YouTube Channel: On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter Valkenburg

On The War Memorial Trail…..The WWII Acadian Soldier Serving With Le Régiment de Maisonneuve Who Made The Ultimate Sacrifice In The Hochwald Forest

/ On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 2 Comments
Balmoral and Shannonvale Google Maps

We travelled to Balmoral, New Brunswick, to meet the sister of a WWII soldier. (Map source: Google Maps)

November 27, 2024. After completing our tour along the Acadian Coastal Drive, visiting Acadian Memorials, we went to Balmoral, New Brunswick, to meet with Léa LeClair, the youngest sister of WWII soldier Ange Aimé LECLAIR. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2024/11/22/on-the-war-memorial-trail-remembrance-week-2024-visiting-acadian-memorials-in-new-brunswick/)

CIMG7020 Aug 27 2024 Visit to Balmoral Romeo Le Page & Lea Le Clair

Pieter (centre) with Léa LeClair and her brother-in-law, Romeo LePage. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

When Pieter had begun his research to find family of Ange Aimé, he found an obituary for the soldier’s sister Viola, who was married to Romeo LePage.  Then he found a phone number for Mr. LePage and, with great trepidation given that he isn’t fluent in French, he dialed the number.  After a few minutes, Mr. LePage’s sister-in-law, retired teacher Léa LeClair, came on the line, and listened patiently.  “…Oui…” she had a photo of Ange Aimé, and then, happily, switched to English.  She explained that she was the youngest sister of the soldier, only 10 years old when he died on March 2, 1945.

Pieter let her know that we were planning a trip to New Brunswick, and asked if she would like to meet in person.  This was agreeable, and so, when we went to Balmoral, we were only expecting to get a photo of the soldier.  Boy, were we wrong! The family’s historian, Léa had several photos and letters written by her brother, and more.  Ange Aimé was clearly loved and remembered by his family!

Born in Shannonvale (now part of Eel River Crossing), Restigouche County, New Brunswick on March 14, 1925, Ange Aimé was the son of Thomas and Marguerite Anne (nee Basque) LeClair.  He came from a large family, and had 5 sisters, 3 brothers, 4 half-brothers, and 2 half-sisters.

…..Ange Aimé enlisted under the NRMA in 1944….

Léa recalled that “…My brother Albénie was called up in the Spring. He did not pass the physical as he was sick. Ange-Aimé asked Papa if he should stay and wait for a call to join. They chose for him to go to work in the Kedgwick area. Later in the summer, the Army came looking for him in Dundee. Papa did not know exactly where he was cutting wood and said so to the Army. After a while, the Army did find him, in the Kedgwick area…. He was registered and then was sent for training…“

Ange Aimé originally enlisted under the National Resources Mobilization Act (NRMA) at the No. 7 District Depot in Fredericton, New Brunswick on May 31, 1944 and underwent basic training at No. 71 Canadian Army Basic Training Centre (CABTC) in Edmundston, New Brunswick. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Resources_Mobilization_Act)

ange aime le clair as a student colourized

Ange Aimé LeClair as a student.  (Photo courtesy of the LeClair family. Photo colourization by Pieter Valkenburg)

At the time of his enlistment, Ange Aimé had been working for 2 years as a woodsman for Raymond LeBlanc of Darlington, New Brunswick.  Léa recalled that he had studied at a seminary, with his family expecting him to be a priest, but he preferred working outdoors. While his Occupational History Form does not mention studying at a seminary, he most likely had his post-elementary education at a seminary. The form stated that Ange Aimé was fluent in both French and English, which was unusual for a young man who grew up in a rural area and in a French speaking household.

AA Leclair photo from memorial card colourized

Ange Aimé LeClair in uniform.  (Photo courtesy of the LeClair family. Photo colourization by Pieter Valkenburg)

On July 25, 1944, Ange Aimé enlisted for active duty while in Edmundston, and remained there until September 1, 1944, when he was transferred to the A-30 Canadian Infantry Training Centre (CITC) at Camp Utopia in Pennfield Ridge, New Brunswick.  On September 14, 1944, he received a promotion to Lance Corporal.

….Ange Aimé received embarkation leave….

After completing his training at Camp Utopia, Ange Aimé received embarkation leave, prior to being sent overseas, from November 21 to December 7, 1944.  He returned home to the family farm in Dundee, New Brunswick, where a photo was taken of him playing hockey.

20240827_140114 AA Le Clair playing hockey in Dundee during embarkation leave

Ange Aimé LeClair on skates with a hockey stick during his embarkation leave.  (Photo courtesy of the LeClair family)

While on leave, Ange Aimé helped out at home, and spent time in the woods.  Time went by very quickly, and unfortunately he didn’t immediately return to Camp Utopia when his leave was up. Military police came to look for him, thinking he had deserted.  Léa recalled that her “…father was in the garden and told them that Ange Aimé was in the woods.  After he returned, he was arrested and taken back to Camp Utopia, where he spent a night in the stockade...”

The repercussions were harsh, given that he was only late returning by a few days.  On December 10, 1944, he was transferred to the No. 1 Training Brigade in Debert, Nova Scotia for final preparations and training before being posted overseas.  But, on December 17, 1944, he was demoted in rank and reverted to Private. 

 ….We had help in translating letters from French into English….

CIMG7053 Sep 10 2024 Daria & Etienne Gaudet translating AA LeClair letters in Moncton NB

Daria and Etienne Gaudet worked diligently to translate all the letters from French into English. (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

Because Léa had saved letters written by her brother, we were able to hear his thoughts during this period.  We were grateful for the help of Etienne Gaudet, who kindly translated all of the letters written by Ange Aimé from the original French into English.

In a December 20, 1944 letter to his sister Delphine, written from Debert, it’s clear that there was illness in the family. “…. Are you better after your flu? … Please give my regards to the others and please tell me if mother is better, and tell her not to worry about me.  It’s not worth it.  Nothing has happened to me yet.  There’s a higher power above us and his wishes must be respected.

I wouldn’t be worse off there (ie heaven) than here. Besides that, I’m lucky that I’m the only one in the army instead of all of us.  I’m not scared and I’m taking things as they come….”

On the same day, he also wrote to his brother Ovila, mentioning his demotion.  “…I thought I’d be able to have a pass for Christmas or New Year’s, but I won’t now.  I no longer have my stripe and I don’t know if I’ll have one later, or if I’m here for a long time.…”

….Ange Aimé left Canada for overseas service….

Ange Aimé didn’t have long to wonder how long he’d be in Debert.  On December 24, 1944 he left Canada, arriving in the United Kingdom on December 31, 1944, where he was assigned to No. 4 Canadian Infantry Training Regiment (CITR).

He shared his impressions with his brother Ovila in a January 3, 1945 letter.  “.…I am now in England and it’s pretty good and a funny country. Their language is nearly impossible to understand. They do not pronounce their words like we do.

I’m anxious to get to the front and see what it’s like.  If it can be warm, I’ll be happy as here it’s humid and we’re freezing.  The humidity is going through us and we have to ration the coal.  I have had a cold since I arrived here, as have the others….”

In a January 4, 1945 letter to his sister Delphine, he wrote about the climate, and shared that he saw his cousin, René LEBLANC.  “…I have a cold.  It’s humid as hell here.  My nose is always running.  It takes time to get used to the climate….. René is here....” 

Then, in a January 29, 1945 letter to Delphine, he again mentions the weather, and spending Christmas while on his overseas voyage. “…The climate here is humid and a bit cold.  There are 4 inches of snow…. It’s not as beautiful as I had thought and holidays on the water are not fun...”

Ange Aimé was aware that he would soon be sent to Northwest Europe. In a February 8, 1945 letter to his brother Ovila, he wrote that “…I am preparing for the draft. I have to face the front, see what it looks like, but I would not want to take a bullet or shrapnel….”  

….Ange Aimé was flown to Northwest Europe from the United Kingdom….

The day after he wrote to his brother Ovila, Ange Aimé was transferred to the X-4 Reinforcement List of the 10th Battalion of the Canadian Infantry Corps, and flown to Northwest Europe on February 10, 1945. 

By February 12, 1945 he was at No. 2 Canadian Base Reinforcement Group (CBRG) and wrote to his sister Delphine that he was “…now in Belgium.  It’s really beautiful here.

I am not yet at the front.  Those that go come back, at least most of them.  I have as good a chance as them.  I might never go since it looks really bad for the Germans.

People are really nice to us ‘Canadians’ here.  Yesterday I went to supper with a man who brought us to his home.  He has three small children.  They were really nice to us.  I was with two of my friends.  Like he said, it reminded us of home to have a family supper and it took away some of the longing for home….”

On the same day, he wrote to his parents about the dinner.  “….Yesterday I went to town with two others, and an older man invited us to his place for supper with him.  We were served like princes.  They are really nice. There were three little boys and they all shook our hands....” This was the last letter the family received from Ange Aimé. 

…. Ange Aimé’s transfer to Le Régiment de Maisonneuve was his last….

On February 15, 1945, Ange Aimé was transferred to Le Régiment de Maisonneuve, joining them near Nijmegen, The Netherlands, as the Regiment prepared to move into Germany. 

The February 18, 1945 war diary entry for the Regiment stated that “…the whole Battalion left Nijmegen at 19:30 hours to proceed via Cleve, Germany and had penetrated in Germany by 20:40 hours...”

By the end of February, the Regiment was involved in the Battle of Hochwald Gap, part of Operation Blockbuster, the final push towards the Rhine River, along with several other Canadian Regiments.  This offensive began on February 28, 1945 to clear the Germans from the Reichswald, a heavily forested area between the Maas and the Rhine Rivers, driving them back over the Rhine, taking the fight well into German territory.  (For more information, see https://canadianbattlefieldtours.ca/operation-blockbuster/ and https://civilianmilitaryintelligencegroup.com/10742/the-battle-of-hochwald-gap-one-of-the-largest-armor-engagements-you-probably-have-never-heard-of)

Each day the war diary reported heavy shelling of the troops, with several casualties.  On March 1, 1945, the war diary reflected that because shelling was heavy “…the morale of the troops was quite low as nothing could be done but wait…”

On March 2, 1945, the war diary recorded that “…Captain Provost is back with us.  The rifle companies are in position in the Hochwald Gap at 03:40.  ‘C’ Company sent out patrols to feel enemy’s disposition. ….Heavy shelling all day…” Sadly, one of the casualties on March 2 was Ange Aimé. 

….Letter from Captain Provost described how Ange Aimé lost his life….

On March 3, 1945, Captain Paul-Marcel Provost wrote a letter of condolence to Ange Aimé’s mother. “….I have the terrible duty to inform you of the death of your son, Pte LeClair.  He was killed in action on March 2, 1945….. He was an excellent soldier and brave, who made the ultimate sacrifice.

In the name of the commander and all his officers, I ask you, Madame, to accept our deepest condolences for the loss that has struck you. May the legitimate pride you feel for the departed ease your pain. This pride is shared by all in Le Régiment de Maisonneuve…..”

This was followed by an April 6, 1945 letter, explaining how Ange Aimé lost his life.  “….Please know that you have all my sincere sympathies in the sorrow with which you have been struck.  I also have a bit of sorrow, as your son was one of ours and I was his commander…..

Your son died a few days after we finished the offensive that brought us to the side of the Rhine and decided the German defeat – two days after an attack that had been especially challenging for our company.  The Regiment was called to take up defensive positions along the Hochwald Forest – a forest situated a few miles from Kleve and Xanten.

Our first hours in these positions were quiet.  Near 6 pm, supper was brought, and Ange Aimé was designated, with a few others, to transport it from our Command Post to his platoon.  It’s when he was on his way back that the German artillery began to fire at us, and your son fell, along with a few other unlucky men.

He was killed instantly and buried the next day in one of our Canadian cemeteries. I include here memorial cards, printed in memory of our friends killed during this period of the offensive in Germany….”

Ange Aimé’s cousin, Rene LeBlanc, was injured in this attack, but survived the war to return home.

As with Ange Aimé’s letters, Etienne Gaudet kindly translated the letters written by Captain Provost from the original French into English. I was especially grateful for Etienne’s help with the letters from Captain Provost as it was extremely difficult to read his handwriting.

The memorial card that Captain Provost referred to had been prepared for a March 16, 1945 prayer service at Sint-Bartholomaeuskerk, a Roman Catholic Church in Beek (now Berg en Dal), The Netherlands. The memorial card lists 37 names of those who died between February 8 and March 13, 1945. (See https://rijksmonumenten.nl/monument/35784/grote-stbartholomeus/beek/ and  https://nl.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sint-Bartholomaeuskerk_(Beek_(Berg_en_Dal))

20240827_143311 Mar 16 1945 Memorial service in Holland for Regt de Maisonneuve KIA in Germany

Memorial card sent to Ange Aimé LeClair’s mother.  (Photo of card courtesy of the LeClair family)

….Ange Aimé is buried in Groesbeek….

20240827_144251 Aug 27 2024 Groesbeek postcard sent by Ton in 1950

A 1950 postcard, sent by Ton Bersen to the LeClair family, shows how the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek looked in that time period. (Photo courtesy of the LeClair family)

Ange Aimé was temporarily buried on land owned by a Catholic farmer named Augenendt, 3.2 km (two miles) west of Udem in Germany, before being reburied the following year in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands.

20240827_144334 Aug 27 2024 Original Groesbeek grave AA Le Clair

The original gravestone for Ange Aimé LeClair in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek.  (Photo courtesy of the LeClair family)

Grave of AA LeClair from find a grave

Grave of Ange Aimé LeClair in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands. (Photo courtesy of FindAGrave)

….Ange Aimé’s grave was adopted by Ton Bersen ….

After his reburial in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, Ange Aimé’s grave was adopted by a young scout, Ton Bersen, and his family.  Ton remained in contact with the LeClair family until his death in 2020!

20240827_140515 Ton Bersen & mother by grave of AA Le Clair

Ange Aimé LeClair’s grave was adopted by Ton Bersen, seen in this photo with his mother. (Photo courtesy of the LeClair family)

….Ange Aimé is remembered on his parents’ gravestone ….

Ange Aimé’s sister Léa told us that after her parents’ original gravestone in Dundee, New Brunswick crumbled, she replaced it with a new headstone and commemorated her brother as well. 

20240827_144026 Aug 27 2024 Le Clair gravestone in Dundee

Gravestone of the LeClair family in Dundee, New Brunswick.  (Photo courtesy of the LeClair family)

Thank you to Léa LeClair for providing photos and information on her brother, and to Etienne Gaudet for help in translating letters from French into English.  Do you have photos or information to share? Email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or tweet to @researchmemori1.

© Daria Valkenburg

….Previous postings about soldiers who died during the Battle of Hochwald Gap….

….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….Remembrance Week 2024 – Visiting Acadian Memorials In New Brunswick

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

banner-remembrance with poppies

November 22, 2024.  This past August we visited several places along the beautiful Acadian Coastal Drive in New Brunswick, following the scenic coastline along Chaleur Bay.  One of the highlights of our trip was the chance to meet in person with Armel ‘Mel’ Lanteigne and his wife Monique.  Over the past few years, Mel has helped to find photos of soldiers from the area that are on the photo wish lists from Canadian War Cemeteries in The Netherlands, but we’d never met in person.

A veteran, Mel is involved in restoring and placing monuments in his area, and was featured in an article about the restoration of a cenotaph in Caraquet, New Brunswick.  (You can read the French language article here: Restaurer des cénotaphes, la mission spéciale d’Armel Lanteigne à Caraquet | Radio-Canada https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/1908177/armel-lanteigne-renover-cenotaphe-grand-caraquet)

….The route plan…..

Screenshot 2024-11-17 at 12-08-35 caraquet new brunswick at DuckDuckGo

Map shows the location of the 6 memorials we visited in New Brunswick.  (Map source: DuckDuckGo)

Over dinner at our hotel in Beresford, New Brunswick, just outside of Bathurst, Mel and Monique offered to take us on a guided tour of several of the monuments in the area that Mel was involved with.  On our guided tour we would visit memorials in Grande-Anse, Maisonette, Bertrand, Caraquet, and Bas-Caraquet.  We then would bid adieu to Mel and Monique and continue on to Tracadie to visit one final memorial before heading back to Prince Edward Island.

….Memorial 1: Grande-Anse…..

CIMG6964 Aug 27 2024 Grand-Anse sign

Our first stop was Grande-Anse, the entry port to the Acadian Peninsula. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

The next morning, Pieter and I drove along the Chaleur Bay to Grande-Anse, the first memorial stop on our tour, and where we would meet Mel and Monique.  We were lucky with the weather, which was beautifully warm and sunny.

CIMG6966 Aug 27 2024 Pieter by Grand-Anse Monument

Pieter by one side of the Grande-Anse Monument.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

CIMG6972 Aug 27 2024 Pieter & Mel by Grand-Anse Monument

Pieter (left) and Mel Lanteigne (right) by the Grande-Anse Monument. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Of great interest to a military researcher like Pieter was the chance to see an artillery gun and armoured personnel carrier (APC), both of which were beside the Grande-Anse Monument.

CIMG6968 Aug 27 2024 Artillery gun by Grand-Anse Monument

Pieter by the artillery gun at the Grande-Anse Monument. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

CIMG6969 Aug 27 2024 APC Armoured Personnel Carrier by Grand-Anse Monument

Pieter by the armoured personnel carrier (APC) at the Grande-Anse Monument. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

….Memorial 2: Maisonnette…..

CIMG6974 Aug 27 2024 Maisonette sign

Our second stop was Maisonnette. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

From Grande-Anse, we travelled to Maisonnette, site of the Maisonnette Memorial.  Jean FRIGAULT, of Maisonnette, whose photo was recently submitted to Pieter by Mel, is listed on this memorial.  He was killed on March 2, 1945 while serving with Le Régiment de la Chaudière, and is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands.  His story will be told in an upcoming blog posting.

CIMG6975 Aug 27 2024 Pieter & Mel by Maisonette monument

Pieter (left) with Mel Lanteigne at the Maisonnette Memorial.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

CIMG6977Aug 27 2024 Jean Frigault listed on Maisonette monument

Jean Frigault is one of 4 WWII casualties listed on the Maisonnette Memorial.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

….Memorial 3: Bertrand…..

CIMG6980 Aug 27 2024 Bertrand sign

Our third stop was Bertrand. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Our third stop was in Bertrand, where, to our surprise, we saw a familiar name listed on the monument – that of Léopold THÉRIAULT of Bertrand, whose name had been on a photo wish list from the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom, The Netherlands where he is buried.  Pieter had just recently obtained a photo, otherwise the name might not have resonated when we saw it on the memorial! Léopold was killed on October 25, 1944 while serving with the Algonquin Regiment. His story will be told in an upcoming blog posting.

CIMG6983 Aug 27 2024 Mel & Pieter by Bertrand Monument

Mel (left) and Pieter at the Bertrand Memorial.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

CIMG6986 Aug 27 2024 Pieter by list of names by Bertrand Monument

Pieter by the plaque on the Bertrand Memorial listing Léopold Thériault as one of 4 WWII casualties from the area.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

….Memorial 4: Caraquet…..

CIMG6989 Aug 27 2024 Caraquet sign

Our fourth stop was Caraquet. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Our fourth stop was at the memorial in Caraquet, which lists the names of two WWII soldiers whose stories were previously told on this blog:  Gilles LANTEIGNE and Alphonse ROBERT.

CIMG6991 Aug 27 2024 Pieter Mel & Monique at Caraquet monument

Pieter (left) with Mel and Monique at the Caraquet Memorial. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

The Caraquet Memorial is very dear to Mel’s heart.  When the original monument was restored several years ago, a decision was made to add a statue of a WWII soldier, depicted as seated and reading a postcard from home.  The model for the statue was Mel and Monique’s son Marc-André, and the WWII uniform used for the model had been worn by Monique’s father, William D. WARD!

maky au céno de caraquet

Marc-André Lanteigne in his grandfather’s WWII uniform, standing beside the original Caraquet Memorial. (Photo courtesy of Mel Lanteigne)

CIMG6993 Aug 27 2024 Gilles Lanteigne & Alphonse Robert on list of names on Caraquet monument

Gilles Lanteigne and Alphonse Robert are two of 14 WWII casualties listed on the Caraquet Memorial. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

To read Gilles Lanteigne’s story, see https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/07/11/on-the-war-memorial-trail-atlantic-canada-remembers-part-10/

To read Alphonse Robert’s story, see:

….Memorial 5: Bas-Caraquet…..

CIMG6997 Aug 27 2024 Bas Caraquet sign

Our fifth stop was Bas-Caraquet. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Our last stop on our tour with Mel and Monique was the village of Bas-Caraquet. WWII soldier Armand GIONET, whose photo was submitted to Pieter by Mel, is listed on the Bas-Caraquet Memorial. 

CIMG7002 Aug 27 2024 Daria & Pieter by Bas Caraquet Monument

Pieter and Daria at the Bas-Caraquet Memorial. (Photo credit: Mel Lanteigne)

CIMG7001 Aug 27 2024 Armand Gionet on list of names at Bas Caraquet Monument

Armand Gionet is one of 7 WWII casualties listed on this memorial.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

After Armand’s story was published, we heard from Jan Braakman, a Dutch journalist, who wrote to let us know that “….Armand Gionet died in my town of birth (Laren, province of Gelderland) at the same place, same time and same way as my grandmother, Dina Koeslag.….” Both lost their lives after the building they were in was hit by a German bazooka and started on fire.

To read Armand’s story, see https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2021/07/11/on-the-war-memorial-trail-atlantic-canada-remembers-part-10/

….Memorial 6: Tracadie…..

CIMG7027 Aug 28 2024 Info on Tracadie Monument

Information panel at the Tracadie Cenotaph.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

When we visited the five memorials with Mel and Monique it was warm and sunny.  The following day, however, it rained when we visited the Tracadie Cenotaph in Tracadie.   

CIMG7024 Aug 28 2024 Pieter at Tracadie Monument

Pieter at the Tracadie Cenotaph.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

WWII soldier Alderic BASQUE, of Tracadie, whose photo was found several years ago with the help of Marc Comeau, is listed on this Cenotaph. To read Alderic’s story, see https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2020/12/31/on-the-war-memorial-trail-a-face-for-ww2-soldier-alderic-basque/

CIMG7026 Aug 28 2024 Alderic Basque listed on Tracadie Monument

Alderic Basque is one of 19 WWII casualties listed on this Cenotaph.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Also listed on this Cenotaph is WWII soldier Cyrille CAISSIE, whose photo was obtained by Pieter last year.  Born in Four Roads, New Brunswick, Cyril was the son of John and Delima Caissie.  He lost his life on February 26, 1945 at the age of 25, while serving with Le Régiment de la Chaudière, and is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands.

WWII soldier Sylvestre THOMAS, whose name is also on this Cenotaph, is on the photo wish list that Pieter is still searching for. The son of Xavier and Sara (nee Hebert) Thomas, of Upper Tilley Rd, Gloucester County., New Brunswick, Sylvestre lost his life on October 25, 1944 at the age of 24, while serving with the Algonquin Regiment.  He’s buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom.

We found visiting these memorials very moving.  Pieter summed up the experience, saying that “…after researching and telling the stories of these men, it was an honour to visit the places where they came from, and to know that they are not forgotten…”

Thank you to Mel and Monique Lanteigne for showing us monuments in their area in which Acadian soldiers we’ve featured on this blog are listed. May we never forget all those who served, and continue to serve!

If you have a story to tell, or can help with the search for a photo of Sylvestre Thomas, please let Pieter know. You can email him at memorialtrail@gmail.com, or comment on the blog.  

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?….

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

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…. Remembrance Week 2024 – Borden-Carleton Legion At South Shore Villa and Cenotaph For Remembrance Services

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

banner-remembrance with poppies

November 18, 2024.  After a day of school visits for Remembrance Services on November 6, 2024, members of the Borden-Carleton Legion in Prince Edward Island gathered for a Remembrance Service at South Shore Villa in Crapaud on November 8, 2024, and then for the Remembrance Day Service beside the Cenotaph outside the Legion in Borden-Carleton on November 11, 2024.

….Remembrance Service At South Shore Villa….

On the afternoon of November 8, 2024, members of the Borden-Carleton Legion were present for the annual Remembrance Service at the South Shore Villa, a retirement and nursing care home in Crapaud, Prince Edward Island.

CIMG7243 Nov 8 2024 South Shore Villa

The March On of Colours signaled the start of the Remembrance Service at South Shore Villa.  Left to right: Arthur Ranahan, Danny Bernard, and Sgt At Arms Mario Henry.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Pieter was the Master of Ceremonies at this service, while the Reverend Kent Compton of the Free Church of Scotland in Cape Traverse offered the Opening prayer and Blessing. 

CIMG7246 Nov 8 2024 South Shore Villa

Remembrance Service at South Shore Villa in Crapaud, Prince Edward Island. From left to right: Danny Bernard, Pieter Valkenburg, Rev Kent Compton of the Free Church of Scotland, Arthur Ranahan. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

 ….Remembrance Day Service At Borden-Carleton Legion….

A cold and rainy day on Monday, November 11, 2024 did not deter people from attending the Remembrance Day service at Borden-Carleton Legion.  In fact, it seemed as though there were more people in attendance than in previous years.

While most members of the public, including yours truly, stood outside while protected by an umbrella, this was not the case for the Legion members who were unprotected but remained at attention for over 45 minutes during the ceremony. 

CIMG7251 Nov 11 2024 Borden-Carleton Legion

The Reverend Barbara Cairns of the Bedeque United Church in Bedeque, Prince Edward Island, offered the Opening Prayer. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

CIMG7254 Nov 11 2024 Borden-Carleton Legion

The Legion flag was lowered during the playing of The Last Post by Arthur Ranahan.  Lucien Bourgoin held the Canadian flag.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

CIMG7258 Nov 11 2024 Borden-Carleton Legion Govt of Cda wreath being laid

Danny Bernard (left) and Pieter stand at attention after laying the Government of Canada wreath on behalf of Heath MacDonald, MP for Malpeque. Flag bearer seen on right: Arthur Ranahan. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

CIMG7262 Nov 11 2024 Borden-Carleton Legion

Members of the Borden-Carleton Legion and the public honour the memories of those who’ve served, despite the inclement weather, at the November 11, 2024 service in Borden-Carleton. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Following the Remembrance Day Service, everyone was invited inside the Legion for a light lunch and a much needed cup of coffee or tea.

Thank you to the South Shore Villa for organizing the Remembrance Day Service, and to all of the Legion members who participated in the various Remembrance Week events. May we never forget all those who served, and continue to serve!

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

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?….

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

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…. Remembrance Week 2024 – Borden-Carleton Legion At 3 Schools For Remembrance Services

/ On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

banner-remembrance with poppies

November 17, 2024.  On November 6, 2024, members of the Borden-Carleton Legion in Prince Edward Island were present for Remembrance Services at three schools:  Somerset Consolidated in Kinkora, Kinkora Regional High School in Kinkora, and Amherst Cove Consolidated School in Borden-Carleton.

…. Remembrance Service at Somerset Consolidated School….

The day of school visits began in the morning in Kinkora, at the Somerset Consolidated School.  As this is traditionally the first school visited each year, a group photo is always taken outside the school with all of the Legion members who participated.

CIMG7223 Nov 6 2024 Somerset Consolidated School

2024 photo taken at the school’s entrance. Left to right: Sgt At Arms Mario Henry, George Palmer, Danny Bernard, Pieter Valkenburg, Kathy Henry, Dawn Gradwell, Arthur Ranahan, Trish Taylor, Barry Bernard. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

School officials were careful to verify the Order of Service and to note down the names of all of the Legion members present.  The names were read out during the service, a mark of respect that all appreciated.

CIMG7215 Nov 6 2024 Somerset Consolidated School

The Order of Service was verified with Vice-Principal Ryan Casey.  Left to right: Kathy Henry, Mario Henry, Arthur Ranahan, Ryan Casey, Pieter Valkenburg.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Two cadets who are students at the school participated in the Remembrance Service.

CIMG7222 Nov 6 2024 Somerset Consolidated School cadets

Two cadets from the school participated in the service. Left to right: Amelia MacCausland (RCSCC Sea Cadets Summerside), Sgt At Arms Mario Henry, Thomas Palmer (PEI Regt 17th Recce Army Cadets). (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

The flag bearers for the colour parade carried the Canadian flag and the Borden-Carleton Branch Legion flag.

CIMG7216 Nov 6 2024 Somerset Consolidated School flag bearers

This year’s flag bearers were: Arthur Ranahan (left) and Danny Bernard (right). (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

 …. Remembrance Service at Kinkora Regional High School….

Following the service at Somerset Consolidated School, the Legion members made their way to Kinkora Regional High School, which is also in Kinkora. School officials let Pieter know that students from the school will be visiting the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom in The Netherlands in May 2025.  We’re aware of 8 Islanders buried in the cemetery, whose graves hopefully will be visited by the students.

CIMG7226 Nov 6 2024 KRHS Principal & Vice Principal

Pieter (centre) flanked by Principal Ryan McAleer (left) and Vice Principal Matt Killeen. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Two cadets who are students at the school participated in the Remembrance Service.

CIMG7228 Nov 6 2024 KRHS Parade participants

Parade participants, left to right: Sgt At Arms Mario Henry, Danny Bernard, Maika MacLean and Lucas Somers (both with the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets, RCSCC Summerside), Barry Bernard. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Students at the school annually offer a light lunch to the Legion members after the Remembrance Service is concluded, a gesture that is much appreciated. This year, we were offered chile or corn chowder, as well as an assortment of squares and cookies, plus coffee or tea.  All the food was prepared by students, and Legion members unanimously agreed that both luncheon choices were delicious!

CIMG7229 Nov 6 2024 KRHS Lunch is served

Following the Remembrance Service at Kinkora Regional High School in Kinkora, members of the Borden-Carleton Legion were invited for a delicious lunch of either corn chowder or chile, prepared by students.  Left to right: Dawn Gradwell, Mario Henry, Kathy Henry, Arthur Ranahan. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

…. Remembrance Service at Amherst Cove Consolidated School….

In the afternoon, members of the Borden-Carleton Legion were present for a Remembrance Service at Amherst Cove Consolidated School in Borden-Carleton.  At this school, the two cadets from the school were siblings.

CIMG7231 Nov 6 2024 Amherst Cove Parade

Parade participants, left to right: Danny Bernard, Arthur Ranahan, Kaden MacPhee (PEI Regt 17th Recce), Alex MacPhee (cadet with PEI Regt 17th Recce), Pieter Valkenburg, Barry Bernard. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Amherst Cove Consolidated was the only school on the tour this year that had a band…. and my goodness, were these students good!  As someone who played in a Youth Orchestra myself as a child, I could only marvel at how well the students played.  The students and their Band Director, Grainne Howman, are to be commended!  It was a pleasure to listen to them.

CIMG7235 Nov 6 2024 Amherst Cove School Band

The school band, under the direction of Band Director Grainne Howman, was inspirational. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

After the Remembrance Service, Principal Paul Quinlan and Vice-Principal Evan Killorn posed with two veterans from the Borden-Carleton Legion, George Palmer and Pieter.  Both men were born before D-day and both served in the Air Force – Pieter in the Royal Netherlands Air Force, and George in the Royal Canadian Air Force.

CIMG7238 Nov 6 2024 Amherst Cove Principal & Vice Principal

Vice Principal Evan Killorn (far left) and Principal Paul Quinlan (3rd from left) with two veterans from Borden-Carleton Legion – Pieter Valkenburg (2nd from left) and George Palmer (far right). (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Listening to the children at each school with their various programs of Remembrance – and the respect they showed to the members present from the Legion – offered hope that the next generations may be less selfish and filled with distrust towards others.

Thank you to the officials and students at all three schools for the work they put into the Remembrance Services. May we never forget all those who served, and continue to serve!

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

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?….

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

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…. Remembrance Week 2024 – Reflections and Updates

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

1200x600-remembrance-day-1-1024x512

November 10, 2024.  When we write a story on the blog, we often receive additional information, sometimes about the soldiers we’ve written about, sometimes about other soldiers buried in the same cemetery or who served in the same unit. Occasionally we have a chance to meet families who’ve contributed photos and information on soldiers.  Each year we also try to visit a war memorial featuring a soldier. In this posting we feature a visit to the Sagkeeng War Memorial in Fort Alexander, Manitoba.

…Richard Reeves visited the grave of WWII soldier Everett Samuel Francis….

gravestone Everett Francis photo taken by Richard Reeves

Grave of Everett Samuel Francis in St. Matthew’s Presbyterian Cemetery in Grand Falls, Newfoundland.  (Photo credit: Richard Reeves)

One of the very first stories that Pieter researched of the names listed on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion was that of WWII soldier Everett Samuel FRANCIS of Albany, Prince Edward Island.

On September 13, 1942, Everett was sent from Gander, Newfoundland, where his unit was based, to Long Branch, Ontario for a small arms training course.  He was on his way back to Gander aboard the railway ferry S.S. Caribou when it was torpedoed by German U-Boat 69 off the coast of Newfoundland on Wednesday, October 14, 1942.  101 survivors were rescued, but the captain, 30 crew, 57 service personnel, and 48 passengers were lost, including Everett. 

Everett and his wife, Janie Louise Mercer of Grand Falls, Newfoundland, were the parents of Greta, who had been born a few weeks earlier.  He was on his way home to meet his new-born daughter, who was to be christened in church on the Sunday after he was scheduled to return home, but never made it. He’s buried in St. Matthew’s Presbyterian Cemetery in Grand Falls, Newfoundland. 

In one of those interesting twists of fates, when Pieter was searching for a photo of Orville ‘Skip’ James REEVES, who was born in North Bay, Ontario, but was married to Mamie Thomas of Grand Falls, his nephew Richard Reeves not only provided a photo, but visited Everett’s grave on our behalf!  Watch for Skip’s story in a future posting.

You can read Everett’s story at:

….Nephew of WWII soldier Lt Arthur Affleck shared a memory of his last Sunday at church on Prince Edward Island…

Percy Affleck shared the following story about his uncle, Lt James ‘Arthur’ AFFLECK of Bedeque, Prince Edward Island:  “….The Affleck families of the Bedeque area were adherents of the United Church at Bedeque. (With a history dating back to the Methodist Church when part of the Affleck clan moved to Searletown from the Mt. Stewart area around 1858.)

According to Eldon Wright of Middleton, on his last Sunday at Church before shipping out for England, Arthur stood in full uniform on the church steps after the service and shook hands with everyone as they departed. At that era the Congregation would number in excess of 150 people and one can visualize the enthusiasm of the occasion, complete with good wishes. Arthur would have been fifth generation on the family tree dating to a marriage in Scotland in 1810…”

Arthur was killed in action by artillery shells on September 17, 1944, during the first day of the Battle of Boulogne (Operation Wellhit), a 5 day battle to take the port of Boulogne from German control. He’s buried in the Calais Canadian War Cemetery in Leubringhen, France, 14 km from Calais.

You can read Arthur’s story at:

….Family of WWII Pilot Elmer Bagnall Muttart donated medals to the Borden-Carleton Legion…

20241022_185910 medals for Elmer Muttart at Borden-Carleton Legion

Shadow box with a photo of WWII Pilot Elmer Bagnall Muttart and his medals.  (Photo credit: Kathy Henry)

Don Coutts, nephew of WWII Pilot Elmer Bagnall MUTTART of Cape Traverse, Prince Edward Island wrote us, saying that his brother Peter  “…has come across some of Elmer’s War Medals….” while going through their late mother’s boxes.  “…Do you think the Borden-Carleton Royal Canadian Legion would like them to display?…” 

The answer was yes, and a shadow box with a photo of Elmer and his medals is now on display on the Wall of Remembrance at the Borden-Carleton Legion.

Elmer was the pilot aboard Halifax L9561 when it was shot twice by German night fighters on October 12, 1941, while the plane was on its way to a bombing raid on Bremen, Germany.  After ordering the crew to bail out, Elmer managed to steer the burning plane away from the Dutch village of Wons, in the province of Friesland, before it crashed in a farmer’s field, just outside the village.  He was the only casualty and is buried in Harlingen General Cemetery in The Netherlands.

You can read Elmer’s story at:

….We visited the Sagkeeng War Memorial in Fort Alexander, Manitoba…

CIMG6783 May 9 2024 Pieter at Sagkeeng War Memorial re P Laforte

Pieter by the Sagkeeng War Memorial in Fort Alexander, Manitoba.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

This past May we were in Winnipeg, and took a drive to the village of Fort Alexander on the Sagkeeng First Nation to visit the Sagkeeng War Memorial.  WWII Métis soldier Philip LAFORTE, who was born in Lac du Bonnet, Manitoba, is listed on this memorial.  

CIMG6785 May 9 2024 Sagkeeng War Memorial re P Laforte

WWII soldier Philip Laforte is listed on the Sagkeeng War Memorial in Fort Alexander, Manitoba.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

While serving with the Royal Winnipeg Rifles, Philip lost his life on April 7, 1945 during the crossing of the Schipbeek Canal in The Netherlands.  He’s buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands.

You can read Philip’s story at:

…. A Remembrance Plaque for WWII soldier Gerald Reginald Kelly was placed outside his former home in Sarnia …

Within a few hours one day we received two emails, both with a Sarnia, Ontario connection.  First, Don Coutts let us know about a memorial project in Sarnia, where Remembrance Plaques of soldiers would be placed outside their former homes during Remembrance Week. 

Then, Patrick Michiels of Belgium wrote to let us know that his family had adopted the grave of Private Gerald Reginald KELLY, who was from Sarnia, and is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Adegem, Belgium.  

What were the odds that this was a coincidence?  Since our friend Sandra Wallis lives in Sarnia, an email immediately went out to her, asking if she could find out if Gerald was one of the soldiers who had a Remembrance Plaque. 

IMG_8744 Gerald Kelly remembrance plaque in front of his house from Sandra

Remembrance Plaque honouring Gerald Kelly outside his former home in Sarnia. (Photo credit: Sandra Wallis)

IMG_8743 Nov 4 2024 Kellys house in Sarnia from Sandra

Gerald Kelly’s former home in Sarnia. You can see the Remembrance Plaque on the right.  (Photo credit: Sandra Wallis)

Sandra got in contact with Tom Slater and Tom St. Amand, two retired teachers, who spearheaded the Remembrance Plaque project, and learned that a plaque had been made for Gerald. Once it was in place at his former residence, she took photos of the house and the plaque.  These photos were shared with Patrick, and the two retired teachers are now in contact with him.

Gerald was serving with the Algonquin Regiment when he lost his life on September 14, 1944 during the Battle of the Leopold Canal.  He was killed as he tried to re-cross the Leopold Canal while trying to rescue a wounded sergeant.

Here are two articles about Sarnia’s Remembrance Plaque project:

…. Meeting families of two airmen from Halifax DT630 …

CIMG6764 May 8 2024 May 8 2024 Jamie Don Craig Pieter Sue Daria at Courtyard Marriott Winnipeg

Left to right: Jamie Nelson-Dixon, Don Dixon, Craig MacKenzie, Pieter, Sue MacKenzie, Daria. (Photo courtesy of Valkenburg Family)

After we wrote the story about Jack ‘Douglas’ MACKENZIE, of Winnipeg, Manitoba, the pilot of Halifax DT630 that was shot down by a night fighter over the province of Drenthe in The Netherlands on February 3, 1943, we were contacted by Yannic Wethly of Stichting Luchtoorlog Onderzoek Drenthe (Air Research Drenthe Foundation) in The Netherlands. “….We are still searching for the pictures of Warrant Officer Second Class Raymond Hepton ‘Ray’ Hill and Sergeant Eric ‘Raymond’ Marquand, both crew members of Halifax DT630….” he wrote.

Four men died when the plane went down, including Douglas and Ray, and all are buried in Sleen General Cemetery in The Netherlands. 

We were successful in finding a photo of Raymond Hepton ‘Ray’ HILL, who was from Montreal, Quebec, but did not find any surviving family. Both Ray and his brother died during WWII, there were no other siblings, and neither man was married. 

Like Douglas MacKenzie, Eric ‘Raymond’ MARQUAND, the bomb aimer on that flight, was from Winnipeg.  He had survived the crash and spent the remaining war years in prisoner of war camps before being liberated.  We were very happy when his niece, Jamie Nelson-Dixon, got in contact and provided a photo. 

When we were in Winnipeg this past May, we asked if Jamie, and Doug MacKenzie’s nephew, Craig MacKenzie, would like to meet us and each other.  They did, and we spent a wonderful afternoon together with Jamie’s husband Don and Craig’s wife Sue.

Raymond’s story will be coming up in a future posting, but you can read Douglas’ story at:

Thank you to Percy Affleck, Don Coutts, Don Dixon, Craig and Sue MacKenzie, Jamie Nelson-Dixon, Patrick Michiels, Richard Reeves, Tom Slater, and Sandra Wallis.  The work of remembrance of those who served continues. 

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

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?….

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

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

/ On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

Remembrance_Day_2024_3840x2160

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

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

IMG_20190807_101837076 Entrance to Air Force Heritage Park Summerside

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

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

You can read his story at:

IMG_20190807_101038750 McIver Commemorative Stone Summerside

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

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

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

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

You can read his story here:

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

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

You can read his story at:

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

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

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

You can read his story at:

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

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

You can read his story at:

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

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

You can read his story at:

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

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

You can read his story at:

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

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

You can read his story at:

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

William Andrew HOOD, of Little Bras D’or, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia, was the mid-upper gunner aboard Halifax JD215 when it was shot down over The Netherlands on June 29, 1943.  None of the crew survived. He’s buried in Eindhoven General Cemetery in Eindhoven, The Netherlands.

You can read his story at:

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

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

You can read his story at:

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

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

You can read his story at:

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

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

You can read his story at:

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

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

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?….

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

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

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

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….Borden-Carleton Legion Honours Veterans By Placing Flags At Their Graves

/ On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / Leave a comment

November 3, 2024. In preparation for Remembrance Day, Pieter and Mario Henry, two veterans from Borden-Carleton Branch #10 in Prince Edward Island, and Mario’s son Laurie, visited cemeteries and cenotaphs in the area during the last week of October.  They ensured that veterans buried at 9 cemeteries, and whose names are listed on 4 cenotaphs, received a Canadian flag in 2024. 

Both William Galen CAMPBELL and his brother George ‘Albert’ CAMPBELL are listed on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion.  Albert was killed in action in 1918 in Belgium during the Battle of Mount Sorrel and has no known grave.  William Galen is buried in Cape Traverse Community Cemetery.  Pieter noted that while he received a photo of Albert Campbell, a photo for William Galen has never been found.  If you can help with a photo of William Galen Campbell, please let us know. (You can read the story of the two Campbell brothers at https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2017/12/08/two-campbell-brothers-in-ww1/)

CIMG7104 Oct 31 2024 Pieter and Mario Henry at Cemetery entrance

Pieter (left) and Mario Henry (right) at Cape Traverse Community Cemetery. (Photo credit: Laurie Henry)

CIMG7105 Oct 31 2024 Pieter by Campbell graves

Pieter between the graves of WWI veteran William Galen Campbell (left), and the mentioning of his brother George ‘Albert’ Campbell (right) – who was killed in action in 1918 in Belgium and has no known grave.  (Photo credit: Mario Henry)

The cemeteries covered by the area served by the Borden-Carleton Branch are:

  • Cape Traverse – Cape Traverse Community Cemetery
  • Cape Traverse – Cape Traverse United Church Cemetery
  • Central Bedeque – Central Bedeque Baptist Cemetery
  • Kinkora – St. Malachy’s Roman Catholic Cemetery
  • Lower Bedeque – Lower Bedeque Cemetery
  • North Tryon – North Tryon Presbyterian Cemetery
  • Searletown – Searletown United Cemetery
  • Seven Mile Bay – St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Cemetery
  • Tryon – Tryon People’s Cemetery

Flags were also placed at these Cenotaphs:

  • Augustine Cove Cenotaph (4 flags)
  • Borden-Carleton Cenotaph (1 flag)
  • Searletown United Cemetery Cenotaph (4 flags)
  • Tryon Cenotaph (4 flags)

The placing of flags at graves and cenotaphs has been done annually for well over 20 years. If you see Canadian flags by graves, please do not disturb them. They are a mark of respect for a veteran’s service to Canada, and will be picked up about a week after November 11.

Mario Henry asks that if a veteran’s grave was missed, or if a veteran has recently passed away, please contact the Legion, so that flags can be placed for next year. The Legion can be contacted by phone at 902-855-2660 (after 4 pm) or on its Facebook page. You can also contact Pieter, the branch Public Relations Officer, 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 WWII Soldier From Clyde River Who Lost His Life During The Attack On Hoogerheide

/ On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 2 Comments
CIMG6927 Jul 31 2024 Cornwall Cenotaph Pieter by WWII & WW1 memorial

The Cenotaph site in Cornwall, Prince Edward Island. The WWI cenotaph is on the right, and the WWII cenotaph on the left. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

October 12, 2024. When Pieter was asked to give a presentation on September 22, 2024 at the 105th Annual Remembrance Service in Cornwall, Prince Edward Island, one of the names on the WWII Cenotaph was that of Private William Ernest STONE, who was serving with the Black Watch of Canada, when he was killed during a fierce battle in Hoogerheide, The Netherlands on October 10, 1944, at the age of 25.  (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2024/09/26/on-the-war-memorial-trail105th-annual-remembrance-service-at-cornwall-cenotaph/)

CIMG6928 Jul 31 2024 Cornwall Cenotaph WWII memorial

William Ernest Stone was one of 4 casualties listed on the WWII Cenotaph in Cornwall, Prince Edward Island.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg).

William is buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom, The Netherlands, located near the Belgian border.  2024 is an important anniversary for this area as 80 years ago, in October 1944, Belgium and the southern part of The Netherlands were liberated, following tremendous casualties during the Battle of the Scheldt. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Scheldt and https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/canada-and-the-battle-of-the-scheldt)

It seems only fitting that 80 years after his death, William’s story is told.  He was born August 19, 1919, in Clyde River, Prince Edward Island, the son of Edward Earnest and Sadie Stone.  

William had two brothers and two sisters.  With the help of Brenda Graves and Arlene Roberts, a photo was soon provided by Faye MacNutt, the daughter of William’s sister Ruth.

…..William enlisted under the NRMA in 1941….

William originally enlisted under the National Resources Mobilization Act (NRMA) in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island on April 17, 1941 and underwent basic training at No. 62 Canadian Army Basic Training Centre (CABTC) in Charlottetown. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Resources_Mobilization_Act)

At the time of his enlistment he had been working for two years as a stoker at Storms Construction Company Ltd in Charlottetown. Among his tasks he also worked at Charlottetown Airport for several months in 1940, tasked with running a cement mixer and doing odd jobs, when the airport was transferred to the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and the airport and runways were enlarged in preparation for using the airport to train pilots and aircrew. 

William also noted that he also had six years of farming experience from helping on his family’s farm.  He had an interest in mechanics, played tennis, volleyball, and baseball, and enjoyed singing. 

…..William received training in both Canada and the USA….

William Ernest Stone colourized

William Ernest Stone. (Photo courtesy of Faye MacNutt.  Photo colourization by Pieter Valkenburg)

On June 6, 1941, he transferred to active service at No. 62 CABTC in Charlottetown, and was immediately sent to No. 6 District Depot in Halifax, Nova Scotia for trades training in motor mechanics and welding at the Halifax Technical School.

After successfully completing the two month course in Halifax, William was attached to No. 14 Infantry Training Centre in Aldershot, Nova Scotia as of August 2, 1941.  A few days later, he was sent ‘on command’ to Automatic Course in Motor Mechanics at the Quartermaster Motor Transport School at Fort Holabird in Baltimore, Maryland, USA.  He successfully completed the course on October 15, 1941.

Next, he was sent to the Canadian Army Trade School (CATS) in Hamilton, Ontario for more training in motor mechanics.  His time there was from October 28, 1941 until June 6, 1942, when he was transferred to the A9 Canadian Armoured Corps (Advanced) Training Centre (CACATC) at Camp Borden in Ontario for wireless training.

William received a furlough from May 20 to June 2, 1942, during which time he returned to Prince Edward Island to marry Eileen Younker in Winsloe on May 27, 1942.  The couple only had a few days together before he had to return and continue his training.

On July 26, 1942, he was assigned to the 28th Armoured Regiment in Debert, Nova Scotia for final training before going overseas.  On August 4, 1942, William received embarkation leave until August 7, the last chance he had to see his family. 

….William left Canada for overseas service….

William left Canada with the 28th Armoured Regiment on August 22, 1942, arriving in the United Kingdom on September 1, 1942. He was sent for more training, and qualified as a Driver i/c Class III (Wheeled) on December 6, 1942.  (The term ‘Driver i/c’ refers to ‘Driver, internal combustion’.  Class III meant he was qualified to drive heavy trucks and armoured cars, but not tanks.)

On May 15, 1943 he was sent to 21 Canadian Armoured Regiment (CAR) for a few weeks and then on to receive training as a Driver Mechanic (Tank) Class ‘C’.  He successfully completed this training on December 3, 1943.

William was transferred to No. 3 Canadian Armoured Corps Reinforcement Unit (CACRU) on January 29, 1944.  Then, on July 25, 1944, he was transferred again, this time to No. 1 Canadian Armoured Corps Reinforcement Unit (CACRU), and re-mustered from the Canadian Armoured Corps (CAC) to the Royal Canadian Artillery (RCA).

On August 13, 1944 William was temporarily assigned to the Canadian Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) before being placed on the X-4 Canadian Infantry Corps Reinforcement List, part of the 10th Battalion, on September 21, 1944 and sent to France.

On September 28, 1944, William was transferred to the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada, and joined them in Rijkevorsel, Belgium.  The war diary for that day noted that “….in the last two days, 42 reinforcements have joined us, 11 for general duty, the remainder being for the most part signallers and drivers...”

The Regiment had surged through France and into Belgium, where William joined the Regiment.  From Belgium, the Regiment made its way into The Netherlands on October 7, 1944.  While the main goal was helping to clear the Scheldt Estuary, necessary to liberate the vital port of Antwerp, their first task was to attack the town of Hoogerheide.

….Attack On Hoogerheide….

Screenshot 2024-10-11 at 10-41-57 Google Maps

Map shows location of Calfven, Hoogerheide, and Ossendrecht in The Netherlands, just over the Belgian border. (Map source: Google maps)

The War Diary for October 7, 1944 noted that the Regiment had begun their journey into The Netherlands “…at 0930 hours and shortly thereafter crossed the frontier into Holland at the town of Putte…and went on to our area at a farm….In the afternoon we moved forward again into the Calfven area….”

On October 8, 1944, as the troops moved up to the attack on Hoogerheide in the early morning, they found that the Start Line hadn’t been secured.  When the attack did begin, at 10:30 am, troops came under machine gun and mortar fire.

The War Diary entry for October 8, 1944 stated that “…very heavy fighting ensued and it was over two hours before the enemy decided that he had had enough….”  The respite didn’t last.

The following day, the War Diary recorded that “…during the night, mortaring and shelling continued on a heavy scale….It is apparent that there has been heavy reinforcement of this area, and that the enemy is determined to make a stand. The troops we are now meeting are definitely the cream of the crop.  They belong to paratroop battalions, with a sprinkling of glider troops and Luftwaffe personnel…..”

The war diarist noted that the German troops were young and in good physical condition, “…keen to fight and with excellent morale.  All day long there was heavy fire from artillery and mortar on our positions, and his snipers are very busy.  At 1600 hours the Germans opened an artillery barrage which lasted for two hours, then came in on a counter attack…”

On October 10, 1944, the War Diary continued the account of the attack.  “…Weather – Misty and rain.  The heavy mortaring and shelling to which we have been subjected continues without respite…”  The attack continued for the Black Watch until 3:00 pm, when they were relieved by the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry.

The Black Watch casualties for the Hoogerheide attack were counted, and totalled 81, with 12 fatalities.  Among those who were recorded as having died on October 10, 1944 was William Ernest Stone.

….William is buried in Bergen Op Zoom….

William was initially buried in the village cemetery in Ossendrecht, before being reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom, The Netherlands.

William Ernest Stone from find a grave

Grave of William Ernest Stone in the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom, The Netherlands.  (Photo courtesy of the Canadian Virtual War Memorial)

Later this month, the cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom is holding its 80th Anniversary of Liberation Commemorations.  Private William Ernest Stone will be one of the 968 Canadians buried there who will be remembered.

CIMG3382 Oct 7 2019 Bergen Op Zoom Pieter at Cdn War Cemetery

Pieter at the entrance to the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Thank you to Brenda Graves and Arlene Roberts for their help in finding a photo. Thank you to Faye MacNutt for submitting a photo of her uncle.

If you have photos or information to share, please email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or tweet to @researchmemori1.

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?….

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

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

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

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

On The War Memorial Trail….. The WWII Soldier From Clermont Killed During Operation Veritable

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

September 30, 2024. When you visit a Canadian War Cemetery and place down a flag by a soldier’s grave, it stays with you, and makes you wonder about the person who is buried there.  Before our first war memorial tour in 2017, Pieter asked the Canadian War Cemeteries in The Netherlands for a list of soldiers from Prince Edward Island who are buried there, and we made sure to place flags at their graves.

Screenshot 2024-09-30 at 09-15-25 Clermont - Google Maps

Clermont is located in Prince County, Prince Edward Island.  (Map source: Google)

Over the years, Pieter has researched many of the soldiers from Prince Edward Island who are buried in The Netherlands, and he continues to do so. One of these WWII soldiers was John ‘Weston’ CAMPBELL, born May 29, 1916 in Clermont, Prince Edward Island, the son of Archibald Joseph and Lavinia Helen (nee Brennan) Campbell.  

brant

C.G.S. Brant in Charlottetown around 1930.  (Photo source: https://sailstrait.wordpress.com)

Weston’s father was Captain of the Canadian Government Ship ‘Brant’, a buoy and lighthouse tender that operated from the Charlottetown Marine Wharf.  The family also operated a farm, and Weston worked there after leaving school upon completing Grade 10.

On June 29, 1937, Weston joined the 1st Battalion of the Prince Edward Island Highlanders Militia, before enlisting in active service with the Regiment on October 3, 1939. His basic training was taken in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, and Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_Edward_Island_Highlanders)

….Weston was transferred to the North Nova Scotia Highlanders…

Weston was promoted to Corporal and then Acting Sergeant by the time he was transferred to the North Nova Scotia Highlanders, 3rd Division, on June 20, 1940, and joined them at their headquarters in Amherst, Nova Scotia.  Training in preparation for overseas service continued.

According to his Personnel Selection Record, Weston played hockey, soccer, baseball, and softball.  His brother Vernon was a Chief Petty Officer in the Canadian Navy.  He had 4 sisters and 1 other brother.  The interviewer described Weston as “…sturdy, good-looking, well-balanced, with keen pride in regiment….”

CAMPBELL John Weston

John ‘Weston’ Campbell as a Sergeant.  (Photo courtesy of North Nova Scotia Highlanders Museum)

On July 5, 1941 he was promoted to Sergeant, just as the Regiment moved to Debert, Nova Scotia for final preparations before going overseas.  In ‘No Retreating Footsteps’ by Will Bird, he noted that “…the 3rd Division units were moving to Debert….Word came that the North Novas would be included in the 9th Highland Brigade along with the Highland Light Infantry and the Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders…”

….Weston left Canada for England….

On July 19, 1941, Weston and his Regiment left Halifax, Nova Scotia aboard the Orion, arriving in Avonmouth, England on July 29, 1941.  Two days later, they were allowed to disembark and left by train for Aldershot, where “…the North Novas arrived at Albuhera Barracks…”

He continued to train and take courses, and then was transferred to the No. 1 Non-Effective Transit Depot (NETD) on July 7, 1942.  Tweedsmuir Camp in Surrey, near the village of Thursley, was set up as Number One Transit Depot for handling thousands of medical and psychological cases during WWII.  

It was also used as a base for returning Canadian and American troops, and that appears to be why Weston was there, as shortly after his arrival he was sent back to Canada, arriving on July 29, 1942.  The following day he was assigned to No. 6 District Depot in Halifax, Nova Scotia, for a short period.

….Weston returned to Canada for officer training….

On August 14, 1942, Weston was sent to the No. 30 Officers Training Centre in Brockville, Ontario for training. After successfully completing his 12 week course on November 7, 1942, he was recommended for promotion and appointment to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant.

With his new officers’ rank, he was transferred to the A-14 Canadian Infantry Training Centre in Camp Aldershot, Nova Scotia on November 13, 1942.  He was sent for additional training to the A25 Canadian Army Small Arms Training Centre (CSATC) in Long Branch, Ontario from November 14 to December 12, 1942, after which he was promoted to Lieutenant.

On January 9, 1943, Weston was transferred to No. 61 Canadian Army (Basic) Training Centre in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia for additional training, before returning to A-14 Canadian Infantry Training Centre in Camp Aldershot on April 14, 1943.

….Weston left Canada again for overseas service….

On June 19, 1943, Weston left Canada for overseas service.  After arriving in the United Kingdom on June 24, 1943, he was assigned to No. 7 Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit (CIRU).   He arrived there just as a fellow Islander, Harold ‘Hal’ Gabriel BULGER, whose story was previously told, was transferred to the Princess Louise Fusiliers.  (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2024/08/05/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-bulger-brothers-part-i-the-wwii-soldier-from-foxley-river-killed-during-the-battle-of-moerbrugge/)

On July 29, 1943, Weston returned to the North Nova Scotia Highlanders, who were still in the United Kingdom. Training and exercises continued, as extensive preparations began for Operation Overlord (the larger Normandy invasion) and Operation Neptune (the English Channel-crossing portion of Operation Overlord) on June 6, 1944 – what we know today as D-Day.

In ‘No Retreating Footsteps’ by Will Bird, he recorded that among “…the officers selected to land in France on D Day with the North Novas….” was Lt. J.W. Campbell who would be leading an anti-tank platoon.

…Weston survived D-Day….

The North Nova Scotia Highlanders left England for Normandy, France on June 6, 1944, after waiting in place in the English Channel on landing craft earlier.   The war diary for Sunday, June 4, 1944 noted that “…we are tied up with two other landing craft tank.   The Padre is on one, so he had a church service at 10:30 hours on the quarter deck of the middle craft…”

On June 5, 1944 the war diary recorded that “…at 14:00 hours the flotilla moved out to the open sea and formed up with the other craft taking part in the invasion…”

After landing on the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944, as part of the 9th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Infantry Division, 21st Army Group, the war diary noted that the Regiment had 10 casualties that day– 4 killed, 6 wounded. 

Weston had survived D-Day and received a promotion to Acting Captain on June 22, 1944. The Regiment continued to fight in North-West Europe, including the Battle of the Scheldt, which began October 2, 1944. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Scheldt)  Weston was confirmed as Captain on October 4, 1944.

On December 19, 1944, he was promoted again.  The war diary entry for that day reported that “…Captain J. W. Campbell was made Acting Major today, and is to command ‘B’ Company…”

On January 10, 1945, while on leave in the United Kingdom, he married Mary Margaret Taylor in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England. 

He returned to the Regiment on January 15, 1945 and the war diary entry for that day recorded that “…the battalion officers held a party for Major J. W. Campbell who has just returned from his privilege leave to the United Kingdom.  It appears that he was married during this leave….”

….Weston lost his life during Operation Veritable…

Screenshot 2024-09-30 at 11-09-38 emmerich germany - Google Search

Map shows Emmerich, Germany located on the Rhine River. Allied troops had to cross the river in amphibious vehicles.  (Map source: Google maps)

The Regiment was informed that they were to take part in Operation Veritable. (See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Veritable) After leaving Nijmegen in The Netherlands, they reached Kellen, Germany near Kleve, just on the other side of the border with The Netherlands, on February 12, 1945. 

On February 14, using amphibious vehicles, the North Novies made their way towards Emmerich.   The war diary for that day reported that “….we have been given the job of taking out the triangle formed by the road running southwest … and the canal running south east….”

Three Companies were involved. “…The attack is to be made across the river which has overflowed its banks and now forms a barrier over 200 yards wide. Buffaloes are to be used for the attack…”

The action began at noon, with ‘C’ Company on the left, and ‘A’ Company on the right of the road.  “… ‘B’ Company, which arrived late at the rendezvous, set out at 12:10 hours with their axis along the main road…”

The war diary entry continued, explaining that “…the assault companies landed on the shore with terrific fire support from field and medium artillery, plus the machine guns of the Buffaloes…”

The attack, which ended at 6:15 pm,  was ultimately successful, but “…our total number of casualties for today’s action was 3 killed and 8 wounded, including Major J. W. Campbell, commanding ‘B’ Company, who was killed…”  Both ‘B’ and ‘C’ Companies had been heavily mortared during the day.

….Weston is buried in Groesbeek…

Weston was initially buried in a churchyard in Warbeyen, Germany, located halfway between Emmerich and Kleve, before being reburied in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands.  He was 28 years old and had been married just over a month.

CIMG9018 Sep 16 2017 Groesbeek Cemetery grave of JW Campbell from Daria

Grave of John ‘Weston’ Campbell in the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, The Netherlands.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Seven years after we placed flags at his grave, we finally know John ‘Weston’ Campbell’s story! If you have photos or information to share, please email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or tweet to @researchmemori1.

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?….

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

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

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

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

On The War Memorial Trail……105th Annual Remembrance Service At Cornwall Cenotaph

/ On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 4 Comments

September 26, 2024. On Sunday, September 22, 2024, the 105th Annual Remembrance Service was held at the Cornwall Cenotaph in Cornwall, Prince Edward Island.  Pieter was invited by fellow Legion member John Yeo to be the keynote speaker at this event. 

John asked that excerpts from Pieter’s presentation in July for the 75th Anniversary of NATO be included in the presentation. (See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2024/07/15/on-the-war-memorial-trail75th-nato-anniversary-commemoration-at-seacow-head-lighthouse/)

….There were two Cenotaphs – 1 for WWI and 1 for WWII….

After Pieter agreed to give a presentation, we visited Cornwall and saw that there were actually two Cenotaphs – one listing casualties from WWI and the other listing casualties from WWII.

A preliminary visit to the Cenotaph site in Cornwall. The WWI cenotaph is on the right, and the WWII cenotaph on the left. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

The WWII Cenotaph listed 4 names, with one of the men killed in The Netherlands.  In preparation for the presentation, a decision was made to briefly mention these 4 men. 

There were 4 casualties listed on the WWII Cenotaph in Cornwall.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

 ….Pieter explained why he researches Canadian soldiers….

The PEI Regimental Band led a march past the Cenotaph just prior to the start of the ceremony.  (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Sunday, September 22, 2024 saw many citizens, veterans, and dignitaries arrive in Cornwall.  The PEI Regimental Band led the march past the Cenotaph just prior to the start of the ceremony.  Following the laying of the wreaths, Pieter was introduced as the keynote speaker.

He began by thanking the organizers for the invitation to speak “…as we gather around these two Cenotaphs commemorating those who died in WWI and WWII, on this, the 105th annual service ….” 

Pieter then briefly explained the motivation for researching Canadian soldiers.  “…If it wasn’t for the Allied soldiers fighting against tyranny in WWII, 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.  He wasn’t alone.  Anyone caught with food by the Nazis had it confiscated. 

So many people starved to death that winter! Allied soldiers – in particular the Canadians in our area of The Netherlands – not only liberated us from Nazi rule, they saved us from starvation.

In gratitude, now that I’m retired, one way for me to honour those who lost their lives in war is to research and share the stories of Canadians who served and died in the First and Second World Wars, helping to ensure that they will never be forgotten…”

…. 2024 was a year of important anniversaries ….

Pieter at the podium in Cornwall, with the WWII Cenotaph on the left, and the WWI Cenotaph on the right. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Pieter reflected that 2024 was a year of important anniversaries, and referenced the 80th anniversary of D-Day and the 75th anniversary of NATO.  He then explained that “…80 years ago, in October 1944, Belgium and the southern part of The Netherlands were liberated, following tremendous casualties during the Battle of the Scheldt. 

One of the names on this Cenotaph, that of Private William Ernest STONE, was serving with the Black Watch of Canada, when he was killed during a fierce battle in Hoogerheide on October 10, 1944, at the age of 25.  He’s buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom, which is near the Belgian border. 

The cemetery in Bergen Op Zoom is holding its 80th anniversary of liberation commemorations next month, and Private Stone will be one of the 968 Canadians buried there who will be remembered….”

…. The other 3 names on the WWII Cenotaph were mentioned….

As was decided back in July when we first visited the Cenotaph location in Cornwall, Pieter briefly mentioned the other three names on the WWII Cenotaph.

“…Gunner John White BELL was serving with the Royal Canadian Artillery when he died on October 3, 1944 in Italy, at the age of 21. He’s buried in Ravenna War Cemetery in Italy.

RCAF Flight Sergeant Ronald Harris BUTLER died over Germany on October 22, 1943, at the age of 24. He was the bomb aimer aboard Lancaster ED366, which was on its way to bomb a target in Kassel, Germany when it was damaged by flak and finished off by a night fighter over Obermeiser, Germany. He’s buried in Hannover War Cemetery in Germany. Out of 7 crew members, only the pilot managed to bail out safely and survived. 

RCAF Flight Sergeant Terris Haggie MILLER died on the night of August 28, 1942, at the age of 23.  He was the wireless operator aboard Halifax W7809 which was shot down over Belgium by a German night fighter, and crashed southeast of Brussels, at Overijse-Tombeek.  The bomber was on its way to a bombing mission in Nürnberg in Germany, but never made it. All 7 crew members lost their lives and are buried near the crash site in the Overijse-Tombeek Churchyard.….” 

…. An appeal for photos ….

Pieter at the podium in Cornwall.  (Photo courtesy of Heath MacDonald)

Pieter had been invited to give a presentation because of his research, and he wasn’t going to let an opportunity go by without reminding those present of the need to preserve the past.  “…Volunteers like me work diligently to find photos of the Allied casualties in the many cemeteries in which they are buried. This is my 10th year of research.  There are over 7,600 Canadians who lost their lives during WWII that are buried in The Netherlands.

While many photos have been found, there is still much research to do. It gets harder as each year passes, with so many photos, letters, and other mementos of those who served and didn’t return home get lost to the dustbin of history….” 

…. ‘They’re not just names on a Cenotaph’ ….

The presentation ended with Pieter saying that “…those who sacrificed their lives in war are not just names on a Cenotaph or buried in a war grave.  They were children, siblings, spouses, parents, friends… Each one has a story that can be told and they should not be forgotten.

Let us always remember the memories and sacrifices made by those who did their best to answer the call to fight for freedom.  Thank you….”

As Pieter left the podium and returned to where he had been seated, he was both humbled and surprised as the audience gave him a standing ovation. Afterwards, many people came up to him and told him how his speech had touched them. 

Thank you to John Yeo and the organizers of the Annual Remembrance Service at Cornwall Cenotaph for inviting Pieter to speak. 

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

© Daria Valkenburg

….Want to follow our research?….

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

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. 

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