William Andrew HOOD

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

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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…. Remembrance Week 2024 –Remembering Those Who Served In The RCAF During WWII

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Remembrance_Day_2024_3840x2160

November 7, 2024.  As we reflect on the service and sacrifices made by so many who have served, both during conflicts and in peacetime, I took a look back at previous stories told over the years.  2024 commemorates 100 years of service for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) as a distinct military element, and so it seemed appropriate to dedicate this posting to stories previously told of those who served in the RCAF during WWII. 

…The Air Force Heritage Park in Summerside has a commemorative stone honouring Flight Officer Joe McIver….

IMG_20190807_101837076 Entrance to Air Force Heritage Park Summerside

Entrance to Air Force Heritage Park in Summerside. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Several years ago we visited the Air Force Heritage Park in Summerside to look at the commemorative stone honouring Flight Officer Joseph ‘Joe’ Charles MCIVER of Kinkora, Prince Edward Island.  Joe was the navigator aboard B24 Liberator MkVIII EV895 on November 18, 1944, when it went down near the Arctic Circle while on anti-submarine patrol looking for a suspected U-boat off Gardskagi, Iceland.  There were no survivors.

You can read his story at:

IMG_20190807_101038750 McIver Commemorative Stone Summerside

Commemorative Stone at Air Force Heritage Park, Summerside, Prince Edward Island. (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

 … Pilot Elmer Muttart saved his crew and the Dutch village of Wons but sacrificed his own life to do so ….

The very first airman whose story was researched by Pieter was that of Elmer Bagnall MUTTART of Cape Traverse, Prince Edward Island, whose name is listed on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion.  Elmer was the pilot aboard Halifax L9561 when it was shot twice by German night fighters on October 12, 1941, while the plane was on its way to a bombing raid on Bremen, Germany. 

After ordering the crew to bail out, Elmer managed to steer the burning plane away from the Dutch village of Wons, in the province of Friesland, before it crashed in a farmer’s field, just outside the village. He was the only casualty and is buried in Harlingen General Cemetery in The Netherlands.  The rest of the crew spent the war years in prisoner of war camps before being liberated. On October 12, 2019, a memorial panel was placed near the crash site in Wons to honour Elmer and his crew, an emotional journey for all of us who attended.

You can read his story here:

 … Pilot Hubert Hall was a prisoner of war after his plane was shot down in 1942 ….

John ‘Hubert’ HALL of Summerside, Prince Edward Island, was the pilot aboard Wellington Z1203, which crashed in The Netherlands near Mijdrecht on the night of March 28/29, 1942.  Hubert spent the remainder of the war years as a prisoner of war in POW camp Stalag Luft III, located in present-day Żagań, Poland, before returning home to Canada.

You can read his story at:

… Navigator Bunky FitzGerald is in an unmarked grave after Halifax W1175 crashed off the Dutch coast….

Rowan Charles ‘Bunky’ FITZGERALD, of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, was the navigator aboard Halifax W1175 of the 405th Vancouver Squadron RCAF when it was hit by shellfire (flak) as the plane was returning from Bremen, Germany on the morning of June 28, 1942. 

The plane crashed into a sandbank in the Wadden Sea, off the Dutch coast between the Island of Texel and the mainland, 15.5 km from Harlingen, in the province of Friesland.  There were no survivors. Only one crew member’s body was identified, and was buried in Harlingen General Cemetery in The Netherlands. His grave is between 3 unknown graves, one of which may just contain the remains of Bunky FitzGerald. 

You can read his story at:

… Pilot Lorne MacFarlane survived all his flights and returned home…

Pilot Lorne MACFARLANE, of Fernwood, Prince Edward Island, successfully flew 40 missions overseas and was then assigned to fly dignitaries, mail, and personnel between England and the front lines until the war ended.  After returning safely back to Canada, he was the Officer In Charge at RCAF No 1 Radio and Navigation School in Summerside, Prince Edward Island.

You can read his story at:

… Wireless operator Bob Dickie almost made it safely back to England…

Robert ‘Bob’ James DICKIE, of Carlton (now Borden-Carleton), Prince Edward Island, was the wireless operator aboard Lancaster JB312 on February 21, 1944 when it collided with another plane during a bombing sortie in Stuttgart, Germany.  Although badly damaged, the plane was able make it back to England, but then crashed as it approached the runway. There were no survivors. Bob is buried at Cambridge City Cemetery in England.

You can read his story at:

… Pilot Leonard Unwin’s plane crashed on Christmas Eve…

Pilot Leonard Arthur UNWIN, of Windsor, Ontario, was a flying instructor in Summerside, Prince Edward Island and Moncton, New Brunswick, before going overseas in May 1943.  On December 24, 1944, he left from his base in Belgium, one of the pilots in a section of 4 Typhoon planes on an armed reconnaissance in the Utrecht area in The Netherlands. While attacking a convoy of three German trucks in Woudenberg, the plane’s tailpiece broke off, the plane destabilized, and crashed. He’s buried in Woudenberg Municipal Cemetery in The Netherlands.

You can read his story at:

… Flight student Ralph McCutcheon lost his life in a training accident…

Flight student Ralph Gordon MCCUTCHEON, of Toronto, Ontario, but who was born in Buffalo, New York, USA, lost his life in a tragic accident that happened during his training at the No. 9 Service Flying Training School RCAF in Summerside, Prince Edward Island on the morning of June 11, 1942.  While training in a Harvard MK2 plane, it crashed in a farm field in North Tryon, Prince Edward Island.

You can read his story at:

… Gunner William Andrew Hood was aboard the last flight of Halifax JD215…

William Andrew HOOD, of Little Bras D’or, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, 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. He’s buried in Eindhoven General Cemetery in Eindhoven, The Netherlands.

You can read his story at:

… Navigator Arnold Hupman was aboard Lancaster X KB728 VR-V when it exploded over Arnhem, The Netherlands…

Navigator Arnold Freeman HUPMAN, of East Side of Ragged Island, Shelburne County, Nova Scotia, lost his life when the Lancaster bomber he was in, Lancaster X KB728 VR-V, was attacked by a German night fighter and exploded on the outskirts of Arnhem, The Netherlands as it was returning from a bombing operation against the synthetic oil plant at Sterkrade in Germany on the night of June 16 to 17, 1944. There were no survivors, and all 7 crew members are now buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands.

You can read his story at:

… Pilot Douglas MacKenzie did not survive the last flight of Halifax DT630…

Jack ‘Douglas’ MACKENZIE,  of Winnipeg, Manitoba, was the pilot of Halifax DT630 (call sign VR-T), one of 8 heavy Halifax bombers sent on a night raid to Hamburg, Germany on February 3, 1943.  It was shot down by a night fighter over the province of Drenthe in The Netherlands. 4 men died, including Douglas, while 3 survived and spent the remainder of the war in prisoner of war camps.  He’s buried in Sleen General Cemetery in The Netherlands, along with the other 3 casualties of that flight.

You can read his story at:

… Pilot Dusty Millar’s spitfire ran out of fuel and crashed…

George Glenn ‘Dusty’ MILLAR, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, was killed on September 28, 1944 while flying a Spitfire Mark IX on patrol with his squadron over Nijmegen, The Netherlands. After Dusty reported on his radio that the plane was low in fuel, it crashed southeast of Weibosch near Schijndel, in the Dutch province of Noord-Brabant.  He is buried in Uden War Cemetery in The Netherlands.

You can read his story at:

May we never forget the sacrifices made by these airmen, and their families, during WWII.  Unfortunately, while we live free in Canada, so many people today live in a war zone and are experiencing death, uncertainty, and insecurity in not knowing what will happen next.  Lest we forget is never more appropriate.

If you have a story to tell, please let Pieter know. You can email him 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/ 

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 Airman From Bras d’Or Who Was Aboard The Last Flight Of Halifax JD215

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September 19, 2023. In November 2021, following a CTV Atlantic interview with Pieter, he received an email from Linda Hood Jobe.  “…I read your story with interest. I have a great-uncle who died in the war…”  (See Forever grateful: Dutch Canadian tries to put faces to names of soldiers who fell liberating the Netherlands: https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/forever-grateful-dutch-canadian-tries-to-put-faces-to-names-of-soldiers-who-fell-liberating-the-netherlands-1.5659567)

E5516B6AB48B433F86A9DE70197C45C3 Linda Jobe

Linda Hood Jobe on a trip to Isle of Skye (Isle of Raasay) in September 2019. (Photo courtesy of Linda Hood Jobe)

Linda’s great-uncle, William Andrew HOOD, of Little Bras D’or, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, was in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), and lost his life on June 29, 1943 when the plane he was in was shot down over The Netherlands.  He’s buried in Eindhoven General Cemetery, The Netherlands.

“…My father was only a baby when William died, but I know that his death affected my grandfather very much. He was greatly missed by his sisters and brothers…” Linda explained.

Born on May 22, 1921, William was the son of Wilson and Maria (nee Ross) Hood.  At the time of his enlistment on July 8, 1941 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, he was working for Lloyd Johnstone, a farmer in Bras d’Or.  His application to the RCAF was sent to No. 1 Manning Depot in Toronto, Ontario.

Among the special skills that would be useful to the RCAF, William noted that he could swim and skate.  He listed hockey, softball, and bowling as sports he participated in. 

…William enlisted in the RCAF with a preference for ground duty….

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William Andrew Hood. (Photo submitted by Linda Hood Jobe)

When asked for his preference in enlisting, he said it was for ground duty – not flying duty – but that did not happen.

William was transferred to the RCAF’s No. 4 Repair Depot in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia on July 20, 1941.  He was assigned to General Duties, which covered anything from guard duty to cleaning latrines.

On October 28, 1941, he was transferred to the No. 4 Repair Depot in Scoudouc, New Brunswick.  The Scoudouc airfield was a repair depot used to service aircraft employed on long range anti-submarine patrols, including Liberators or B-24s, American built four engine bombers.  It was used for aircraft testing and also served as an auxiliary landing field for #8 Service Flying School at Moncton.

…William trained as an air gunner….

In a June 23, 1942 interview at the No. 15 Recruiting Centre in Moncton, New Brunswick, William was assessed as “…frank and sincere…Good material for air gunner…” 

On August 30, 1942 he was sent to the No. 9 Bombing & Gunnery School in Mont Joli, Quebec, located about 322 km (200 miles) east of Quebec City.  In the 6 week course, William would have learned about the construction and fusing of bombs and the factors affecting bomb trajectories, how to take a gun apart and put it back together again, and participated in practice bombing exercises.

On December 19, 1942, William was awarded his Air Gunners Badge, and given 14 days embarkation leave.

…William left Canada for overseas service….

William left Canada on January 25, 1943, arriving in the United Kingdom on February 4, 1943, where he was assigned to No. 3 Personnel Reception Centre (PRC) in Bournemouth, England.  This was the arrival point for thousands of aircrew after training in Canada.

On March 3, 1943, William was sent for further training at the No. 7 Air Gunnery School (AGS) at Stormy Down, a Royal Air Force station near Pyle, Brigend in Wales.

On March 23, 1943, he was sent to No. 22 Operational Training Unit (OTU) at Wellesbourne for 10 weeks of further training as a member of a bomber crew.

On May 18, 1943 William was briefly sent to No. 1659 Heavy Conversion Unit at Topcliffe in Yorkshire. This was a 5 week course to familiarize crews with the four-engined Halifaxes or Lancasters on which they would be flying on operations when they were posted to a squadron. The May 18, 1943 war diary noted that “…ten crews from 427 Squadron and four from 22 OTU reported in for Conversion Training…”

On June 10, 1943, having completed his training, William was posted to 419 Squadron, part of the No. 6 RCAF Group. He would not have participated in many operations as part of the Squadron before what would be his last flight – Halifax JD215.

…William was aboard the last flight of Halifax JD215….

Middleton St George to Colognemap from Wendy

Map shows the plane’s path from England towards Cologne.  It was shot down over The Netherlands on its return to England.  (Map prepared by Wendy Nattress)

Just after 11:04 pm, on the evening of June 28, 1943, the crew of Halifax JD215 left Middleton St. George in England for a bombing raid over Cologne, Germany. 

Halifax_Bomber_2_ExCC

A Halifax Mark II bomber, similar to the one flown by Halifax JD215. (Photo credit: George Woodbine, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

Halifax JD215 was among 608 Allied aircraft that participated in the raid over Cologne – 267 Lancasters, 169 Halifaxes, 85 Wellingtons, 75 Stirlings, and 12 Mosquitos.  Unfortunately, 25 planes never made it back to England.  According to a report on Canadian airmen lost in WWII in 1943, an “… intense Aurora Borealis display over the cloud base…” may have “…illuminated the bombers…” thereby contributing to the loss of aircraft by making them easier to spot.

Halifax JD215 successfully reached Cologne, but on its return to England, the plane was shot down over The Netherlands by Luftwaffe Major Günther Radusch in his German nightfighter.  It was just after 2:13 am.  Radusch claimed to have shot down 3 other Halifaxes that night.

… Halifax JD215 came down in a farmer’s field near Loon….

20230521_151545 Waalre Town Sign on bicycle path

The plane came down over Waalre, located 5 km from Eindhoven. (Photo credit: Robert van der Ende)

The plane crashed near Loon in the municipality of Waalre, in a farmer’s field close to where a watermill, the Loondermolen, on the Dommel River, once stood.  Waalre is just 5 km from Eindhoven.  The mill was destroyed in 1940. (You can see a photo of the mill at https://www.molendatabase.org/molendb.php?step=details&nummer=5094)

20230522_124021Loondermolen in Waalre

The plane came down in a farmer’s field near Loon, near where a watermill, the Loondermolen, on the Dommel River, once stood. (Photo credit: Robert van der Ende)

A. Hendrikx, the mother of a friend of Robert van der Ende, remembers the crash. Born in December 1933, she lived in Waalre at the time, and told Robert that “… everybody had to take cover in shelters….”

Robert explained that “…during the war there were of course much fewer buildings and since the plane was shot down at night, it must have given a frightening sound. Incidentally, another plane was shot down not much later. That plane ended up in Aalst (nowadays also the municipality of Waalre)….”  This was Lancaster ED979 of 619 Squadron, with a crew of 6 British and 1 Canadian.  The Canadian was one of the two Air Gunners, Flight Sgt John Harvey William WALKER of Sunny Brae, New Brunswick. All were killed.  This plane was also shot down by Major Radusch.

There were no survivors from Halifax JD215.  All 7 crew members are buried in The Netherlands, but in 3 different cemeteries.

…The crew of Halifax JD215….

  • Pilot – Flight Officer Harry Wilfred FOWLER of the RCAF – buried Mierlo War Cemetery. From St. Thomas, Ontario.
  • Flight Engineer – Sgt John Edwin DICKSON of the RAF – buried Eindhoven General Cemetery.
  • Navigator – Pilot Officer Warren Bretall MAYES of the RCAF – buried Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek. From Bellwood, Illinois, USA.
  • Bomb Aimer – Pilot Officer David Renwick AGNEW of the RCAF – buried Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek.  From Weyburn, Saskatchewan.
  • Wireless Operator/Air Gunner – Flight Lt Almer Clement RAINE of the RCAF – buried Eindhoven General Cemetery. From Brampton, Ontario.
  • Mid Upper Gunner – Sgt William Andrew HOOD of the RCAF – buried Eindhoven General Cemetery.  From Little Bras D’or, Nova Scotia.
  • Rear Gunner – Sgt William George OTTERHOLM of the RCAF – buried Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek. From Dixonville, Alberta.

…William is buried in Eindhoven General Cemetery….

After Linda, Sgt Hood’s great-niece, contacted us, Robert van der Ende visited his grave at Eindhoven General Cemetery. 

20230520_140435_001 Grave of WA Hood

Grave of William Andrew Hood at Eindhoven General Cemetery.  (Photo credit: Robert van der Ende)

John Edwin DICKSON and Almer Clement RAINE were originally buried in Woensel Cemetery as unidentified airmen.  After their remains were identified, they were reburied in Eindhoven General Cemetery, but not beside William Andrew HOOD. 

Harry Wilfred FOWLER’s body was not found until 1949, during the excavation of the aircraft wreckage.  He is buried in Mierlo War Cemetery.

Warren Bretall MAYES, David Renwick AGNEW, and William George OTTERHOLM are buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek.

…A short video on The Last Flight Of Halifax JD215….

You can watch a short video summarizing the last flight of Halifax JD215:

Thank you to Linda Hood Jobe for telling us about her great-uncle. Thank you to Robert van der Ende for visiting the crash site and Eindhoven General Cemetery on our behalf.  Thank you to post-production editor Wendy Nattress, who made the The Last Flight Of Halifax JD215 (S4E2) YouTube video a reality, and for preparing the map showing the flight path for Halifax JD215.

If you have a story to tell, please let Pieter know. You can email him at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or send a tweet to @researchmemori1.  

© Daria Valkenburg

…Want to follow our research?….

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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/

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