Theme Collections
Cape Breton Highlanders
Photos and Photo Postcards - WW2 – Northwest Europe – 1945-1946
Photos
This section contains thirteen photos pertaining to "A" Company, Cape Breton Highlanders, in Bolsward, Holland, during the summer of 1945. The battalion moved to Bolsward in July, 1945 and were billeted there until they departed for England at the end of November, 1945.
The original photos belonged to Second World War Cape Breton Highlander veteran Earl Wilson. Photographic copy prints were made from the originals in the 1990's. The images in this section are scans of the copy prints. Unfortunately the original photos and the copies were not of the best quality, but the content of the photos is very unique. Names of men in the photos and their home towns were provided by Earl Wilson from memory when I met with him.
Earl Wilson was born in Sydney and served with the Cape Breton Highlanders in Italy and Northwest Europe. After the war he worked in the railway department at the steel plant in Sydney, and retired from there in 1976. Earl passed away on March 26, 2000 at the age of 83. Earl and his friend Jack Young are pictured in many of the photos.
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"A" Company Soldiers
Cape Breton Highlanders
Bolsward, Holland
Summer, 1945
Left to Right:
1. F55281 William (Bill) J. Almon, Glace Bay, NS
2. Jack Young, Sydney, NS
3. F32569 William (Bill) M. Grant, Sydney, NS
Note the souvenir German belt and buckle that Bill Almon is wearing, which was not uncommon at the time.
Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 03 (21-2-2.3)
Image Information: Scan of a photographic copy of an original photo
Source: Robert MacLellan Collection (permission to copy original photo courtesy Earl Wilson, Sydney, NS, 1990's)
"A" Company Soldiers
Cape Breton Highlanders
Bolsward, Holland
Summer, 1945
Back Row, Left to Right:
1. F33508 Earl Wilson, Sydney, NS
2. F55574 Pete MacGregor, Glace Bay, NS
3. Tom Keating
Seated:
1. F55539 L.G. "Dingle" Alderson, Sydney Mines, NS
Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 03 (21-2-3.3)
Image Information: Scan of a photographic copy of an original photo
Source: Robert MacLellan Collection (permission to copy original photo courtesy Earl Wilson, Sydney, NS, 1990's)
"A" Company Soldiers
Cape Breton Highlanders
Bolsward, Holland
Summer, 1945
Left to Right:
1. F55281 William (Bill) J. Almon, Glace Bay, NS
2. F32569 William (Bill) M. Grant, Sydney, NS
3. Dutch Teenager that the company had befriended
4. Frank Miller, North Sydney, NS
Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 03 (21-2-4.3)
Image Information: Scan of a photographic copy of an original photo
Source: Robert MacLellan Collection (permission to copy original photo courtesy Earl Wilson, Sydney, NS, 1990's)
"A" Company Soldiers
Cape Breton Highlanders
Bolsward, Holland
Summer, 1945
Standing, Left to Right:
1. F55281 William (Bill) J. Almon, Glace Bay, NS
2. Jack Young, Sydney, NS
3. Frank Miller, North Sydney, NS
Sitting on the ground is a Dutch teenager that the company had befriended. He was nicknamed "Spook".
Note the souvenir German belt and buckle that Bill Almon is wearing, which was not uncommon at the time.
Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 03 (21-2-5.3)
Image Information: Scan of a photographic copy of an original photo
Source: Robert MacLellan Collection (permission to copy original photo courtesy Earl Wilson, Sydney, NS, 1990's)
"A" Company
Cape Breton Highlanders
Bolsward, Holland
Summer, 1945
Standing in a street in Bolsward with an "A" Company sign is a Dutch teenager that "A" Company befriended and nicknamed "Spook". He is dressed in a Canadian army greatcoat and web gear, and appears to be wearing a Dutch army helmet. "A" Company were known as the Hayshakers. The 62 was the tactical number for the Cape Breton Highlanders.
Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 03 (21-2-6.3)
Image Information: Scan of a photographic copy of an original photo
Source: Robert MacLellan Collection (permission to copy original photo courtesy Earl Wilson, Sydney, NS, 1990's
"A" Company
Cape Breton Highlanders
Bolsward, Holland
Summer, 1945
Standing with a broom for a rifle is a Dutch teenager that "A" Company befriended and nicknamed "Spook". He is dressed in a Canadian army greatcoat and web gear, and appears to be wearing a Dutch army helmet. "A" Company were known as the Hayshakers. The 62 was the tactical number for the Cape Breton Highlanders.
Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 03 (21-2-7.3)
Image Information: Scan of a photographic copy of an original photo
Source: Robert MacLellan Collection (permission to copy original photo courtesy Earl Wilson, Sydney, NS, 1990's)
"A" Company Soldiers
Cape Breton Highlanders
Bolsward, Holland
Summer, 1945
Left to Right:
1. F33508 Earl Wilson, Sydney, NS
2. (?)
3. F89325 Charles "Sharkey" MacDonald, New Waterford, NS
4. F32569 William (Bill) M. Grant, Sydney, NS
5. Jack Young, Sydney, NS
Note the sign in the background. "A" Company were known as the Hayshakers. The 62 was the tactical number for the Cape Breton Highlanders. The sign is probably pointing to the location of the company headquarters.
Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 03 (21-1.3)
Image Information: Scan of a photographic copy of an original photo
Source: Robert MacLellan Collection (permission to copy original photo courtesy Earl Wilson, Sydney, NS, 1990's)
"A" Company Soldiers
Cape Breton Highlanders
Bolsward, Holland
Summer, 1945
The three soldiers, a fiddle player, a guitarist and a step dancer, put on a Cape Breton style musical performance in a yard in Bolsward.
The step dancer has been identified as Louie Broussard from Pomquet, a small Acadian community in Antigonish County, NS. The other men are unidentified.
Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 03 (21-2-6.3)
Image Information: Scan of a photographic copy of an original photo
Source: Robert MacLellan Collection (permission to copy original photo courtesy Earl Wilson, Sydney, NS, 1990's)
"A" Company Soldiers
Cape Breton Highlanders
Bolsward, Holland
Summer, 1945
Soldiers from "A" Company put on a Cape Breton style musical performance. The step dancer has been identified as Louie Broussard from Pomquet, a small Acadian community in Antigonish County, NS. The other men are unidentified. Note the young Dutch boy on the right of the photo.
Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 03 (21-2-8.3)
Image Information: Scan of a photographic copy of an original photo
Source: Robert MacLellan Collection (permission to copy original photo courtesy Earl Wilson, Sydney, NS, 1990's)
"A" Company Soldiers
Cape Breton Highlanders
Bolsward, Holland
Summer, 1945
Seated, Left to Right:
1. F43955 Allan L. Harper
2. Jack Young, Sydney, NS
3. F33508 Earl M. Wilson, Sydney, NS
4. (?)
In the back row on the far left holding a fiidle is Louie Broussard from Pomquet, a small Acadian community in Antigonish County, NS. He is the step dancer in prvious photos. The other men are unidentified.
Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 03 (21-2-19.3)
Image Information: Scan of a photographic copy of an original photo
Source: Robert MacLellan Collection (permission to copy original photo courtesy Earl Wilson, Sydney, NS, 1990's)
"A" Company Soldiers
Cape Breton Highlanders
Bolsward, Holland
Summer, 1945
Standing, Left to Right:
1. F33505 Earl M. Wilson, Sydney, NS
2. (?)
Crouching, Left to Right:
1. (?)
2. (?)
The unidentified men may be:
H.D. Connolly
L.T. Milley
Flynn
Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 03 (21-2-10.3)
Image Information: Scan of a photographic copy of an original photo
Source: Robert MacLellan Collection (permission to copy original photo courtesy Earl Wilson, Sydney, NS, 1990's)
Pte. Jack Young
"A" Company
Cape Breton Highlanders
Bolsward, Holland
Summer, 1945
Standing next to some bicycles is Pte. Jack Young of Sydney, NS. The Dutch sign behind him is believed to be weight restrictions for a bridge.
Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 03 (21-2-14.3)
Image Information: Scan of a photographic copy of an original photo
Source: Robert MacLellan Collection (permission to copy original photo courtesy Earl Wilson, Sydney, NS, 1990's)
"A" Company Soldiers
Cape Breton Highlanders
Bolsward, Holland
Summer, 1945
Back Row, Left to Right:
1. J.E. MacKinnon
2. William (Bill) "Boots" B. Butler, Sydney, NS
3. F33508 Earl M. Wilson, Sydney, NS
Front Row, Left to Right:
1. F55539 L.G. "Dingle" Alderson, Sydney Mines, NS
2. F32569 William (Bill) M. Grant, Sydney, NS
3. F55487 J.E. Arsenault (?)
Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 03 (21-8.3)
Image Information: Scan of a photographic copy of an original photo
Source: Robert MacLellan Collection (permission to copy original photo courtesy Earl Wilson, Sydney, NS, 1990's)