Transcriptions:
Enschede 19/03/1948
405-B-38509
To the director of records
Department of National Defence (army)
Ottawa
Dear Sir
I have adopted a grave of a Canadian, and I should like to come in contact with his family.
The name of that Canadian is: Sergeant A. J. Balfour number B/56. 18th Canadian Armoured Regiment (Manitoba Dragons) He is killed in action on the 19th of April 1945, and is buried on Plot 10 Row C, Grave 10 on the Canadian Cemetery in Holten Holland. Will you be so kind, to send on the enclosed letter to his family. I hope so, to get contact with them, to tell them something about the grave of Sergeant Balfour.
Sincerely
G. E ter Kuile – van Heek
Martha Laan
Enschede
Holland
Letter forwarded to father 27/03/1948.
May 2,1945
Lindsay Soldier Killed in Action
Another Lindsay soldier has paid the supreme sacrifice in the person of James Alexander Balfour, a son of Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Balfour, 13 Division St. Official word to this effect was received a few days ago from Ottawa.
Sgt. Alex Balfour was stationed with the Royal Canadian Dragoons at St. John's in 1940 and at Camp Borden the same year, getting overseas in the Fall of 41. He served in Italy in the Fall of 1943 and the Spring of '44. He was then transferred to England and later to the Western Front in France, Belgium and Holland. When killed in action he was with the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders.
The young soldier was born in Lindsay, was a graduate of the Collegiate Institute and a member of William St. Baptist church. His is the first casualty from the above church. He was quite athletic and a very popular young man.
May 30,1945
Son Was Killed On German Front
Celebrations for VE-Day were dimmed for Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Balfour, Division St. when they received information that their son Sgt. Alex James Balfour had been killed in action.
Sgt. Balfour enlisted with the Royal Canadian Dragoons at St. Jean, Que. in August, '40, going overseas in the fall of 1941. After further training in England he went to Italy in August, 1943, and returned to England in March 1944 to take a special course.
He was later transferred to the Manitoba Dragoons and went to France on 'D' Day. At the time of his death he was fighting with the Allied forces in Germany.
