The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Pipes, Drums and Dancers: National Capital Region returned from a 12-day trip to the Netherlands on Friday, May 9, 2025. This trip was to join in the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the liberation by Canadian troops on May 4, 1945. Canadians were the largest part of the liberation forces, and Canadian Lieutenant-General Charles Foulkes was present for the official Nazi surrender at the Hotel de Wereld in Wageningen.
Bagpiper Gilbert Young of Vankleek Hill is a member of the RCMP Pipes, Drums and Dancers and was part of the trip to The Netherlands. At a ceremony held at the Holten cemetery, Young played the preamble at a remembrance service held in honour of Paul Brunelle, a soldier from Lost River who is buried at Holten. Brunelle was born on September 30, 1925 and was the son of Ernest and Jeannette Brunelle (née Thérien). His brothers were John (Jean), and Georges—who also served in the army. He also had a sister Jeannine (Chisholm).
Brunelle enlisted in the army on October 7, 1943 in Kingston, and trained near Vernon, British Columbia. On December 25, 1944, he arrived in England as a member of the Algonquin Regiment and on February 24, 1945 he was on active duty in northwestern Europe.
Brunelle was killed in action on Wednesday April 18, 1945, age 19 near the Küstenkanal in northwestern Germany. He was temporarily buried in Friesoythe, Germany and then on March 9, 1946 reinterred at Holten, where 1,393 Canadians are buried. He was the uncle of Gilbert Young’s late wife Evelyn, and great uncle of his daughter Trudy Young.
During the Liberation of The Netherlands, more than 7,600 Canadian military personnel were killed.
In the 80 years since the liberation, the people of The Netherlands have continued to show a tremendous amount of gratitude for Canada’s efforts and the sacrifice Canadians made.
During the recent visit the RCMP Pipes, Drums and Dancers: National Capital Region gave 22 performances.
The RCMP joined members of the Apeldoorn Pipe Band in Posterenk, The Netherlands, to participate in the final Remembrance Ceremony, hosted by oyal Canadian Legion Branch 5 of The Netherlands.
