In Memoriam To John Robinson and Donald Moore

November 4, 2023 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

In_memoriam

November 4, 2023. Over the past years, the On The War Memorial Trail Research Project has been telling stories of those who have served our country. This isn’t done in isolation but with the help of many families who contributed photos and personal recollections.

..John Robinson was the nephew of WWI soldier Arthur Clinton Robinson…

This week, we received word that Arthur ‘John’ Robinson, nephew of Arthur Clinton ROBINSON, a WWI soldier with the 26^th (New Brunswick) Battalion, from Tryon, Prince Edward Island, who is buried in Belgium, passed away. (See https://www.saltwire.com/prince-edward-island/obituaries/arthur-john-cm-robinson-94002/)

Hazel and John Robinson. (Photo courtesy of the Robinson Family)

We visited Arthur’s grave in La Laiterie Military Cemetery in 2017. Up to now, however, neither we nor the family have been able to find a photo of this WWI soldier, who is listed on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion in Borden-Carleton, Prince Edward Island.

For more information on Arthur Clinton ROBINSON, see:

…Donald Moore was the nephew of WWII soldier Archie McLean…

Today we learned that Donald Allan Shadrach Moore, nephew of WWII soldier Archibald Phillip ‘Archie’ MCLEAN of Edmundston, New Brunswick, passed away. (See https://www.saltwire.com/prince-edward-island/obituaries/donald-allan-shadrach-moore-94043/)

CIMG6452 Aug 29 2023 Pieter Don Moore Tina Mundy

Pieter with Donald Moore and Tina Mundy. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Archie, who was serving with the Carleton & York Regiment at the time of his death on April 17, 1945, is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands. You can read his story here: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/09/13/on-the-war-memorial-trail-archie-was-a-good-guy/

Our deepest condolences go to the families of John Robinson and Donald Moore.

If you are able to help with a photo of Arthur Clinton Robinson, please let us know. You can email us at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or tweet to @researchmemori1.

© Daria Valkenburg

…Previous In Memoriams….

…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/

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New Book About Soldiers Buried In The Canadian War Cemetery In Holten, The Netherlands

November 1, 2023November 26, 2025 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 4 Comments

Holten Heroes’ by Jan Braakman, translated by Pieter and Daria Valkenburg

November 1, 2023. A new book, published in English on October 27, 2023 was translated by us – Daria and Pieter Valkenburg. ‘Holten Heroes: Stories from a Canadian Field of Honour’ by Jan Braakman, was translated from the original Dutch book that Jan wrote: ‘Holtense Canadezen’.

Here is an excerpt from the media release:

Holten Heroes: Stories from a Canadian Field of Honour

– A book that pays tribute to Canadian soldiers

Tucked away in the rolling hills of the Dutch province of Overijssel is the Holten field of honour for Canadian soldiers who lost their lives in World War II.

For the first time since the cemetery was established, the buried soldiers are being honoured in a book: Holten Heroes: Stories from a Canadian Field of Honour. Holten Heroes describes the genesis of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemetery in Holten and tells stories of the soldiers buried there.

In 155 pages, the book takes you through the incredible journey Canadian soldiers made from Dieppe to German prisoner-of-war camps, you learn about the hardships they lived under, you read about the opposition they encountered during the liberation of The Netherlands and you become part of the grief felt by those left behind.

The book about the Holten cemetery marks the connection between Canada and The Netherlands since Canadian soldiers liberated the country from the Nazis in the spring of 1945.

The liberation of The Netherlands brought joy and sorrow. The Dutch people were delirious with joy when Canadian heroes gave them back their freedom. But that did not come without the sacrifice of thousands of lives Canadian young men who still had a bright future ahead.

They are the heroes to whom the book Holten Heroes pays tribute. The names of all of them are mentioned in Holten Heroes, many of them with a photo from the collection of the Canadian Cemetery Information Centre (ICB) in Holten. The book is a valuable gem for all bereaved Canadians.

The book’s sales will benefit the work of the Canadian Cemetery Information Centre (ICB) in Holten.

…..A bit about the author and translators….

Jan Braakman. (Photo credit: Paulus Maessen)

The Author: Jan Braakman (b. 1960) is a Dutch investigative journalist, and the author of several books in Dutch.

In 2012, his book The War in the Corner was published in Canada. During his research he discovered the truth behind the arrest that led to the death of his grandfather in 1944 in the concentration camp, Neuengamme, near Hamburg.

He has been working as a volunteer researcher for the Information Centre Canadian War Cemetery in Holten since 2014. In 2019, he produced the documentary Lest We Forget featuring Canadian bereaved families, who told of their loved ones buried in Holten (with Sander Jongsma, RTV Oost).

Daria and Pieter Valkenburg (Photo credit: Karen McKay)

The Translators: Canadian born Daria Valkenburg is a retired accountant, adult education instructor, and writer whose work has been published in several newspapers and journals. The Netherlands born Pieter Valkenburg served in the Dutch Air Force before going on to a career in the Dutch Foreign Service and 10 postings around the world. Pieter has been a volunteer researcher for the Information Centre Canadian War Cemetery in Holten since the fall of 2014.

Daria and Pieter’s research into Canadian soldiers is documented on this blog and in the ‘On The War Memorial Trail’ column in the ‘County Line Courier’, a newspaper on Prince Edward Island. Daria is also the author of ‘No Soldier Buried Overseas Should Ever Be Forgotten’ (https://nosoldierforgotten.com/).

…..Where is the book available?….

‘Holten Heroes: Stories from a Canadian Field of Honour’ is available through Amazon, and at the Cemetery’s Information Centre.

Please see the Amazon Canada entry for more information: https://www.amazon.ca/Holten-Heroes-Stories-Canadian-Honour/dp/B0CM25LRD3/ref=sr_1_1?crid=QEQCI0LBFLPK&keywords=holten+heroes&qid=1698840141&sprefix=holten+heroes%2Caps%2C207&sr=8-1

Do you have a story to tell? Email 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/

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On The War Memorial Trail… An Island Airman In Stalag Luft III Part 2: Escape From The POW Camp

October 30, 2023 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 2 Comments

October 30, 2023. In Part 1, Pieter’s research revealed how a small postcard-sized letter, written in September 1942 from POW camp Stalag Luft III, impacted two families from Prince Edward Island. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/10/23/on-the-war-memorial-trail-an-island-airman-in-stalag-luft-iii-part-1-2-families-connected-by-1-letter-from-a-pow-camp/)

The letter was found by Don Coutts, nephew of WWII pilot Elmer Bagnall MUTTART of Cape Traverse, who lost his life on October 12, 1941. It was written by John ‘Hubert’ HALL of Summerside, the pilot aboard Wellington Z1203, which crashed in The Netherlands near Mijdrecht on the night of March 28/29, 1942.

The camp was near the town of Sagan, Lower Silesia, in what was then Nazi Germany (but now Żagań, Poland), 160 kilometres (100 miles) south-east of Berlin. The movie ‘The Great Escape’ was based on an incident that happened in this camp in 1944. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stalag_Luft_III)

CIMG6475 Hubert Hall with mustache cropped and sharpened

John ‘Hubert’ Hall. (Photo courtesy of the Hall Family)

After meeting Hubert’s son, Robert ‘Bob’ Hall, and his wife Joanne Sheen, we came away with a wealth of information about Hubert, who sadly died young, at the age of 39.

CIMG6521 Oct 14 2023 Daria with Joanne Sheen & Bob Hall

Left to right: Joanne Sheen, Bob Hall, Daria Valkenburg (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

Now, in Part 2, more on Hubert’s story and his long march to freedom after leaving Stalag Luft III…..

Hubert was born January 4, 1915 in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, the son of Franklin and Marion (nee Howatt) Hall. As a child, he and his brother Paddy went with their parents to Western Canada, and he attended school in Camrose, Alberta. Unfortunately, the family’s hope for a better economic future was disrupted by the Depression, and Mrs Hall returned to the Island with her sons. Then, after WWII began, both sons enlisted in the RCAF.

Hubert enlisted at the RCAF Recruiting Centre in Moncton on June 26, 1940. He took his initial flight training at No. 11 Elementary Flying Training School (EFTS) RCAF Station Cap de la Madeleine, in Trois-Rivières, Quebec. He received primary pilot training, including solo flying of a basic training aircraft, and graduated on December 9, 1940.

In December 1940, he was sent to No. 2 Service Flying Training School (SFTS) RCAF Station Uplands in Ottawa, Ontario for continued pilot training on an advanced single or multi engine training aircraft.

Print of a Wellington bomber displayed in Bob Hall’s home office. (Photo credit: D Valkenburg)

After receiving his wings, he left Canada for the United Kingdom and by May 1941 was training on a Wellington bomber at No. 12 Operational Training Unit (OTU) at RAF Benson, England.

On June 19, 1941, Hubert began flying while attached to 142 Squadron of the RAF. He was second pilot for 10 operations, and then pilot for 7 operations. Wellington Z1203 turned out to be his 7^th and final operation…..

…The air crew aboard the last flight of Wellington Z1203….

Pilot – Pilot Officer John ‘Hubert’ HALL, of the RCAF
Second Pilot – Flight Sgt Lawrence Hugh HOUGHTON, of the RAF
Navigator – Flight Sgt John Edward HARRITT, of the RAF
Wireless Operator/Air Gunner – Flight Sgt Arthur Richard TIDDER, of the RAF
Front Gunner – Sgt Geoffrey Peter WADSWORTH, of the RAF
Rear Gunner – Sgt Ernest Joseph PETTITT, of the RAF

….The last flight of Wellington Z1203….

Map shows the plane’s path from England towards Lübeck. On the return to England, the plane was hit by flak near Kiel and diverted to The Netherlands where it crashed near Mijdrecht. (Map prepared by Wendy Nattress)

According to the records, Wellington Z1203 departed RAF Grimsby at 21:28 pm on March 28, 1942 on a bombing operation to Lübeck, Germany. During the return to base in the early hours of March 29, the plane was hit by German flak as it crossed the coast near Kiel. A fuel line was damaged, causing fuel loss. With insufficient fuel to return to England, the pilot – Hubert Hall – diverted the plane, turning inwards towards The Netherlands.

All six crew members were able to bail out and became prisoners of war for the duration of the war. The airplane dove into the ground and crashed in Mijdrecht, near Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.

…The long march to freedom….

According to Hubert’s Liberated Prisoner of War form, following the crash, he was first taken to Frankfurt, Germany, to Dulag Luft Frankfurt, a POW transit camp, for interrogation. He was there from April 1, 1942 to May 7, 1942. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dulag_Luft)

Hubert then was sent to POW camp Stalag Luft III in Sagan, Lower Silesia (Żagań, Poland). He was there from May 9, 1942 until January 27, 1945.

As Russian forces advanced to less than 20 kilometres (12.4 miles) of Stalag Luft III, the POWs felt that liberation was only a matter of days away. Their hopes were dashed as on the evening of January 27, 1945, word came that Hitler had ordered the immediate evacuation of the camp. The POWs in all six compounds were instructed to prepare to march that very night. (See https://www.stalagluft3.com/long-march/)

The march began in the early hours of January 28, 1945, with the POWs trudging through heavy snow, cold weather, and even a blizzard.

The long march from Stalag Luft III to Tarmstedt in the winter of 1945. (Map source: https://www.stalagluft3.com/long-march/)

Stuart Bruce Keith ‘Brack’ BRACKENBURY, an RCAF pilot from Ontario, was Hubert’s roommate in the Stalag, according to an account his daughter Ana Brickley gave to the Hall family. Brack was the pilot aboard the last flight of Hampden P1165, on an operation to Hüls, Germany, which was shot down and crashed at Winterswijk, Gelderland, The Netherlands on December 28, 1941. He was the only survivor of that crash.

Per her father’s recollection, Ana explained that they “…marched west away from the Russians and walked to a glass factory halfway to Hamburg, and stayed there a few months as they were too weak to walk further….” This may be Marlag und Milag Nord in Tarmstedt, Germany, as Hubert’s Liberated Prisoner of War form stated he was there from February 4, 1945 until April 10, 1945.

Marlag und Milag Nord in Tarmstedt, Germany. (Photo source: https://www.stalagluft3.com/long-march/)

Ana’s account noted that the men later “...went into boxcars….” by train “…to Hamburg and then walked to the Baltic Sea…” They were eventually “…liberated in Lübeck...” which is a Baltic port. Hubert’s Liberated Prisoner of War Form noted that they were liberated on May 2, 1945 in Trenthorst, a small settlement on the estate of German business magnate Philipp F. Reemtsma.

Their ordeal wasn’t quite over as Ana recounted that “…the army was going to drive the liberated men in trucks back to France. They objected. Winston Churchill heard about it and said ‘they flew in, and they’ll fly out’. And they did…..”

Hubert received his official discharge on July 27, 1945 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

….Back on Prince Edward Island….

During his time as a POW, Hubert had contracted tuberculosis, and when he returned back to the Island, he “…was in the sanatorium in Charlottetown…” Bob explained.

Once he left the sanatorium, Hubert worked at Hall Manufacturing, and then became the Sheriff of Prince County on July 15, 1947. In Canada, a sheriff is a law enforcement officer, but not a police officer, as in the USA. Sheriffs’ offices in Canada are primarily concerned with court services such as security in and around the courts, post-arrest prisoner transfer, serving legal processes, fine collection.

Bob explained that his father met his mother, Audrey ‘Forrona’ England when he became Sheriff. “…She worked at the Bank of Nova Scotia in Summerside, and most likely that’s where they met…”

Bob shared a story about his parents’ first date. “…My father had a gorgeous black Rover with red leather seats. On their first date, they went for a drive. When they stopped, my mother opened the door, and a heavy wind gust blew the door off!...”

Unfortunately, Hubert died in December 1954, leaving behind his wife Forrona and their two sons, Robert and Brenton. He’s buried at the People’s Cemetery in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, alongside his wife Forrona, who died in 2009.

Joanne Sheen wrote us, saying “….thank you so much for your visit. The tireless work and passion you both have for your project is amazing….Bob and I were very touched by the conversation….the visit brought Hubert to life. Sad that it was a life cut short but Hubert was luckier than many in that he did get to return home and for a time, a happy life with his wife Forrona and two little boys….”

Thank you to Bob Hall and Joanne Sheen for providing information about Hubert Hall. Thank you to Wendy Nattress, who prepared the map showing the flight path for Wellington Z1203, and to Yannic Wethly for sending Hubert’s Liberated Prisoner Of War Form.

Do you have a story to tell? Email Pieter Valkenburg 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 the blog, you are welcome to do so. Our blog address: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.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… An Island Airman In Stalag Luft III Part 1: 2 Families Connected By 1 Letter From A POW Camp

October 23, 2023 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

October 23, 2023. If you found a letter, written by someone you didn’t know, about your long-deceased uncle who died during WWII, what would your reaction be? If you received a message saying that a 1942 letter from your long-deceased father was found, how would you react?

….2 families…1 letter….

Two families were impacted by one small postcard-sized letter, written in September 1942 from POW camp Stalag Luft III. The camp was near the town of Sagan, Lower Silesia, in what was then Nazi Germany (but now Żagań, Poland), 160 kilometres (100 miles) south-east of Berlin. The movie ‘The Great Escape’ was based on an incident that happened in this camp in 1944. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stalag_Luft_III)

The letter was found by Don Coutts, nephew of WWII pilot Elmer Bagnall MUTTART of Cape Traverse, who lost his life on October 12, 1941. Don found it amongst his mother’s effects after she died a few months ago. He asked if we could “…play detective in deciphering the handwriting and as well which prisoner of war camp it came from….” Pieter was up for the challenge.

….The letter came from Stalag Luft III….

John ‘Hubert’ Hall. (Photo courtesy of the Hall Family)

The letter was sent to Mrs. Frank H. Hall in Summerside, and was written by John ‘Hubert’ HALL, the pilot aboard Wellington Z1203, which crashed in The Netherlands near Mijdrecht on the night of March 28/29,1942. Everyone on board that flight survived and spent the remainder of the war years in POW camps.

Hubert was in Stalag Luft III, as was Geoffrey Douglas LEYLAND of the Royal Air Force, the Squadron Leader mentioned in the letter. Pieter’s research found that Leyland had flown three times with Elmer Muttart as second pilot! (https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/52841) Leyland returned to England after the war and passed away in 1970.

September 6, 1942 letter from Hubert Hall to his mother Marion Hall.

The text of the letter, from Hubert to his mother, reads “…Dear Mother, How are you dear? I’m quite well and managing all right, I hate washing clothes. A few days ago I happened to mention on parade PEI and Squadron Leader overheard me and asked me if I knew Elmer Muttart. At one time Squadron Leader was Elmer’s second pilot and his praise for Elmer’s capabilities as a pilot and the work he did was very high. He says he owes his life to Elmer’s flying one night before Elmer was missing. Mrs. Muttart might like to know of this…Lots of love, Hube…”

One can imagine the relief that Mrs Hall felt in knowing that her son was alive and safe, but what she did next was a testament to her empathy for Annie Bagnall Muttart, whose son Elmer had died a year earlier. She gave this precious letter to the Muttart family, and it was passed down to her daughter, Helen Coutts. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2020/01/31/he-died-that-we-might-live-video-is-now-on-youtube/)

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

….The letter writer’s son was found….

The letter writer identified, Pieter’s next challenge was finding the family of Hubert and Mrs Frank Hall. The search led him to Robert ‘Bob’ Hall, who soon received a phone message from our intrepid detective!

Bob was very surprised but called back immediately, confirming that Hubert was his father, and that his grandmother was Marion (nee Howatt) Hall. We met with him and his wife Joanne Sheen to learn more.

Left to right: Joanne Sheen, Bob Hall, Daria Valkenburg (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

Born January 4, 1915 in Summerside, Hubert enlisted at the RCAF Recruiting Centre in Moncton on June 26, 1940. After receiving his wings, he left Canada for the United Kingdom and by May 1941 was sent for training on a Wellington bomber.

During his time as a POW, Hubert contracted tuberculosis, and when he returned back to the Island, he “…was in the sanatorium in Charlottetown…” Bob explained.

Once he left the sanatorium, he worked at Hall Manufacturing, and then became the Sheriff of Prince County. “…That’s when he met my mother, Forrona England. She worked at the Bank of Nova Scotia in Summerside, and most likely that’s where they met…”

Bob noted that “…I was only three years old when my father died…” at age 39. “…My mother was 29 when he died and she never got over it…”

Joanne Sheen was excited to learn about the letter. Bob agreed. “…It’s the only letter that we’ve seen from the POW camp…” Written on very thin and flimsy paper, it’s not surprising that letters from POW camps might not have survived. That made the 1942 letter a special remembrance.

Thank you to Don Coutts for sharing the letter from the POW camp, and to Bob Hall and Joanne Sheen for providing information about Hubert Hall. In Part 2: more on Hubert Hall’s story and his long march to freedom that began on January 27, 1945.

Do you have a story to tell? Email Pieter Valkenburg 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 the blog, you are welcome to do so. Our blog address: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.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 Soldier From Meteghan Killed During The Battle Of Five Woods

October 18, 2023November 27, 2024 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

October 18, 2023. Last fall we visited the war memorial in Saulnierville, Nova Scotia, as two soldiers that Pieter had researched are listed on this monument. Coincidentally, both are buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten. At the time of our visit, we’d told the story of one of the soldiers, but not the other. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/11/09/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-importance-of-remembrance/)

This second soldier was Joseph ‘Edmond’ ROBICHEAU, from Meteghan, Nova Scotia, who lost his life on April 14, 1945 near Deventer, The Netherlands, while serving with the Royal 22^e Regiment.

Born November 16, 1923 in Meteghan, Edmond was the son of Césaire and Vitaline Robicheau. When he enlisted at the No. 6 National Resources Mobilization Act (NRMA) Clearing Depot in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on August 18, 1943, he noted that he had worked as a fisherman for 2 years and had served in the 2^nd Battalion West Nova Scotia Infantry (Reserve) since October 1942. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Resources_Mobilization_Act)

…A photo of Edmond was found in Saulnierville…

Although Edmond had 3 brothers and 4 sisters, Pieter was not able to find any family members during the photo search. This unfortunately happens more often than you’d think. A photo was found through a nearby resident, Ann Louise Doucet, who explained that “…the photo is located at the Clare Veterans Association…” in Saulnierville, Nova Scotia, “… so I would credit them as there is no name on the photo…”

Joseph ‘Edmond’ Robicheau. (Photo source: Clare Veterans Association)

… Edmond served in the Coast Battery and home defence…

On September 17, 1943, Edmond was sent to No. 61 Canadian Army Basic Training Centre (CABTC) in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia for training as a gunner. After completing his basic training, he was attached to A23 Training Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia on November 16, 1943. A23 was a Coast and Anti-Aircraft Artillery Training Centre established to train coast and anti-aircraft gunners.

On March 11, 1944, Edmond was transferred to the 16^th (C) Regiment of the Royal Canadian Artillery and sent to Sydney, Nova Scotia. Not long afterwards, on April 26, 1944, he was assigned to the 104^th Coast Battery of the Royal Canadian Artillery and posted to Shelburne, Nova Scotia.

The 104^th Coast Battery was garrisoned at Fort McNutt on McNutt’s Island, as coastal defence to protect the port of Shelburne. The threat of German submarine activity was a concern. This is why Shelburne had been designated as an alternate port to Halifax Harbour during the war.

On September 7, 1944, Edmond transferred to the Royal Regiment of Canada, and sent for a 4 day tactical training course at the Special Infantry Training Camp in Vernon, British Columbia on September 27, 1944.

On October 1, 1944, Edmond was attached to the 1^st Battalion Oxford Rifles, part of the Royal Regiment of Canada, which served in Canada in a home defence role as part of the 16th Infantry Brigade, 8th Canadian Division.

… Edmond left Canada for overseas service in January 1945…

On January 2, 1945, Edmond was among the soldiers of the 1^st Battalion Oxford Rifles who left Canada for the United Kingdom, arriving on January 8, 1945. The Battalion was disbanded on January 10, 1945 to provide reinforcements for the First Canadian Army.

Edmond was assigned to No. 6 Canadian Infantry Training Regiment (CITR) upon arrival, for further training, then to No. 4 Canadian Infantry Training Regiment (CITR) on February 4, 1945.

Screenshot 2023-10-09 at 11-44-19 Putte · 2580 Belgium

Putte, Belgium is near the Dutch border. (Map source: Google maps)

On March 9, 1945 he was sent to North West Europe as part of the X-4 reinforcement troops of the 21^st Army Group. Then, on April 2, 1945 he was transferred to the Royal 22^e Regiment (also known as the Van Doos), joining them while they were in Putte, Belgium.

In the Regimental history, ‘The Royal 22e Regiment’, author Serge Bernier records that “…on April 4, the regiment made an incursion into the Reichswald, near Clèves, which the Canadians had recently liberated at considerable cost...” Clèves (Kleve in English) is just over the Dutch border in Germany.

After a few days, the Regiment made its way back into The Netherlands. “…On the 10^th the Royal 22e left the sector, passing through Clèves and Emmerich, before moving into eastern Holland, and stopping near Zutphen. On the 13^th it crossed the Yssel to take up a position in a bridgehead that the 3^rd Brigade would use as a base to attack the town of Appeldoorn....” Yssel refers to the IJssel River in The Netherlands.

… Edmond lost his life during the Battle of the Five Woods…

The locations in The Netherlands where the Royal 22e Regiment for April 1945, where Robicheau was initially buried and where he is permanently buried. (Map source: Google maps)

The next day, April 14, 1945, the Regiment received a change in plans. “… The WNSR and the CYR were the first to leave, closely followed by the Royal 22e, but at 7:30 am the regiment received orders to capture a well-defended wooded area....” WNSR refers to West Nova Scotia Regiment. CYR refers to Carleton & York Regiment.

This was the Battle of the Five Woods. “…Assisted by tanks, the companies performed mopping-up operations in the sector for 24 hours. The assignment proved costly: 11 men were reported killed, 19 wounded and two missing…” Among those who lost their lives that day was Edmond Robicheau.

…Edmond is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten…

He was initially buried in a temporary cemetery near Deventer, before being reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands in 1946.

Grave of Joseph ‘Edmond’ Robicheau. (Photo source: Canadian Virtual War Memorial)

Thank you to Ann Louise Doucet for sending a photo of Joseph Robicheau. Thank you also to David (dryan67) from the WW2Talk Forum for sharing information from the Royal 22e Regimental history. 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 the blog, you are welcome to do so. Our blog address: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.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…..The WWII Soldier From Burk’s Falls Killed During The Liberation Of Deventer

October 7, 2023September 3, 2025 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

October 7, 2023. A few months ago, Edwin van der Wolf, one of the research volunteers at the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands, asked for help in finding a photo of “…Sgt Clive Gerow, who unfortunately fell on April 10, 1945 near Deventer….”

We’d been to Deventer and the surrounding area with Edwin, so we were familiar with the area where Clive Gerow lost his life. Naturally, Pieter agreed to help with the photo search request.

CIMG9315 Sep 25 2017 Pieter & Edwin walking on road in Deventer

Pieter and Edwin van der Wolf (right) walked along the route near Schalkhaar that Canadian troops took before they liberated Deventer in April 1945. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

… The search for a photo of Clive was successful…

Edwin provided some basic information. Clive Elbert Steele GEROW was “…born on January 29, 1915 in Burk’s Falls, Ontario to John Gerow (who died in 1943) and Minnie Gerow, nee Magar. His mother died in 1920 when Clive was 5 years old. His sister was Thelma Beatrice Gerow (died 1941) and from his father’s second marriage he later had two half-sisters: Hope Francis and Laura May Gerow….”

In a sheer stroke of good fortune, a few days after Edwin’s initial request, Pieter found a photo on www.ancestry.ca, posted by Brynne Campbell. He contacted Brynne and explained about the photo search request, and provided a link to our On The War Memorial Trail Research blog. Brynne explained that “…Clive would have been my great-uncle…” Her grandmother, Hope Francis, is Clive’s half-sister.

Screenshot 2023-03-25 at 09-55-15 Family Portrait Gerow - Copy

Family portrait, circa 1928. Standing, left to right: John Gerow, unknown, Clive Gerow, Elizabeth May Travis. Front, left to right: Thelma Gerow, Mrs Douglas, Charlotte E. Travis, Laura May Gerow, Edith Gerow. (Photo courtesy of the Gerow Family)

Edwin noted that “…Clive left school at the age of 17, having completed 11 years of education. After school he worked on his parents’ farm for 5 years and the last two and a half years, before enlisting in the army, as a mechanic at the Beaver House Lake Gold Mine…” near the Ontario town of Kirkland Lake, 285.41 km (177.35 miles) from his hometown.

Screenshot 2023-08-27 at 16-56-21 distance between burks falls ontario and kirkland lake ontario - Google Search

Map shows location of Burk’s Falls and Kirkland Lake. (Source: Google maps)

… Clive enlisted in 1939…

Clive enlisted with the Three Rivers Tank Regiment on November 2, 1939 in Trois-Rivières, Quebec. He would remain with this Regiment for much of his military service, with the Regiment undergoing several name changes. It was known as the 12^th Armoured Regiment (Three Rivers Regiment) as of March 1, 1941. On May 15, 1942 it was designated the 12^th Canadian Army Tank Regiment. On August 26, 1943, it became the 12^th Canadian Armoured Regiment.

Clive Elbert Steele Gerow. (Photo courtesy of the Gerow Family)

In ‘War Chronicles 1939-1945 Three Rivers Regiment (Tank)’, author Charles Prieur noted that basic training began in Trois-Rivières before moving to Montreal, Quebec to “…Westmount’s M.A.A. (Montreal Athletic Association) Grounds on Montreal Island…” on March 26, 1940.

On March 28, 1940, “…Tank training begins without tanks. Drill features troops of men marching to semaphore signals. A Rypa simulator, with an electric motor, is also used to simulate a tank in motion. Courses multiply as able instructors are found with expertise in Vickers machine guns, radio transmission, electricity, mechanics, and Morse code…”

On June 23, 1940, the Regiment moved to Mount Bruno (23 km (14 mi) east of downtown Montreal) but quickly moved again, this time to Coteau Barracks in Trois-Rivières.

However, instead of the expected tank training, the Regiment was ordered “…to guard the 400 odd prisoners of war….” Troops also dealt with “…some 700 internees, in large part … refugees. Our Nazi prisoners consist almost exclusively of captured members of the Luftwaffe, merchant navy, submarine corps, and paratroop units…” Guard duty lasted until July 28, 1940, when “…No. 4 Company of the Veterans Home Guard… arrived to take over….”

On August 3, 1940, the Regiment was ordered to “…move to Camp Borden for actual tank training…” Clive was among those who were transferred to Borden, Ontario.

… Clive married shortly before going overseas…

On April 28, 1941, Clive married Elsie Mae Dickinson, who lived in Trois-Rivières. The couple were not together long as Clive and his Regiment were about to leave Canada for the United Kingdom.

Elsie Gerow (right) with Clive’s stepmother Edith Gerow (left). (Photo courtesy of the Gerow Family)

… Clive left Canada for service overseas…

Prieur noted that the Regiment left Camp Borden on June 17, 1941, expecting to “…detrain in Quebec City tomorrow –for a march through the outskirts of Limoilou, and arrive in Halifax on June 18…”

On June 19, 1941, the Regiment boarded the S.S. Windsor Castle. At midnight on June 21, 1941, the ship left Halifax for “…the United Kingdom, escorted by the battleship ‘Ramillies’, the battle cruiser ‘Repulse’ and six British destroyers….”

On June 30, 1941, “…at 0800 hrs, both the ‘Britannic’ and the ‘Windsor Castle’ drop anchor in the Clyde River near Gourock, Scotland…”

The next day, the Regiment left “… Gourock Station at 2000 hrs and travels through the night southwards to Lavington Down….” in Wiltshire, England. Preliminary training took up the next few months.

On October 7, 1941, Clive and his Regiment left for “…the Tank Firing Range at Linney Head, Wales…” for “…practice at the firing range…”

In January 1942 the Regiment moved to their winter quarters in Worthing, West Sussex, England. “…Except for ‘C’ Squadron in the Abbey, our billets here are clean modern cottages, with all conveniences — by far the best so far….” The Abbey was in nearby Sompting Abbott.

Clive was busy with training, receiving his Driver Operator Class ‘C’ qualification on March 1, 1942. From June 16 to July 2, 1942 Clive was attached to the Armoured Fighting Vehicle (AFV) Recovery Training Centre. Exercises and ongoing training with the Regiment continued.

On November 27, 1942 the Regiment moved to Brighton, England. Training began with Infantry Regiments, in preparation for battle.

Then from February 3, to March 31, 1943, he was sent for a Gunnery Instructor’s Course. Meanwhile the Regiment moved from Brighton back to Worthing.

On April 30, 1943, the Regiment moved “…to Hoddom Castle, in Annan, Scotland…” and issued Sherman tanks. “…These 30-tonners can reach a speed of 30 m.p.h, and are equipped with a confidence-building 75mm cannon and two Browning machine guns….”

… Clive left the United Kingdom for Sicily…

On June 15, 1943, the Regiment moved “…to the Port of Embarkation at Gourock on the Clyde in Scotland…” The following day the Regiment set sail for Sicily, Italy, “…crammed into 6 LSTs of the U.S. Navy. Its effective strength at this time is 37 officers and 550 non-commissioned officers and men, including 36 American and 18 British citizens….” An LST is a tank landing ship. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landing_Ship,_Tank)

During the month long journey from Scotland to Sicily, the convoy stopped at Gibraltar on June 30, 1943. “…At 1100 hrs, the cat is finally let out of the bag: the 1st Canadian Infantry Division and the 1st Canadian Tank Brigade are to join up with the Allied Forces. Indeed, we become an integral part of the famous Eighth Army under General Bernard Montgomery…”

From Gibraltar the convoy sailed along the north coast of Africa. On July 5, 1943, the convoy came under fire. “…At 1645 hrs, a huge explosion galvanizes the escorting destroyers into action. A Liberty ship has been torpedoed, catches fire, settles by the stern and sinks out of sight at 1700 hrs….”

… Clive participated in Operation Husky…

On July 10, 1943, they reached Pachino Bay in Sicily and ‘Operation Husky’ – the invasion of Sicily – began. “…The first Shermans of the Three Rivers Regiment rolled off L.S.T.s on the left flank of the 1st (Infantry) Brigade’s beach about 0900 hrs, and at 1015 hrs the unit reported one squadron ready for action…” (See https://www.canadahistoryproject.ca/1939-45/1939-45-10-operation-husky.html)

Over the next weeks, whatever brigade of the 1st Canadian Infantry Division was engaged, it was always with the support of the tanks of the Three Rivers Regiment.

On August 17, 1943 Prieur recorded that “… Sicily is finally cleared of the enemy…” Between September 12 and 24, 1943, “…the Three Rivers Regiment, now finally in reserve after its grueling solo support of the First Canadian Infantry Division and the 231st (Malta) Brigade throughout the Sicilian invasion, moves from Sicily and concentrates at Taranto, Italy….”

On October 5, 1943, “…the Three Rivers Regiment, which had moved overland from Foggia, arrived on the scene in time to bring its squadrons into action in support of the infantry brigades….” for the Battle of Termoli. (See https://www.canadiansoldiers.com/history/battlehonours/italiancampaign/termoli.htm)

On October 21, 1943, Clive was sent to No. 7 Casualty Clearing Centre and spent the next months in several hospitals and convalescent centres, and sent back to the United Kingdom. We could not find a record of why he was hospitalized for so long, but hospital records in Sicily indicate that there was a severe malaria epidemic.

Clive returned back to active duty on May 9, 1944, when he was transferred to No. 2 Canadian Armoured Corps Reinforcement Unit (CACRU), and sent for more training.

On September 3, 1944 Clive was transferred to No. 3 Canadian Armoured Corps Reinforcement Unit (CACRU). On September 8, 1944 Clive left the United Kingdom for northwest Europe. On October 8, 1944 he was transferred to the 27th Armoured Regiment (Sherbrooke Fusiliers Regiment), joining them near Maerle, Belgium.

Over the next months, Clive took part in the further advance through Belgium and The Netherlands, with the Regiment.

… Clive lost his life during the liberation of Deventer…

CIMG9313 Sep 25 2017 Pieter and Edwin in Deventer looking at map of attack

Edwin van der Wolf (left) and Pieter in Deventer, looking at a map of the attack that led to its liberation. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

On April 10, 1945, the Regiment was involved in the liberation of Deventer, a town lying on the right bank of the IJssel River. With the approaches protected by a maze of waterways, it was necessary to attack from the east.

The village of Schalkhaar was liberated without much difficulty, but three German tanks appeared on the morning of April 10 as the liberation of Deventer began. One tank was destroyed by ‘B’ Squadron of the 27th Armoured Regiment, while the other escaped. (See https://www.canadiansoldiers.com/history/battlehonours/northwesteurope/deventer.htm)

The war diary for April 10, 1945 provided a narrative of what happened. “…On our left flank ‘B’ Squadron west and enemy SPs were reported on our left flank. The ground was very open so a mad dash was made to the wood and protective positions were taken up to support SD&Gs who had ‘A’ Company across the canal at that point….” SP refers to self-propelled artillery. SD&G refers to the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders Regiment.

“….The SD&Gs worked straight north along the canal supported by 3 and 4 Tps while the NNSH went northwest supported by 1 and 2 Tps, finally reaching position, where they were stopped by a report of an SP…Sgt Gerow was killed by mortar fire and Lt Fraser took over No 2 Tp….” Tps refers to troops. NNSH refers to the North Nova Scotia Highlanders Regiment.

… Clive is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten…

Edwin explained that Clive “…was temporarily buried at the Roman Catholic Church in Schalkhaar before being reburied on April 9, 1946 in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten….”

Grave of Clive Elbert Steele Gerow at the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten. (Photo source: Canadian Virtual War Memorial)

Thank you to Brynne Campbell for sharing photos of Clive Gerow. 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 the blog, you are welcome to do so. Our blog address: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/

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On The War Memorial Trail….. ‘The Only Yukon Territory Soldier Buried In Holten’

September 30, 2023August 30, 2025 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

September 30, 2023. With an extensive photo wish list from the Canadian War Cemeteries in The Netherlands, it can be difficult for Pieter to determine who will be next in line for his research. But when we learned there is one soldier from the Yukon Territory buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, and he was on the photo wish list, we knew he was a priority.

Henk Vincent, one of the research volunteers at the Information Centre in Holten, explained that “…Harry Davis is the only Yukon Territory soldier buried in Holten, which is not surprising when you realize that although the Yukon Territory is about the size of Spain in terms of area, it had less than 10,000 inhabitants in 1945….”

Yukon is in northern Canada. (Map source: http://www.babysits.ca)

Yukon is not only in the far northern part of Canada, but on the opposite coast from where we live in Prince Edward Island.

The search for a photo of Harry Henry DAVIS, born December 9, 1921 in Selkirk, Yukon Territory, son of Harry and Grace (nee Woods) Davis, began with an online search.

…Chief Roberta Joseph from the Trʼondëk Hwëchʼin First Nation commemorated Harry …

A CBC article from November 8, 2022 immediately came up: ‘Trʼondëk Hwëchʼin soldiers honoured at annual event in Dawson City’, in which Chief Roberta Joseph “…shared a story that her grandmother would tell her every Remembrance Day when she was growing up.

‘She would always remember her cousin Harry Davis,’ Joseph said. ‘She would always talk about how he sacrificed his life for his platoon. He passed away in World War Two. He let his platoon go ahead so that they could escape the enemy and he stayed behind by throwing a grenade and got caught up in that.’…” (See https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/tr%CA%BCond%C3%ABk-hw%C3%ABch%CA%BCin-soldiers-honoured-at-annual-1.6644908)

From this one article, we learned that Harry Davis was Indigenous. His mother was a member of the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in (loosely translated as ‘people of the river’), a First Nation whose members are descendants of the Hän-speaking people who have lived along the Yukon River for millennia. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tr%CA%BCond%C3%ABk_Hw%C3%ABch%CA%BCin_First_Nation)

…The Trʼondëk Hwëchʼin First Nation provided a photo of Harry …

Chief Joseph was contacted, and shortly afterwards, a photo of Harry Davis was received from Sue Parsons, Collections Manager, Heritage, of the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Government. “…I received a request to forward the attached photograph of Harry Davis to you. Mähsi…” she wrote. Sue explained that the photo was courtesy of Martha Kates private collection, “…a family member of Harry Davis….”

harry-davis-600-kates-collection-2006-1_1_-restored-3

Harry Henry Davis. (Photo courtesy of Martha Kates Private Collection)

Harry was orphaned young, as his father died in 1926, and his mother in 1927. Henk noted that “…Harry grew up in the First Nations Reservation of Fort Selkirk in the Yukon Territory, located on the Yukon River, a few hundred kilometres from the Arctic Circle….” His half-sister, Mary Isabel Harriet, was listed as his only remaining direct relative on the Estate Form after his death.

…Harry enlisted in 1942…

After finishing school Harry worked in the Triangle Cafe in Dawson City, Yukon Territory. At the time of his enlistment with the No. XI District Depot on February 19, 1942 in Dawson, he was working as a driver for Yukon Consolidated Gold Corporation.

On March 16, 1942, Harry was sent to No. 110 Canadian Army Basic Training Centre (CABTC) in Vernon, British Columbia for his basic training. A few weeks later, however, he ended up in the Vernon Military Hospital for almost a month with measles, followed by mumps.

After being discharged from hospital on May 7, 1942, and completing his basic training, Harry was transferred to A-4 Canadian Artillery Training Centre (CATC) in Brandon, Manitoba on June 10, 1942, for training as a gunner.

…Harry was sent overseas and assigned to the 8^th LAA Regiment…

On July 22, 1942 Harry was on his way to the United Kingdom, on ‘Special Duty’, arriving a week later, and attached to No. 3 Canadian Artillery Reinforcement Unit (CARU), where he received more training.

On November 27, 1942, Harry was assigned to the 8th Canadian Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery. On January 6, 1943 Harry qualified as a driver i/c (W), meaning he was qualified to drive heavy trucks and armoured cars.

On July 20, 1944, Harry left with the 8^th Canadian Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment for France aboard the Malayan Prince. (See https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/ship/1768.html)

According to the war diary for July 26, 1944, “… we arrived at the anchorage at Juno Beach, off Courselles-Sur-Mer, at 1600 hours. We don’t expect to get off ship until sometime tomorrow so everyone is taking advantage of the fine weather and sun bathing on the decks…”

The interlude didn’t last, as the war diary for July 27, 1944 stated that “…during the early hours of the morning we were treated to quite an anti-aircraft barrage some miles inland…” After landing, the Regiment moved up through France.

…Allied patrols across the Maas River were dangerous …

On September 19, 1944, Harry was transferred to the Lake Superior Regiment (Motor), joining them as the Regiment advanced “…through France, Belgium and the south of the Netherlands…”

Henk noted that during “… the winter of 44/45, the Lake Superior Regiment, together with other Canadian regiments, was tasked with guarding the northern front line, in this case the Maas River. Patrols were also regularly deployed across the Maas to reconnoitre enemy positions. This often led to violent confrontations with the Germans….”

Screenshot 2023-06-01 at 07-58-01 kerkdriel maps at DuckDuckGo

Harry Davis was badly wounded during a patrol near Kerkdriel. (Map source: DuckDuckGo)

The Lake Superior Regiment was in the area of ‘s-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands in January 1945. The Regiment’s war diary for January 14, 1945 recorded that at 2:00 am “…a recce patrol under the command of Lt. D.A. Johnson left to cross the Maas in two boats. The first boat contained a beach party of 1 N.C.O., 1 sergeant, and 6 men, the second boat contained the recce group of 1 officer, 1 sergeant, and 5 men…” N.C.O. refers to non-commissioned officer.

“…Due to a heavy fog on the river, the beach party became lost and returned to the start point after some difficulty with the strong current.…” The recce group landed, but the beach party was nowhere to be found.

Lt Johnson decided to proceed with the patrol anyways. As the group moved east towards the town of Kerkdriel, they “…heard an enemy patrol coming down the road toward them…” The group moved to “…the east side of a house in the hope that the enemy patrol would continue down the road, and could be engaged …”

Instead, they were ambushed. “…The enemy patrol, however, came through a copse to the left and rear of our patrol, who immediately engaged them, killing one and wounding two others…”

…Harry was the patrol’s only casualty …

There was one casualty from the recce party. “…One of our men K-76942 Pte DAVIS H.H., was killed and had to be left behind. Lt. Johnson and the remaining scout made a run for it and managed to escape and contacted the covering party. Artillery fire was called down and the patrol returned to our side without further mishap….”

However, Harry hadn’t been killed. He was badly wounded and taken prisoner of war. Unfortunately, he died the following day, Monday, January 15, 1945. He was 23 years old.

…Harry’s sister received a letter with a statement from Lt Johnson…

A February 26, 1945 letter from Colonel R.T.E. Hicks-Lyne, Acting Director of Records for Adjutant-General, to Harry’s sister Mary, quoted a statement from Lt Johnson: “…Private Davis received a burst of 9 m.m. automatic fire, which ignited a # 80 smoke Grenade, carried on his belt. I, the patrol commander, was approximately six feet away from him as at the time. After the explosion I attempted to engage the enemy from the opposite side of the haystack; coming back Lance Sergeant Burrison said: ‘Davis is dead, a grenade is burning in his side.’ As it was an extremely dangerous situation we decided to get out as fast as possible…”

Colonel Hicks-Lyne went on to note that “…This statement is also corroborated by Sergeant Burrison, who was also with your brother at the time…”

…Harry is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten…

Harry was temporarily buried in the Catholic Cemetery in Kerkdriel. We had wondered who had initially buried him – the Canadians or the Germans. Henk explained that “…since Harry Davis became a prisoner of war on January 14, 1945 and died on January 15, while Kerkdriel was only liberated on April 23, we can assume that he was buried by the Germans…”

On August 2, 1946, Harry was reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands.

Grave of Harry Henry Davis in Holten from CVWM

Grave of Harry Henry Davis at the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten. (Photo courtesy of Canadian Virtual War Memorial)

….Davis Lake in Yukon Territory is named in Harry’s honour…..

Screenshot 2023-09-29 at 17-00-29 Davis Lake · Yukon Y0B 1J0

Davis Lake in Yukon Territory is named after Harry Henry Davis. (Map source: Google maps)

Harry has been honoured by having Davis Lake in Yukon named after him. (116I01- 66° 10’ 37”- 136° 24’ 57”)

Thank you to Roberta Joseph and the Trʼondëk Hwëchʼin government for providing a photo of Harry. Thank you also to Henk Vincent for additional information on the patrols made along the Maas River and letting us know that Harry Davis was the only soldier from the Yukon buried in Holten.

Do you have a story to tell? Pieter encourages you to 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/

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….. ‘If Only It Still Flew!’

September 23, 2023 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 4 Comments

September 23, 2023. After researching the story of WWII pilot Elmer Bagnall MUTTART of Cape Traverse, who sacrificed his life in order to save his crew and the Dutch village of Wons after his Halifax bomber was fatally targeted by a nightfighter on October 12, 1941, seeing an actual Halifax bomber plane was on Pieter’s bucket list.

20230914_140657 Sep 14 2023 Pieter outside Natl RCAF Museum in Trenton

Pieter outside the National Air Force Museum of Canada in Trenton, Ontario. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

…Pieter crossed an item off his bucket wish list!…

Pieter’s wish became a reality earlier this month when we travelled to the National Air Force Museum of Canada in Trenton, Ontario. Elmer Muttart and his crew of Halifax L9561 were among the first to fly in the new Halifax bomber, Mark I. The one in Trenton was a Mark VII, which had many modifications to make it safer.

CIMG6456 Sep 14 2023 Pieter by Halifax Bomber

Pieter by the Mark VII Halifax bomber. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

…The Halifax bomber was very versatile, once the initial design flaws were corrected…

Although designed during WWII, the original Halifax was intended for daytime flights – a foolish decision on the part of the British Ministry of Defence, given that there was nothing wrong with the eyesight of German pilots.

It quickly became clear that sorties needed to be done at night. However, flames from the exhaust emitted a red glow, making the bombers easy to spot by German pilots. A cost-cutting measure by the Ministry of Defence resulted in using engines that were NOT recommended for the heavy Halifax bomber. This meant that the bombers were slower than other planes, such as the Lancaster, and could not reach higher altitudes. They were ‘sitting ducks’ and there were many losses of planes and airmen that could have been avoided had the safety of airmen been top of mind.

Later models of the bomber, such as the Mark VII we toured, had these issues corrected, and our tour guide, Tim Whitehouse, an RCAF veteran, explained that the Halifax was beloved by the RCAF. “…5,797 were built over the years, along with 7,374 Lancasters...”

The RCAF found that the Halifax bomber was very versatile. “…They were flown by Bomber Command, Coastal Command, and 100 Group…” We’d not heard of 100 Group before. “…This was the electronic countermeasures group. For example, they jammed German radar….”

20230914_130746 Sep 14 2023 Tim Whitehouse and Pieter by Halifax bomber

Pieter with our guide, Tim Whitehouse, beside the Halifax Bomber we toured. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

…The outside of the plane was huge …

We didn’t know what to expect, but the overwhelming sense we got was just how BIG the Halifax bomber was when we saw it inside the museum building. Huge on the outside, it was quite cramped and narrow once you got inside.

CIMG6461 Sep 14 2023 see the steps to get into the plane and guns

The tail turret in the foreground, but take a look at the step-stool, which shows where we entered the plane, and the small entry way. Can you imagine doing that while carrying a parachute and in a flight suit? (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

…Getting into the plane required agility …

Getting into the plane was a challenge. How air crew did it in woolen flight suits and carrying their parachutes and other gear is a testament to their agility! There was a tiny entrance near the bottom of the plane which we had to crawl through.

20230914_121954 Sep 14 2023 The hatch to get in and out of the bomber

This is the small space from which we entered and exited the plane. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

20230914_122334 Sep 14 2023 Daria in belly of Halifax bomber

Once I got into the plane, I found that I was not agile enough to tour the cockpit or the rear gunner areas. The flash of light at the bottom right is the entrance! The hexagonal shape was used to drop off secret agents behind the front. (Photo credit: Tim Whitehouse)

With help, I was able to get into the plane, but was unable to manage the steep step up to get into the cockpit area. So I sat in the belly of the plane and had a nice rest. We asked Tim what the hexagonal shape was, as it looked like an escape hatch.

Tim explained that this feature was not in the early versions of the Halifax bomber, but was added later. It wasn’t an escape hatch like we thought, but we weren’t too far wrong. It was an exit out of the plane, used to drop off secret agents behind the front!

…Pieter in the pilot’s seat was a dream come true …

While I sat, Pieter and Tim continued the tour, beginning with the cockpit area.

20230914_123226 Sep 14 2023 Pieter in the pilot seat of a Halifax bomber

Pieter in the pilot’s seat of a Halifax bomber! (Photo credit: Tim Whitehouse)

It was an emotional moment when Pieter sat in the pilot’s seat. “…I was overwhelmed by the instruments and how complex it was to operate this heavy plane with no computers….”

20230914_125111 Sep 14 2023 Pilot control panel for Halifax bomber

The pilot’s control panel in the Halifax bomber. (Photo credit: Tim Whitehouse)

He kept thinking about the young men that flew these planes. “…45% made the ultimate sacrifice in the first years of the war...” he told me. But oh, how he wished that the plane still flew! Luckily, the tour was the next best thing.

… ‘Where’s the ignition switch?’I asked …

After seeing what the control panel looked like, I asked him where the pilot turned the key into the ignition, as I didn’t see one. OK, obviously I’ve never been in the cockpit of a plane, as I soon learned there is no key! Starting a plane as complex as a Halifax bomber was not an easy task, and required each engine to be started separately, with a lot of steps that had to occur before that.

For a sense of what is involved, you can watch this short video on the Halifax Bomber – Engine Start Sequence:

… Several crew members sat BELOW the pilot …

Pieter next toured the area BELOW the pilot where the navigator had his table and charts. The wireless operator sat directly under the pilot. The flight engineer sat behind the pilot and the bomb aimer also sat below past the navigator in the nose of the plane.

CIMG6458 Sep 14 2023 Pilot sat on top navigator below

The small window at the top was where the pilot sat. The windows below indicate where other crew members sat. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

The table used by the navigator, in the level below where the pilot and co-pilot sat. (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

20230914_124329 Sep 14 2023 Pieter the bomb aimer

The bomb aimer also sat in the level below the pilot and co-pilot. This ‘bomb aimer’ got distracted! (Photo credit: Tim Whitehouse)

20230914_125156 Sep 14 2023 Pieter comes out of the bomb aimers position

Pieter coming out of the bomb aimer’s position. The pilot’s seat is to the left. (Photo credit: Tim Whitehouse)

… The rear gunner sat in the tail turret …

After touring the front of the plane, Pieter moved to the back of the plane where the rear gunner sat in the tail turret, with the guns in front of him.

20230914_125739 Sep 14 2023 Inside the rear gun tail turret

The rear gunner control panel. (Photo credit: Tim Whitehouse)

20230914_125919 Sep 14 2023 Pieter in rear gunner position in tail turret

Pieter in the rear gunner’s seat. (Photo credit: Tim Whitehouse)

… There were no ejection seats if you needed to quickly exit the plane …

We could only wonder at the bravery of the aircrew and marvel at Elmer Muttart’s piloting skills that he was able to keep a burning plane steady enough for the crew to safely exit on October 12, 1941– at night and while under attack. There were no ejection seats! There were several escape hatches on the plane, but normally the crew left the same way we did – through that little trap door! The rear gunner had an alternate escape hatch through the window of the tail turret.

We were reluctant to leave the plane, but all good things come to an end, and our adventure as Halifax bomber crew members left us with an even deeper respect for those brave men who flew during the war.

Thank you to our excellent tour guide, Tim Whitehouse, for making the experience so memorable, and to the National Air Force Museum of Canada for allowing tours of the plane.

Do you have a story to tell? Pieter encourages you to email him at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or tweet to @researchmemori1.

…Previous stories about aircrew who lost their lives in a Halifax bomber….

Rowan Charles FITZGERALD of Halifax W1175: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/10/12/on-the-war-memorial-trail-well-never-forget-uncle-bunky/
William Andrew HOOD of Halifax JD215: 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/
Jack ‘Douglas’ MACKENZIE of Halifax DT630: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/02/19/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-pilot-killed-at-the-controls-of-his-halifax-bomber/
Elmer Bagnall MUTTART of Halifax L9561: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2017/07/28/the-elmer-bagnall-muttart-story/ and https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2019/11/18/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-memorial-panel-in-wons-is-unveiled/) and https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2020/01/31/he-died-that-we-might-live-video-is-now-on-youtube/ and https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2019/10/15/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-visit-to-harlingen-general-cemetery/

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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

September 19, 2023 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

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….

6A89D893483A45939CC3320E521725B3 newspaper clipping

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.

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)

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.

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.

…Want to follow our research?….

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On The War Memorial Trail….. “Archie Was A Good Guy”

September 13, 2023September 3, 2025 / On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 2 Comments

September 12, 2023. When Pieter begins researching a soldier whose name is on a photo wish list from one of the Canadian War Cemeteries in The Netherlands, he quite often finds current family members in various parts of Canada or the USA.

A zigzag virtual search is not uncommon, but it’s rare that a search from one part of the country leads him right back to our own province of Prince Edward Island! But that’s what happened in the search for a photo of Archibald Phillip ‘Archie’ MCLEAN of Edmundston, New Brunswick!

The son of Allan John and Mary Rose ‘Minnie’ (nee Comfort) McLean, Archie was born August 5, 1920 in Edmundston. When he enlisted in Edmundston on May 14, 1941 at the No. 7A District Field Office, he listed his occupation as paper maker with the Fraser Pulp Company in Edmundston, a pulp mill. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fraser_Papers – the Edmundston mill is still in operation, owned by Twin Rivers Paper Company.)

His enlistment form recorded that he had been serving in the 2^nd Battalion Carleton & York Militia since July 1940. It also noted that he enjoyed skating, and playing hockey and baseball.

Three of his brothers were also serving – and survived the war: Lawrence and Wilfred were in the Canadian Army. Allan was in the Canadian Navy. He also had five sisters: Mae, Patricia, Emma, Theresa, and Hilda.

…The search for a photo of Archie led to two nephews….

The key to finding family came from two of the sisters. Mae married Bertrand Clarence Michaud, and Pieter contacted her son Michael, who lives in Brunswick, Maine. Michael didn’t have a photo but said his cousin, Donald Moore, who lives in Summerside, Prince Edward Island, and is himself a veteran, likely would. Donald’s mother Theresa was another sister of Archie’s.

Pieter then contacted George Dalton, a veteran who lives in Summerside. Did he know him? “…Yes…” George said. “…He’s not been well, but someone from our group will contact him…”

In the mysterious way that the Island works, it turned out that Pieter had previously met Donald Moore’s daughter, Tina Mundy! It wasn’t very long before Tina’s daughter, Erin Mundy Montgomery, sent photos and information. And a few days later, we met with Donald.

Pieter with Donald Moore and Tina Mundy. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

“…Archie was a good guy…” Donald said. “… I became 84 years old on July 23, and am the oldest of the cousins. I spent 38 years in the military, with the RCAF, including a 4 year posting in France. I made about 20 trips to Holland, but I never knew where Archie was buried…” A planned trip to visit his grave in 2020 got cancelled due to Covid.

… Archie joined the Royal Canadian Engineers as a sapper….

On May 21, 1941, Archie was assigned to No. 71 Basic Training Centre in Edmundston. After completing basic training, he was sent to the A5 Royal Canadian Engineers Training Centre in Petawawa, Ontario for training as a sapper on July 25, 1941.

Archibald Phillip ‘Archie’ McLean. (Photo courtesy of Donald Moore)

Life moved quickly for Archie, as on September 27, 1941 he was transferred to the 1^st Field Squadron of the Royal Canadian Engineers. On October 1, 1941, he passed the Standard Army Trade Test for Pioneer Class ‘C’. This classification took into account a soldier’s civilian trade skills and experience and meant formal training might not be needed.

…Archie left Canada for overseas service….

Shortly afterwards, on October 6, 1941, he left Canada, arriving in the United Kingdom on October 19, 1941.

On March 9, 1942, he was reassigned to the Engineer Reinforcement Unit (ERU) for a short period, then was transferred to No. 2 Canadian Construction Company of the Royal Canadian Engineers. Archie was sent for a number of courses. He completed a firefighting course on April 6, 1942, a Steel Square course on May 23, 1942, and received a qualification as a Carpenter ‘B’ on June 5, 1942. Around this period, No. 2 Construction Company was designated as No. 6 Canadian Construction Company.

Among the tasks that Archie would have participated in was the building of an RCAF bomber airport in Dunsfold, a task that was completed in a record-breaking 6 months. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunsfold_Aerodrome)

Following the completion of the airport, the Company underwent training in bridge construction. In January 1943, according to the Company’s Regimental history, ‘The Story of 2 Battalion R.C.E. 1940-1945’ “…we moved briefly into the Worthing area to construct pillboxes to a German design, for a tank outfit to shoot at…”

After that they were tasked with renovations to an airport in Cornwall, in what was not a happy experience. “…After a battalion movement by train, we arrived at scintillating St Eval in the most fearfully depressing rain storm imaginable. Day after day it lasted…” Their assignment was “…to construct extensions to the existing standings and runways of the airport….”

However, “… as soon as the cement had been poured, the rain would drum down, ignore tarpaulins and matting placed over the cement to protect it, and rot it, before it had a chance to set. Yard after yard of it had to be torn up and re-laid…” (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_St_Mawgan)

Renovations of the airport finally completed, the Company went to “…Bedford, for another spell of bridging…” so that heavy artillery could cross gaps in fields.

On June 1, 1944, Archie was transferred to No 1 Canadian Engineer Reinforcement Unit (CERU). He briefly entered the world of show business between September 18, 1944 and October 10, 1944, when he was attached to ICA Shows when the Canadian Army Show came to England to perform for troops. He would have been involved in preparing stages and sets. (See https://www.silverhawkauthor.com/post/canadian-army-show-first-canadian-army-in-the-north-west-europe-campaign-of-1944-1945)

On November 18, 1944, Archie was transferred to the Canadian Infantry Corps (CIC) and assigned to No. 3 Canadian Infantry Training Regiment (CITR).

…Archie joined the Carleton & York Regiment in Italy….

Screenshot 2023-09-04 at 16-28-14 Map of Russi Italy

The Carleton & York Regiment was north of Rossi on February 13, 1945. (Map source: http://www.gosur.com)

On January 4, 1945 Archie left the United Kingdom for Italy. Then, on February 13, 1945 he was transferred to the Carleton & York Regiment, and reclassified from Pioneer ‘C’ to General Duty. He joined them as the Regiment was north of Rossi, part of a group of reinforcements, at the tail end of the Italian Campaign. (See https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_campaign_(World_War_II))

On March 16, 1945, he left Italy as part of Operation Goldflake, arriving in Marseilles, France two days later. Operation Goldflake was the codename for moving troops from Italy to North-West Europe. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Goldflake)

The Carleton & York Regiment was now part of the 21^st Army Group. From France, troops were moved up to the Belgian front, into The Netherlands, through the Reichswald Forest in Germany, and then back into The Netherlands.

On April 12, 1945 the Regiment was part of Operation Cannonshot, which led to the crossing of the IJssel River between the villages of Gorssel and Wilp in the eastern part of The Netherlands. (See https://www.liberationroute.com/stories/190/operation-cannonshot)

According to the April 12, 1945 war diary entry of the Carleton & York Regiment, they “…moved across the Ijssel River at 14:30 hours….” to relieve the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada.

Map western holland showing Posterenk

On April 13, 1945, the war diary of the Carleton & York Regiment noted that troops were south of Deventer. “…Weather – morning, dull and foggy, sunny in the afternoon, cold at night….”

The objective was to clear Posterenk and move further up. Four Companies of the Carleton & York Regiment were engaged. ‘D’ Company was to clear Posterenk, while the rest followed in support. After Posterenk was cleared in the early afternoon, “…At 1538 hrs ‘B’ Company began to move up in carriers with one platoon of tanks in support…” ‘D’ Company was then held up due to enemy fire.

“… ‘B’ Company pushed through ‘D’ Company but were held up … by small arms and mortar fire…. At 1723 hrs ‘B’ Company moved forward again under heavy mortar fire, these mortars were engaged, also an enemy SP firing on ‘B’ Company from their left…” SP refers to self-propelled weapons.

It got worse. “… ‘B’ Company met with stiff enemy resistance….” However, “…at 1925 hrs ‘B’ Company had cleared enemy and were moving forward slowly…” Then came a report of more problems. “… ‘B’ Company ….are now … meeting considerable enemy resistance…”

“…So far during B Company’s attack they have eight wounded and one killed, Lt. W.E. Brousseau being one of those wounded…”

Both ‘B’ and ‘D’ Companies came under attack from high explosives. ‘D’ Company reported two wounded during the liberation of Posterenk. One of these was Daniel ‘Dan’ Peter MACKENZIE. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2023/06/29/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-wwii-soldier-from-victoria-cross-fatally-wounded-during-the-liberation-of-posterenk/)

Archie was among those wounded on April 13, 1945. While it’s possible that he was one of the two wounded from ‘D’ Company, he has never been mentioned as one of the soldiers that liberated Posterenk. Therefore, we believe that he was one of the 8 soldiers wounded from ‘B’ Company.

The medical file stated that Archie received shrapnel wounds from a high explosive that penetrated his left chest. He was taken to No 3. Casualty Clearing Centre, a Canadian military field hospital in Lochem, where he died in the very early hours of April 17, 1945. He was 25 years old.

The records of his death go back and forth between April 16 and 17, but an ‘Amendment As To Date Of Casualty’ finally determined it was April 17, 1945. That was the date that he was ‘struck off strength’ for his final pay, for the Estates Department, and on his New Brunswick Death Certificate.

…Archie is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten….

On April 17, 1945, Archie was temporarily buried in the Lochem Civil Cemetery, before being reburied in 1946 in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten.

IMG_1003 Sep 4 2023 Grave of Archie McLean with photo

Grave of Archibald Phillip ‘Archie’ McLean in Holten, The Netherlands. (Photo credit: Henk Vincent)

Thank you to Erin Mundy Montgomery, Don Moore, and Tina Mundy for sharing photos and information on Archie McLean. Thank you to George Dalton and Michael Michaud for help in finding family. Thank you to Barry Miller for helping with information on troop movements on April 13, 1945. Thank you to Edwin van der Wolf and Henk Vincent, volunteer researchers for the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten and at the Information Centre Canadian Cemetery Holten, for placing Archie’s picture beside his grave and taking a photo for us.

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

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….The last flight of Wellington Z1203….

…The long march to freedom….

….Back on Prince Edward Island….

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….2 families…1 letter….

….The letter came from Stalag Luft III….

….The letter writer’s son was found….

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…A photo of Edmond was found in Saulnierville…

… Edmond served in the Coast Battery and home defence…

… Edmond left Canada for overseas service in January 1945…

… Edmond lost his life during the Battle of the Five Woods…

…Edmond is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten…

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… The search for a photo of Clive was successful…

… Clive enlisted in 1939…

… Clive married shortly before going overseas…

… Clive left Canada for service overseas…

… Clive left the United Kingdom for Sicily…

… Clive participated in Operation Husky…

… Clive lost his life during the liberation of Deventer…

… Clive is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten…

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…Chief Roberta Joseph from the Trʼondëk Hwëchʼin First Nation commemorated Harry …

…The Trʼondëk Hwëchʼin First Nation provided a photo of Harry …

…Harry enlisted in 1942…

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…Harry was the patrol’s only casualty …

…Harry’s sister received a letter with a statement from Lt Johnson…

…Harry is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten…

….Davis Lake in Yukon Territory is named in Harry’s honour…..

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…Pieter crossed an item off his bucket wish list!…

…The Halifax bomber was very versatile, once the initial design flaws were corrected…

…The outside of the plane was huge …

…Getting into the plane required agility …

…Pieter in the pilot’s seat was a dream come true …

… ‘Where’s the ignition switch?’I asked …

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… The rear gunner sat in the tail turret …

… There were no ejection seats if you needed to quickly exit the plane …

…Previous stories about aircrew who lost their lives in a Halifax bomber….

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

…William trained as an air gunner….

…William left Canada for overseas service….

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

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

…The crew of Halifax JD215….

…William is buried in Eindhoven General Cemetery….

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

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…The search for a photo of Archie led to two nephews….

… Archie joined the Royal Canadian Engineers as a sapper….

…Archie left Canada for overseas service….

…Archie joined the Carleton & York Regiment in Italy….

…Archie is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten….

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…Harry was sent overseas and assigned to the 8^th LAA Regiment…