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On The War Memorial Trail…..The WWI Soldier Who Never Made It To The Front

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April 22, 2019.  In researching the stories behind the names on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion, Pieter sometimes discovers that the soldier lost his life BEFORE ever getting a chance to make it into battle.  This is what happened to Private Bruce Sutherland MCKAY (MACKAY) of Albany, the son of David McKay and Almira (Elmira) Harvey.  Born April 16, 1897, according to his attestation papers, Bruce Sutherland, a farmer, enlisted with the 1st Depot Battalion, Nova Scotia Regiment, on March 21, 1918.

Bruce Sutherland McKay 1895-1918 photo from Roma McKay

Bruce Sutherland McKay. (Photo courtesy of Roma McKay collection)

On April 17, 1918 he left Halifax for England, aboard the S.S. Scotian, and arrived in Liverpool, England on April 28, 1918.  That same day, he was transferred to the 17th Reserve Battalion of the Canadian Infantry.  Unfortunately, he must have gotten ill during the voyage as the next day he was admitted to the Military Isolation Hospital in Aldershot, with a diagnosis of scarlet fever.

Things went from bad to worse for this poor soldier.  While in hospital he developed measles, pleurisy, and bronchial pneumonia.  It was too much for his system and he died in hospital on May 22, 1918.

In most cases, this would be nearly the end of the story.  However, Mrs McKay must have written a letter to the hospital, asking for details on what happened to her son. A letter received from his nurse, Ada Jones, was published in The Pioneer on August 10, 1918:

“Dear Mrs. McKay:

Your letter has been passed on to me, as I was in charge of the ward your poor son died in. First, let me express my deepest sympathy in your great sorrow; it must have been a great shock to you, and there are the times when one seems not able to turn to anyone for comfort or help to bear the burden, unless we know and can turn to Our Father above, and we know He understands and He loves. Now I will try to tell you just what I can. How I wish I could just do something to help your lonely heart.

Your poor boy came in here on the 29th April with scarlet fever. I don’t know if he was very strong at home, but we know camp life is not like home, so this may have weakened his chest, for he developed pneumonia and this eventually took him away from us on the 22nd May at two in the afternoon. I can assure you he was very good and patient. It was a pleasure to do anything for him. At first he was a bit reserved, but later used to speak of the farm he was coming back to. When the days were warm and fine he was carried outside in his bed and would say how some parts reminded him of home, and always spoke very tenderly of his dear mother.

The last three days were the worst he had for pain. The morning he went he often asked if we could help. I tried to tell him how there was One above who could. He said he knew his dear mother prayed for him. At one o’clock he said he felt much better. God was helping him through and was quite conscious till about ten minutes before the end, which was one of the most peaceful ends I have seen, so rest assured, dear mother, your dear son is with Jesus and is looking forward to meeting you there one day.

He was buried in a lovely spot just close to the Military Cemetery with full military honours, where there are a good many others who have sacrificed their lives in this terrible war.

It could not have been possible to have brought him home, for being infectious they would not be allowed to take him on a ship, and I am sure the memory of him in health would be far happier to you than when grim death had come on. Now I do hope this may be a little comfort to you. I just wish I could do something more. May our Father in Heaven put His loving arms around you and comfort and keep you.

Believe me yours very sincerely,

Ada Jones“

The cemetery mentioned in Nurse Ada Jones’ letter is the Aldershot Military Cemetery in Hampshire, England.  Graham and Jacqueline Hocking, who live near the cemetery, were kind enough to visit the grave and send photos.  Graham noted that the gravestone inscription lists Bruce Sutherland as MacKay not McKay.

Aldershot Military Cemetery Chapel

Chapel at Aldershot Military Cemetery. (Photo credit: Graham Hocking)

ghkneelingbygravestone.jpg

Graham Hocking by the grave of Bruce Sutherland McKay. (Photo credit: Jacqueline Hocking)

Our thanks to Roma McKay for providing a photo of Bruce Sutherland, and to Graham and Jacqueline Hocking for visiting the cemetery and taking photos.  If you have information or photos to share on Bruce Sutherland McKay, please send an email to memorialtrail@gmail.com or comment on this blog.

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?…

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

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

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On The War Memorial Trail…..The Archive Photo That Put A Face To A Name

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March 15, 2019.  One of the biggest challenges in the project to uncover the stories behind the names listed on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion is finding photos of the men.  Quite often family members can be found, but photos, especially for soldiers who lost their lives in WWI, were not always kept by family.  

Most of the soldiers who lost their lives were young and unmarried, and succeeding generations of nieces and nephews didn’t always want to keep what was left behind by grandparents or their parents.  Photos, particularly unidentified ones, and letters from unknown people were just not a priority for many people.

So it was a very pleasant surprise when, during a visit to the Prince Edward Island Archives in Charlottetown, Pieter struck it lucky while looking through an album of photos donated by Jean MacFayden.  Most photos were not identified, but then, to his astonishment, Pieter found a photo of WWI soldier John Goodwill HOWATT, of Augustine Cove.  Unfortunately, the other two men in the photo were unidentified, with only the remark that they were ‘two Halifax boys’. Up to now, Pieter has not been able to find anyone else who might have the same photo and be able to give more information.

P0006342 copy J.G. Howatt ordered from PEI Public Archives

Photo donated to the PEI Archives by Jean MacFayden, in which she identified John Goodwill Howatt on the left, and noted only that he was with “two Halifax boys”. (Photo credit: courtesy Public Archives and Records Office of Prince Edward Island, Acc4154)”

In this exceptional case, Pieter had a photo, which could put a face to a name, but was unable to find any family, a bit unusual given that Howatt is a well-known Island name!  Who was this mystery man?

John Goodwill HOWATT was born July 27, 1897 in Augustine Cove, the son of Edward G. Howatt and Emma May Wood, and had a younger sister, Cecilia Amanda.  After John’s father died in 1908, his mother remarried, to Don Howatt in 1909, but she herself died on August 25, 1916.

A farmer before he decided to enlist in January 1916 with the 105th Battalion, Company C, John had his medical exam in Summerside, but it wasn’t until March 4, 1916 that he received his medical clearance and was formally enlisted.  After that, things moved quickly, and he was on his way to England in June 1916, sailing from Halifax aboard the S.S. Empress of Britain.  On November 28, 1916 he was transferred to the 25th Battalion of the Canadian Infantry and sent to France, arriving there on November 29, 1916.

On August 8, 1918, the Battle of Amiens began in France, the start of the 100 Days Offensive that led to the end of WWI.  By the end the day, Allied Forces had forced their way through German lines around the Somme. There were 27,000 German casualties, 12,000 of which had surrendered.

The next day, August 9, the war diary of the 25th Battalion recorded that, “At 9:15 am, verbal orders were received for the Battalion to continue the attack in conjunction with other troops.”  After leaving Gaillacourt, where they had spent the night, “The Battalion rapidly moved to the assembly position – the heights southeast of Caix – and crossed the British front line, then held by the 4th Canadian Division, at 1 pm. As the Battalion moved over the ridge in front of Caix, they were met with a light artillery barrage, and strong enemy machine gun fire.”

As they pressed on towards Vrely, the Battalion encountered “some hard fighting in a wood on the right”.  Undaunted, the Battalion continued on and the war diary gave an understated report of what happened next.  “On emerging from Vrely, ‘A’, ‘B’, and ‘C’ companies met with some opposition in the nature of an enemy Field Battery, which opened fire from a few hundred yards away.” The Battalion won this skirmish.  “Rifle and machine gun fire caused this Battery to retire, with the loss of its officers and three of its drivers, and the advance continued to Meharicourt, which was captured with little trouble by 5 pm.”

It’s not certain exactly when, but at some point on the second day of the battle, John was severely wounded in his back and shoulder from gunshot, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down.  He was carried to a Casualty Clearing Station, then put on a train the next day to a field hospital. 

On August 22, he was transported back to England and operated on, but died in a London hospital on September 7, 1918. He was only 21 years old.  He’s buried at Brookwood Military Cemetery in Surrey, England, which we have not yet been able to visit.

If you have more information or photos on John Goodwill Howatt, or are able to identify the two ‘boys from Halifax’ in the photo shown above, please send an email to  memorialtrail@gmail.com or comment on this blog.

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?…

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

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

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 Mystery Chest Of Sgt. Ross

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March 9, 2019.  In the course of his research into the names on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion, sometimes Pieter is approached for help in solving mysteries that are unrelated to the project.  While he helps when he can, sometimes he gets stumped.

One of these unsolved mysteries concerns a chest that once had belonged to a Sgt. Ross and is now owned by retired Reverend Adrian Auret, a former Minster at the Presbyterian Church in Burnside (Clyde River). Reverend Auret explained that the chest was left behind in a barn at the Presbytery. He had stored it in the garage to protect it, and when he moved to another church in New Brunswick, the chest was packed by the movers and sent with his belongings.  Now he wondered if Pieter could find out if the chest belonged to someone or if it was a yard sale purchase from a previous minister and then left behind as unneeded baggage.

CIMG7977 Sgt Ross top of chest

Top of mystery chest identified with the marking ‘Sgt. Ross H.S.’ . (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

CIMG7933 Sgt Ross inside chest

What the chest looks like when opened. (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

Outside of the name on the chest, there were no other identifying marks, such as a date or military unit. Pieter guessed that the initials H.S. after the name Ross indicated the initials for the first names of Ross, rather than a rank or unit.  It was wooden and quite large, definitely not a contemporary object.  Perhaps it had been used on a ship or was strapped to a wagon during the horse and buggy days?

Pieter thought it best to start with the church itself.  He contacted the Head Office of the Presbyterian Church in Summerside and was incorrectly told that no one with that name served at the church in Clyde River.  However, in a 1993 book written by William and Elizabeth Glen, “BONSHAW:  A Stroll Through The Past”, mention was made of a William Ross, who had been ordained in 1860.  Could the chest be from the 19th century?  He contacted the Glens, but unfortunately they had no information other than what was in the book.

He searched military records for someone with that name and found a Cpl S.H. Ross who attended Infantry School in Fredericton, N.B. in 1885.  Could this be the same Ross?  It was inconclusive without more information about the chest itself.

Pieter then contacted the Military History Research Centre at the Canadian War Museum, and reached out to several people on Facebook who dealt with military insignia, and military museums. Perhaps the hinges on the chest could help date it?

CIMG7973 Sgt Ross hinge on chest

Hinge on mystery chest identified with the marking ‘Sgt. Ross H.S.’ (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

CIMG7974 Sgt Ross handle on chest

Handle on mystery chest identified with the marking ‘Sgt. Ross H.S.’ (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

The general consensus by everyone, including an archivist at the Canadian War Museum, seemed to be that the chest could be a trunk from WW II.  Three theories about the use of the chest were that it may have been used in a footlocker in a barracks, was used by a member of the Home Guards, or was used by a military instructor for holding instructional tools and materials.

Ross was identified by one person as an Island name, so it seemed reasonable to assume that it belonged to someone from the Island.  As was confirmed by the Canadian War Museum, it was not possible to look for a Sgt. Ross who served in WWII as the service files for the Second World War are still under privacy legislation. The Army Lists also only list officers, and so a Sgt. Ross would not appear.

Can you help Pieter solve this mystery? If you think you might be able to identify the period of the chest, or the identity of Sgt. Ross, please send him an email at memorialtrail@gmail.com or comment on this blog.

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?….

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

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

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

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On The War Memorial Trail….The WWII Soldier Killed in Germany But Buried in Holland

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February 22, 2019.  Most of the men listed on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion were unmarried.  However, William Douglas SHERREN, born November 25, 1914 in Crapaud, Prince Edward Island, son of William Douglas Sherren and Florence Amanda Carrier, was married, to Florence Mead Strickland, and the father of two children, Hubert and Harrison Blair.

An electrician with Palmer Electric in Charlottetown before WWII broke out, William Douglas enlisted with the First Survey Regiment of the Royal Canadian Artillery on January 6, 1940, receiving the rank of Lieutenant.  He was sent to England and on March 29, 1944 was promoted to Captain.  He arrived in France in July 1944, a month after D-Day.

Wiliam Douglas Sherren

William Douglas Sherren. (Photo courtesy of Holten Canadian War Cemetery Information Centre)

On March 17, 1945, he was recognized by King George VI as a Member of the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire for “gallant and distinguished services in the field” in North West Europe.  Unfortunately, we don’t know the circumstances of him receiving the award.  If anyone has more information, please let us know.

Notice of decoration awarded to WD Sherren

Notice of decoration awarded to William Douglas Sherren. (Source: http://www.ancestry.ca)

On April 25, 1945, just a few days before the end of WWII, he was severely injured when the vehicle he was travelling in drove over a land mine in Germany.  According to his service file, William Douglas died of his wounds at 3:30 am on April 28, 1945.

Originally buried in Cloppenburg Hospital Cemetery in Lower Saxony, William Douglas was reburied in Holten Canadian War Cemetery in The Netherlands in 1947.  This was one of the cemeteries we visited while in Europe, and of course we placed flags at his grave. (See On the War Memorial Trail ….. At Holten Canadian War Cemetery)

IMG_20170918_134108826 Sep 18 2017 grave of WD Sherren Holten cemetery

Grave of Captain William Douglas Sherren at Holten Canadian War Cemetery. (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

Obituary W.D. Sherren

Obituary of William Douglas Sherren. (Source: The Charlottetown Guardian, Friday, May 4, 1945, page 1)

Do you have photos or information to share on William Douglas Sherren, or any of the soldiers discussed in previous blog postings?  You can send an email to memorialtrail@gmail.com or comment on this blog.

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?….

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

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

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

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On The War Memorial Trail….The Mariner Whose Ship Was Torpedoed In The English Channel

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January 20, 2019….Researching the names on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion continually brings some surprises as we unlock the stories behind the names.  It’s well documented that there was a merchant navy in WWII, and there are many stories about the infamous U-boats used by the Nazis during WWII.  But, did you know that there was a merchant navy in WWI?……And did you know that there were German U-boats in WWI?…….

In researching what happened to James Graham FARROW (FARRAR), we learned that he was NOT a soldier, but served as Second Mate in WWI’s Merchant Navy aboard the SS Port Dalhousie, ferrying needed supplies from England to allied soldiers in France.

Farrow was born April 4, 1856 in Argyle Shore, the son of Henry Farrow and Mary Jane Gouldrup.  In 1897, he married Mary Jane Howatt and they had 4 children.  Mary Jane also had a son William from her first husband, John Morrell, and was the sister of Harold Keith HOWATT who served in the same regiment as William Galen CAMPBELL. Campbell is also listed on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion.  (See Christmas At The Front During WW1)

A mariner, Farrow received his Captain’s papers by 1903.  He owned a schooner named ‘Eva May’, but sold it in 1906 and moved to a homestead in Saskatchewan.  However, by 1912 the family was back on Prince Edward Island, where, according to ‘Seafarers of the Atlantic Provinces, 1789-1935’, he was the owner and operator of a schooner registered on PEI, named ‘Howard L’.  (Source: Ancestry.com. Canada, Seafarers of the Atlantic Provinces, 1789-1935)

In a February 19, 1916 letter to his son Welton, who was living in Portland, Maine with his mother and siblings, Farrow explains that that he gave up the schooner and on December 27, 1915 he accepted a position as second mate aboard a steamer, and was currently sailing between France and England.  “I am here in France.  I had charge of a schooner and when I laid her up in Pictou, I got a job in this steamer as second mate. It is a good job with a little more wages than on the schooner.  I got $50 a month on the schooner and $55 a month here.”  (Source: www.islandregister.com/letters/james farrow 1916.html)

Farrow explained that the steamer intended to return to Canada in July, but had decided to stay in Europe.  If he wanted to return to Canada, his way would be paid back after 6 months, but as he was paid promptly each month, he thought he would stay with the steamer.

Unfortunately, by the time that Welton Farrow received that letter, his father was dead.  On March 19, 1916, U-Boat 10 torpedoed the steamer Port Dalhousie, the ship he was on, and it sank in the English Channel.

From the New York Times, page 2, column 6:

“U-BOAT ATTACKS FISHERMEN”

“Sinks two trawlers off Northeast Coast of England. London July 13 – Following the attack by a German submarine on the British port of Seaham Harbor on Tuesday night, a submarine raid on fishing near the English coast was reported by Lloyd’s today.   A German submarine attacked a British fishing fleet off the northeastern coast and sank the trawlers Florence and Dalhousie and several smaller vessels.” (Source: www.islandregister.com/letters/james farrow 1916.html )

Fake news isn’t a new phenomenon!  The story about Port Dalhousie being a fishing boat, as reported in a New York Times article, was a cover the boat used. When it sank, the cargo manifest said it was transporting steel billets.  Farrow and 18 other crew members perished, their bodies lost to the sea.

Farrow’s wife, Mary Jane, stayed in Maine.  In 1930 she moved to Waterville, where she lived until her death on May 15, 1956, when she was buried in the Tryon Peoples’ Cemetery in Tryon.

Service and duty were legacies of Farrow as his sons Ralph, Harold, and Welton also served in WWI.  Ralph and Harold enlisted in the Canadian Overseas Expeditionary Force in July 1917.  Welton served in the US Army.  Ralph’s son joined the US Air Force and served in WWII, but after the war he met an untimely death when his plane crashed in Florida during an exercise.  He’s buried in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

With no body to bury, James Farrow is remembered on the memorial stone at the Tryon People’s Cemetery in Tryon and on the Halifax Memorial in Point Pleasant Park in Halifax.

memorial stone tpc pieter valkenbrg

Photo: Memorial stone at Tryon Peoples Cemetery in Tryon, PEI. Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg

Photos: Halifax Memorial at Point Pleasant Park in Halifax. Photo credits: Pieter Valkenburg

Besides Farrow, two additional names from this Cenotaph Research Project are listed on the Halifax Memorial:

Although we know a lot about James Farrow’s life, we do NOT have a photo of him.  If anyone has photos or information to share, please let us know. You can send an email to memorialtrail@gmail.com or comment on this blog.

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?….

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

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

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

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On the War Memorial Trail …..Christmas At The Front During WWI

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December 13, 2018.  Researching names on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion at this time of year gets one to think about what it might have been like for the soldiers, especially during WWI.  They were far from home, by this time they would have lost friends and fellow soldiers, and might be wondering if they themselves would survive another hour, let alone another day.  So when we receive some postcards or letters that tell us what they may be experiencing at holiday time, it’s very special.

A few years ago, we received a photo of George Albert CAMPBELL from his nephew, Gerald Tingley, putting a face to that name.  (Campbell’s story was told in a posting last year – see Two Campbell Brothers in WW1)

George Albert Campbell from Gerald Tingley

Private George Albert Campbell. (Photo courtesy of Gerald Tingley family collection)

Known as Albert, Campbell was born on July 8, 1895 in Wellington, PEI, the son of John George Campbell and Grace Emma, nee Barlow.  A fisherman and farmer before enlisting on April 6, 1915 with the 6th Canadian Mounted Rifles, he later transferred to the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles.

CIMG2669 Oct 9 2018 meet with Gerald Tingley in Salisbury

Gerald Tingley, left, with Pieter. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Recently we had a chance to meet Gerald Tingley in person.  He arrived with a binder of WWI letters from his uncle that had been written to Gerald’s mother, and Albert’s sister, Sophie.

One excerpt was really special.  In a December 1915 letter to his sister Sophie, he wrote:  “…We got a big box of cake and candy from Bedeque the other day and it was great for a change.  It was meant for Xmas but we ate it all as soon as we got it...”

This excerpt about receiving cake and candy from someone in Bedeque really showed how food was always on a soldier’s mind, particularly something delicious from home.  And there was no way a soldier was going to wait for a particular day to have that taste of home.

It was the last Christmas that Campbell experienced.  During the Battle of Mount Sorrel in Belgium, he was killed in action in the vicinity of Maple Copse on June 2, 1916.  He has no known grave, and his name is listed on the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres.

Xmas card from Harold Howatt

Christmas card with a piece of embroidered handkerchief sent by Harold Howatt, wishing his family a ‘Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year’. (Photo courtesy of H. Howatt collection)

Campbell’s brother, William Galen CAMPBELL, born June 16, 1897 in Wellington, was poisoned by a mustard gas shell in France on May 28, 1918.  He was in the same unit, the 8th Canadian Siege Battery, as Harold Keith HOWATT of Augustine Cove.

Howatt kept an active correspondence and journal, and two Christmas entries survive.  In 1917, he was stationed in Lille, France and recorded the following on December 24:  “…Route march this morning, then after we came back we had to carry planks for the hut which is being put up for Christmas dinner.  In the late afternoon Dawson and I went into Lille and had a bath at a convent.  Afterwards we went to a concert in the YMCA hut….”

If you ever wondered about the saying that ‘soldiers march on their stomachs’, then you will see why food is important in reading Howatt’s detailed description of the Christmas meal of December 25, 1917.  “…Church parade this morning, but I did not go as Mr. Freeman wanted me to help him get ready for the Xmas dinner.  We had a great dinner, duck and chicken, applesauce, vegetables, plum pudding, apples and nuts.  The officers bought everything except the plum pudding, pretty good of them.  After dinner was over we gave ‘three cheers and a tiger’ for them…”

By December 1918 the war was over, but troops were still in Europe.  Howatt’s unit was assigned to Germany.  On December 25, he made the following terse entry from Mehlem, on the Rhine: “…We had no Christmas dinner as the turkey did not arrive...” 

On January 1, 1919 he gave a happier update in his journal:  “…Last evening we had our Xmas dinner, which had been postponed owing to the non-arrival of the turkey.  We sat down at 8 o’clock to a good meal: turkey and vegetables, plum pudding, and nuts and apples.  There was also lots of beer, ginger ale, and also some scotch…”

1918 xmas menu

1918 Xmas menu for the 8th Canadian Siege Battery. Notice that each dish had a name that represented where the unit was in France and Belgium! (Photo courtesy of H. Howatt collection)

Unlike George Albert Campbell, both William Galen Campbell and Harold Keith Howatt returned home from WWI.  Surprisingly, no photo of William Galen Campbell has been found.  If you have photos or information to share, please let us know. Send an email to memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or tweet to @researchmemori1.

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?….

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

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

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

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On the War Memorial Trail …..The Spirit of Remembrance Continues

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November 13, 2018.  This year, Pieter was invited to be the guest speaker at St John The Evangelist Anglican Church in Crapaud, during their Remembrance Day Service.  In his opening remarks, Pieter noted that: “…This special Remembrance Day marks the end of the First World War.  It’s a day to remember the memories and sacrifices made by those who did their best to answer the call to fight for freedom. 

This church remembers those who served through the Honour Rolls that hang on the wall to my left.  Every Remembrance Day, the names are read out, as they were today.  Five of these men are listed on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion, 3 from WWI and 2 from WWII.  I’d like to briefly tell you a bit about them…”

CIMG2820 Nov 11 2018 Pieter with Rev Eric Lynk

Pieter with Rev Eric Lynk at St John the Evangelist Anglican Church in Crapaud. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Pieter then talked about the following men: Arthur Leigh COLLETT, Percy Earl FARROW (FARRAR), Henry “Harry” Warburton STEWART, William Douglas SHERREN, and Ernest Murray NORTON.  One focus was on how they were remembered, as Pieter explained:  “…When we think of soldiers in war, we picture them in trenches, facing an enemy.  But they were also people with hopes and dreams, just like you and me, who made the difficult choice to put aside their immediate futures and accept the duty thrust upon them…“

Remembrance Day is now over for another year, but the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph Research Project continues in its quest to put a face and story to every name.  This posting is to thank the many people who have supported this project by providing information and photos, and in adding their own voices to the importance of remembrance.

The County Line Courier newspaper has supported this project from the beginning.  We thank Mike and Isabel Smith for helping to get the word out by publishing a story in almost every issue.

CBC PEI Radio has also been supportive in helping us reach a wider audience, with a special thank you to Angela Walker of CBC’s Mainstreet PEI.

We thank the three churches in the South Shore area that invited Pieter to come and speak about the Cenotaph Research Project:  Central Trinity United Church in Breadalbane, St John The Evangelist Anglican Church in Crapaud, and South Shore United Church in Tryon.

Several ministers referenced the project or some of the names on the Cenotaph in their sermons.  Rev Dr Karen MacLeod-Wilkie of South Shore United Church made mention of the project and PEI pilot Elmer Bagnall MUTTART in her November 4 sermon.  Our thanks to Jack Sorensen for sending us this sound clip:  https://soundcloud.com/user-756553111/rev-karens-remarks-about-elmer-muttart-november420182/s-uCEps.

We also thank Rev Kent Compton of the Church of Scotland in Cape Traverse.  We’ve been informed by neighbours that he mentioned the project in his remarks during the Remembrance Service organized by the Augustine Cove Women’s Institute.

We thank the Tryon & Area Historical Society here on PEI and the Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation in The Netherlands for their efforts to raise funds for a memorial panel in Wons to honour Elmer Muttart and the crew of Halifax L9561, and we thank all who donated to this project.  The ceremony to install the memorial panel is planned for October 12, 2019.

On November 1, 2018, PEI Senator Mike Duffy spoke about the Cenotaph Research Project in the Senate.  It’s now recorded in the official Hansard records, and we thank him for highlighting this project of remembrance. (See Hansard entry: 2018 Hansard Entry remarks by Mike Duffy ) Mr. Duffy went one step further, by submitting an article to the newspaper with his comments, a complete surprise to us when we opened up the newspaper.  (See article:  CLC Nov 7 2018 p15 article by Mike Duffy)

Meeting the families of the men listed on the Cenotaph is a particular honour.  We thank those who sent photos, letters, documents, and hope to meet more families in the coming year.

We also thank you, the readers of these postings.   Research continues, and we hope you will enjoy the stories in upcoming blog postings.

If you have photos or information to share on soldiers from the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion, please let us know. Send us an email to memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or tweet to @researchmemori1.

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?….

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

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

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

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

On the War Memorial Trail …..The Quest To Ensure All Are Remembered

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November 3, 2018.   On November 2, Pieter was invited by the Tryon and Area Historical Association and the South Shore United Church to give a presentation on the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph Research Project.  Those who came out in absolutely terrible weather – Dutch weather as Pieter put it – said they were glad they came.

Among the guests were Senator Mike Duffy, Honourable Jamie Fox, MLA for Borden-Kinkora, John Wales, Assistant Curator of The North Nova Scotia Regimental Museum in Amherst, Nova Scotia, and Reverend Kent Compton of the Free Church of Scotland in Cape Traverse.

CIMG2769 Nov 2 2018 Pieter Mike John Jack

Left to right: Pieter Valkenburg, Senator Mike Duffy, John Wales of The North Nova Scotia Regimental Museum, Jack Sorensen. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Opening remarks and words of welcome were made by the co-hosts, first by Rev Dr Karen MacLeod-Wilkie of South Shore United Church, then by Jack Sorensen, Chair of the Tryon and Area Historical Society.

Jack Sorensen’s warm words of welcome and introduction:

“On behalf of the Tryon & Area Historical Society Inc., and as co-host for this presentation, it is an honour for me to bring greetings and welcome you here this evening.

This year being the 100th Anniversary of the end of WWI, it is an historical moment as we reflect on the soldiers of our country who have been instrumental in attaining peace for our country.

One of the defining characteristics of a nation is the honour it bestows to those who have served in peace keeping roles.

As a community in this great country of Canada, and at this time of year, we gladly, and honourably, carry out this tradition.

Many of the people Pieter will be talking about were, and still are, our friends and relatives. Often, to soldiers returning after a war, thoughts about battle are best forgotten and less talked about. Pieter and Daria will mention things which are lost to our knowledge, but appropriate for us to know. It is with gratitude that we express our thanks to Pieter and Daria for researching and telling us more about these brave people.

Pieter will also be telling us about a special component of his research. That is the celebration of the life of air force Pilot Elmer Bagnall Muttart, and the memorial panel planned for Muttart and his crew in the Netherlands.

The Tryon and Area Historical Society have partnered with the Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation in The Netherlands to raise funds for this memorial.

Those wishing to make donations for the memorial panel will receive a charitable receipt from our Society, which can be used for income tax purposes. Arlene and I will be at the table at the back of the church to receive your donations, and we thank those who are able to support this worthy cause.”

CIMG2760 Nov 2 2018 Pieter at the podium SSUC

Pieter at the podium of South Shore United Church. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

In his opening remarks, Pieter explained that the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph Project “….began out of respect for the country that is now my home.  If it wasn’t for the Canadians, I might not be here. I was born in The Netherlands during the Hunger Year of 1944, when there was little or no food.  Our family lived in the countryside and my father spent many nights, sneaking out after curfew, looking to trade items for food to feed his family.  Anyone caught with food by the Nazis had it confiscated.

If you were unlucky enough to live in a city, sometimes tulip bulbs were all that was available to eat.  So many people starved to death that winter. The Canadians not only liberated us from Nazi rule, they saved us from starvation. So this project is one way for me to honour those who lost their lives in war…”

Stories of people from the Cenotaph who were from the nearby area were then told.  Everyone was engaged in the presentation as they got wrapped up in the lives of men who lived so long ago.

After the presentation, Pieter was thanked by Lorna Lord, on behalf of the Tryon and Area Historical Association.

CIMG2767 Nov 2 2018 Pieter with Lorna Lord after the presentation

Pieter receives thank you from the Tryon & Area Historical Society from Lorna Lord. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

CIMG2765 Nov 2 2018 Pieter with Jamie Fox and story of Kruger

Hon. Jamie Fox, MLA for Borden-Kinkora (left), and Pieter Valkenburg (right) with the County Line Courier article on WWI soldier Elmyr Kruger. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

If you have photos or information to share on soldiers from the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion, please let us know. Send us an email to memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or tweet to @researchmemori1.

UPCOMING PRESENTATION: Pieter has been invited to be a guest speaker at St John The Evangelist Church in Crapaud during their Remembrance Day service, which begins at 10:30 am on Sunday, November 11, 2018.

© 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 …..Update on Previous Postings about Elmer Muttart and Elmyr Kruger

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November 3, 2018.   Once we tell a story about a particular person in this project, it usually turns out to be just the beginning of that person’s story.  Since this blog began, we’ve included updates, and we’ll continue to do so.  In this posting, we have two brief updates on two stories.

1. Elmer MUTTART, the PEI pilot from WWII: Several postings have been made about this pilot’s story and the work being done by Pieter, the Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation in The Netherlands, and the Tryon and Area Historical Society in Canada, to install a memorial panel in Wons, The Netherlands to honour Elmer and the crew of the Halifax bomber that was shot down on October 12, 1941.

UPDATE:  This project was completed in October 2019!

UPDATE: The ceremony to install the memorial panel is scheduled for October 12, 2019 in The Netherlands. 

Donations are still being collected towards the ‘Muttart Memorial Fund’ for a memorial panel in Wons, The Netherlands.  If you would like to donate, cheques may be written out to TAHS and mailed to Tryon & Area Historical Society (TAHS), PO Box 38, Crapaud PE C0A 1J0.  In the subject line, identify your cheque as being for the “Muttart Memorial Fund”.  A charitable donation receipt will be sent to all donors. 

If you wish to donate and you live in Europe:  Bank transfers may be made to Stichting Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation, Bank Account # (IBAN) NL35ABNA0569579856, and state in the subject line “Attn D.S. Drijver for Halifax L9561”.

2. Elmyr KRUGER, the WWI soldier from the prairies who is buried in Cape Traverse, PEI:  Elmyr’s story was told in a recent posting and in an article published in the County Line Courier. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2018/10/25/the-forgotten-ww1-soldier/)

UPDATE: Pieter contacted the City of North Battleford Historic Archives and told them the story and asked if they might have more information and a photo.  After a search, archivist Tammy Donahue Buziak found a photo of the 232nd Battalion.  As Tammy wrote “…Elmyr would most likely be in this image somewhere….”  Hopefully, one day, someone will identify Elmyr.  This story is getting quite a bit of attention.  We’ll have to rename the story the ‘No Longer Forgotten WWI Soldier’!

232nd Battalion

232nd (Saskatchewan) Overseas Battalion. (Photo courtesy of The City of North Battleford Historic Archives)

On October 31, the story that ran in the County Line Courier was republished in The Battlefords News-Optimist under the title ‘Forgotten First World War soldier from Mullingar’. (See https://www.newsoptimist.ca/community/local-culture/forgotten-first-world-war-soldier-from-mullingar-1.23481997 and https://www.sasktoday.ca/north/in-the-community/forgotten-first-world-war-soldier-from-mullingar-4126223)

If you have photos or information to share on soldiers from the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion, please let us know. Send us an email to to memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or tweet to @researchmemori1.

UPCOMING PRESENTATION: Pieter has been invited to be a guest speaker at St John The Evangelist Church in Crapaud during their Remembrance Day service, which begins at 10:30 am on Sunday, November 11, 2018.

© 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.

Pieter Interviewed By CBC Radio

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October 31, 2018.   Pieter was interviewed on CBC radio yesterday about the Cenotaph Research Project and his upcoming presentation at South Shore United Church in Tryon on Friday, November 2 at 7 pm.

CIMG2758 Oct 30 2018 Pieter at CBC with Angela Walker

Pieter at the CBC studio in Charlottetown with Mainstreet PEI host Angela Walker. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Below is the link to the broadcast and the summary provided by CBC:

Pieter Valkenburg – Cenotaph Project

https://www.cbc.ca/listen/shows/mainstreet-pei/segment/15624306

A labour of love, respect and thanks. Pieter Valkenburg will give us an update on his Borden Carleton Cenotaph project, and he’ll tell us about a talk he’s giving this Friday night about his research.

Our thanks to Angela Walker, host of Mainstreet PEI!  We hope to see you on Friday evening!  In the meantime, if you have photos or information to share on soldiers from the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion, please let us know. Send us an email to memorialtrail@gmail.com or comment on this blog.

UPCOMING PRESENTATION: Pieter will speak about the Cenotaph Research Project at South Shore United Church in Tryon, 7 pm on Friday, November 2, 2018.  This event is co-hosted by South Shore United Church and Tryon & Area Historical Society.  Note: this venue is equipped with a hearing loop for the benefit of those with hearing loss.  You are invited to bring photos and information on the men listed on the Cenotaph, or on any Canadian soldier buried in The Netherlands.  Email dariadv@yahoo.ca for more info.

UPCOMING PRESENTATION: Pieter has been invited to be a guest speaker at St John The Evangelist Church in Crapaud during their Remembrance Day service, which begins at 10:30 am on Sunday, November 11, 2018.

© 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.