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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Peter John Ernest Petersen

In memory of:

Private Peter John Ernest Petersen

September 13, 1944
La Panne Bain, France

Military Service


Service Number:

H 7143

Age:

29

Force:

Army

Unit:

Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada

Additional Information


Born:

September 25, 1914
Wellwood, Manitoba

Enlistment:

March 22, 1942
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Son of Peter John and Marguerite Evelyn Peterson of Wellwood, Manitoba.

Commemorated on Page 416 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information


Cemetery:
Grave Reference:

V. E. 10.

Location:

Adegem Canadian War Cemetery is located midway between Brugge (17 km) and Gent (26 km) on the N9 which connects the two towns. From Brugge, Adegem is approached via Sijsele and Maldegem. On reaching Adegem, the cemetery is located on the Prins Boudewijn Laan, on the right-hand side of the N9. In the last week of September 1944, the Allies held the city of Antwerp, but the Germans held both shores of the Scheldt estuary, so that the port of Antwerp could not be used. The task of clearing the southern shore of the estuary was allotted to the 3rd Canadian Division, aided by the 4th Canadian Armoured Division and the 52nd Division. Their operations lasted from October until the beginning of November 1944. By 3rd November the Germans had been cleared from the north-west corner of Belgium and the south shore of the Scheldt was free. There had been fierce fighting for two weeks for the crossing of the Leopold Canal. The majority of the men buried at Adegem died during the operations for the clearance of the south bank of the Scheldt; but many Canadians who lost their lives elsewhere in Belgium were also brought here for burial.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

Send us your images

  • Photo of Peter John Ernest Petersen– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Memorial– Cecil Pittman travelled with the Royal Winnipeg Riffles Association
when they participated in the 40th Anniversary of the D day
tour to the Normandy beaches (Juno Beach) in 1984, the Royal
Winnipeg Riffles "pilgrimage" tour in 1989, the year the memorial
was unveiled in the little village of Audrieu and the Royal Winnipeg
Riffles 50th Anniversary tour in 1994. He also attended the unveiling
ceremonies of the Juno Beach Memorial located in Normandy,
France in June of 2003.

Mr. Pittman has researched information through the National
Archives, military histories, former veterans and from any other
materials he can locate. In 2002, he completed 104 stories for the
Manitoba Geographical Names Program (Lakes, Rivers, Islands,
etc are named after Manitoba's world War II and the Korean
Conflict casualties) Several soldier's photo from his collection
were included with these stories in the Map Branch's publication
"A Place of Honour".

(Notes taken from the Cecil Pittman's photo collection)
  • Biography
  • Photo of Peter John Ernest Petersen– Photograph of Ernie in uniform prior to going overseas.
  • Entrance
  • Cross of Sacrifice
  • Grave Marker

Learn more about the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

To learn more please visit our help page. If you have questions or comments regarding the information contained in this registry, email or call us. For inquiries regarding the names and information found in the RCMP Honour Roll, please email the RCMP.

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