flight Sgt Elmer Muttart, this is a brief update we received from the Stichting Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation.

A quick summary:  WWII pilot Elmer Bagnall MUTTART lost his life on October 12, 1941 when his plane was shot down by a German nightfighter, and crashed in a field right outside the village of Wons in The Netherlands.  Before the crash, Elmer was able to ensure that his crew bailed out and he managed to steer the burning plane past the village.

Over the past 1 ½ years a fundraising project in conjunction with the Tryon and Area Historical Society here in Canada, and the Stichting Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation in The Netherlands, has been raising funds towards a memorial panel near the crash site in Wons to honour Elmer Muttart and his crew.   (See The Elmer Bagnall Muttart Story and On the War Memorial Trail ….. At Harlingen General Cemetery  and On the War Memorial Trail ….. At The Politiek Farm In Wons)

The Stichting Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation, which is organizing and coordinating the memorial panel installation and ceremony, have provided a bit more information, prior to the official invitations being sent out.  Here is what we know:

Date of the event:  Saturday, October 12, 2019.

Hotel: Oranje Hotel Leeuwarden in Leeuwarden, which is near the train station.  When you receive your invitation and program, a booking code will be provided for a group rate, and we suggest you book for 2 nights.  Here is the link if you want to take a look at the hotel facilities: https://www.oranjehotelleeuwarden.com/en/about-the-hotel/facilities/

Train from Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam:  There is a train station at Schiphol Airport and you can take a direct train to Leeuwarden.  Please note that purchase of tickets is done electronically (there is no ticket counter) and can be purchased either ahead of time or at the train station.  Direct trains to Leeuwarden leave hourly from the airport at 34 minutes after each hour. NOTE: There is a second train leaving hourly, but it is NOT direct and requires you to change trains, so we don’t recommend that you take it. For more information see https://www.schiphol.nl/en/page/by-train-from-schiphol/.

The train journey is about 2 hours.  Here is a link advising of the cost, departure and arrival times, and the platform at Schiphol that the train departs from: https://www.ns.nl/en/journeyplanner#/?vertrek=Schiphol%20Airport&vertrektype=treinstation&aankomst=Leeuwarden&aankomsttype=treinstation&type=vertrek&tijd=2019-10-08T10:09&_requesttime=1558703389845

If you are intending to tour around by public transport, here is a link that may be of interest: https://www.schiphol.nl/en/page/public-transport-and-the-public-transport-card/.

Car rental:  You can also rent a car from Schiphol Airport.

You are responsible for your travel, accommodation, and meal expenses.  On October 12, 2019, complimentary transport will be provided by the Stichting Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation to Harlingen and to Wons.  A bus will pick us up from the Oranje Hotel in Leeuwarden, with the first stop for an event at Hannemahuis (a museum) in Harlingen. For those who can read Dutch, here is the link: http://www.hannemahuis.nl/.  Harlingen is where Flight Sgt Elmer Muttart is buried, and we will be visiting the cemetery.

From Harlingen we will travel to Wons for the unveiling of the memorial panel near the crash site.  The bus will then take us back to the hotel.

Members of The Netherlands branch of the Royal Canadian Legion will be in attendance in both Harlingen and Wons.

Full details will be provided by the Stichting Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation, who will send an invitation and program to those who’ve indicated they would like to attend.

Harlingen, Wons, and Leeuwarden are all in the Dutch province of Friesland. See https://www.holland.com/global/tourism/destinations/provinces/friesland.htm for more information.

While the Canadian fundraising project is closed, anyone who wishes can still donate directly to the Foundation in The Netherlands.  How to donate: Bank transfers may be made to Stichting Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation, Bank Account # (IBAN) NL35ABNA0569579856, and state in the subject line “Attn D.S. Drijver for Halifax L9561”.

If you have a memory of any of the crew members of Halifax L9561 to share, please send an email to memorialtrail@gmail.com or comment on this 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/ 

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.

Funds From Muttart Memorial Fund Transferred To The Netherlands

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April 9, 2019.  Many of you have been following the story of WWII pilot Elmer Bagnall MUTTART, who lost his life on October 12, 1941 when his plane was shot down by a German nightfighter, and crashed in a field right outside the village of Wons in The Netherlands.  Before the crash, Elmer was able to ensure that his crew bailed out and he managed to steer the burning plane past the village.  (See The Elmer Bagnall Muttart Story and On the War Memorial Trail ….. At Harlingen General Cemetery and On the War Memorial Trail ….. At The Politiek Farm In Wons)

Over the past 1 ½ years a fundraising project in conjunction with the Tryon and Area Historical Society here in Canada, and the Stichting Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation in The Netherlands, has been raising funds towards a memorial panel near the crash site in Wons to honour Elmer Muttart and his crew.

Last month the Tryon and Area Historical Society transferred the donations made in Canada towards this memorial panel to the Stichting Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation, who will organize and coordinate the memorial panel installation and ceremony, planned for October 12, 2019.  Thank you to all who donated so generously to this worthwhile project, and a big thank you to the Tryon and Area Historical Society for their involvement and support.

While the Canadian fundraising project is closed, anyone who wishes can still donate directly to the Stichting Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation in The Netherlands.  How to donate: Bank transfers may be made to Stichting Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation, Bank Account # (IBAN) NL35ABNA0569579856, and state in the subject line “Attn D.S. Drijver for Halifax L9561”.

If you had indicated to us that you were interested in attending this event in Europe, please note that your name and contact email was provided to the Stichting Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation.  They will send you the invitation and program, and be able to answer any relevant questions.  We ourselves are on the waiting list for the invitation and program and plan to attend the event.

If you have information or photos to share on the names on the Cenotaph, or if you have a memory of Elmer Muttart to share, please send an email to dariadv@yahoo.ca or comment on this blog.

© Daria Valkenburg

 

 

 

On the War Memorial Trail …..Update on Previous Postings about Elmer Muttart and Elmyr Kruger

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November 3, 2018.   Once we tell a story about a particular person in this project, it usually turns out to be just the beginning of that person’s story.  Since this blog began, we’ve included updates, and we’ll continue to do so.  In this posting, we have two brief updates on two stories.

1. Elmer MUTTART, the PEI pilot from WWII: Several postings have been made about this pilot’s story and the work being done by Pieter, the Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation in The Netherlands, and the Tryon and Area Historical Society in Canada, to install a memorial panel in Wons, The Netherlands to honour Elmer and the crew of the Halifax bomber that was shot down on October 12, 1941.

UPDATE:  This project was completed in October 2019!

UPDATE: The ceremony to install the memorial panel is scheduled for October 12, 2019 in The Netherlands. 

Donations are still being collected towards the ‘Muttart Memorial Fund’ for a memorial panel in Wons, The Netherlands.  If you would like to donate, cheques may be written out to TAHS and mailed to Tryon & Area Historical Society (TAHS), PO Box 38, Crapaud PE C0A 1J0.  In the subject line, identify your cheque as being for the “Muttart Memorial Fund”.  A charitable donation receipt will be sent to all donors. 

If you wish to donate and you live in Europe:  Bank transfers may be made to Stichting Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation, Bank Account # (IBAN) NL35ABNA0569579856, and state in the subject line “Attn D.S. Drijver for Halifax L9561”.

2. Elmyr KRUGER, the WWI soldier from the prairies who is buried in Cape Traverse, PEI:  Elmyr’s story was told in a recent posting and in an article published in the County Line Courier. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2018/10/25/the-forgotten-ww1-soldier/)

UPDATE: Pieter contacted the City of North Battleford Historic Archives and told them the story and asked if they might have more information and a photo.  After a search, archivist Tammy Donahue Buziak found a photo of the 232nd Battalion.  As Tammy wrote “…Elmyr would most likely be in this image somewhere….”  Hopefully, one day, someone will identify Elmyr.  This story is getting quite a bit of attention.  We’ll have to rename the story the ‘No Longer Forgotten WWI Soldier’!

232nd Battalion

232nd (Saskatchewan) Overseas Battalion. (Photo courtesy of The City of North Battleford Historic Archives)

On October 31, the story that ran in the County Line Courier was republished in The Battlefords News-Optimist under the title ‘Forgotten First World War soldier from Mullingar’. (See https://www.newsoptimist.ca/community/local-culture/forgotten-first-world-war-soldier-from-mullingar-1.23481997 and https://www.sasktoday.ca/north/in-the-community/forgotten-first-world-war-soldier-from-mullingar-4126223)

If you have photos or information to share on soldiers from the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion, please let us know. Send us an email to to memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or tweet to @researchmemori1.

UPCOMING PRESENTATION: Pieter has been invited to be a guest speaker at St John The Evangelist Church in Crapaud during their Remembrance Day service, which begins at 10:30 am on Sunday, November 11, 2018.

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?….

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

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

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

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 …..Good News Bad News

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July 12, 2018.  When doing research on something that happened a long time ago, one expects setbacks and successes.  Sometimes the setbacks are greater than the successes, and sometimes the other way around.

On July 30, this blog will be a year old, and the Cenotaph Research Project two years old.   A lot has happened since it began.  Many families have participated in this project, as have universities where some of the soldiers studied.  We thank them for their help in remembering their heroes.

We’re still missing a number of photos, as per the list provided in the previous blog entry.  (See Upcoming Presentation in Crapaud).  In some cases, we have not been able to find family members of the soldiers on the Cenotaph.  Occasionally we found family, only to be told they never heard of the person.  One woman was quite interested to hear about her WWI soldier relative, but after talking to her mother to see if any photo survived, reported back that the response was “it happened too long ago.”  That was the end of that story!

Most of the time, however, the family was aware of the person, but no photo survived, let alone other documents such as letters or postcards.  This happened to the family of another WWI soldier, who searched diligently for information and a photo, with no success.  We’ve now placed an ad in ‘Legion‘ magazine, in the hope that someone outside the island will be able to help.

In another instance, we were able to get a photo of one WWI soldier who died in Belgium, but a photo of his brother, who fought in France, has yet to be found.

So those are some of the setbacks regarding photos and personal stories.  Another recent setback was that we have learned from the Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation in The Netherlands that the memorial plaque in Wons, The Netherlands to honour WWII pilot Elmer Muttart and the crew of Halifax L9561, which was planned to be unveiled in October 2018 has been postponed to 2019.  While the postponement of this important ceremony is a disappointment, it’s an opportunity to continue raising funds for this project.

CIMG0984 Jul 9 2018 Pieter and Angela Walker of CBC Mainstreet

Pieter with Angela Walker of CBC’s Mainstreet in the CBC studio in Charlottetown. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Ok, now for some positive news.  Angela Walker of CBC Mainstreet interviewed Pieter earlier this week.  If you missed the radio interview, here is the link:  https://www.cbc.ca/listen/shows/mainstreet-pei/segment/15556040 and the brief write-up on the CBC website:  ‘Finding the heroic stories behind the names on a local cenotaph. Pieter Valkenburg is a Dutch Canadian who wanted to learn more about the names on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph. So he started a research project to find the stories behind these fallen soldiers.’

Shane Ross posted a story on the CBC website based on what was discussed in the interview, and you can read that article here:  http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/prince-edward-island/pei-pieter-valkenburg-soldiers-holland-netherlands-1.4740888

We are grateful to CBC PEI for taking an interest in the Cenotaph Research Project, and also to the County Line Courier newspaper, which has been publishing our stories since the project began.

A reminder that if you have a relative who was a WWII soldier and is buried in The Netherlands, please consider participating in a project to collect photos and stories for each soldier.  You can email your photos and info to Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com and he will forward the information on your behalf to the project team in The Netherlands.

© Daria Valkenburg

…Want to follow our research?….

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

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

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

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

Halifax L9561 Flight Mentioned In ‘The Night Hunter’s Prey’

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April 26, 2018.  In 2016, a book entitled ‘The Night Hunter’s Prey’, by Iain Gordon was published.  Cover nighthunters preyIt tells the story of two airmen – RAF (Royal Air Force) Rear Gunner Alex OLLAR of Scotland, and Luftwaffe Pilot Helmut LENT of Germany. In July 1942, just as both men reach the apex of their careers, they meet for the first time in the night skies over Hamburg.  Ollar didn’t survive the encounter.  Lent didn’t survive the war either.  He died when the left engine of his plane failed, struck high voltage cables, and crashed on October 5, 1944.  Lent died of his injuries on October 7, 1944.

404px-Bundesarchiv_Bild_146-1987-137-10,_Helmut_Lent

Helmut Lent in 1943. (Image from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helmut_Lent)

This book was interesting because Major Helmut Lent was the commander of 4./NJG 1 squadron, stationed at the airfield in  Leeuwarden. A member of Lent’s squadron, Lt. Leopold FELLERER was responsible for shooting down the Halifax L9561 flight on October 12, 1941 in which Elmer Bagnall MUTTART lost his life.

In a previous blog posting, Sgt John William DUFFIELD, a member of the crew, who had hospitalized following the crash, wrote about Lent in his 1946 letter to Muttart’s father.  (See On the War Memorial Trail ….. At Harlingen General Cemetery)

On page 127 of ‘The Night Hunter’s Prey’, an account of what happened following the fateful crash on October 12, 1941 is recorded: “In the early hours of 13th October, a member of Helmut’s staffel, Leutnant Leopold Fellerer, shot down a Halifax of No. 76 Squadron based at Middleton St. George. The Canadian pilot, Flight Sergeant Elmer Muttart RCAF, was killed in trying to save his crew in a crash landing on the Dutch coast south-west of Leeuwarden, but the other seven members of the crew got out of the crash and were captured.  The rear gunner, Sergeant John Duffield, sustained some injuries and was taken into the sickbay at Leeuwarden,

The rest of the crew were entertained royally for the evening in the Luftwaffe Officer’s Mess at Leeuwarden.  In a letter to his parents, Helmut told of the good evening they had enjoyed and mentioned that some of the English prisoners had made a very good impression.  He added:  ‘It really is a cause for regret that we have to fight against such men.’

The following day he visited Sergeant Duffield in the sickbay and introduced himself, and then visited him until he was transferred some six days later.  Duffield later related how Lent asked him if there was anything he could do for him.  The room was very hot and stuffy as the window had been sealed and Duffield asked if it might be opened for some fresh air.  Lent laughed and told him the medical staff were afraid he might escape.  Nevertheless, he arranged for the window to be opened.”

That was an extraordinary account of the events following the crash in Wons, and we thank Berlin historian Ralf Gräfenstein for bringing it to our attention.  If only we could tell such a complete story for every person listed on the Cenotaph as we have been able to tell for Elmer Muttart over this past year!   

If you have photos and stories to share for the names on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion, please email us at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or send a tweet to @researchmemori1.  

UPDATE:  This project was completed in October 2019!

Donations are still being collected towards the ‘Muttart Memorial Fund’ for a memorial panel in Wons, The Netherlands.  If you would like to donate, cheques may be written out to TAHS and mailed to Tryon & Area Historical Society (TAHS), PO Box 38, Crapaud PE C0A 1J0.  In the subject line, identify your cheque as being for the “Muttart Memorial Fund”.  A charitable donation receipt will be sent to all donors. 

If you wish to donate and you live in Europe:  Bank transfers may be made to Stichting Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation, Bank Account # (IBAN) NL35ABNA0569579856, and state in the subject line “Attn D.S. Drijver for Halifax L9561”.

© Daria Valkenburg

…Want to follow our research?….

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

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

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

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