Canadian Second World War Soldier Laid to Rest by His Unit

News Release

September 14, 2016 – Ottawa – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

Private Kenneth Donald Duncanson, the Second World War soldier whose remains were identified by the Department of National Defence (DND) and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) in May, was today laid to rest with military honours by his unit, The Algonquin Regiment, in Adegem Canadian War Cemetery outside Bruges, Belgium.

Private Duncanson’s family was present at the ceremony, with the support of Veterans Affairs Canada.

Today marks 72 years to the day that Private Duncanson lost his life on September 14, 1944, during an attempt by The Algonquin Regiment to establish a bridgehead crossing of the Dérivation de la Lys (canal) and the Leopold Canal. Private Duncanson, who was from Dutton, Ontario, was 29 at the time of his death.

His remains were found in a farmer’s field near Molentje, Damme, Belgium, by a metal detector hobbyist on November 11, 2014. Subsequently, his remains were fully recovered by the Raakvlak Intercommunal Archaeological Service of Bruges, with assistance from DND’s Casualty Identification Program, and with the support of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the Embassy of Canada to Belgium, and the Canadian Defence Attaché.

Quotes

“We are grateful for the dedication and support of our international partners who made today’s events possible. Private Duncanson’s funeral provides an opportunity for all Canadians to reflect upon the experiences of those men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. We will always remember them.”
Harjit S. Sajjan, Defence Minister

“We pay tribute to Private Duncanson and his family, who gave so much to this country, as we express our gratitude to serving members and former members of our Canadian Armed Forces, who have made possible our continued enjoyment of peace and liberty. We will honour them always.”
Kent Hehr, Veterans Affairs Minister and Associate Minister of National Defence

“Regardless of the 72 years which have passed since Private Duncanson’s death, it is gratifying to finally be able to give him the dignity and respect of a military burial in a Commonwealth cemetery. His personal sacrifice will never be forgotten.”
Brigadier-General (Ret.) David Kettle, Secretary General, the Canadian Agency of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Quick Facts

Private Duncanson was born in Wallacetown, Ontario, on June 7, 1915. He married in 1939 and lived in Dutton, Ontario. He enlisted in the Canadian Army on August 24, 1942, and joined The Algonquin Regiment (of North Bay and Timmins, Ontario) in April 1944.
He was killed on September 14, 1944, during an attempt by The Algonquin Regiment to establish a bridgehead crossing of the Dérivation de la Lys (canal) and the Leopold Canal, at the hamlet of Molentje, now in the municipality of Damme, Belgium. This was part of the preliminary battles leading up to the Battle of the Scheldt.
Private Duncanson’s remains were discovered in a farmer’s field in November 2014 but not recovered by Belgian authorities until April 2016, with DND assisting.
His identification resulted from a combination of historical context, anthropological analysis, artefact evidence, and dental records. The identification was made by DND’s Casualty Identification Program, with the assistance of the Royal Canadian Dental Corps and the Canadian Museum of History.
Veterans Affairs Canada provided support to the family members of Private Duncanson and coordinated their participation in the funeral.
Adegem Canadian War Cemetery already contains the graves of 67 soldiers from The Algonquin Regiment. Most of the 848 Canadians buried at this cemetery died in the fall of 1944 during the Liberation of Belgium and the Battle of the Scheldt. A number of Canadian airmen who died in action elsewhere are also interred there, as are a number of British and Polish soldiers. There are also two French burials.

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Members of The Algonquin Regiment carry the casket containing the remains of Private Kenneth Duncanson during his burial ceremony at the Adegem Canadian War Cemetery, near Brugge, Belgium, on September 14, 2016. Private Duncanson died exactly 72 years ago during the Second World War. Photo: MCpl Pat Blanchard, Canadian Forces Combat Camera, DND

Lieutenant Colonel Ken McClure, Commanding Officer of The Algonquin Regiment, hands the Canadian Flag to Judith Thomas, a second cousin of Private Kenneth Duncanson during a burial ceremony at the Adegem Canadian War Cemetery, near Brugge, Belgium, on September 14, 2016. Private Duncanson died exactly 72 years ago during the Second World War. Photo: MCpl Pat Blanchard, Canadian Forces Combat Camera, DND

The headstone for the grave of Private Kenneth Duncanson is framed with wreaths and flowers during a burial ceremony at the Adegem Canadian War Cemetery, near Brugge, Belgium, on September 14, 2016. Private Duncanson died exactly 72 years ago during the Second World War. Photo: MCpl Pat Blanchard, Canadian Forces Combat Camera, DND

Associated Links

Casualty Identification – Molentje, Damme, Belgium

Imagery and video will be available on the Web site ForcesImages.

Contacts

Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: 613-996-2353
Toll-Free: 1-866-377-0811
Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca

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Hon. Kent Hehr Hon. Harjit Singh Sajjan National Defence and the Canadian Armed Forces Military

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2016-09-14