Veterans Affairs Canada

On The War Memorial Trail…..Pieter Awarded The Minister Of Veterans Affairs Commendation

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August 25, 2024.  On the afternoon of Monday, August 19, 2024, Pieter received the Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation in Charlottetown from the Minister of Veterans Affairs, The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, in the presence of his very proud wife.  

_040 Aug 19 2024 Min of VA Commendation ceremony

The presentation ceremony was held at the Lt-Col J. David Stewart Armoury in Charlottetown. (Photo courtesy of Veterans Affairs Canada)

The ceremony was held at the Lt-Col J. David Stewart Armoury, located at 3 Haviland Street, in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.

….The Citation….

CIMG6936 Aug 19 2024 Paul Ledwell DepMin Dept VA Min of VA Commendation ceremony

The citation was read out by Paul Ledwell, Deputy Minister of Veterans Affairs.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

The citation for Pieter’s Commendation was read out by Paul Ledwell, Deputy Minister of Veterans Affairs, who was familiar with our On The War Memorial Trail research project.

Here is the text of the citation….

“…Pieter Valkenburg started a research project to tell the important stories of the 48 names on the cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Royal Canadian Legion. With the help of his wife, Daria, he has now shared the stories of hundreds of Canadians who served and died in the First and Second World Wars on their website. Their work helps ensure these Canadian heroes will never be forgotten.

Pieter Valkenburg is a Veteran of the Royal Netherlands Air Force who moved to PEI upon his retirement from the Dutch Foreign Service. Initially, Pieter and his wife Daria started the website “On the War Memorial Trail” to tell the stories behind the 48 names on the cenotaph outside The Royal Canadian Legion Borden-Carleton branch, and to build a wall of remembrance with photos inside the Legion.

What began as a local project quickly became a national one. Pieter and Daria have published hundreds of articles on Canadian service personnel of the First and Second World Wars both on their website and in newspapers.

His research includes gathering photographs and interviewing family members of the fallen. Through his research, he has uncovered and shared stories that families may have never known. This is the case for Flight Sergeant Elmer Bagnall Muttart, who, thanks to Pieter, now has a memorial panel in Wons, Netherlands, to honour his heroics during the Second World War.

Pieter has also visited the European war cemeteries many times to pay his respects to the fallen.

Pieter is an active member of The Royal Canadian Legion Borden-Carleton branch, currently serving as the public relations officer and previously having served as branch service officer and as the Legion representative on the PEI Seniors Secretariat board.

Pieter’s work tells the stories and honours those who died, ensuring they will never be forgotten….” (See https://veterans.gc.ca/en/about-vac/who-we-are/department-officials/minister-veterans-affairs/minister-veterans-affairs-commendation/valkenburg-pieter-anthonie)

….The Presentation….

The Commendation consists of a certificate, a lapel pin for civilian wear and a bar for wear with decorations. The design is a gold maple leaf resting on a red poppy—a flower long associated with the sacrifices of war—and the Royal Crown on the top of the pin. A recipient may wear the Commendation lapel pin on civilian dress at any time.  Too bad Pieter rarely wears a suit these days!

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Pieter being presented with the Minister of Veteran Affairs Commendation by The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Veterans Affairs.  (Photo courtesy of Veterans Affairs Canada)

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Pieter with the Minister of Veteran Affairs Commendation, presented to him by The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Veterans Affairs. (Photo courtesy of Veterans Affairs Canada)

Commendation medal photo from the veterans affairs website

Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation bar and pin. (Photo courtesy of Veterans Affairs Canada)

The Commendation had been awarded on January 24, 2024, but the ceremony didn’t take place until August 19, 2024.

CIMG6951 Aug 19 2024 Min of VA Commendation certificate

The certificate presented to Pieter by The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Veterans Affairs.  (Photo courtesy of Veterans Affairs Canada)

 ….Pieter was one of three volunteers who received the Commendation….

Pieter received his commendation at the same time as John Yeo and Owen Parkhouse, who, like Pieter, are also veterans. A group photo was taken with Paul Ledwell, Deputy Minister of Veterans Affairs; The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Veterans Affairs; and The Honourable Heath MacDonald, Member of Parliament for Malpeque.

CIMG6942 Aug 19 2024 Min of VA Commendation ceremony

Left to right: Paul Ledwell, Owen Parkhouse, Pieter Valkenburg, John Yeo, Ginette Petitpas Taylor, and Heath MacDonald. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

….A very proud wife….

I was delighted that Pieter received this recognition.  One of the many characteristics I admire about him is his ongoing commitment to find a photo and family for every WWI and WWII soldier he researches.  He refuses to believe that there is a Canadian soldier lying in an overseas cemetery who has been completely forgotten. 

While he occasionally gets discouraged when a photo can’t be found, especially when a family member tells him that a photo used to exist but for one reason or another has been lost, he always manages to find the determination to keep on going.   Many afternoons, while I’m relaxing in front of the TV or with my nose in a novel, he’s still engrossed in his research.

Nothing makes him happier than when he receives a phone call or email from a family member, saying a photo is on its way!  “…You’ve made my day!…” he always tells the person.   

CIMG6946 Aug 19 2024 Pieter & Daria Min of VA Commendation ceremony photo Norma Yeo

Pieter and Daria after the presentation.  Pieter is wearing the Governor General’s Sovereign Medal For Volunteers that he was awarded in 2020.  (Photo credit: Norma Yeo)

Thank you to Veterans Affairs Canada for recognizing his hard work, and those who nominated and supported him for this award.  It’s a wonderful tribute to Pieter’s research and dedication in ensuring that our Canadian soldiers are not forgotten.

Do you have photos or information to share? Email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or tweet to @researchmemori1.

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?….

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

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…..Our 2019 Visit To The Canadian War Cemetery In Holten

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

October 8, 2019.  While in The Netherlands we visited the three Canadian War Cemeteries and laid down flags of Canada and PEI for the names listed on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion, as well as other Islanders who have been identified by Dutch researchers.

The first Canadian War Cemetery we visited on the 2019 trip was in Holten.  (See On the War Memorial Trail ….. At Holten Canadian War Cemetery for an account of our 2017 visit.) On this visit we also were able to place flags on graves of soldiers that were identified by Pieter while doing research for photos and other information to help the researchers at the cemetery with their “A Face For Every Grave” project.

For some reason, we have never been able to visit the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten on a dry day.  We started off in beautiful sunshine, but as soon as we entered the gate into the cemetery, it started to rain.  At first we ignored the rain, and were rewarded with a downpour.  We got the message and went back to the car to wait for the rain to stop.

.… ‘Are you really from Canada?’….

While we waited we noticed that schoolchildren from an elementary school in nearby Holten were having a tour and explanation of the sacrifices made by Canadian soldiers in liberating The Netherlands during WWII.  We approached a teacher and asked if the children would like Canadian flag pins.  As soon as the children understood what was being offered, Pieter was mobbed!  “Are you really from Canada?” he was asked.

CIMG3191 Oct 3 2019 Pieter surrounded by children at Holten

Pieter handing out Canadian flag pins to children from a nearby elementary school at the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

While handing out pins to the schoolchildren, the rain stopped and we returned to visit the graves.  We went through the gate into the cemetery and stopped to take a photo at the entrance.  No sooner had the photo been taken than it started to rain again, quite heavily! Back we went to the car.

CIMG3190 Oct 3 2019 Pieter by sign at Holten Cdn War Cemetery

Pieter at the entrance to the Holten Canadian War Cemetery. As soon as we took this photo, it started to rain! (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

We were soon joined by Edwin van der Wolf and Henk Vincent of the Information Centre, Canadian War Cemetery Holten, and decided to go for lunch in the hope that the sun would come out later.  We’d visited the Information Centre in 2017 (See On the War Memorial Trail ….. At The Information Centre at Holten Canadian War Cemetery) but it closed at the beginning of October for several months for expansion of the facility and preparation of digital innovations, such as holographic stories of various soldiers.

CIMG3194 Oct 3 2019 Lunch at Grand Cafe in Holten

At Grand Café in Holten. Left to right: Daria Valkenburg, Pieter Valkenburg, Edwin van der Wolf, Henk Vincent.

After a nice visit and lunch, the sun began peeking out from the clouds and it started to dry up, so a third attempt was made at placing flags at the cemetery.  This time we were joined by Edwin and Henk.  Again, however, we no sooner came past the gate than it started to rain.  This time we kept on going, and the four of us managed to place 33 flags and take photos of each grave…. in the rain.

CIMG3219 Oct 3 2019 Holten Carmen Gillcash

Edwin van der Wolf, Henk Vincent, and Pieter by the grave of Carman Gillcash of O’Leary. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

.… 33 flags were placed in Holten….

Flags of Canada and Prince Edward Island were placed at the graves of the following Islanders:

  • Alfred ARSENAULT, born in Urbanville
  • Frederick Charles CHEVERIE, born in Summerside
  • Nelson DESROCHES, born in Tignish
  • Harald FRASER, born in Vernon Bridge
  • Frank GALLANT, born in Mount Carmel
  • Carman Edward GILLCASH, born in O’Leary
  • Maurice J. HUGHES, born in Charlottetown
  • Francis E. LAWLESS, born in Grand Tracadie
  • Neal F. MACDONALD, born in North Wiltshire
  • Daniel Peter MACKENZIE, born in Summerville
  • Ruel Kitchener MATHESON, born in Charlottetown
  • John B. MATTHEW, born in Souris
  • Michael Joseph ‘Joe’ MCKENNA, born in Montague
  • John A. MCLAREN, born in Armadale
  • George Martin MCMAHON, born in Kinkora
  • William Douglas SHERREN, born in Crapaud
  • Charles Borden TUPLIN, born in Kensington
  • Archibald H. NELSON, born in Charlottetown

Flags of Canada and Nova Scotia were placed at the graves of the following soldiers from the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment:

  • Joseph ‘Ambroise’ COMEAU, born in Lower Saulnierville
  • Gordon Frederick JOHNSON, born in Truro
  • Lewis Wilkieson MARSH, born in Sydney Mines
  • Lloyd William MURRAY, born in Tatamagouche

A flag of Canada was placed at the graves of the following soldiers from the North Nova Scotia Highlanders, who were not from Nova Scotia or Prince Edward Island:

  • Allan ‘Gordon’ COUTTS, born in Saskatchewan
  • Howard Milo NICHOLLS, born in Mattawa, Ontario
  • Gunnar DALMAN, born in Saskatchewan

Edwin van der Wolf researched a tragic story of Canadian soldiers murdered in cold blood by German soldiers on April 9, 1945 while they were sleeping in tents in Sögel, Germany, and Canadian flags were placed in honour of these men as well:

  • Karl CHRISTENSEN of Alberta
  • Louis FELDMANN of Ontario
  • Lewis GALLANT of Manitoba
  • Thomas F. GREENHALGH of Alberta
  • John D. MCDOUGALL of Manitoba
  • Harlow D. RANKIN of Ontario
  • Franklin ZIMMERMAN of Ontario

A flag was also placed for a soldier with the 23rd Field Regiment of the Royal Canadian Artillery, who was killed in action in Sögel on April 10, 1945.

  • Victor HUBACHECK of Ontario

Placing flags is the easiest part of a cemetery visit.  Gathering flags to bring from Canada is an event in itself, involving many people who provided them.  Our thanks go to:

  • the office of Wayne Easter, Member of Parliament for Malpeque, Prince Edward Island for Canada flags and pins
  • the office of Senator Mike Duffy, Senate of Canada for Canada flags and pins
  • Mary McQuaid of Veterans Affairs Canada for arranging for us to have PEI flags
  • John Wales of North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regimental Museum for making a trip to the Island to drop off Nova Scotia flags.
CIMG3047 Jul 24 2019 John Wales with NS flags

John Wales of the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regimental Museum dropped of Nova Scotia flags to be placed at graves in The Netherlands. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

If anyone has more information to share on any of the soldiers listed above, or know of more Islanders buried in the cemetery in Holten, please contact Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com or comment on the blog.

© Daria Valkenburg

…Want to follow our research?….

If you are reading this posting, but aren’t following 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 on the book, please 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.