Romeo LEBLANC

On The War Memorial Trail….Remembrance Week 2025 – Reflections and Updates

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

November 9, 2025.  When we write a story on the blog, we often receive additional information about the soldiers we’ve written about, about other soldiers buried in the same cemetery, or who served in the same unit. This Remembrance Week 2025 posting gives an update on three soldiers whose stories were previously told, one whose story is coming up in a future posting, and about our visit to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission office in Ottawa, Ontario.

Each year we also try to visit one or more war memorials in Canada. In this posting we feature a visit to the Memramcook Veterans Park in Memramcook, New Brunswick, and Beach Grove Memorial Forest in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.

…A banner for WWII soldier Joseph ‘Ambroise’ Comeau….

Banner for WWII soldier Joseph ‘Ambroise’ Comeau. (Photo credit: Simone Comeau)

One of the WWII soldiers buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands, is Joseph ‘Ambroise’ COMEAU, from Lower Saulnierville, Nova Scotia. Ambroise was one of 5 soldiers from the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment who drowned in a tragic accident in the Battle of Leer in Germany on April 28, 1945, aged 21.  His was one of the 383 graves we visited this spring during our 2025 European War Memorial Tour, and Pieter had placed flags of Canada and Nova Scotia, as well as an Acadian flag, by his grave.

When Simone Comeau recently sent us a photo of her uncle’s banner, she explained why it included both a Canadian and Acadian flag.  “…We had a choice as to which flag we wanted along with the flag of Canada so since you honoured the Acadian veterans this year in Holland and we are Acadians I figured it was only appropriate to do so….”

You can read Ambroise’s story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/05/17/on-the-war-memorial-trail-a-tragic-drowning-on-the-leda-river-in-germany-part-3/  and about our visit to his grave at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/09/04/on-the-war-memorial-trail-2025-faces-of-holten-exhibition-part-4-soldiers-who-drowned-during-operation-duck/

 ….The family of WWII soldier James ‘Jimmy’ Oliver Thomas framed the photo we sent…

Framed photo taken at the grave of James ‘Jimmy’ Oliver Thomas.  (Photo courtesy of Rodd Cooper)

During our visit to the various cemeteries during the 2025 European War Memorial Tour, we took photos of each grave at which Pieter placed flags, and later sent photos to the families of these soldiers.  Rodd Cooper, nephew of WWII soldier James ‘Jimmy’ Oliver THOMAS framed the photo we had emailed him, and emailed us back a photo of the framed picture with the family’s thanks.  We were deeply touched by this!

Born in St. Peters, Manitoba, Jimmy died in Germany on May 2, 1945, aged 33, a few days after being liberated from the Stalag VII-A POW Camp in Moosburg, Germany. He had been taken prisoner of war on May 22, 1943, while serving with the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada, during the breaking of the Hitler Line.

You can read Jimmy’s story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2024/02/18/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-soldier-from-manitoba-who-died-shortly-after-being-liberated-from-stalag-vii-a/  and about our visit to his grave at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/09/10/on-the-war-memorial-trail-2025-faces-of-holten-exhibition-part-5-indigenous-soldiers/

….WWII soldier Samuel George Engen was remembered by his great-niece Clover Rusk on National Indigenous Veterans Day…

In a November 8, 2025 Facebook posting, Clover Rusk remembered her great-uncle, Samuel George ENGEN of The Pas, Manitoba on National Indigenous Veterans Day….and thanked Pieter “…for dedicating his time to Indigenous war vets buried overseas…”

After a 3 year search by various family members, a photo was found by Clover earlier this year, in an album that had belonged to her great-grandfather Aaron, the older brother of Samuel.

The son of Louis Julius Engen and Mary Helen (nee Buck) Engen, and husband of Miriam Susan Pranteau, Samuel died April 23, 1945 in Germany, during the Battle for the Kusten Canal, aged 27, while serving with the Lake Superior Regiment.  

Samuel is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands, which we visited this past May, and where Pieter placed flags of Canada and Manitoba by his grave.  His story will be told in an upcoming posting.

….Flags were placed at the grave of WWII airman William Andrew Hood on our behalf…

Grave of William Andrew Hood.  (Photo credit: Robert van der Ende)

One of the cemeteries to visit on our 2025 European War Memorial Tour was Eindhoven General Cemetery in Eindhoven, The Netherlands, where WWII airman William Andrew HOOD, of Little Bras D’or, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, is buried. 

Eindhoven was near where we were for a family visit, and we had planned to go to the cemetery before we left for Belgium the following day.  But….by this time we were totally exhausted, and didn’t see how we could manage it.  Thankfully, Robert van der Ende volunteered to take flags of Canada and Nova Scotia and place them at William’s grave on our behalf.  We were very grateful for that act of kindness!  This was the only cemetery on our list that we didn’t personally visit.

William was the mid-upper gunner aboard Halifax JD215 when it was shot down over The Netherlands on June 29, 1943.  None of the crew survived.  You can read his story at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/09/19/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-airman-from-bras-dor-who-was-aboard-the-last-flight-of-halifax-jd215/

….We visited the CWGC office in Ottawa…

This year, Pieter became one of the volunteers across Canada participate in the National Volunteer Program.  He was assigned 4 cemeteries on Prince Edward Island to visit and gather information about the condition of Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) war graves, and to clean the grave stones as needed. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/08/08/on-the-war-memorial-trail-cwgc-volunteer-at-cape-traverse-community-cemetery/ and https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2025/09/28/on-the-war-memorial-trailthe-wwii-carpenter-buried-in-seven-mile-bay-who-does-not-have-a-cwgc-headstone/ for stories about two of the soldiers buried in a CWGC grave)

Left to right: Pieter Valkenburg, Julene Warren, Daria Valkenburg, Elizabeth Hale.  (Photo courtesy of Valkenburg Family Collection)

During a trip to Ottawa in October, we visited the CWGC office and met with two of the coordinators overseeing the volunteers:  Elizabeth Hale and Julene Warren.  It was a chance to put faces to names, and to learn more about the important work being done to look after war graves here in Canada.

….We visited the Memramcook Veterans Park in Memramcook, New Brunswick…

Our friend and fellow researcher, Etienne Gaudet, had invited us several times to visit his hometown of Memramcook, New Brunswick, and one Saturday in June we were able to do so.  Etienne proudly took us around the Memramcook Veterans Park, which commemorates those who served and are from the Memramcook area. 

Etienne Gaudet (left) with Pieter at Memramcook Veterans Park. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

A unique billboard highlighted the ships on which troops travelled to Great Britain, and the countries in Europe in which they fought. 

Etienne Gaudet (left) with Pieter at Memramcook Veterans Park. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Etienne also wanted us to meet 102 year old WWII veteran, Romeo LEBLANC, and we were delighted to have the opportunity to do so. 

Etienne Gaudet (left) and Pieter (right) with WWII veteran Romeo LeBlanc. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

….We visited the Beach Grove Memorial Forest in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island…

Pieter at the entrance to Beach Grove Memorial Forest in Charlottetown. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

This spring we received an email from Jim Little, saying he was writing a story about Private Frank LUTZ, an orphan from Prince Edward Island, who was badly wounded on February 20, 1945 during the Battle of Moyland Wood, while serving with the Canadian Scottish Regiment. He died on March 2, 1945, aged 19, and is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands. (See https://www.facestograves.nl/LifeStories/LUTZ%20Frank-JLE-bio-EN.pdf)

Jim wanted to know if Frank was listed on a cenotaph on the Island.  Yes, was the answer….he is listed on a Canadian Army memorial stone at Beach Grove Memorial Forest in Charlottetown.  The memorial forest honours WWII veterans from Prince Edward Island with granite stones that list their names and includes a tree for each person that is honoured.

Pieter walks along the path in Beach Grove Memorial Forest.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

The memorial stones are located along a path in the forest, which, during the war, had been used as a training facility for various regiments and units.  The stones honour those who died during the war while serving in the Royal Canadian Navy, Merchant Navy, Canadian Army, and Royal Canadian Air Force.  We found Frank’s name listed on the stone for the Canadian Army.

Frank Lutz was listed on one of the memorial stones for the Canadian Army. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

We ended up spending a long time in the forest, looking at each stone, as Pieter had researched so many of the names listed on each stone!

Thank you to Simone Comeau, Rodd Cooper, Etienne Gaudet, Clover Rusk, and Robert van der Ende. The work of remembrance of those who served continues.

The flags placed at William Andrew Hood’s grave were donated.  Our thanks go to: 

  • Alan Waddell, Constituent Assistant, on behalf of Heath MacDonald, MP for Malpeque, for the Canadian flag.
  • Kyle Graham, Research Officer, Military Relations, Nova Scotia Intergovernmental Affairs, on behalf of Premier Tim Houston, Province of Nova Scotia, for the Nova Scotia flag.

If you have a story to tell, please let Pieter know. You can email him at memorialtrail@gmail.com, or comment on the blog.  

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?….

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

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

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

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On The War Memorial Trail….. The WWII Diary Of Dr. Ross Part 1: Assigned To HMHS Lady Nelson

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

Judy Parks (left) with Daria, discussing the war service of Judy’s father. (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

March 16, 2025. It’s a funny coincidence as, a few years ago, Judy Parks, a friend living in Nova Scotia, sent me her father’s WWII war diary.  Her father, Dr. James ‘Alton’ Ross, was a doctor aboard the hospital ship HMHS Lady Nelson.  I kept planning to write his story, but something else always kept coming up. 

Then, a few months ago, Etienne Gaudet sent us an article about 101 year old veteran Romeo LEBLANC of Memramcook, New Brunwick.  In this article it stated that Romeo had travelled on the same hospital ship as Judy’s father!  Talk about a nudge from up above!

Born March 26, 1915 in Stellarton, Pictou County, Nova Scotia, James ‘Alton’ ROSS was the son of James and Lida (nee Cook) Ross, their only child.

….Alton had a medical practice in New Brunswick….

Dr. Alton Ross initially practiced in Albert, New Brunswick (red marker) before opening a practice in Salisbury, New Brunswick, just north of Albert.  (Map source: DuckDuckGo)

After graduating from Dalhousie University’s School of Medicine in Halifax, Nova Scotia in June 1941, Alton married Betty Bauld the same year.  Their daughter Judith ‘Judy’ Ann was born the following year in Moncton, New Brunswick. 

Alton initially practiced in Albert, New Brunswick (now part of the village of Fundy Albert) for a short period before opening a practice in Salisbury, New Brunswick. 

….Alton enlisted in the RCAMC in 1943…

Dr. Alton Ross. (Photo courtesy of Judy Parks.  Photo colourization by Pieter Valkenburg)

Not long after settling into his practice in Salisbury, Alton enlisted with the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps (RCAMC).  Judy explained that she was “….only 6 months old when my father enlisted… It seems like four years of the war had already taken place but my father only graduated from medical school in June 1941 so he was just starting his practice in Salisbury, New Brunswick when he decided he was needed in the medical corps…”

According to his war diary, Alton “…enlisted on 29 December 1942 and was sent to Halifax Military Hospital and put on Ward I Medicine…” A few days later, he was transferred to “…No. 6 District Depot Standing Medical Board…” at Chebucto Barracks in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

With Alton in military service, Judy and her mother “…moved back to her parents in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia…”

On March 6, 1943, Alton was sent to A22 Canadian Army Medical Corps Training Centre in Camp Borden, Ontario for a “…six weeks qualification course…” 

After returning to Nova Scotia, Alton was “….posted to Halifax Military Hospital again to Ward 2, Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat….” until June 20, 1943, when he left for “…Aldershot Military Hospital…” in Nova Scotia, where he was “….placed on Infectious and Military Wards…”

On November 5, 1943, Alton “…received word to go to Suffield, Alberta, on a Chemical Warfare Course…” for 5 days.  After returning to Aldershot, he was informed on November 20, 1943 that he would be posted to a hospital ship.  His orders came through 6 days later, and meant he had to travel to Halifax.

….Alton was assigned to the HMHS Lady Nelson….

Judy confirmed that her father served as a doctor aboard the hospital ship HMHS Lady Nelson, which had first arrived in Halifax on April 22, 1943. “…It was the Lady Nelson my father was on…. There were five lady boats in the war and two were torpedoed by the Germans in spite of the big Red Cross on the sides. The Lady Nelson had been a cruise ship that went between Halifax, New York, and Bermuda…”

HMHS Lady Nelson.  Note the crosses on the side of the ship!  (Photo source: Wikipedia)

The Lady Nelson was Canada’s first hospital ship, outfitted with 515 special hospital beds, special wards for shock cases, contagious diseases and fractures, private cabins, a fully equipped operating room, a modern sterilizing room, an inspection room for minor dressings, a dispensary, and a portable x-ray outfit.

The ship’s white hull was painted with 11 large red crosses on the funnel, deck and hull. It was brightly lit up at night for greater visibility so that the enemy would recognize that she was a ‘mercy ship’ and not fire on her in accordance with the Geneva Convention.

….Alton’s first voyage aboard the HMHS Lady Nelson….

Alton’s first trip aboard the HMHS Lady Nelson began on November 30, 1943, and he noted that it was a round trip of 8,093 miles (13,024 km). 

Trip No. 1 went from Halifax to Phillipville and Algiers in Algeria.  (Map source: DuckDuckGo)

The route took him from the port of Halifax, Nova Scotia, across the Atlantic Ocean to Gibraltar, sailing past Tangier, to Phillipville (now Skikda), Algeria, and then on to Algiers before sailing to Avonmouth, United Kingdom, before returning to Halifax.

Alton wrote in his diary that the ship reached Gibraltar at 10:00 am on December 9, 1943 and left an hour later.  He noted that he had a “….grand journey down Mediterranean and landed off coast of Phillipville, where we anchored all day and night.  Docked Sunday am 12 December 1943 and loaded patients….Left at 5 pm…”

Why was a Canadian hospital ship in Algeria?  While no formed Canadian units took part in fighting in North Africa, which began in November 1942, a number of Canadian officers and non-commissioned officers had been offered three-month tours of duty attached to forces in Algeria, designated as the 1st British Army.

The objective was to allow them a chance to see combat and take that battle experience back to the Canadian Army in the United Kingdom before Canadians saw active service during the invasion of Sicily in July 1943, followed by the invasion of the Italian mainland in September 1943.

By October 1943, the Canadian Section, including No. 14 Canadian General Hospital, was still near Philippeville. 

From Phillipville, the ship began its long journey to the United Kingdom, picking up more patients along the way.  “…Arrived Algiers 8 am, 13 December. Loaded more patients then waited in stream two days for Nursing Sisters coming by air from Sicily.  Left 6:30 pm, 15 December…”

The ship arrived in Avonmouth, United Kingdom on December 22, 1943, unloaded the patients and reloaded patients who were returning back to Canada.  They left for Canada on December 28, and arrived in Halifax on January 5, 1944.

….Alton’s second voyage aboard the HMHS Lady Nelson….

Alton’s second trip aboard the HMHS Lady Nelson began on January 14, 1944, and he noted that it was a round trip of 9,196 miles (14,800 km). 

Trip No. 2 went from Halifax to Algiers, Algeria and then to Naples, Italy.  (Map source: https://www.viamichelin.com)

The route took him from the port of Halifax, Nova Scotia, across the Atlantic Ocean to Gibraltar, to Naples, Italy, and then on to Algiers before sailing to Avonmouth, United Kingdom, before returning to Halifax.

Alton wrote in his diary that the ship reached Gibraltar on January 23, 1944 and left the following day at 7:00 pm.  He noted that this time when they reached Algiers on January 26, they didn’t dock but were there for “….orders only… and  left one hour later for Italy…Anchored in Naples harbour just off Mount Vesuvius which was puffing away intermittently….Docked in Naples 29 January and loaded British and Canadian patients…Left at 4 pm…” for Algiers.

Nursing sisters aboard the HMHS Lady Nelson in Naples, Italy, January 29, 1944. Nursing Sisters R. MacLennan, J. Goodston, Reta Moffat, E. Covey, D.E. MacTier, E. Bateman, Y. Carr, J. Jackson, Captain C.I. Nixon (Matron), M. McLeod, R. Hughes, H.J. Battram, E.K. Sutherland and M.B. Meisner. (Photo Credit: Lt. Frederick G. Whitcombe / Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-163661)

This time the ship docked when it reached Algiers on January 31, 1944, at 3:00 pm, where the “…British disembarked, Canadians embarked. Left February 1, 4:30 pm….Passed Gibraltar 6 am, 3 February…”

The ship was again enroute to Avonmouth, but Alton recorded that he “…did an appendectomy off Bay of Biscay….” The patient survived.

Bay of Biscay is off of the coast of France.  (Map source: DuckDuckGo)

The ship anchored off Avonmouth on February 7, 1944 and unloaded the patients the following day.  It wasn’t until February 15 that the ship left for Halifax, arriving in port on the afternoon of February 23 in “….a blinding snowstorm – visibility nil….”

Alton’s second trip was notable as they “….began an orchestra with three violins, saxophone, piano, accordion, and drums…Put on two concerts…” 

Judy reflected that “…one thing that strikes me from my father’s diary is how much fun they had …music…dances…and orchestra …..” and explained that her father “…. played the saxophone…” The purpose was “…to entertain the troops they were taking to war and those wounded returning….”  She marvelled at this “…ability to switch off the war around them and enjoy the moment…for themselves and for others …”

Alton recorded 20 trips in his diary, always being fortunate to return home for a few days with his wife and daughter between each voyage. In Part 2, his story concludes with a return to Italy to pick up wounded servicemen and some of the devastation of war that he saw, and finally, after his 20th voyage he was able to return to the life of a civilian and a rural medical practice.

Thank you to Judy Parks for sharing photos and her father’s war diary, and to Etienne Gaudet for sending newspaper articles about Romeo LeBlanc and Dr. Ross.

© 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.