YouTube: He Died That We Might Live

We Hear From Readers About ‘No Soldier Buried Overseas Should Ever Be Forgotten’

/ On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 1 Comment

Front cover OnTheWarMememorialTrailinEurope

March 13, 2022. Once ‘No Soldier Buried Overseas Overseas Should Ever Be Forgotten’ was published, we were delighted to receive a number of photos and emails.  And we were able to meet in person with a few people. (For the original posting about the book, see https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2022/02/19/new-book-no-soldier-buried-overseas-should-ever-be-forgotten/)

…Some of the feedback we’ve received….

PXL_20220221_163612516~3 Feb 21 2022 Brien Robertson with book photo by Moira

Brien Robertson reads the book.  (Photo credit: Moira Robertson)

Brien and Moira Robertson wrote “…We received No Soldier… today and have been reading it ever since. Such a wonderful journey telling of your travels and memorializing those lost in the tragedy of wars. And here we go again, thinking about what could happen in Ukraine. Reading the book brings home the thought that all wars are really civil wars. Lives lost for nothing. Great job telling the story so not to forget those lost. We are proud to be your friends….”

IMG_1581 Feb 18 2022 Mindy Patrick with Daria

Mindy Patrick and Daria with the book.  (Photo courtesy of Valkenburg family collection)

Mindy Patrick wanted a book for her father, a veteran who served in the US Coast Guard.

DSCN2378 Feb 22 2022 Don and Nora Coutts at North Bay Public Library

Don and Nora Coutts at the North Bay Public Library in Ontario. (Photo taken by Brad Jacobs)

Don Coutts, nephew of WW2 pilot Elmer Bagnall MUTTART, who is featured in the book, explained he ordered copies for himself and for the North Bay Public Library in North Bay, Ontario, where his wife Nora is Head of Children’s Services and Deputy CEO.

(See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2019/10/17/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-presentations-at-hannemahuis-in-harlingen/ for comments made by Don during the presentation in The Netherlands in 2019 to honour his uncle and the crew of Halifax L9561.)

Alexander Tuinhout of the Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation: Original comment in Dutch: “…We hebben het boek “No Soldier Buried Overseas Should Ever Be Forgotten” besteld en inmiddels ook al uit Canada ontvangen. Hoewel we nog geen tijd hebben gehad om alles te lezen is de eerste indruk voortreffelijk! Zo’n publicatie is een monument op zich en zeker een felicitatie waard!…”

(English translation by Pieter: “…We ordered the book ‘No Soldier Buried Overseas Should Ever Be Forgotten’ and have already received it from Canada. Although we haven’t had time to read everything yet, the first impression is excellent! Such a publication is a monument in itself and certainly worth congratulating!…”)

The Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation organized the memorial panel to honour Elmer Bagnall MUTTART and the crew of Halifax L9561.  During the events in October 2019, Alexander gave a presentation on the crew and what happened on October 12, 1941.  You can watch part of his presentation in the documentary made about the events.

IMG_0360 Feb 23 2022 Henk Vincent

Henk Vincent, a volunteer at the Holten Cemetery Information Centre, with the book.  (Photo courtesy of H. Vincent)

The work done by the Holten Cemetery Information Centre to remember Canadian soldiers buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands is ongoing.  Pieter is one of the volunteers helping with photo wish lists for a digital archive.  (For more information on the Info Centre, see https://www.canadesebegraafplaatsholten.nl/en/home/)

IMG_6170 (1) Feb 25 2022 Alan McIvor

Alan McIvor, nephew of WW2 Flight Officer Joseph ‘Joe’ Charles McIver, wrote a book on his uncle’s service. (Photo courtesy of A. McIvor)

Alan McIvor wrote “…Congratulations on your book, “NO SOLDIER BURIED OVERSEAS.”  Good work.  I am sure it was a labour of love but lots of work, research, writing and editing…”

Alan’s uncle, WW2 Flight Officer Joseph ‘Joe’ Charles MCIVER of Kinkora, Prince Edward Island, was one of the names listed on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion – the research project that launched this blog.

(See https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2019/08/17/the-ww2-flight-officer-whose-plane-went-down-while-on-patrol-near-the-arctic-circle/)

CIMG5511 Feb 25 2022 Daria with Susan & Charlie

Daria visits with Susan and Charlie Choi. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

Last fall, Charlie CHOI, who was 4 years old when the Korean War started in June 1950, shared his memories in a 3 part series.  If you missed these postings, please see:

CIMG5506 Feb 21 2022 Daria with Mary Ann Greiner

Daria with Mary Ann Greiner.  (Photo credit: Pieter Valkenburg)

Mary Ann Greiner has an abiding interest in military history. Pieter and I were able to meet with her and her husband Rick, a US army veteran.

20220303_202843 Mar 3 2022 John Davis photo by Susan

John Davis is the author of ‘Outside Time Looking In’, which features two alternative history stories.  (Photo credit: Susan Choi)

John Davis is the author of ‘Outside Time Looking In’, featuring two alternative history stories, and which I’ve read with great interest.  (See https://www.lulu.com/en/us/shop/john-davis/outside-time-looking-in/paperback/product-18rekkpk.html?page=1&pageSize=4)

Thank you to everyone who sent in comments and photos with themselves with the book, and for your support. Email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or tweet to @researchmemori1.

…Book trailer and website….

Thanks to the amazing talents of Wendy Nattress, who does the post-production editing for the On The War Memorial Trail YouTube Channel, we have a book website: see https://nosoldierforgotten.com/.  The website has a book description, preview pages, and ordering information.

Wendy also prepared a short book trailer…

…Want to follow our research?….

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

goodreads-badge-add-plus-71eae69ca0307d077df66a58ec068898Daria’s book ‘No Soldier Buried Overseas Should Ever Be Forgotten‘ is now available.  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. 

© Daria Valkenburg

2021 Christmas Eve Candle Lighting In The Netherlands

/ On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 1 Comment

December 26, 2021.  Social distancing and the threat posed by the omicron variant altered many of the activities we like to participate in during the holidays.  In The Netherlands, a Christmas Eve tradition is to light candles by the graves of Allied soldiers and Dutch resistance fighters who are buried in one of the War Cemeteries or in a municipal cemetery.  For the second year in a row, the annual event still occurred, but without the public.

…A corrected gravestone for Barney Reuben McGuigan….

Alice van Bekkum, Chair of the Faces to Graves project for the Canadian War Cemetery in Groesbeek, wrote us that because of Covid no volunteers or children were allowed to place the candles. Instead, candles were placed by board members of the organization responsible for the Christmas candles.  (See https://www.lichtjesavondgroesbeek.nl/)

Alice wanted to let us know that Fred Hulsman, a member of the Faces To Graves Research Team who lives near the cemetery, took a photo of the corrected gravestone for WW2 soldier Barney Reuben McGuigan, of Sturgeon, Prince Edward Island.

Barney had lied about his age when enlisting and his original gravestone did not reflect his age of 16 years at the time of his death.  After Pieter and members of Barney’s family contacted the Commonwealth War Graves Commission with proof of Barney’s birth record, the correction was made.

The correction was amazing timing (a Christmas miracle?) as a photo of Barney was recently uncovered! (See https://bordencarletonresearchproject.wordpress.com/2021/12/23/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-photo-search-for-barney-mcguigan-is-successful/)

B R Mc Guigan with candle and corrected gravestone

Grave of Barney McGuigan with his correct age at death.  (Photo credit: Fred Hulsman)

…A candle placed at the Halifax L9561 memorial in Wons…

Remko de Jong, a resident of Makkum, coordinates the candle lighting ceremony in his village. He wrote to Pieter on December 24, and explained that “…Unfortunately, again this year candles were placed without an audience…..”   Instead, candles were placed by Remko and his family and photos were taken by his son Robin. (For the 2020 candle lighting in Makkum, see:  https://onthewarmemorialtrail.com/2020/12/29/christmas-eve-candle-lighting-in-makkum/)

Graves in Makkum

Candles placed at the graves of airmen buried in the Donia Protestant Church Cemetery in Makkum.  (Photo credit: Robin de Jong)

In addition to the candles placed at the graves at 38 airmen who are buried in the Donia Protestant Church Cemetery in Makkum, located by Lake Ijsselmeer in the province of Friesland, a candle was placed at the Halifax L9561 memorial in Wons.

This memorial, unveiled in October 2019, honours the crew of Halifax L9561.  WW2 pilot Elmer Bagnall MUTTART of Cape Traverse, Prince Edward Island lost his life on October 12, 1941, but the rest of the crew were able to safely bail out of the burning plane.  (For a short documentary on the unveiling of the memorial panel and the crew of Halifax L9561, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71Rzg07kPw0&list=PLaJcEVojJra-ZwR6rvb-THj8Zr2QbUXLT&index=2)

Candle placed at Wons memorial by Robin de Jong

Candle placed at the memorial panel in Wons, honouring the crew of Halifax L9561. (Photo credit: Robin de Jong)

…Over 7,600 Canadian soldiers are buried in The Netherlands!…

Kudos to the Dutch, who never forget the sacrifices made by Allied soldiers! There are over 7,600 Canadian soldiers buried in The Netherlands!  Thank you to Remco de Jong for sharing his son’s photos, and to Alice van Bekkum for advising about the correction to the gravestone for Barney McGuigan.

If you have a story or photo to share about Canadian military personnel buried in The Netherlands, please contact Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or tweet to @researchmemori1.

…Want to follow our research?….

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

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

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

© Daria Valkenburg

On The War Memorial Trail….. Sharing Of Remembrances Outside Prince Edward Island

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November 16, 2021. After reading about the Remembrance events here on Prince Edward Island, we received some feedback. (See https://bordencarletonresearchproject.wordpress.com/2021/11/14/2021-remembrance-week-events/)

… A wreath was laid at the Dutch memorial outside Pier 21 in Halifax….

George Zwaagstra of Halifax, Nova Scotia sent a photo and email, explaining that “…I had the honour of placing a wreath at the Dutch monument at Pier 21....” George, who was born in Friesland, The Netherlands in 1933, is a longtime volunteer at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 in Halifax.  (See https://pier21.ca/content/the-immigration-story-of-george-zwaagstra-dutch-immigrant)

20211111_091707 Nov 11 2021 George Zwaagstra by Dutch monument at Pier 21

George Zwaagstra in centre of photo.  Beside him, on the right, is The Honourable Peter Alexander ‘Andy’ Fillmore, MP for Halifax.  (Photo submitted by George Zwaagstra)

….Flowers laid in Harlingen General Cemetery….

Douwe Drijver, of the Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation in Leeuwarden, The Netherlands, wrote: “…Last Thursday I visited the cemetery in Harlingen in the pouring rain.  I was there to put flowers on the grave of an English aviator, R.G. BOSWELL.  Boswell was killed on August 19, 1941. I also brought a rose for Elmer MUTTART….Both pilots are buried next to each other…”  (Translation from the original Dutch)

The story of Elmer Bagnall Muttart and the crew of Halifax L9561 has been extensively told on this blog.  Missed the story of our last visit there in 2019? Please see https://bordencarletonresearchproject.wordpress.com/2019/10/15/on-the-war-memorial-trail-the-visit-to-harlingen-general-cemetery/ .

067 Nov 11 2021 Rose for Muttart by Douwe

On November 11, 2021, a rose was placed on the grave of Elmer Muttart at Harlingen General Cemetery in Harlingen, The Netherlands. (Photo credit: Douwe Drijver)

070 Nov 11 2021 Graves of Muttart and Boswell get flowers

On November 11, 2021, flowers were placed on the graves of Elmer Muttart and R.B. Boswell at Harlingen General Cemetery in Harlingen, The Netherlands. (Photo credit: Douwe Drijver)

You can also watch the short documentary we made about the commemoration events that took place on October 12, 2019 in The Netherlands:

….A 99 year old WW2 veteran shares recollections….

Donald Arsenault shared a video from Ontario in which a relative, 99 year old WW2 veteran Edmond ARSENAULT spoke about his experience during WW2 in Italy.  See https://www.chch.com/ww-ii-veteran-edmond-arsenault-recalls-countless-close-calls-while-serving/

2381550_6 Edmond and Hermas Gallant

Edmond Arsenault (right) and his friend Hermas Gallant (left) who was later killed in a minefield in Italy during the war. Both Mr. Arsenault and Mr. Gallant hailed from neighbouring small towns in Prince Edward Island. (Photo from Canadian Virtual War Memorial and their source indicates courtesy of the Memory Project: http://www.thememoryproject.com)

In the video clip, Edmond mentions the loss of his friend Antoine Hermas GALLANT of Cape Egmont, Prince Edward Island, son of Sylvain and Matilda Gallant.  Hermas lost his life in Italy on August 31, 1944 when he stepped on a mine.  He’s buried in Montecchio War Cemetery in Italy.

Thank you to Donald Arsenault, Douwe Drijver, and George Zwaagstra for sharing these acts of remembrance. If you can help with a photo or information about Canadian soldiers, please email Pieter at memorialtrail@gmail.com, comment on the blog, or tweet to @researchmemori1.

…Want to follow our research?….

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

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

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

© Daria Valkenburg

On The War Memorial Trail….. ‘The Last Flight Of Halifax L9561’ Video

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

October 28, 2021.  On October 12, 2021, it was 80 years ago that an eyewitness in the Wons area in The Netherlands saw Halifax L9561 ‘burning, sliding, and zigzagging through the cloud cover’. The bomber with a crew of eight people had left the English airport in Middleton Saint George an hour and a half earlier for a bombing of the port city of Bremen, but it never reached its target.

7 crew members were able to bail out, but the Canadian pilot, Elmer Bagnall MUTTART, of Cape Traverse, Prince Edward Island, lost his life, after safely steering the plane over the village of Wons before crashing in a nearby field.  Over the past few years, the story of Elmer Muttart and the project of installing a memorial panel near the crash site have been told.

CIMG3565 Oct 13 2019 Pieter by memorial panel

A remembrance project that has come full circle for Pieter with the permanent recognition given to the crew of Halifax L9561. (Photo credit: Daria Valkenburg)

…A video by the Hunt brothers….

The memorial panel was installed on October 12, 2019, and among the attendees were Barry and Terry Hunt, two sons of the crew’s wireless operator, William Herbert HUNT.  Over the past few years, Barry and Terry worked on preparing a documentary, which was finished in time for the 80th anniversary.

The film recounts the events of October 12, 1941, as Halifax L9561 flies over the North Sea into danger in the skies above Friesland in The Netherlands, with the heroism and self-sacrifice displayed by its young pilot. It also discusses the strengths and weaknesses of the Halifax itself.  With the additional use of archival footage, the film gives an impression of what life was like for the men and women stationed at Middleton St. George, and the roles they played.

Barry left & Terry right 13.10.19

Barry Hunt, left, with Terry Hunt, right.  (Photo courtesy of Barry Hunt)

‘The Last Flight Of Halifax L9561’ runs for 1 hr 18 minutes and can be watched here:

….Previous videos about Halifax L9561 made by the Valkenburgs….

As so many Canadians were not aware of the efforts of the Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation in The Netherlands, we had invited them to explain a bit about their organization in a short video clip just before the memorial panel was installed on October 12, 2019.  See Honouring The Crew Of Halifax L9561 here:

poster He Died That We Might Live

Poster design by Olli Nattress.

We also made a short documentary about the events on October 12, 2019, entitled “He Died That We Might Live … the story of Halifax L9561” which commemorates one event during WW2 that changed the lives of so many people.

…Previous postings about Halifax L9561…

Missed the stories about Elmer Muttart and the memorial panel to honour the crew of Halifax L9561?  See

Thank you to Barry and Terry Hunt for sharing their video and giving permission to post the video on this blog.   The story of Halifax L9561 will never be forgotten by us.

If you have photos and information to share about Canadian soldiers buried in The Netherlands, please contact Pieter at dariadv@yahoo.ca, comment on the blog, or send a tweet to @researchmemori1.

…Want to follow our research?….

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

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

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

© Daria Valkenburg

The Halifax L9561 Crew Remembered In Wons

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

speldje bevrijding

May 15, 2020.  On October 12, 2019 a memorial panel to honour the crew of Halifax L9561 was placed in Wons, near the crash site where Flight Sgt Elmer Bagnall MUTTART lost his life. (See On The War Memorial Trail…..The Memorial Panel In Wons Is Unveiled!)

IMG_0655 Oct 12 2019 unveiling of memorial panel in Wons

The memorial panel to honour the crew of Halifax L9561 in Wons was unveiled on October 12, 2019. (Photo courtesy of http://www.dorpwons.nl)

On May 4, 2020, the village of Wons remembered the victims of WW2 in their community.  Due to the coronavirus (Covid-19) restrictions on social gatherings, it was not a public ceremony.

cc0b5104-e875-4f98-bb39-b34e24e78baf May 4 2020 Wons Photo van den berg

Memorial panel in Wons on May 4, 2020. (Photo credit: Dooitze van den Berg)

Bottje Tilstra, the village secretary, was kind enough to send a video taken of the memorial ceremony in Wons.  You can watch the ceremony by the memorial panel at this link:  http://www.dorpwons.nl/assets/img/gallerij/2020/VID-20200513-WA0000.mp4. People in the video are:

  • Knilles Elgersma (presenting bouquet), Chair of the village council
  • Bugler is Boukje Elgersma, 1st trumpeter of the village music ensemble Hosanna
  • Dirk Stoffels (with beard) – member of the May 4 Committee
  • Dooitze van den Berg – photographer

812dc531-6925-4ea3-b2a3-28ab0c88707a May 4 2020 Wons Photo van den berg

May 4, 2020 ceremony at the memorial panel in Wons. Left to right: Dirk Stoffels, Knilles Elgersma, Boukje Elgersma. (Photo credit: Dooitze van den Berg)

ec1d4c36-ec2d-4992-b4cf-959db802fc04 May 4 2020 Wons Photo van den berg

May 4, 2020. Memorial panel overlooks the site of the plane crash on October 12, 1941. (Photo credit: Dooitze van den Berg)

How wonderful that the village included the Halifax L9561 memorial panel in their annual May 4 Remembrance of the War Dead ceremonies! (For more information on this annual event in The Netherlands see   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remembrance_of_the_Dead.)

If you haven’t seen our video about Halifax L9561, “He Died That We Might Live“, you can watch it here:

Pieter is still busy with researching Canadian soldiers.  If you have photos or information to share, please contact him at dariadv@yahoo.ca or comment on the blog.

Presentation On ‘He Died That We Might Live’ Documentary

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SCW_6868 Feb 20 2020 Pieter with Michel & Kaisha

Pieter with hotel manager Kaisha Talley on the right, and assistant manager Michel Settlemire on the left.  (Photo credit: Sandra Wallis)

March 21, 2020. When our documentary ‘He Died That We Might Live’ was made available on YouTube, we sent the link to people who had donated towards the memorial panel that was placed in Wons, The Netherlands on October 12, 2019.  (See “He Died That We Might Live” Video Is Now On YouTube) Some of the donors were our snowbird friends.  When we were together this winter in Florida, several asked for more information on the events in The Netherlands, and as more snowbirds learned about this event we found ourselves telling the story over and over again.

On February 20 we were invited to talk about the story behind the documentary and to show the documentary in our snowbird hotel.

Snowbird Speaker Series

Flyer advertising the presentation.

While there were a few Canadian snowbirds from Ontario and BC, the majority of the snowbirds that attended were American.  We were heartened and delighted at the appreciative and supportive response to a Canadian/Dutch story by our American friends.  The story of Halifax L9561 has no boundaries!

SCW_6875 Feb 20 2020 Snowbird Presentation

Pieter, standing at far left, during the Snowbird Speaker presentation on the documentary.  (Photo credit: Sandra Wallis)

Towards the end of the presentation, Pieter told the audience about the Faces To Graves project in The Netherlands, which is looking for photos and stories about all WW2 Canadian war dead buried in Dutch cemeteries. He also mentioned that a similar project was underway at the American War Cemetery in Margraten.

It was a fun afternoon, sharing our story and research.  Afterwards, Mary Ann Greiner was kind enough to email us, saying “Thank you for all the work you did to honor these men! What a wonderful accomplishment! Your presentation was very moving and informative. There are so many stories from the war that we don’t know. Thank you for the research you did to bring this story to life. It was a most memorable afternoon. I look forward to reading more on your work on your blog.”

Pieter is still looking for photos and information on the names listed on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion.  If you have an item to share please contact Pieter at dariadv@yahoo.ca or comment on the blog.

© Daria Valkenburg

Reactions To Our “He Died That We Might Live” Documentary

/ On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 6 Comments

February 14, 2020. The feedback from our short documentary “He Died That We Might Live … the story of Halifax L9561”, about the last flight of Halifax L9561, shot down over The Netherlands on October 12, 1941, and the events of October 12, 2019, when a memorial panel to honour the crew on their last flight together was unveiled in Wons, has been heartening.  (See “He Died That We Might Live” Documentary Is Now On YouTube”)

It’s clear that the story of one event during WW2 resonated with many people, and so this blog posting features a sampling of the comments.

Don Coutts, nephew of Elmer Muttart: “After receiving the Borden-Carleton Cenotaph Research Project e-mail, I went on YOU TUBE and saw the Video…It was excellent.”

Colonel Timothy Young, Canadian Defence Attaché to The Netherlands, Belgium, and Luxembourg, who placed the wreath at the memorial panel in Wons on behalf of the Government of Canada: “I just watched the video; what an amazing tribute!  Michelle and I have commented on a number of occasions on what a special day and privilege it was to be a part of the commemoration. During our travels here in The Netherlands, Belgium and the European Arctic, Michelle and I have had the privilege to attend many commemorative events.  The land battles are, for the most part, commemorated in large Commonwealth War Cemeteries, physically located close to where they took place.  These battles and cemeteries overshadow the air campaign, particularly the bombing campaign where aircrew were buried in local cemeteries close by to where they were shot down.  The story of Halifax L9561 respectfully brings forward the tragedy of one such sortie and the over 2,000 aircrew buried in the 199 cemeteries in The Netherlands.  I will forward your tribute to Lieutenant-General Meinzinger’s Staff at the Headquarters of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF), as flight L9561 is one chapter of a larger story for the RCAF.  Pieter and Daria, thanks again for all of your efforts to honour Flight Sergeant Elmer Muttart and to have his story told.  Elmer is very much more than a name on a headstone in a small cemetery in Northern Netherlands, and thanks to your efforts and those of the local community his legacy lives on.”

Alexander Tuinhout, Secretary Missing Airmen Memorial Foundation: “Een prachtige registratie van de dag en van de laatste vlucht van Halifax L9561!”  (Translation: A beautiful account of the day and of the last flight of Halifax L9561!)

Sergio and Lina Canonico, who had given a donation towards the memorial panel: “It was very emotional.  I had to reach for the Kleenex.  May they all rest in peace and be assured they will never be forgotten.”

Sandra Wallis, who had given a donation towards the memorial panel:  “I loved the video. It was very well done. It brought tears to my eyes.”

Connie MacKinnon, who had given a donation towards the memorial panel: “Just wanted to let you know that I watched the video in its entirety, very well done, very touching.”

Retired US Marine and air traffic controller John Gibbs: “Just had time to view your production, absolutely fantastic, you two need to be extremely proud of your efforts.   It is without a doubt that the Canadian Military Government should be provided a copy to be included in their historical library. Walk proud both of you, you deserve it.”

Dutch-born Canadian Lize Simon: “I loved the video. I feel so sorry that this fine and noble airman had to die in order for others to live in freedom.  He had so much more to offer with his accomplished university degrees.”

Blog reader Karen MacKay: “I just watched the beautiful and well produced video of your trip to The Netherlands.  What an amazing keepsake and treasure for years to come. Thank you for your tenacity and leadership in seeing this entire project through to the end.  To see Elmer and his crew honoured and remembered now for generations to come due to your efforts brings tears to our eyes.”

Fred Jackson, Middleton Saint George Memorial Association: “Enjoyed it immensely. I’ll pass it on to our Association members.”

Isabel Smith, Editor of the County Line Courier newspaper that publishes the “On The War Memorial Trail….” articles about the research uncovered for our Borden-Carleton Cenotaph Research Project:  “What a wonderfully done video! Very moving. The background historical information, personal info and photos really brought a face to these men and their service to Canada- Well Done. You can be proud of all your research and tremendous amount of hard work that you both put into this project. It goes to say…We Shall Remember Them.”

Thank you to all who took the time to send in comments on this short documentary.  If you haven’t yet seen it, click on the link below:

Research continues to uncover more stories.  If you have a story or photo to share about any of the names on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion, please contact Pieter at dariadv@yahoo.ca or comment on the blog.

© Daria Valkenburg

“He Died That We Might Live” Documentary Is Now On YouTube

/ On The War Memorial Trail With Pieter & Daria / 3 Comments

January 31, 2020. Over the past few years, readers of this blog will be familiar with the story of one name on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion – that of WW2 pilot Elmer Bagnall MUTTART, who lost his life on October 12, 1941 when the bomber he was piloting was shot down over Wons, The Netherlands. Muttart was the only casualty, as he was able to keep the plane in the air and steady long enough for the crew of Halifax L9561 to parachute out, and to avoid the village of Wons.  On October 12, 2019, a memorial panel to honour the crew on their last flight together was unveiled in Wons.  (See On The War Memorial Trail…..The Memorial Panel In Wons Is Unveiled!)

Pieter had brought his video camera for the events of October 12, 2019 to document the events. His cousin François Breugelmans took over the filming whenever Pieter was engaged in one of the events.  Several of us took photos.

Wendy Nattress

Wendy Nattress.  (Photo credit: Graeme Nattress)

All this footage was turned over to post-production editor Wendy Nattress, a volunteer who spent countless hours editing our raw material and turned it into a short documentary, which can be seen on YouTube.  Wendy told us that “It has been a real honour working on this project.  Thank you for the work you are doing and for letting me be a part of it!”

Wendy’s young son Oli did several illustrations depicting the events of the night of October 12, 1941, and volunteered his time and talent for this documentary.

Oli Nattress

Oli Nattress painting one of the illustrations used in the video.  (Photo credit: Wendy Nattress)

We would not have been able to produce the video “He Died That We Might Live … the story of Halifax L9561” without the goodwill and support of volunteers like Wendy and Oli for this project.  We hope you enjoy the video which commemorates one event during WW2 that changed the lives of so many people.

For a short video of the story behind the memorial panel see:

If anyone has a story or photo to share about any of the names on the Cenotaph outside the Borden-Carleton Legion, please contact Pieter at dariadv@yahoo.ca or comment on the blog.

© Daria Valkenburg