Second World War soldier identified as man from Kenora after nearly 80 years

Rajpreet Sahota · CBC News

· Posted: Mar 10, 2025 6:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: 9 minutes ago

The sedate of a Canadian worker who went missing successful the Netherlands during the Second World War has been identified arsenic that of Private Arthur Vanance, according to the Department of National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces.

Vanance, who served with the 1st Battalion of the Lake Superior Regiment (Motor), was killed successful enactment connected Feb. 15, 1945, adjacent the Dutch municipality of 's-Hertogenbosch. But, for decades, helium was listed arsenic missing with nary known grave.

His last resting spot was confirmed done extended humanities and archival probe by the Casualty Identification Program. His sedate is located astatine Holten Canadian War Cemetery successful the Netherlands, wherever a headstone rededication ceremonial volition beryllium held astatine a aboriginal date.

"His courageousness embodies the unwavering committedness of Canadians who person ever risked everything successful the sanction of duty," Defence Minister Bill Blair said successful a statement. "It is simply a indebtedness that tin ne'er beryllium repaid, but volition not beryllium forgotten."

A soldier's journey

Arthur Vanance was calved successful Kenora, Ont., connected Jan. 5, 1919, to Emmanuel Joseph and Annie Vanance. He was 1 of six children. His household farmed successful Melick, present portion of Kenora, earlier moving to Ottawa. His begetter died successful 1934, and his parent aboriginal remarried.

Vanance enlisted successful July 1940 with the Lake Superior Regiment, which had been mobilized for progressive work 2 months earlier. He trained successful Canada and the U.K. earlier landing successful Normandy successful July 1944. He fought successful the liberation of France and the Netherlands.

In aboriginal 1945, arsenic portion of the 4th Canadian Armoured Division, Vanance's regiment was stationed on the Maas River. On Feb. 15, B Company launched a patrol into force territory. Vanance and Lance Cpl. Harold Frederick Hilderley acceptable up a Bren weapon presumption to supply cover, but the patrol came nether dense machine-gun fire. The portion was forced to retreat, leaving down Vanance, who was severely wounded.

After the war, Vanance remained the lone worker from his portion that time without a known grave. His sanction was inscribed connected sheet 11 of the Groesbeek Memorial, which honours much than 1,000 Commonwealth soldiers who died successful northwest Europe.

A family's decades-long wait

For astir 80 years, the Vanance household had small accusation astir Arthur's fate. His grand-niece, Tina Romanuk, said her grandfather, Albert Vanance, who besides served with the Lake Superior Regiment, seldom spoke astir his brother's disappearance.

"He was precise bittersweet erstwhile his member didn't travel backmost from a ngo and helium didn't truly privation to speech astir it ever," Romanuk said. "He conscionable mentioned likelihood and ends… He went retired connected a ngo voluntarily and ne'er came back."

That changed successful 2016 erstwhile an autarkic researcher suggested an unidentified Canadian worker buried successful Holten mightiness beryllium Vanance. The Department of National Defence and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission launched an investigation. In December 2024, the Casualty Identification Review Board confirmed Vanance's identity. His household was notified earlier this year.

Veterans Affairs Minister Darren Fisher said the recognition is particularly meaningful arsenic Canada marks the 80th day of the liberation of the Netherlands.

"There is nary greater tribute to the fallen than ensuring their stories of courageousness endure for years to come," helium said. "To his loved ones: cognize that his bequest volition unrecorded connected successful our hearts."

Honouring his sacrifice

Vanance was 26 erstwhile helium died. He near down a wife, Rita Margaret Meservier, and their young child. 

His grand-niece says the quality was unexpected.

"We had nary thought wherever helium was," Romanuk said. "So it was a daze erstwhile I got the telephone from the War Department due to the fact that I was like, 'Oh, OK. Maybe that feline was right.'"

His household volition present person the accidental to spot his sanction connected a dedicated headstone astatine Holten Canadian War Cemetery.

The recognition of Vanance is portion of an ongoing effort by the Casualty Identification Program to guarantee fallen soldiers person the designation they deserve.

"He was warring for us… We wouldn't beryllium wherever we are contiguous without that, [he] played a relation successful each of our lives," said Romanuk.