Skip to content

Letter to the editor: Do you have a picture of two WWII soldiers who are buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in The Netherlands?

Both men are listed on the Cenotaph in Memorial Park, here in North Bay
20220101 lest we forget memorial gardens turl
The Lest We Forget Memorial at North Bay's Memorial Gardens.

To the editor:

I am assisting Pieter Valkenburg, a Dutch-born Canadian who is living in Prince Edward Island.

Over the past five years, Pieter has been helping the researchers at the Canadian War Cemeteries in The Netherlands in their quest to put a face and story to every grave.

Pieter is looking for a picture of two WWII soldiers who were living in North Bay when they enlisted, and who are buried in the Canadian War Cemetery in Holten, The Netherlands.  Both men are listed on the Cenotaph in Memorial Park, here in North Bay.

The individuals are as follows...

1) Albert Joseph Cote

Albert was born on July 12th, 1920 in the Province of Quebec, and with his family moved to North Bay when he was five years old.

He was wounded in France on September 14th, 1944 and died of his wounds as a prisoner of war in Germany on October 5th, 1944.

Albert was a clerk in a local drugstore before he joined the military.

His parents were Augustin and Flora Cote (maiden name Larose).

At the time of his death, three other siblings were still alive...Ernest, living in North Bay with his mother, Florence (married name Lapointe) living in Dugueschi, Gaspe, Quebec, and Bella (married name Smith) living in Kingston, Ontario.

2) John Langford Walker

John was born on August 3rd, 1924 in North Bay.

He was killed in action in Germany in May 1945.

He was a labourer when he enlisted.

His parents were John Edmund and Angel Walker.

At the time of John's death, his living siblings were Ronald Allen, William Joseph, and Amelia (married name Renauld), all living in North Bay.

Pieter Valkenburg is trying to find relatives, and if an obituary was published around the time of these men's deaths.

If you have information, please call 705-494-6128 or email Pieter Valkenburg at [email protected].

You can find further information at  https://othewarmemorialtrail.com 

Yours truly,

Don Coutts