Information Centre Canadian War Cemetery (ICB) in Holten, Netherlands honours World War II soldiers.

Documentary Lest We Forget is online

VoiceMap of the cemetery by Jan Braakman

Docum

Holten Canadian War Memorial photo Gertjan Schutten

Thank you greatly for your assistance proferred to Jan Braakman and his team in Holten Netherlands in regards to the Information Centre Canadian War Cemetery ICB in their quest to honour World War II soldiers.

Attached is a reply received from Jan about their in person interview trip across Canada starting on September 20, 2019.

If you have any follow up questions or information please contact Jan directly.

September 20, 2019

Hi all,

Just a couple of hours before our departure to Canada I want to express my gratitude to all of you who assisted in any way in our interview project for the Information Centre Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, Netherlands.

There are too many people who contacted us in the last months to thank them personally. Your efforts resulted in a tour to from Montreal to Medicine Hat. We will conduct ten interviews with dear friends, brothers, sisters and children of men buried in the Holten Canadian War Cemetery.

We realize that some were disappointed unfortunately, but there were simply far too many people who we could interview. We had to make a selection.

Our selection was based on a set of criteria of which the main points were: Is the interviewee closely related to the soldier buried in Holten? Is he or she still able to tell a coherent story? Is it logistically feasible to visit the candidate interviewee within the limited time we have? Are there more than one candidates at approximately the same spot?

If all the answers to these questions were ‘yes’, then we decided to try to make an appointment.

We thank different media, genealogical organizations and several individuals who gave us a lot of attention.

Now we, Margriet Dekkers, Sander Jongsma and I, have the honour to interview these men and women, who can tell their personal stories about their brothers, friends or fathers who gave their lives for our liberty, 75 years ago.

Thanks again.

Lest we forget!

Jan Braakman

Coordinator and interviewer Interview Project

http://www.qc.legion.ca/PDF/command/ICB_in_Holten_Netherlands_e.pdf

Canadese Begraafplaats Holten

Jan Braakman

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-dutch-liberation-anniversary-to-be-marked-with-new-documentary/

https://saskgenweb.site123.me/articles/information-centre-canadian-war-cemetery-icb-in-holten-netherlands-honours-world-war-ii-soldiers

PS Please forward this webpage to anyone who have assisted you to help us!

Read More Maple Creek News published "Honouring two heroes" with the images in their newspaper of Sgt. David Porter Preston, from Maple Creek and Private Albert Hughes, from Tompkins and history.

The Information Centre Canadian War Cemetery (ICB) in Holten, Netherlands is planning to interview relatives (siblings, spouses, children, other relatives, friends) of deceased soldiers who are buried in Holten. We plan to visit the interviewees at their homes in Canada Autumn 2019. How to get in touch with the ICB interview project

Our intention is to get more Information about the soldiers who are buried in Holten, as well as get an impression of what the loss of a brother, father, son, friend meant for those who left behind. We would like to have your cooperation in finding people, and maybe you yourself might be a good informant to interview.

Please share your thoughts and possible candidates. If you, yourself personally, are not aware of contact information for any of these soldiers, can you kindly or send a communication in this regards to social media such as a facebook page, the historical society or museum, a library or archives, the military detachment, the local Royal Canadian Legion branch, and or the local media for your area, please?

Where did they live? https://nl.batchgeo.com/map/whereditheylive

Places of birth or places of residence of soldiers buried at Canadian War Cemetery Holten, Netherlands

Thanks for your help, Jan Braakman jan.braakman AT gmail.com

Volunteer/researcher at ICB [Jan Braakman's website and contact form]

Its coming up to the 75 Liberation Anniversary remembering May 5, 1945, which is celebrated in the Netherlands. The Canadians fought the Germans who had occupied the Netherlands for five years, and following a nine-month campaign with many lives lost on the battlefield, the Germans capitulated.

Holten Canadian War Cemetery aerial photo Archangel12

The darkness of those years is related by Brian Stewart, CBC News, "Under German occupation from 1940 to '45, the Dutch suffered more deaths per capita than any other Western European ally. The vast majority of its Jews, 106,000, were deported and murdered; thousands of other Dutch were dragged into slave labour, while all suffered as Nazis looted the land and even blew the dikes in the terrible winter of 1944-45 to try and block the Allied advance. The ensuing flooding contributed to a famine that killed 18,000.... After forcing the German surrender, Canadian soldiers joined in the celebrations, then quietly began delivering food and volunteered to work restoring the devastated farms and towns."

As David Common, CBC News, states, "Around 14,000 Canadians came ashore at Normandy in 1944 ” those who survived those battles and the many decades since are few in number." "The 'Canadian War Cemetery Holten' on the Holterberg is one of the most impressive reminders of the Second World War. In the spring of 1945, after five years of oppression, Canadian troops were principally responsible for the liberation of northern and eastern Netherlands. During the liberation operations, many Canadian liberators paid the ultimate price. In an historic setting, 1,394 military have found their final resting place at the Canadian Military Cemetery," states Liberation Route Europe.

There are three Netherlands Canadian war cemeteries. Along with the Holten, Groesbeek Canadian Military Cemetery, and Bergen-Op-Zoom, and the ICB is the Information Centre for the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, Netherlands.

Can you help the volunteers at the Information Centre Canadian War Cemetery (ICB) in Holten, Netherlands commemorate and honour the fallen soldiers who gave the supreme sacrifice, and are buried at the Holten Canadian War Cemetery?

For Saskatchewan, there were about 75 fallen soldiers, here are the names of those who fell and are buried at the Canadian War Cemetery (ICB) in Holten, Netherlands.

This list of soldiers with Saskatchewan roots is from an excellent interactive map from ICB Where did they live? https://nl.batchgeo.com/map/whereditheylive. Where did they live also has information on the other Canadian soldiers who gave the supreme sacrifice as well.

Surname	Given name	Rank	Registration Number	Regiment	Date of death	Plotnumber	address	longitude	latitude
Allen	Kenneth G.	Pte	L/64643	The Lake Superior Regiment	03-5-45	06 E 15	Indian Head Saskatchewan	-103.6699014	50.5333571
Bailey	John	Cpl	K/50018	The Seaforth Highlanders of Canada	12-4-45	01 D 03	Regina Saskatchewan	-104.6188944	50.4452112
Batyski	John J.	Pte	L/106585	The Lake Superior Regiment	28-4-45	05 E 15	Ituna Saskatchewan	-103.495758	51.17057
Bells	Robert W.	Lt		The South Saskatchewan Regiment	11-4-45	03 B 14	Quill Lake Saskatchewan	-104.256388	52.0698056
Belton	Francis E.	Cpl	L/64364	The Regina Rifle Regiment	09-4-45	02 B 12	Star City Saskatchewan	-104.3298037	52.8636173
Binkley	Robert E.	Pte	L/608756	The Lake Superior Regiment	28-4-45	06 E 05	Etomami Saskatchewan	-102.3175	52.732894
Birkett	Thomas P.	Trp	L/102635	The British Columbia Regt	25-4-45	08 B 10	Blaine Lake Saskatchewan	-106.8801788	52.8297257
Bisschop	Joseph C.	Rfn	L/106420	The Regina Rifle Regiment	12-5-45	08 E 08	Sheho Saskatchewan	-103.2111635	51.5879975
Boucher	Arthur A.	Pte	B/139519	The Lincoln and Welland Regiment	21-4-45	10 A 02	Biggar Saskatchewan	-107.983556	52.057145
Bouvier	Maurice A.	Gdsmn	L/107130	The Canadian Grenadier Guards	15-4-45	08 F 04	Gravelbourg Saskatchewan	-106.5573172	49.8756758
Brown	James A.	Pte	A/115699	The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada	17-4-45	11 A 15	Moose Jaw Saskatchewan	-105.5348562	50.3915811
Chudyk	Steve	Rfn	L/153547	The Regina Rifle Regiment	25-4-45	11 G 11	Oakshela Saskatchewan	-102.7597229	50.396869
Couture	Gaston J.	Pte	H/14575	The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada	27-4-45	10 B 15	Meyronne Saskatchewan	-106.8397421	49.6691108
Craig	Lyle L.	Tpr	L/107016	The South Alberta Regt	19-4-45	12 C 05	Paddockwood Saskatchewan	-105.5618136	53.5078919
Craik	Robert J.	Pte	K/3266	The Canadian Scottish Regt	09-4-45	01 A 16	Saskatoon Saskatchewan	-106.6700458	52.1332144
Dautremont	Louis S.	Pte	L/65148	The Canadian Scottish Regt	21-4-45	06 D 06	Alida Saskatchewan	-101.872511	49.3886408
Davies	Leonard G.	Cpl	L/53545	14th Canadian Hussars	09-4-45	03 D 11	Bredenbury Saskatchewan	-102.0525648	50.9380585
Ell	Canisius J.	Rfn	L/107958	The Royal Winnipeg Rifles	10-4-45	02 A 15	Sedley Saskatchewan	-104.0133311	50.1700381
Ellis	Stanley	Pte	L/22851	The Algonquin Regt	27-4-45	11 A 10	Regina Saskatchewan	-104.6188944	50.4452112
Flatt	John M.	Rfn	L/610682	The Regina Rifle Regiment	30-4-45	12 A 16	Fenwood Saskatchewan	-103.050702	51.0116847
Forde	H.R.	Cpl	L/53890	Lord Strathcona's Horse	15-4-45	02 B 06	Swift Current Saskatchewan	-107.7971722	50.285069
Glavin	John A.	L Sgt	L/102546	The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada	20-4-45	08 C 06	Lakenheath Saskatchewan	-106.275148	49.546852
Graham	John J.	Pte	L/107406	Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry	15-7-45	10 F 11	Leroy Saskatchewan	-104.7385969	52.0002117
Guest	Robert C. L.	Cpl	L/51501	The Regina Rifle Regiment	25-4-45	11 G 13	Swift Current Saskatchewan	-107.7971722	50.285069
Hilbach	Herbert H.H.	Rfn	L/65122	The Regina Rifle Regiment	22-4-45	06 D 05	Kerrobert Saskatchewan	-109.136794	51.9185447
Huber	Walter L.	Tpr	L/84635	17th Duke of York's Royal Can Hussars	12-5-45	07 F 03	Serath Saskatchewan	-104.519458	51.183043
Hughes	Albert	Pte	L/108212	The Essex Scottish Regiment	13-4-45	01 E 15	Tompkins Saskatchewan	-108.7933104	50.0623636
Johannsen	Quintin M.	Pte	L/610743	The Lake Superior Regiment	30-4-45	05 E 14	Serath Saskatchewan	-104.519458	51.183043
Kalln	Roy L.	Pte	L/108540	The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada	17-4-45	10 A 03	Regina Saskatchewan	-104.6188944	50.4452112
Kibzey	John	Pte	L/107668	The South Saskatchewan Regiment	12-4-45	09 H 13	Bienfait Saskatchewan	-102.8086736	49.1426788
Knight	Cecil D.	Gdsm	L/101345	The Canadian Grenadier Guards	26-4-45	07 C 10	Aulesbury Saskatchewan	-105.6935861	50.9396455
Knutson	Palmer	Pte	M/36689	RCASC	17-8-45	11 F 01	Naicam Saskatchewan	-104.49847	52.4201117
Krauchi	George E.	Gdsm	L/107193	The Canadian Grenadier Guards	10-4-45	03 D 01	Loon Lake Saskatchewan	-109.1585151	54.0261584
Lemke	Frits M.	Pte	L/102756	The Lake Superior Regiment	10-4-45	03 D 02	Bruno Saskatchewan	-105.5253008	52.2639843
Linnell	Howard J.	Pte	K/40129	The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada	06-4-45	01 A 13	Saskatoon Saskatchewan	-106.6700458	52.1332144
Markoskie	L.	Gnr	H/616901	Royal Canadian Artillery	10-1-46	08 A 08	Hyas Saskatchewan	-102.2598355	51.8940795
Martel	Wilfred A.	Cpl	H/93520	Royal Canadian Engineers	29-4-45	09 H 08	Fillmore Saskatchewan	-103.4336262	49.8812612
Mathison	Roy C.	Lt		14th Canadian Hussars	04-5-45	12 B 07	Bounty Saskatchewan	-107.363046	51.523689
McCombie	Jon S.	L Sgt	L/13349	The Royal Hamilton Light Infantry	09-4-45	03 D 07	Runciman Saskatchewan	-104.059842	52.987349
Nelson	Jack A.	CSM	L/27110	The Regina Rifle Regiment	08-4-45	02 A 01	Prince Albert Saskatchewan	-105.7530705	53.2033494
Norwood	Harold F.	Pte	L/105767	The Toronto Scottish Regiment	16-4-45	03 H 03	North Regina Saskatchewan	-104.6188944	50.4452112
Olson	Carl G.	Gnr	L/74647	Royal Canadian Artillery	29-4-45	10 A 16	Amiens Saskatchewan	-107.244876	53.322367
Olson	Ole L.	Spr	L/19754	Royal Canadian Engineers	26-4-45	11 C 07	Invermany Saskatchewan	-103.1552106	51.8069735
Peirson	Robert S.	Crftsm	L/9907	RCEME	03-4-45	11 C 12	Invermay Saskatchewan	-103.1552106	51.8069735
Perron	Gaetan M.	Pte	L/107059	The Lake Superior Regiment	10-4-45	09 C 08	Montmatre Saskatchewan	-103.4483066	50.2193608
Preston	David P.	Sgt	L/27591	The Regina Rifle Regiment	30-4-45	08 E 09	Maple Creek Saskatchewan	-109.480174	49.906595
Ray	Clarence D.	Lt		The Saskatoon Light Infantry	20-4-45	02 F 10	Prince Albert Saskatchewan	-105.7530705	53.2033494
Robinson	Wesley C.	Sgt	L/51222	14th Canadian Hussars	25-4-45	04 H 05	Weyburn Saskatchewan	-103.8532906	49.6632836
Sawatzky	John	Cpl	B/116108	The Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders	28-4-45	11 D 14	Petaigan Saskatchewan	-103.566667	53.433333
Selmes	Albert J.	Pte	L/107120	The South Saskatchewan Regiment	24-6-45	12 A 03	Saskatoon Saskatchewan	-106.6700458	52.1332144
Shea	Walter A.	Sgt	L/101486	The Lake Superior Regiment	09-4-45	09 C 07	Moose Jaw Saskatchewan	-105.5348562	50.3915811
Shier	Russell R. M.	Tpr	L/101563	The British Columbia Regt	02-5-45	11 A 14	Weldon Saskatchewan	-105.1436904	53.0081548
Smith	David J.	Pte	L/11271	The Lake Superior Regiment	04-5-45	12 A 09	Deer Ridge Saskatchewan	-106.1022909	53.452551
Steele	George W.	Gnr	L/26515	Royal Canadian Artillery	10-5-45	07 F 07	Whitewood Saskatchewan	-102.2666277	50.329875
Temple	Leslie P.C.	Gnr	L/18488	Royal Canadian Artillery	13-4-45	11 F 16	Regina Saskatchewan	-104.6188944	50.4452112
Tenklei	Edward S.	CSM	L/27835	The Regina Rifle Regiment	05-4-45	01 G 04	Regina Saskatchewan	-104.6188944	50.4452112
Tyerman	Norman R.	Cpl	L/102506	The Lake Superior Regiment	11-2-45	12 H 07	Valparaiso Saskatchewan	-104.181495	52.849886
Walker	Ralph	Spr	M/54275	Royal Canadian Engineers	02-5-45	05 D 08	Meadow Lake Saskatchewan	-108.4280261	54.1316746
Wiegand	Gottlieb	Pte	L/107268	The Toronto Scottish Regiment	22-4-45	11 H 15	Young Saskatchewan	-105.7471872	51.7671337
Wilson	George S.	Rfn	L/108421	The Royal Winnipeg Rifles	10-4-45	02 A 09	Yorkton Saskatchewan	-102.4739331	51.2174482

If you are wondering about more family relations to these fallen soldiers do a search on Commonwealth War Graves Commission which may provide the names of parents. For example:

https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2227476/knutson,-palmer-c./

Son of Edna Knutson, of Naicam, Saskatchewan.

https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/2227475/knight,-cecil-david/

Son of Ebenezer Buchanan Knight and Margaret Ann Knight, of Aylesbury, Saskatchewan.

Le centre d’information du cimetière de guerre canadien (ICB) à Holten, aux Pays-Bas, envisage d’interviewer des proches (frères et sœurs, conjoints, enfants, autres membres de la famille, amis) de soldats décédés et enterrés à Holten. Nous prévoyons rendre visite aux personnes interrogées chez elles au Canada.

Notre intention est d’obtenir davantage d’informations sur les soldats qui sont enterrés à Holten et d’avoir une idée de ce que la perte d’un frère, d’un père, d’un fils et d’un ami signifiait pour ceux qui sont partis.

Nous aimerions avoir votre coopération pour trouver des personnes, et peut-être que vous pourriez être vous-même un bon informateur à interviewer.

S'il vous plaît partager vos pensées et les candidats possibles.

Merci de votre aide,

Jan Braakman

Bénévole / chercheur à l'ICB
Bibliography:

Bergen-op-Zoom Canadian War Cemetery. https://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/2061700/Bergen-op-Zoom%20Canadian%20War%20Cemetery CWGC. Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Bergen-op-Zoom Canadian War Cemetery. https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/overseas/second-world-war/the-netherlands/bergen Veterans' Affairs Canada.

Canadian Infantry of the Regiment de Maisonneuve, moving through Holten to Rijssen, Netherlands. Lt. D. Guravitch, April 9, 1945. 306-NT-1334B-11. National Archives Identifier: 541912 https://www.archives.gov/research/military/ww2/photos
National Library and Archives. Military Records. World War II Records. Photos.

Canadese begraafplaats holten. Lest we forget. opdat wij niet vergeten. https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=nl&u=http://www.canadesebegraafplaatsholten.nl/&prev=search

Canadian War Cemetery Holten. Liberation Route Europe. https://liberationroute.com/the-netherlands/spots/c/canadian-war-cemetery-holten The Netherlands.

*** Canadians and the Liberation of the Netherlands April - May 1945.*** http://dutch-canadiansremember.ca/sites/default/files/2017-11/Holten%20Candles.pdf The Canadian Battlefields Foundation.

Common, David. VE-Day: Canadian WWII vets feted in Netherlands on liberation anniversary https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/ve-day-canadian-wwii-vets-feted-in-netherlands-on-liberation-anniversary-1.3060700May 5, 2015 CBC News

Deachman, Bruce. 'Too dearly loved to be forgotten': Dutch volunteers keep Canadian soldiers' stories from being forgotten. https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/too-dearly-loved-to-be-forgotten-dutch-volunteers-keeping-canadian-soldiers-stories-alive Ottawa Citizen.

Dutch, Canadian leaders lead off week of WWII remembrance https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-3067341/Dutch-Canadian-leaders-lead-week-WWII-remembrance.html Associated Press 4 May 2015

Holten Canadian War Cemetery. https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/overseas/second-world-war/the-netherlands/holten-cem Veteran's Affairs Canada. 2019-02-14

Holten Canadian War Cemetery. https://dutch-canadiansremember.ca/node/73 Dutch-Canadians Remember as One. Two countries, One Spirit. May 5, 2015

Lenson, Leo. Holten Canadian War Cemetery. Second World War (1939-1945) https://www.tracesofwar.com/sights/193/Holten-Canadian-War-Cemetery.htm Traces of War.

Robertson, Ian. Canadians never forgotten in The Netherlands. https://torontosun.com/news/national/guest-column-canadians-never-forgotten-in-the-netherlands Toronto Sun. November 11, 2018

Stephen Harper joins Canadian WW2 veterans to mark liberation of Netherlands. Doing the Right Thing comes at a cost. https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/stephen-harper-joins-canadian-ww2-veterans-to-mark-liberation-of-netherlands-1.3059805 CBC News. May 4, 2015. The Canadian Press.

Stewart, Brian. Old vets, old values underline Dutch regard for Canada's WWII liberators. https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/old-vets-old-values-underline-dutch-regard-for-canada-s-wwii-liberators-1.3065588 May 8, 2015 CBC News

van Bekkum, Alice Stitching Faces to Canadian War Graves Groesbeek. Newsletter. NO. 5- Spring 2018. Faces to Graves.

Bergen-op-Zoom Canadian War Cemetery Looking for Information. Looking for Information

Information Centre Canadian War Cemetery (ICB) in Holten, Netherlands honours World War II soldiers.