Canadian Engineer's Officer's death 13/1/45: help

I do some research on casualties in the province of Zeeland during WWII.
On the 13th of januari 1945 a Canadian Soldier (LT BAIRD) from 23 Fld Coy RCE - attached to 234 Field Coy RE who was working on A/P mines was killed by a mine explosion. This happend near Sint-Annaland.
The coast of the isle was mined because Germans that still occupied the isle of Schouwen-Duiveland carried out Command raids.
During this incident SGT GERRET was badly wounded (he lost his leg)
Any information about this incident would be welcome.

 

Welcome back after quite a gap. This post only refers to Captain Baird, the next post refers to Sgt. Gerret.

His CWGC entry alas is minus his Service Number, his full name is William Harold Baird (31yrs old) https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2641433/william-harold-baird/

We have Canadian members who can help on that. To get their attention it would help to change the thread title to Canadian Engineer's Officer's death 13/1/1945: help You can do this by clicking on the Edit button bottom left and an option to amend the title should appear.

Link to x61 pgs Service Record: BAIRD, WILLIAM HAROLD (1 digital object(s)) Genealogy / Military / Second World War Service Files – War Dead, 1939 to 1947

Note Sheet 37 refers to his initial burial @ Roosendaal Map Reference 735316 and his grave was 'consolidated' in February 1947 to Bergen-op-Zoom. Oddly INHO that is not shown the CWGC entry.

The next option is to locate the War Diary (WD) of 234 Field Company Royal Engineers. It may have a reference to the incident. Nothing here to indicate the WD is available via Ancestry (££).

An online search found he has not appeared on this site before your post.

Some background from a Canadian site:

From: Baird Street | Veterans Affairs Canada

His DoB & Place is:

From: Lieutenant William Harold Baird (1914-1945) -...
Note he was married to: Anne Roberta Baird, of London, Ontario (details on Ancestry (££ required). Her WW2 address is shown on his Service Record, no indication of children see at a glance.

An online search with: "234 field company" site:ww2talk.com found a small number of threads on 234 Field, but none refer to the Netherlands / Holland. They do indicate the unit landed with the Canadians in Normandy after D-Day.

In 2013 & 2020 reference was made to a book 'The Circus - Diary of 234 Field Company R.E. D-Day to VE-Day' by Lieutenant H.H Campbell; it was scanned by a member (who posted once in 2013), but the link is now inactive. A copy is with the National Army Museum, London. See: Online Collection | National Army Museum, London

It is possible a member 234RE1944 may have a copy and can look up for you; he was last logged in here in 2020. I wills end him a Private Message next.

Then:

From: https://x.com/234company?lang=ar

A large number of tweets, with several photos, it appears they were based at Roosendaal for several months (November 1944 onwards).

 

Sgt Gerret / Gerrett name and number have not appeared here before.

From: https://x.com/234company?lang=ar A large number of tweets, with several photos, it appears they were based at Roosendaal for several months (November 1944 onwards).

Serjeant / Sergeant Charles Gerrett No. 2073908, was awarded this French medal for actions in 1944 and his commendation is available online. See: Recommendation for Award for Gerrett, Charles Rank: Serjeant Service No: ... | The National Archives I will order this later.

Nothing else readily found for him online. I do wonder if he too was Canadian.

 

This is the relevant section from the 234th booklet, in which both are mentioned.

 

Yo,

"The Circus" in full can be downloaded from link below. About 19 mbs. Grab it while ye may.

the_circus_234 _field_company.pdf - Icedrive

Regards ...

 

Born Newcastle upon Tyne December 1918 Qtr. Son of Samuel J and Sarah (née Donnelly) Gerrett

Evening Chronicle 9 November 1945 pg 5



Marriage record for Charles Gerrett and Ivy E. Dodd (Newcastle June 1943 Qtr) gives a middle initial for Charles as J.

Charles John Gerrett deceased Northumberland 2003.

Regards,

Dave

 

A short reply from 234RE1944:

 

Thanks for the message and the offer. As a volunteer of the liberation museum Zeeland. I have a special interest in casualties related to the province Zeeland.

 

Request made to him. Standby.

 

His personnel file is here with a free Ancestry signup:
https://www.ancestry.ca/search/coll...8438a6872e&_phsrc=KlX9&_phstart=successSource

No details on the circumstances of his death, primarily info on his military service/training etc. from 1933.

Documentation from a Court of Inquiry is often included in Canadian files, no sign here. Possible there wasn't one, possible the RE/RCE connection made it difficult to obtain. Worth looking at 234 Fd Coy RE to see if one was held, though my limited understanding indicates they are tough to find in British records.

Canadian officers did not have Service Numbers.

 

From 234RE1944 and I have added the CWGC link: