Hello, Anyone here know about Some info on the liberation of Holland? Also was there a battle for Arnhem the second time when the Canadians were there? Ive seen military hand maps of Arnhem that were given to Canadians, but was there a major battle? Also, if anyone here is from Holland, anyone know of the town Dokum? (Think thats how its spelled)
Hi Brad, There are several from Holland here. Including myself, we have Timo, Volkbert and Popski. I don't know how hard was fought for the final liberation of Arnhem. I have never heard about it anyway. I guess it was not one of the fiercest battles in Holland. Dokkum is in the North of Holland, province of Friesland. Again, I don't know much about the fighting there although I know it was very hard going for teh Canadians at times. Do you have the story of your uncle's(?) wartime career and why the park was named after him? Let me know what you speciffically want to know and I'll see what I can find out for you in Dutch archives....
My impression is that the Germans withdrew from Arnhem in 1945 without a mjor confrontation ( the bridge was down by then, anyhow ). There's a mis-captioned photo in Urquhart's memoir of Arnhem showing a 6-pr gun set-up in an Arnhem shop window ( the gun is facing north & the photo was definitely taken in '45 ).
Actually It is my Grandpa, and ive been told 2 different places, except some Dutch girl told me they were like the same town, It is called Mark Tennant Park. It is in either Dokum or Doetinchem. Little Website on him here. http://members.shaw.ca/calgaryhighlanders/tennant.htm
I have a friend who lives in Doetinchem, I'll ask him. Maybe they have a nickname for the town like that, but Dokkum and Doetichem are definately two different towns... Will let you know. Thanks for the link! Very interesting stuff, Brad!
Brad, The Mark Tennant Plantsoen is definately in DOETINCHEM. The people there also call the town DURKUM. The park/plantsoen in in the centre of town, not 200 meters from where my friend lives. He sent this link: http://www.vvvdoetinchem.nl Then go to Cultuur en Historie on the left hand side of the page. Then click on 13. MARK TENNANT PLANTSOEN: VRIJHEIDSMONUMNET. and you'll see a pic of the liberation monument that is in the park. The people of Doetinchem always have their rememberance day on may 4 at this monument. The text with the pic says: On liberationday, may 5 1995, the park was named Mark Tennant Plantsoen, named after Major Tennant of the Canadian Calgary Highlanders who liberated Doetinchem on the 1st and 2nd of April 1945. Unfortunately 9 men lost their lives. A plaque with their names engraved remembers them. In the park two Canadian Maple trees have been planted. The leaf of this tree, the maple leaf, is the national symbol of Canada. At this impressive momument, a creation of Marius van Beek, the annual rememberance is being held on may 4th. HTH Stevin
