"What we now know:"
On 16 October 1947 the War Services Records receives a letter from a German minister, Karl Missbach from Grossolbersdorf, Germany. The letter is translated in English and forwarded to the mother of Ernest. In the letter is written that Ernest was killed by the Germans during a nightly expedition in the snow and buried by them. An exact description is given of where the grave of Ernest is located.
On 8 January 1948, the Director of Graves Registration and Enquiries sent a reply to the mother of Ernest stating:
"The area mentioned has been searched and enquires made, but no trace of the above-named could be located. From local information, there was a grave of a Canadian who was concentrated by the Canadians just over a year ago. It is thought that this casualty may have been concentrated to the Canadian Cemetery at Groesbeek, as an "UNKNOWN."
Helen's aunt knew a soldier was buried near the Duffelt dijk.
On 21 September 2011, War Graves Commission in England has
1. researched their Archives recently and cannot locate the report that detailed the research done in 1948 when the mother received the letter.
2. reconfirmed that none of the "Unknowns" in Groesbeek or Holten came from the Leuth area of the Netherlands.
From research in the National Archives in The Hague and Gelders (provincial) Archives we have been unable to locate any local documentation confirming that Private Harrison was exhumed from the farmer's garden. The Dutch National Red Cross has no record in their Archives of any buried of transferred military in the Nijmegen area.
We have been successful in obtaining permission from the farmer to search the garden.
Military (Gravendienst / Bergings- en Identificatiedienst, Koninklijke Landmacht, Ministerie van Defensie) and police (KLPD) forensic teams are prepared for preliminary research on the garden.
We have located and exchanged heart felt thank you letters with the German minister's family. Karl Missbach, who wrote the original letter, has passed on.
On 8 January 1948, the Director of Graves Registration and Enquiries sent a reply to the mother of Ernest stating:
"The area mentioned has been searched and enquires made, but no trace of the above-named could be located. From local information, there was a grave of a Canadian who was concentrated by the Canadians just over a year ago. It is thought that this casualty may have been concentrated to the Canadian Cemetery at Groesbeek, as an "UNKNOWN."
Helen's aunt knew a soldier was buried near the Duffelt dijk.
On 21 September 2011, War Graves Commission in England has
1. researched their Archives recently and cannot locate the report that detailed the research done in 1948 when the mother received the letter.
2. reconfirmed that none of the "Unknowns" in Groesbeek or Holten came from the Leuth area of the Netherlands.
From research in the National Archives in The Hague and Gelders (provincial) Archives we have been unable to locate any local documentation confirming that Private Harrison was exhumed from the farmer's garden. The Dutch National Red Cross has no record in their Archives of any buried of transferred military in the Nijmegen area.
We have been successful in obtaining permission from the farmer to search the garden.
Military (Gravendienst / Bergings- en Identificatiedienst, Koninklijke Landmacht, Ministerie van Defensie) and police (KLPD) forensic teams are prepared for preliminary research on the garden.
We have located and exchanged heart felt thank you letters with the German minister's family. Karl Missbach, who wrote the original letter, has passed on.
"What we don't know:"
Where is Ernest buried ?
Is Ernest still in the field along the Duffeltdijk, or has he been moved in 1946 ? The offical records that indicate he was moved have not (yet) been found, but the letter to Ernest's mother does imply this. Who did the research in 1948 ? Who of where did they find 'local information' about a grave of a Canadian who was concentrated ?
Where or are there people who knew or know about the research executed in 1948 ?
Where or are there people who knew or know about the concentration of a Canadian in that area at the end of 1946 ?
The Leuth area was evacuated from October 1944 until June1945. Ernest died January 1945 and was buried by the Germans. How did Helen's aunt know that a soldier had been buried along the dike? Where there or are there others who also knew about this ?
Is Ernest still in the field along the Duffeltdijk, or has he been moved in 1946 ? The offical records that indicate he was moved have not (yet) been found, but the letter to Ernest's mother does imply this. Who did the research in 1948 ? Who of where did they find 'local information' about a grave of a Canadian who was concentrated ?
Where or are there people who knew or know about the research executed in 1948 ?
Where or are there people who knew or know about the concentration of a Canadian in that area at the end of 1946 ?
The Leuth area was evacuated from October 1944 until June1945. Ernest died January 1945 and was buried by the Germans. How did Helen's aunt know that a soldier had been buried along the dike? Where there or are there others who also knew about this ?