Canadian soldier buried in a nameless grave in the Netherlands near the end of the Second World War has been identified 75 years later, the Department of National Defence said Monday. Trooper Henry George Johnston’s identity was confirmed under a program dedicated to identifying newly found skeletal remains and Canadian service members who were buried anonymously. MAAN ALHMIDI OTTAWA THE CANADIAN PRESS PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 2, 2020 Canadian buried in the Netherlands as an unknown soldier in 1945 identified
The article says he was killed during Operation Blackcock, which is strange since I did not think any Canadians were involved in that operation. It was British XII Corps affair. And if he was killed during Operation Blackcock, then I'm wondering why was he buried way up at Mook (near Nijmegen) rather than in a closer cemetery to where the operation took place, such as Sittard?
Some additional info on Trooper Johnston and his death can be found at the CBC website: Canadian soldier killed in Netherlands in WWII identified as Alberta-born gunner | CBC News With regards to Op Blackcock, I suspect that his regiment was attached to the British 31st Armoured Brigade. I say this because it appears that the 1st Cdn Armoured Carrier Regiment (Kangaroo), if Google is correct, was attached to the 31st during Op Varsity.
Thanks. Much more information in the second article and it does mention Kangaroos. 1st Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, killed near Susteren.
Casualty Details | CWGC TROOPER HENRY GEORGE JOHNSTON Service Number: M/8053 Regiment & Unit/Ship 1st Armoured Personnel Carrier Regiment, R.C.A.C. Date of Death: Died 17 January 1945 Age 29 years old Buried or commemorated at MOOK WAR CEMETERY Grave Reference: III. B. 3 Location: Netherlands Country of Service: Canadian Additional Info: Son of Mr. and Mrs. Wilbert Johnston, of Grimshaw, Alberta, Canada; husband of Amelia Johnston, of Grimshaw. Personal Inscription: GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN N.B. Recent research has shown that Trooper Johnston is buried here. The Commission is in the process of producing a headstone to mark his grave. Please note that this casualty was previously commemorated on the Groesbeek Memorial; his name will be removed when the appropriate panel is next replaced.
https://m.facebook.com/CanadianKangaroos/posts/2825771107487055?locale2=es_LA This describes Canadian Kangaroos carrying the 4th KOSB into Konigsbosch. Also they are talked about by Peter White in his book With the Jocks.
