I am currently searching for pictures and stories of soldiers that died fighting in the Netherlands and are buried in the Groesbeek and Holten cemeteries. The goal is to pass along all the information and pictures I receive to the visitor's centres at these cemeteries so that they can share them with the public.
What follows are the lists of the soldiers that I'm searching for information on. White lines indicate I don't have stories or photos for these men, while lines highlighted in green indicate that I have photos for these men already and may or may not have stories. You can click the button at the bottom right-hand corner of each spreadsheet to get a full size view. I would be happy to have any materials you have!
Leave a comment, send an e-mail to dmaxwell7@shaw.ca, or give me a call at 403-283-0337!
Leave a comment, send an e-mail to dmaxwell7@shaw.ca, or give me a call at 403-283-0337!
Holten Cemetery
Groesbeek Cemetery
Hello Donna and thank you for your efforts in regards to this important work.
ReplyDeleteI have just emailed you photos and information regarding my maternal uncle:
Pvt. Thomas Llewellyn Thomas of the 1st Battalion Canadian Scottish Regiment. KIA 14/4/1945 and buried at Holten: Plot IX. Row H. Grave 16.
Again, my sincere thanks for your contributions to our country's story, it is "greatly" appreciated.
Hello Donna,
ReplyDeleteYou list my cousin, George William Bell, who is buried in Groesbeek. I have visited his grave. I did not know him of course, but I knew his father, George Bell (my granduncle). He actually went by the name “Bill” because his father’s name was George also. Sadly, I have no picture of him. HIs mother, Dorothy Payne, died when he was quite young (struck by lightning while vacationing in Simcoe) and he and his two brothers had a tough time of it thereafter from what I am told.
I researched the Lanark and Wellington regimental history. Though he is not mentioned by name, it appears he was KIA in Germany during "Operation Veritable". His death certificate shows: 8 Mar 1945, Uedem, Kleve, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Since General Crerar had determined that no Canadians would be buried on German soil, their remains were removed to Holland. The fighting was particularly fierce, as is described here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Veritable
All I have been able to glean about him, aside from the sparse records, is from my aunt, who is still living. He was young (24), like most of them. He had worked with his father as a market gardener. His father, George, sold fruit and vegetables from a stand on Don Mills Road (next to the Science Centre) until he was killed in a fire there in 1970. Both his father George and his uncle Hugh had served in WW1.
Keep up the good work!