Commonwealth War Grave and War Memorial Kloetinge

This monument is also the grave of a Canadian soldier. It is situated on the general cemetery and commemorates the residents of Kloetinge who died during World War Two.

Text on the stone:

1940 - 1945

In grateful remembrance

Pte Dicaire J.M.
D 56893 (R.de M.)
Le regiment the maisonneuve
29 ste October 1944

Also in remembrance to
our fellow-citizens:

J.L. van Houte
B. Kole. Azn
S. Kole. Szn
J.I. Massee
H.F. Oele
C. Sonke
C.H. Steketee
A. de Visser
I.P. Wagenaar


Jean-Maurice Dicaire was the youngest of 13 children in the Dicaire family.
The Dicaire family had settled in the very small village of Aylmer (west of the province of Québec) in the late 1800's, but then moved and raised their kids mostly in the city of Hawkesbury (Ontario) and finally in Montréal.
Jean-Maurice had lied about his age to the Canadian Army so that he could enlist for the War (he was actually 17). He enlisted in the Régiment de Maisonneuve. A letter from the attending priest (G. Marchand) from the village where Jean-Maurice was buried, written on November 12, 1944, announced that the Canadians were attacking Kapelle when Jean-Maurice was hit in the back by a "burst of German mortar". He fell and was taken to the closest Medical Post but couldn't be saved. It was on Sunday October 29, 1944.

The picture (3) was taken by his sister Alice in Montréal (Québec) immediately after he enlisted and before he left for Europe. Of course, they never saw him again, so this is the last known picture of him.
Photo 4: Liberationmuseumzeeland. (Nieuwdorp)

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Source

• Text: Mia van den Berg & Michel Arsenault
• Photos: Mia van den Berg (1,2) & Family of J.M. Dicaire (3) Bevrijdingsmuseumzeeland (4)