Former Nelsonite views graves of three local soldiers at Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery
By Nelson Daily Staff
Earlier this year, a former Nelson business owner, Peter Godfrey, visited the Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery and Memorial.
The War Cemetery and Memorial, located three kilometres north of the village of Groesbeek, Netherlands, contains 2,338 Canadian soldiers of World War II.
Included are three soldiers from Nelson — Private Robert Gordon Ludlow, Private James Earl “Jim” Hoover and Lance Sergeant Stuart Alan Spiers.
The three Nelson soldiers were part of the 5,304 Canadians who died during the Rhineland Campaign. The Allied push gained the banks of the Rhine which marked the last major line of German defence.
“I have recently returned from a trip that took me to the Netherlands and final stop Amsterdam,” said Godfrey, adding the cemetery remains in pristine condition.
“While there I took a train/bus trip to the Canadian War Cemetery near the small Dutch town of Nijmegen . . . there are 2338 Canadian graves there and three are from well known Nelson families.”
All three were honoured with geographical memorials former Nelsonite, Sylvia Shorthouse Crooks, noted in her book “Home Front and Battle Front”.
Mount Hoover, head of South Lemon Creek, north west of Nelson; Mount Ludlow, between Hoder and Koch Creek, west of Slocan; an d Mount Spiers, between the heads of Grizzly and Russel creeks, west of Little Slocan River.
The three Nelson soldiers will in the minds of people during Wednesday’s Remembrance Day Ceremonies the Heritage City.
Nelson’s Remembrance Day ceremony is set for Wednesday at the Nelson Cenotaph outside City Hall.
The ceremony begins with the traditional parade beginning at the Nelson Legion, through the downtown core to the Nelson Cenotaph.
The public attending the ceremonies is asked to show up early, around 10:15 a.m. for the service that begins at 10:45 a.m., the Last Post and the moment of silence at 11 a.m. followed speakers praising veterans of yesteryear.
