Find inspires man to trace soldier’s family
Appeal after World War Two soldier’s tag was found buried on Filey Beach
A man is hoping to reunite a wartime tag belonging to a Canadian World War Two soldier, which he found on Filey Beach, with his family.
Brian Bone, 68, of Filey, was walking along Filey Beach with his metal detector when he came across the object.
The metal tag belonged to rifleman Gaston Clermont who died on September 23, 1944 aged 28.
Brian was inspired to find more about the tag and attempt to track down his family after watching a programme on TV channel Yesterday.
He said: “On the show there was a tag which looked just like mine. I was then curious to discover more about Mr Clermont and see if he has any family who may want it.”
Despite him being born and buried in the Netherlands, it is believed Mr Clermont was a Canadian citizen after being regarded as a ‘lost son of Canada’ at Nederweert War Cemetery.
Some internet research has found that he had a mother who lived in Quebec, Canada and a sister in Montreal.
The war tag, has “Dieppe (SI) France, Kathleen” inscribed on one side.
Mr Clermont’s link to Dieppe is unknown. A raid took place there on the northern coast of France in August 1942 when the Allies attacked the German-occupied port.
After speaking to a staff member at Cairncross & Sons shop, on Belle Vue Street, Brian discovered there were Canadian soldiers stationed in Filey during World War Two.
He said: “I know people were stationed here to protect the beaches from invasion so I imagine this is how the tag got here.”
Mystery remains in regards to the soldier’s death in September 1944 - three months after the Normandy Landings.
The largest seaborne invasion in history, the operation began the liberation of Germanoccupied northwestern Europe from Nazi control, and contributed to the Allied victory on the Western Front.
If anyone can help Brian to track down the family of the rifle brigade member, you can contact him by calling (01723) 514468. A new Co-op food store in Flamborough, which replaces the existing store on Dog and Duck Square, is opening today.
The new purpose-built store is more than double the size of the previous site and has created eight additional jobs.
The opening of the new store on Allison Lane, which represents a £560,000 investment, coincides with the Co-op unveiling its new membership offer.
Theuniquenewscheme will see Co-op members receive a five per cent reward on purchases of Coop own-branded products and services, with a further one per cent going to local causes to make a difference in their community.
Groups supported by the stores in Bridlington include Flamborough Women’s Institute, Woodcock Memorial and Flamborough preschool.
Members of the Co-op can choose which of these causes they wish to support online. Money will be raised over a six month period with the groups estimated to share £9,000.