YouTube Channel: On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter Valkenburg

The Search For A Photo Of James Lymon Cameron Moves To YouTube

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CIMG8667 Sep 9 2017 Chester Farm Military Cemetery Pieter by grave of James Lymon Cameron

Pieter by the grave of James Lymon Cameron at Chester Farm Military Cemetery in Belgium.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

February 27, 2021.  When you visit a war cemetery maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, you are always struck by how peaceful and well-kept the cemetery is.  It doesn’t matter which country the war cemetery is in, the impression is the same…. row upon row of neatly maintained graves.

The sad part is that overwhelmingly the graves are of young men, all buried far from home.  In most of the smaller cemeteries we visited, we were the only ones there.  When Pieter began his research to find out about the men listed on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion, his hope was to have a photo of each man, to go with the story he was able to unfold.

In the case of WW1 soldier James Lymon CAMERON, a photo has never been uncovered.  Born December 30, 1892 in Victoria-By-The-Sea, Prince Edward Island, he was the son of Edward H. Cameron, a carpenter, and Susan Estelle Harrington of Hampton.

The family moved around due to Edward’s work, and when James Lymon enlisted in 1915, he was living in Vancouver.  Sadly, he was killed by enemy fire on July 24, 1916, and is buried at Chester Farm Military Cemetery, 5 km south Ypres in Belgium.

The cemetery is located on a turnoff from a busy town onto a country road, but once inside the gate, you are in a quiet environment, with cows grazing in a field right behind the cemetery wall. It reminded me of the view from our own home here on Prince Edward Island.  Only the colour of the cows differed!

CIMG8674 Sep 9 2017 Chester Farm Military Cemetery surrounded by cows

Cows surround the walls of the Chester Farm Military Cemetery in Belgium.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Pieter laid flags down at the grave and we marked the visit by writing in the visitors’ book.

CIMG8675 Sep 9 2017 Chester Farm Military Cemetery Daria writes in the guest book

Writing in the visitors’ book at Chester Field Military Cemetery.  We were accompanied by Pieter’s Belgian cousins on this leg of the war memorial tour.  (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

“…If only we had a photo…” Pieter sighed.  Now, after years of an unsuccessful search for family or friends, he’s taken his appeal for a photo to YouTube, in the hope that a viewer might come forward:


Pieters saying

You can read more about James Lymon Cameron and our visit to the Chester Farm Military Cemetery here: https://bordencarletonresearchproject.wordpress.com/2017/10/23/a-visit-to-chester-farm-military-cemetery/

Thank you to post-production editor Wendy Nattress, who made this YouTube video a reality. If you have photos or information to share about James Lymon Cameron, please email Pieter at dariadv@yahoo.ca or comment on the blog or send a tweet to @researchmemori1.

Screenshot_2021-02-27 On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter Valkenburg

You can subscribe to: On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter Valkenburg: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ591TyjSheOR-Cb_Gs_5Kw

© Daria Valkenburg

On The War Memorial Trail….. Pieter Thanks Atlantic Canadians For Sending Photos Of WW2 Soldiers

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20210220_111030 Feb 20 2021 Pieter with photo wish lists

Pieter surrounded by some of the photo wish lists for Atlantic Canada from the Canadian War Cemeteries in The Netherlands.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

February 20, 2021.  On January 4, 2021, Pieter was interviewed on CTV Atlantic’s Live At 5, where he asked viewers in Atlantic Canada for photos of soldiers buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands. The response was encouraging! (See https://bordencarletonresearchproject.wordpress.com/2021/01/05/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-search-for-ww2-soldiers-buried-in-the-netherlands-featured-on-ctvs-atlantic-live-at-5/ for more information.) 

Missed the January 4 broadcast? Click here:  https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=2111996&jwsource=em

Since the broadcast, submissions continue to come in for soldiers buried in Canadian War Cemeteries in The Netherlands, Belgium, and Italy. All submissions of Canadian soldiers buried in other cemeteries are welcome for the Atlantic Canada Remembers postings. 

While the original broadcast discussed a wish list of photos for soldiers from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick from the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, wish lists soon reached Pieter from the Canadian War Cemeteries in Groesbeek and Bergen Op Zoom.  (A wish list for photos of soldiers from Prince Edward Island has been mostly fulfilled.)

20210220_111052 Feb 20 2021 Photo wish lists from Dutch cemeteries

Wish lists for photos of soldiers from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick who are buried in The Netherlands are slowly being fulfilled.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

On January 13, 2021, CTV Atlantic’s Live At 5 ran an update, which included interviews with Edwin van der Wolf, a volunteer at the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands, and with Darlene and David Roberts, who had submitted a photo of David’s uncle, Bobby Nickerson.  (See https://bordencarletonresearchproject.wordpress.com/2021/01/13/on-the-war-memorial-trail-atlantic-canada-remembers-part-2/)

Missed the January 13 broadcast? Click here: https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=2118019&jwsource=em

CIMG9119 Sep 18 2017 Holten Cemetery Pieter & Edwin van der Wolf by grave of WD Sherren

Pieter with Edwin van der Wolf at the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

On January 14, 2021 CTV posted a web story today to go with the January 13, 2021 broadcast…. See https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/dutch-canadian-man-on-a-mission-to-tell-stories-of-lost-soldiers-1.5266404

Now Pieter has prepared a ‘Thank You Atlantic Canada’ video for all who have contributed photos and stories of WW2 soldiers who are buried overseas.  You can watch it here:

Thank you to all who have shared photos and anecdotes, and to post-production editor Wendy Nattress, who made this YouTube video a reality, and of course to CTV Atlantic’s Live at 5 for helping to get the word out about the photo wish lists.

We will continue to feature photos and stories in our Atlantic Canada Remembers postings. If you have photos or information to share, please email Pieter at dariadv@yahoo.ca, comment on the blog, or tweet to @researchmemori1. 

If you are reading this posting, but aren’t following the blog, you are welcome to do so.  See https://bordencarletonresearchproject.wordpress.com or email me at dariadv@yahoo.ca and ask for an invitation to the blog. 

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. 

© Daria Valkenburg

On The War Memorial Trail….. Atlantic Canada Remembers – Part 4

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January 20, 2021. Responses to the news clips on CTV’s Atlantic Live At 5 on January 4 and 13 continue to come in.  As mentioned in Parts 1, 2, and 3, Pieter is ensuring that every email is acknowledged, and that the photos of soldiers buried in The Netherlands are forwarded to the appropriate cemetery for their digital archives. 

This posting features more of the photos submitted…..      

Soldiers buried at the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands

Nelson DesRoches Army

Nelson Desroches. (Photo courtesy of The Desroches Family)

Leo Gaudet submitted a photo of Nelson DESROCHES, on behalf of the Desroches family, and wrote that “…We have a vet buried at Holten from Tignish, whom my wife and I visited in 2014…”

Born May 23, 1915 in Tignish, Prince Edward Island, the son of John Desroches and Elizabeth Doucette, Nelson followed his older brother Merrick into military service.  He was serving with the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry when he was killed in action on April 14, 1945.

Ernest Robert Haynes

Ernest Robert Haynes.  (Photo courtesy of the Haynes Family)

On behalf of the Haynes family, Teri Haynes submitted a photo of her father-in-law, Ernest Robert HAYNES, and explained that “…my Ernie visited the grave many years ago when he was in his teens with his Mother…”

Ernest Robert, born March 17, 1919 in St. John, New Brunswick, was the son of James Edward and Alice Beatrice Haynes.  A dyer in a laundromat before enlisting in 1939, he was married to Opal Bailey and the father of Teri’s late husband, Ernest David.

While serving with the North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment, he was sent overseas to the United Kingdom in July 1944, and on June 1, 1945 to North West Europe. Unfortunately, due to a fatal accident with a passing Canadian Army truck near Soestdijk, he lost his life on July 5, 1945, age 26.  He was temporarily buried in the town of Hilversum before being reburied on March 29, 1946 in Holten.

Daniel Pearo

Daniel Pearo.  (Photo courtesy of the Pearo Family)

On behalf of the Pearo family, Colleen Hartling submitted a photo of her uncle, Daniel PEARO, and wrote that “…Daniel was my mother’s brother. She looked up to him as a child and loved him dearly. She said that he was full of fun and you can see the twinkle in his kind eyes. I was born in the 60s so I did not know Daniel…”

Daniel Pearo, son of Samuel and Dasie Pearo, served with the Cape Breton Highlanders and lost his life on May 1, 1945.  (A tribute to him can be found here: http://faculty.uccb.ca/highlanders/DANIEL%20PEARO.htm?fbclid=IwAR1ijEE5uz9tppYwN4dPcHA24DAGhDSAtVfQJUtRAEa21ZIY-zqRZwiUG9I)

Soldiers buried at the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom, The Netherlands

Gordon Brewer 2

Gordon Thomas Brewer.  (Photo submitted by Stephen and Hazel Albert)

Stephen Albert submitted a photo of Gordon Thomas BREWER on behalf of himself and his mother Hazel, explaining that his uncle “… was 17 when he enlisted to serve his country.  Killed in action on his 21st birthday on October 25, 1944.  School children at that time adopted a grave. Willamina Proost, a young girl, adopted Gordon’s grave, corresponded with his parents for many years until she married, then stopped writing, so lost contact with her. Gordon’s medals and all letters to his parents were burned in a house fire several years ago, only few photos taken before going overseas still remain. Thank you for taking time to honour the men and women who gave their lives to protect others…”

Hazel Albert, Gordon’s sister, wrote that she was the “…last remaining member of Gordon’s family….”  Gordon was born in Halifax on October 25, 1923, the son of Alonzo Wallace and Mary Ellen (nee Dean) Brewer.  

Gordon served with the Essex Scottish Regiment and lost his life during the Battle of the Scheldt.  (See https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/history/second-world-war/scheldt)

Soldiers buried at the Montecchio War Cemetery in Italy

Felix Gaudet

Felix Gaudet.  (Photo submitted by Leo Gaudet)

Leo Gaudet submitted a photo of his uncle, Felix GAUDET, born May 30, 1923, son of Joseph J. and Mary Gaudet of Tignish, Prince Edward Island. After enlistment, he left Halifax for the United Kingdom in July 1943 and was transferred to the Canadian Infantry Reserve Unit a few days after his arrival.  On March 26, 1944 he was sent to Italy, and on May 13 transferred to the Cape Breton Highlanders.

On August 30, 1944 he lost his life during the battle to take a knoll on the Gothic Defence Line.  Another soldier from PEI, Albert Eugene Arsenault, also with the Cape Breton Highlanders, lost his life the same day.  (See https://bordencarletonresearchproject.wordpress.com/2020/10/09/the-ww2-soldier-killed-in-action-while-crossing-the-foglia-river-in-italy/)

“The Allies began the day of August 30th with an air bombardment against German positions at dawn. At 5.30 p.m., the Perth Regiment attacked the end of a ridge northeast of Montecchio, while a knoll at the west end of the town and the high ground beyond were the objectives of the Cape Breton Highlanders. Both units faced incessant fire from the heights as well as minefields along the flat lands. The Perths managed to break through the line first, reaching and passing their objective. The Cape Breton troops had the support of tanks from the 8th Princess Louise’s (New Brunswick) Hussars, which helped three of their companies make it to the base of the knoll. After each attempt, however, they were driven back to the Foglia, with casualties totalling 19 members killed and 46 wounded. The Irish Regiment, which had been in reserve, was moved through the path of the Perths. Tanks and artillery guns were not yet available here and as a result the regiment lost 19 killed and 31 wounded.” (Source: https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/overseas/second-world-war/italy/montecchio)

The Gaudet family made a tribute to Felix last year, on what would have been his 97th birthday.  It was so special that it’s shared here:

Felix Gaudet tribute by Aunt Cathy

Tribute to Felix Gaudet submitted by Leo Gaudet.

Thank you to Hazel Albert, Stephen Albert, Kent Caldwell, Colleen Hartling, Teri Haynes, and Leo Gaudet for sharing photos and anecdotes.  Kudos to CTV’s Atlantic Live At 5 for helping to get the word out on this quest of remembrance. Atlantic Canadians remember their loved ones who are buried overseas.

More photos and stories in Atlantic Canada Remembers – Part 5! If you have photos or information to share, please email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, or comment on the blog. 

Missed the previous postings in this series? See:

© 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/

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 Continued Search For A Photo Of John Clifford Rogers

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January 18, 2021.  Last fall, a posting featured Pieter’s search for 5 soldiers from WW1 and WW2:

  • WW1 soldier Bazil CORMIER
  • WW1 soldier James CAIRNS
  • WW2 soldier John Clifford ROGERS
  • WW2 soldier Vernon James NIXON
  • WW2 soldier Philip Hubert LONG

Family subsequently came forward with photos for Vernon James Nixon and Philip Hubert Long, but the rest are still ‘faceless’.

Numerous attempts have been made to find family of the three others, with no success.  I would have given up, but not Pieter.  On Friday, January 15, 2021, he was interviewed by Angela Walker on CBC Radio’s Mainstreet PEI about WW2 soldier Pte John Clifford Rogers, who is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek in The Netherlands, after losing his life on March 3, 1945 in Germany. Here are the key facts known about him:

  • He was born 19 August 1925 in Hope River, Prince Edward Island, the son of Andrew Rogers and Phoebe Gallant.
  • He had three other siblings: The oldest, Ferdinand Joseph, was born in 1921 and served with The North Nova Scotia Highlanders. He landed on D-Day in France and was killed in action on July 25, 1944.  His body was never found and he is commemorated on a monument at the Commonwealth War Graves Cemetery in Bayeux, France.
  • The younger siblings were Walter Angus, born around 1930, and Marie Gladys, born around 1934.
  • The family lived at No. 7 Young Street in Charlottetown when John Clifford and Ferdinand Joseph were killed.

You can listen to the radio interview here: https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-130-mainstreet-pei/clip/15819180-pieter-valkenburg-searching-john-clifford-rogers-information

In addition to the radio interview, an appeal has gone out on YouTube, which you can watch here: 

Let’s hope someone will see one of these appeals for a photo and help put a face to the name of John Clifford Rogers! If you can help with a photo or information, please email Pieter at dariadv@yahoo.ca, comment on the blog, or tweet to @researchmemori1.  Photos and stories are still being collected for the Atlantic Canada Remembers series. 

Thank you to Angela Walker and the team at CBC’s Mainstreet PEI and to Wendy Nattress, our post-production editor for the YouTube videos. 

To read the original posting about the 5 soldiers, and a profile on Philip Hubert Long:

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. 

© Daria Valkenburg

On The War Memorial Trail….. Atlantic Canada Remembers – Part 1

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“No soldier buried overseas should be forgotten.”

January 7, 2021.  “No soldier buried overseas should be forgotten.” This statement by Pieter in a news clip on CTV’s Atlantic Live At 5 touched many people who watched it, and many photos and stories were subsequently emailed to him.   Since the broadcast, Pieter has been working to ensure every email is acknowledged, and that the photos of soldiers buried in The Netherlands are forwarded to the appropriate cemetery for their digital archives. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/01/05/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-search-for-ww2-soldiers-buried-in-the-netherlands-featured-on-ctvs-atlantic-live-at-5/)

This posting will feature some of the photos submitted. There were too many submissions for one posting so more will be featured in subsequent postings.

Soldiers buried at the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands

James Grant Anningson

James Grant Anningson. (Photo submitted by Brenda Budd)

Brenda Budd submitted a photo of James Grant ANNINGSON, saying “…My husband’s uncle is buried there.  His name was James Grant Anningson but the family called him Grant.  He was the only one in the family that didn’t return…”  Sgt Anningson was with the New Brunswick Rangers and lost his life on April 27, 1945, at the age of 23.

image002 John Angus Beaton

John Angus Beaton. (Photo submitted by Alexander Beaton)

Alexander Beaton submitted a photo of his uncle John Angus BEATON from Mabou Ridge, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.  Alexander’s brother Daniel wrote that his uncle “… made it through the war but due to the amount of soldiers that had to return to Canada, he and other soldiers were waiting their turn to be flown home.  While waiting one Sunday morning in January 1946, He was fatally shot by a Canadian soldier suffering from a mental illness. This soldier was later charged with his murder…”

The shooting occurred in Oldenburg, Germany, where there was a large Canadian base.  Daniel continued by telling us that “…I was told that John Angus’s parents, my grandparents, were happy and waiting for John Angus to return home, but were informed later that he would never return. He was 32 years old when he died, and was the son of Mary and Alex Tailor Beaton…”

Melvin Collins

Melvin Collins.  (Photo courtesy of Phyllis Kelly)

Phyllis Kelly submitted a photo of her uncle, Melvin COLLINS, from South Kouchibouguac, New Brunswick.  He served with the New Brunswick Rangers and died on April 12, 1945 in Papenburg, Germany, age 26, when he accidentally tripped a hidden high-incendiary booby trap. 

Goldwin Marven Pollick

Goldwin Marven Pollick pushing his brother Ralph on a bike. (Photo courtesy of Gary Pollick and Family of Goldwin Pollick)

On behalf of the Goldwin Pollick family, Gary Pollick submitted a photo of his uncle, Goldwin Marven POLLICK, and explained that “…We remember him as always being referred to as Goldy.  I don’t know a lot about him as I was not born yet and no one in my family spoke much about the war.  My father was in The Netherlands at the same time, and he was able to view his brother’s body before it was taken away for burial…”

Goldwin Pollick was born in Minto, New Brunswick, and served with the Carleton and York Regiment.  He lost his life on April 13, 1945 in Wilp-Achterhoek. This date was familiar to us as in 2017 we visited a windmill in the nearby village of Posterenk, in which 6 members of the Carlton and York Regiment are listed as having died between April 13 and 15.  Unfortunately, this listing does not include every soldier who was killed in the area.

Ford Hilton Spidle

Ford Hilton Spidle (Photo submitted by Dawn (Spidle) Coldwell)

Dawn (Spidle) Coldwell submitted a photo of her uncle, Ford Hilton SPIDLE, explaining that “…He was a member of the Cape Breton Highlanders. I’ve been told that he was killed by a sniper bullet the day the war was declared over. He was the young age of 32.  Apparently, the information hadn’t been received that the war was over….” The war in The Netherlands ended on May 5 and Ford Hilton died on May 1, 1945 during the Battle of the Delfzijl Pocket, which lasted from April 23 to May 2.  20 soldiers from the Cape Breton Highlanders were killed in action during that battle.

Dawn went on to share a personal experience.  “…I was fortunate enough to have attended the Memorial Day Service in Holten, in 2009. While I was there the Dutch people treated me like I was royalty. I have stayed in close contact with the people over there who made my trip possible. Uncle Ford was my Dad’s only brother. I have a brother who was named after Uncle Ford.  I wasn’t even born when Uncle Ford was killed but my Dad always kept his memory alive.…”

Charles Borden Tuplin

Charles Borden Tuplin. (Photo submitted by Gary Richard Perry)

Gary Richard Perry of Nova Scotia submitted a photo of Charles Borden TUPLIN of the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment), and explained that “…My maternal grandfather Charles Borden Tuplin of Indian River, PEI is buried at Holten. He was shot on December 7, 1944, was taken as a POW but died the next day…”

Soldiers buried at the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands

William Francis Stewart

William Francis Stewart.  (Photo courtesy of the Stewart Family)

Phyllis Kelly submitted a photo of William Francis STEWART on behalf of the Stewart family, and explained that “…He was born in Claire Fontaine, New Brunswick (this community doesn’t exist now, it was expropriated and became part of Kouchibouguac National Park.) He was the son of John and Katherine (Butler) Stewart. He was married to Audrey Savoie and they had three daughters, Gloria, Bernetta, and Margaret. …”  He lost his life on July 8, 1945 when he fell out of a window in Amersfoort, The Netherlands in the early morning. 

Benjamin James Witherall

Benjamin James Witherall (Photo submitted by Jacqueline Inder)

Jacqueline Inder submitted a photo of Benjamin James WITHERALL of Nova Scotia, and wrote that “…I would like to share with you the only picture my mother’s family had of their brother in uniform.  His name is Benjamin James Witherall who was a private with the Highland Light Infantry in WW2.  He was killed in action on December 27th, 1944 at the age of 20…”

The Highland Light Infantry was based on the front line on a ridge between Nijmegen and Arnhem during that time. (See https://pipesforfreedom.com/webtxt/0502THE_HIGHLAND_LIGHT_INFANTRY_OF_CANADA.htm)

Soldiers Buried In Adegem Canadian War Cemetery in Belgium

Edison Reynolds Smith

Edison Reynolds Smith.  (Photo courtesy of Angela Leighton)

Angela Leighton submitted a photo of Edison Reynolds SMITH, explaining that “…I wish to advise that my uncle, Private Edison Reynolds Smith of the North Nova Scotia Highlanders, Service #F/57514 (date of birth May 11, 1924) was killed in action in Holland on October 16, 1944, at the age of 20…” He lost his life during the Battle of the Scheldt and was initially buried in the province of Zeeland, The Netherlands.  (See https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/history/second-world-war/scheldt) Angela ended her email with the statement: “…None of these heroes should ever be forgotten….”  She is correct!

Thank you to Alexander and Daniel Beaton, Brenda Budd, Dawn (Spidle) Coldwell, Jacqueline Inder, Phyllis Kelly, Angela Leighton, Gary Richard Perry, and Gary Pollick for sharing photos and anecdotes. Thank you again to CTV’s Atlantic Live At 5 for helping to get the word out on this quest of remembrance. Atlantic Canadians remember their loved ones who are buried overseas.

More photos and stories in Atlantic Canada Remembers – Part 2! If you have photos or information to share, please 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 our research, you are welcome to do so.  Our blog address: https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/

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

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

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

On The War Memorial Trail….. The Search For WWII Soldiers Buried In The Netherlands Featured On CTV’s Atlantic Live At 5

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CIMG5045 Jan 4 2021 Pieter interviewed via Skype by Bruce Frisko of CTV Live At 5

Pieter being interviewed via Skype by Bruce Frisko of CTV’s Atlantic Live At 5 program. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

January 5, 2021.  There was a bit of excitement in the Valkenburg household yesterday. Pieter was interviewed by Bruce Frisko of CTV’s Atlantic Live At 5 broadcast about research he is doing in trying to find photos of soldiers buried in The Netherlands, with a particular emphasis at this time on names from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick from lists provided by the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten.

See Dutch-Canadian man on a mission to tell stories of lost soldiers| CTV News at https://www.ctvnews.ca/atlantic/article/dutch-canadian-man-on-a-mission-to-tell-stories-of-lost-soldiers/

Thank you to Judy Parks for snapping a photo from the TV broadcast and sending it to us!

20210104_175725Photo from Judy Parks

Excerpt from the TV clip submitted by Judy Parks.

 

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

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

For a list of the current wish list for photos from the Canadian War Cemetery for Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, please email us.

Thank you to Bruce Frisko and CTV’s Atlantic Live At 5 for helping to get the word out on this quest of remembrance. If you can help with a photo or information, please 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/

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

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

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

On The War Memorial Trail….. The WWII Soldier Killed In Action While Trying To Break The Gothic Line In Italy

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4452150 Happy New Year

This first posting for 2021 tells the last of the stories of the WWI and WWII servicemen listed on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion.  This blog will continue to provide updates on their stories, and will also continue to tell stories of soldiers from the South Shore area of Prince Edward Island who returned home, and those who lost their lives in war but are not on the Cenotaph.  It will also feature more stories of WWII soldiers from Atlantic Canada who are buried in The Netherlands, a research project that Pieter is currently involved in.  Pieter and I thank you for your support as these stories have been researched, and hope that you continue with us on this expanded journey of remembrance along the war memorial trail….

January 2, 2021.  Four WWII soldiers on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion lost their lives in Italy…. George Alfred DUNN of the Carleton & York Regiment, Albert Eugene ARSENAULT of the Cape Breton Highlanders, Ernest Murray NORTON of the West Nova Scotia Regiment, and Arnold Dudley TAYLOR, also of the West Nova Scotia Regiment, the subject of this posting.

Arnold Taylor photo from Barbara Simester

Arnold Dudley Taylor.  (Photo courtesy of Barbara Simester)

Arnold Dudley Taylor was born on July 13, 1913 in Charlottetown, the son of Wilfred F. Taylor and Beatrice Holbrook.  His father was a pharmacist and owned a pharmacy in Kensington, and Arnold Dudley followed in his footsteps, after graduating from Mount Allison University in New Brunswick. 

He was also an avid golfer, winner of Island Golf Championship at the age of 19. His daughter, Barbara Simester, noted that “… The Taylors were very athletic. Father won a lot of trophies and played at the Belvedere Club in Charlottetown….”  In addition to sports, Barbara explained that he was a member of the church choir. “… Father was a baritone in the United Church …”

Beginning July 3, 1928 he was a member of the PEI Light Horse Militia, re-engaging every 3 years until his enlistment in Halifax with the West Nova Scotia Regiment for active duty service on July 13, 1940, with the rank of Lieutenant.  On May 3, 1941, he married Annalea MacDonald, a teacher in the North Tryon school.

In February 1942, daughter Barbara was born, and shortly afterwards Arnold Dudley was sent to the Debert Military Camp in Nova Scotia and transferred to the North Nova Scotia Highlanders.  By May 1942 he was in the United Kingdom.  In January 1943, he was transferred back to the West Nova Scotia Highlanders, while still in the United Kingdom.

Arnold Dudley was sent to Italy on October 27, 1943, part of the contingent of reinforcement troops.  The Regiment had landed in Sicily in June 1943, and had been in mainland Italy since September 3, 1943, as part of the 3rd Infantry Brigade, 1st Canadian Infantry Division. 

Like Albert Eugene ARSENAULT of the Cape Breton Highlanders, he was killed in action on August 30, 1944, during the Battle of the Gothic Line. The Gothic Line was a German defence line in Northern Italy. 

An article by Mark Zuelke in the Canadian Encyclopedia explains what happened that day…. “…on 30 August, two regiments of the 1st Infantry Division — the West Nova Scotias and the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) — attacked on the right, while 5th Division’s Perth Regiment and Cape Breton Highlanders struck to the left. The West Novas were caught in a minefield and suffered heavy casualties…”  (See https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/battle-of-the-gothic-line)

Arnold Dudley was buried in the Montecchio War Cemetery in Italy, as was Arsenault.

Grave of Arnold Taylor from Barbara Simester

Grave of Arnold Dudley Taylor in Montecchio War Cemetery.  (Photo courtesy of Barbara Simester)

When we met with Arnold Dudley’s daughter Barbara a few years ago, she explained that after her father’s death, she and her mother moved from Kensington to Crapaud, and later to Hampton. Barbara attended Grade 1 in Hampton and recalled that they lived next to the school with a family named Cameron.

Barbara and her mother later moved to Kingston, Ontario, where Barbara studied to be a nurse, and where she met her husband. 

In 1956 the pharmacy in Kensington had been sold to the Champion family and Arnold Dudley’s parents moved to Calgary. 

CIMG9464 Barbara Taylor with Pieter and Photo Arnold Taylor

Pieter with Barbara Simester in Ottawa. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Thank you to Barbara Simester for sharing photos and anecdotes.  If you have recollections of Lt Arnold Dudley Taylor, please email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or tweet to @researchmemori1. 

© Daria Valkenburg

….Previous postings on Islanders killed in Italy….

To read the previous postings on George Alfred Dunn, Ernest Murray Norton, and Albert Eugene Arsenault, see:

George Alfred DUNN:

Ernest Murray NORTON:

Albert Eugene ARSENAULT:

….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….. A Face For WWII Soldier Alderic Basque

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20180222_153507 Feb 22 2018 Daria & Pieter on beach by Whales Tail

A beach in Florida is just a distant memory this winter! More time for research! (Photo taken by Brien Robertston)

December 31, 2020.  One of the pluses of being socially distanced and not going away for a winter holiday is that Pieter can concentrate on his research rather than basking in the Florida sunshine.  Instead of snowbird get-togethers and running on a beach by the Gulf of Mexico, he has been digging into a list of WWII soldiers from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia that researchers at the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands sent him.  The goal?  To find photos of 40 soldiers from New Brunswick and 26 from Nova Scotia who are buried in The Netherlands. 

Recently, with the help of Marc Comeau, President of the Royal Canadian Legion in Tracadie, New Brunswick and Marielle Arsenault, Executive Secretary at the Municipalité Régionale de Tracadie, the family of one soldier was found: Alderic BASQUE.

IMG_20201218_151124 cropped picture of Alderic Basque

Alderic Basque.  (Photo courtesy of Hermenegilde Basque and Dorina Basque-St-Coeur)

Alderic was born in St. Pons, New Brunswick on May 23, 1915, the son of Olivier and Tharzile Basque. A woodsman and farmer before enlistment in Fredericton, New Brunswick on January 15, 1945, he spoke both French and English. 

A few days after enlistment, he was on his way to the United Kingdom.  By March 31, 1945 he was in North West Europe with Le Régiment de Chaudière, which was part of the 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade.  (For more information, see https://www.canadiansoldiers.com/regiments/infantry/chaudiereregiment.htm)

….Alderic was killed during the Attack on Weener….

Screenshot_2020-12-31 Weener Map Germany Google Satellite Maps

Map showing The Netherlands on the left and Germany on the right.  Weener is indicated by the red mark.  (Map source: http://www.maplandia.com/germany/niedersachsen/weser-ems/leer/weener/)

On April 26, 1945, he was killed in action during a battle near the town of Weener, Germany, not far from the Dutch border.  He was temporarily buried near Heide, Germany, before reburial in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands on March 27, 1946.

grave of Alderic Basque

Grave of Alderic Basque at the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten.  (Photo courtesy of Canadian Virtual War Memorial https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial)

….Memories of Alderic were shared by his niece ….

Alderic’s sister, Dorina Basque-St-Coeur, shared a few memories of her brother with her daughter, Exodia Austin. 

Exodia was kind enough to share these with Pieter, giving us a picture of the man behind the uniform. “… My mother often told me that when her brother Alderic came for a visit he had a war medal on him. He was godfather to my oldest brother Denis who was just 1 or 2 years old. Denis liked to play with the medal and decoration when he sat on his knee. My Mother was so afraid that Alderic would be punished because nobody should touch the medal, but Alderic let my brother play with the medal….”  This would likely have been the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal and Clasp. 

Exodia explained that her mother talked about some of the skills and interests that her brother had.  “…Alderic was a good person. He made himself a pair of wooden skates. Imagine!  He also wanted to learn how to step dance. He practiced often in his room but never learned.  Probably he would have learned if he had survived the army…” 

An all too familiar tale of heartache that many soldiers experienced was also recalled.  “…. My mother also told me that Alderic had a girlfriend. But she saw another solder during that time. So when Alderic found out, he didn’t want to come back. And it was that year that he was killed….” 

Thank you to Exodia Austin, her mother Dorina Basque-St-Couer, and her cousin Hermenegilde Basque, for sharing a photo and memories of Alderic Basque.  And thank you to Marc Comeau and Marielle Arsenault for caring enough about the memory of a soldier to help find his family. 

….Photos sought….

While work continues on the list of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia soldiers, a reminder that photos of two soldiers from Prince Edward Island buried in The Netherlands have yet to be found:

UPDATE:  Photos for these two soldiers have been found since this posting was published!

If anyone has a story or photo to share about any Canadian military personnel buried in The Netherlands, please contact Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, or comment on the blog. 

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?….

If you are reading this posting, but aren’t following 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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Happy Holidays From The Valkenburgs – And Our Year In Review!

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multicolor-holiday-christmas-decorations-with-blue-silver-ribbon-snowflakes-header-background-hd-1920x720

December 20, 2020.  We’re nearing the end of a challenging and socially distanced 2020, and looking with hope and anticipation to a 2021 with a vaccine to protect us against coronavirus, and a chance to visit and travel again. 

Since returning home from our winter vacation in March, we have been quietly working at home, and this seems a good time to reflect on what has been done with this research project.

…Documentary About Halifax L9561….

We began the year with a short documentary summarizing the amazing day on October 12, 2019 when a memorial panel to honour WW2 pilot Elmer Bagnall MUTTART and the crew of Halifax L9561 was installed in Wons, The Netherlands. 

In February, we were invited to screen the video and give a short presentation to snowbirds in Florida.  This was the last event before pandemic safety measures resulted in the cancellation of all other engagements.

…. WWII Soldiers Listed On The Cenotaph Outside Borden-Carleton Legion …….

This year we told the stories of 8 WWII servicemen listed on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion in Prince Edward Island:

  • Albert Eugene ARSENAULT
  • Joseph ‘Francis’ ARSENAULT
  • George Alfred DUNN
  • John Daniel “Jack” FERGUSON
  • Ernest Ramey GALLANT
  • James Emmet HUGHES
  • Singleton Charles JEFFERY
  • Harold “Lloyd” LEFURGEY

 ….End of WWI Observations….

We shared some of the observations that WWI soldier Harold Keith HOWATT made towards the end of the war.  The history books are filled with official accounts from officers and politicians. Howatt’s observations came from the viewpoint of an ordinary soldier caught up in extraordinary circumstances. 

…. Interviews To Highlight Search For Photos….

Pieter did radio interviews and was interviewed by newspaper reporters in his quest for photos for:

  • WW1 soldier Bazil CORMIER, who is buried in France
  • WW1 soldier Joseph Arthur DESROCHES, who is buried in France
  • WW2 soldier Philip Hubert LONG, who is buried in The Netherlands
  • WW2 soldier Barney Reuben MCGUIGAN, who is buried in The Netherlands

A photo for Philip Hubert LONG was found, but not for the other three.  UPDATE:  Photos were subsequently found for Joseph Arthur DESROCHES and Barney Reuben MCGUIGAN.

…. Letters To The Editor For Photo Search….

Several letters to the editor in various newspapers were written in the quest for photos for:

  • WW1 soldier James CAIRNS, who is buried in France
  • WW2 soldier John Clifford ROGERS, who is buried in The Netherlands
  • WW2 soldier Norman James NIXON, who is buried in The Netherlands

Family and photos for Norman James NIXON were found, but not for the other two. UPDATE:  Photos were subsequently found for Joseph Arthur DESROCHES and Barney Reuben MCGUIGAN.

… Successful Search For Photos …..

Many WWII soldiers are buried in cemeteries in The Netherlands, and as requests by Dutch researchers for photos are uncovered, a few of those stories were told.  Photos were found for:

  • James Walter AULD
  • Robert W. ATKINSON
  • Arthur DOIRON
  • Gunnar DALMAN
  • Joseph Edmund HENNEBERY
  • Philip Hubert LONG
  • James B. MACINNIS
  • David MAGUIRE
  • Olen Byron MARSHALL
  • Norman James NIXON
  • Donald O. ROBERTSON
  • B. R. RODGERS
  • Ford H. SPIDLE
  • Robert B. THOMAS

…. Stories About Servicemen NOT on the Cenotaph

We also featured stories about servicemen with a connection to the South Shore area of Prince Edward Island who weren’t listed on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion:

  • WWI soldier William Earle DAVISON, who was killed in France
  • WWII soldier Joseph Robert GAUTHIER, who was in the Devil’s Brigade
  • WWI soldier Herbert ‘Herb’ S. MACEWEN, who was in the 2nd Siege Battery
  • WWII serviceman Robert ‘Scott’ MACQUARRIE, who was a mechanic with the RCAF
  • WWII serviceman Ralph Gordon MCCUTCHEON, who died in an accident during pilot training
  • WWII soldier Frank Edward MCGOVERN, who was in the North Shore (New Brunswick) Regiment
  • WWII soldier Earl Francis Phinney SMITH, who was in the 1st Canadian Armoured Carrier Regiment

… The Search For Photos Also Moves To YouTube….

2020 began with a documentary that was posted on YouTube, and ends with a dedicated YouTube Channel: On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter Valkenburg: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJ591TyjSheOR-Cb_Gs_5Kw

The new YouTube videos focus on the search for photos of WWI and WWII soldiers.  Each video is very short and briefly tells the story of an individual soldier, with a request for a photo.  So far, no one has come forward with a photo.  The more these videos are shared, the more chance of reaching someone with a photo.  You can help us by sharing the links as widely as you can.

Thank you for your support and encouragement of this research project!

As 2020 comes to an end, we would like to thank everyone who helped with researching these stories.  To give one example, Leonard Boudreau of the Cape Breton Highlanders Regimental Association helped to find many of the photos. We also thank readers of this blog and the On The War Memorial Trail column in The County Line Courier who suggested some of stories you’ve read.  A big thank you goes to Mike and Isabel Smith, owners of The County Line Courier.  Last, but not least, the YouTube videos and channel would not be possible without the invaluable support of post-production editor Wendy Nattress.

Christmas2020 Photo Daria & Pieter

If you have photos or information to share, please 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 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/

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 Search For A Photo Of James Cairns Moves To YouTube

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CIMG8559 Sep 6 2017 Pieter by grave of James Cairns at Manitoba Cemetery

Pieter by the grave of James Cairns at Manitoba Cemetery in Caix, France.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

December 17, 2020.  When you look at a gravestone in a cemetery, particularly one filled with graves from soldiers who were killed, you can easily see them as a collection of graves, not individuals who had hopes and dreams of their own.

In 2017, when we visited cemeteries in France, Belgium, The Netherlands, and Germany to honour soldiers from WWI and WWII who are listed on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion, Pieter tried to have a photo of each person whose grave or memorial we were visiting.

It wasn’t always possible, and one of those without a photo was WWI soldier James CAIRNS, who was born on February 22, 1897 in Kinkora, the son of Thomas Cairns and Mary Jane MacDonald.

Before WWI began, several members of the family moved to Manitoba from the Island, and so it was no surprise to learn that Cairns enlisted with the 190th Battalion Manitoba Regiment on July 8, 1916. This Regiment became part of the Winnipeg Rifles.  (See https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/190th_Battalion_(Winnipeg_Rifles),_CEF#:~:text=The%20190th%20(Winnipeg%20Rifles)%20Battalion,that%20city%20and%20surrounding%20district)

James was killed in action during the Battle of Amiens on August 9, 1918 and is buried in the Manitoba Cemetery in Caix, France.

Appeals for a photo on the blog and in newspaper articles went nowhere, and neither did a letter to the editor in a Manitoba newspaper in the area where members of the Cairns family had lived.

Four years of an unsuccessful search later, Pieter has taken his appeal for a photo to YouTube, in the hope that a viewer might come forward:

Pieters saying

You can read more about James Cairns, our visit to the Manitoba Cemetery, and the appeal for a photo, here:

Thank you to post-production editor Wendy Nattress, who made this YouTube video a reality. If you have photos or information to share about James Cairns, please 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 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/

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.