Hi, Since I have been doing this research over and over again I see great honours from the dutch people given to canadians for the sacrifices they made in liberating their country. Never have I seen a thankyou to the dutch people for the kindness they gave the soldiers every day they were there.I have many letters from William while he was there and before he was killed.He talked about the dutch coming out and saying come back for supper and how he and his friends did go.The way he talked in his letters you could tell he was treated like family,those people shared everything and I find it amazing as I have read endlessly how those people were being starved by the germans.It didn't matter they shared anyway.I guess my point is this.After he had been at these peoples home he wrote about how "it sure was good.Boy oh Boy, we had fun" and how it was just like being home surrounded by family.He just kept saying "boy it sure was nice". I have no doubt it gave his mother some relief and peace that even though it was only for a few hours here and there her son was able to forget the horrors of war and was being treated as he would have been if he were home in canada.You could tell his spirits picked up and was much happier.It's a gift the dutch gave many canadians there I think ,making a person feel "normal" fore a few hours,like a human being.It says alot about a people and I will never forget the kindness given a nineteen year old thousands of miles from home.I truly thank them for all they did for canadians there, giving a little bit of sanity to an insane time.Thank you Freda
Very nicely said Freda. All too often we forget about that kind of response. I'm sure we have some Nederlanders on the site, and I hope they see this. Reps to you.
This pic was sent to me from a friend that lives near Burgen op Zoom. Bergen op Zoom is +/- 60 km from were i live. And a big part of Holland is liberated by the Canadians. 9 Months after the liberation a lot of children were born with a Canadian father (Yes Dutch girls are pretty) and as soon those children grown up, they searched for there. It was sometimes a big suprise for those Canadians that they had a child in Holland, because they normally didnt know. This shell i got from my grandfather. Its painted after the libaration of Koudekerke (the place were i was born). The bottom text says: Hulde aan de canadezen = A Tribute to the Canadians
This is indeed nicely said. There is a big bond between the Dutch and the Canadians. This includes yearly commemorations and tributes to the fallen.
The Forgotten battle of the Sceldt & Woensdrecht on “Black Friday” The 13th! This was a chapter of WWII that had, by and large, have been forgotten, with the exception of the Dutch Population who were liberated, and never forgot their heroic honourable gallant, sacrifice of those brave souls and the Canadian soldiers who fought and survived to tell the tail, of their exploits to endeavour to persevere against all odds. Against a better equipped, embedded and season army that had completely fortified all German occupied positions. http://www.ww2f.com/western-europe-...tle-sceldt-woensdrecht-black-friday-13th.html
I was just in the Netherlands for the 65th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands. There were many events that we attended, starting on May 3rd at the Commemoration Service at the Canadian Military Cemetery in Groesbeek where when we returned to the bus we were given a special book of essays to be given to all Canadians attending called "Tulips and Maple Leaves in 2010: Perspectives on 65 years of Dutch-Canadian Relations", the next day at another Commemoration Ceremony at CWC Holten, on the 5th we attended the parade in Wageninen, on the 7th we attended a military Tattoo in Voorthuizen, the 8th we were in Leersum where Veterans in our group (also family members of Veterans) received a 65th Liberation medal, with the culmination the last Parade of Veterans in Appledorn which was followed by the 1st Liberation Festival in Appledorn's Omnisportcentrum (sport centre) YouTube - Last Liberation day parade and first festival - Apeldoorn 2010 and on our way to the Omnisportcentrum as our bus slowed down we had a man knock on the door and with arms full of flowers came on board to give a bouquet to every woman on the bus (which had a Canadian Flag hanging in the front window). I share the above link, because it is so impossible to describe your own gratitude as a Canadian of the next generation to the Dutch people of all ages who give such an emotional response to the last Veterans and remember those who gave their lives. Every Veteran who was there had special memories of the Dutch and they did thank their Dutch hosts of the present, as well as those of the past. Some of the Veterans with us were met by Dutch families of multiple generations with whom they had stayed in touch over the past 65 years or with whom they had connected during an earlier visit for a special anniversary event. I think one had come back every year for the past 10 or 15 years. I knew I would eventually go to the Netherlands, because growing special little gifts - which were given pride of place in our livingroom - that had been sent to Mum by a Dutch girl, as well as given to Dad. In particular a pair of little wooden shoes that said Holland 1944 were always given special attention. Wherever we went in the Netherlands, even after we were on our own, the same warmth met us from the Dutch of all ages - even if they didn't know whether or not we were related to a Canadian Veteran, just being from Canada seemed to be enough. The soldiers who liberated the Netherlands created a unique bond that between the two countries and their peoples, although sadly the Canadiansgeneral public is less aware except when they see something on television such as the Liberation Parade for its 2 minute spot on the evening news, unless they are related to a Liberator or a member of somewhere like this Forum. It was important to us to thank the Dutch whenever possible while we were there and to tell them how much we appreciated their welcome. I'm glad I have the chance again to say, "Dank u wel !"
I found the following newsclip from Appeldorn after the parade. The Veterans in the opening of the clip (shown again later) who are riding in a truck and which has Chief Anderson wearing his headdress are the group of Veterans with whom we travelled for most of 14 days. You will hear various Veterans extending their thanks... YouTube - TV Apeldoorn Nieuws - Laatste parade voor Canadeze veteranen
The Dutch were not just friendly to the Canadians.!!! The Jocks (and probably all the allied soldiers were treated the same) were made very welcome. Attached is the last leter home of Sgt Hugh Cleary, (killed in the Reichswald battles) of The 5th Cameron Highlanders. The part about being invited to sit by a warm fire refers to the Dutch people. The interruption for Christmas was being sent down to the Ardennes and the battle of the Bulge. The letter reads as follows; Dated 20th December 1944, Hugh Clearie wrote a last letter home. He wrote not to his Maternal Mother, but, to the Mother of his best friend: He wrote about, amongst other things, how well the people of Holland had treated their Liberators. Dear Mother Hunter, Many thanks for your excellent xmas gift which I received a few days ago. It arrived on the 28th, my Birthday, so I had a great celebration. Although I havent written for some time, I am always thinking of you all and I'm only sorry I couldn't get enough xmas cards to go round, however I hope to be seeing you all soon. We have travelled many miles since I left home last, and seen many exciting events, but, I think what struck the boys most was the hospitality of the people of the liberated countries. No matter where we go, there is always a door open to us, and a lovely warm fire to sit at, especially when we are behind the lines resting. The Germans have taken practically everything from them, so they are always sorry they haven't more to offer us, but what more could a soldier ask for than the comfort of a home at this time of the year, when there is so much flooding, snow and cold weather. Regarding that story you had about me and the German, I never dreamt it go as far as home. However don't get worried Mother, I don't go doing daft things like that all the time. Our Xmas dinner this year was a little bit interrupted as you probably have read, but we had it later, and a grand night was had by all. We had a few speeches but best of all was the sing song afterwards. So Mother with these few lines I'll sign off, hoping this finds you all keeping in perfect health, and may 1945 bring prosperity and happiness to the Hunter family. Give my regards to Auntie, Chris, Alex, Jim and Dad. Cheerio till I see you. Highland Laddie Hughie
I've been going through my the 29th Armoured Reconnaissance Regiment (The South Alberta Regiment) war diaries that I got from the National Archives. Here are some thank you notes I thought that you would like to see And a lil newpaper clip that was in there. My Dad told me a story yesterday while in Bergen op Zoom that his cousins tank was going to get creamed by a tiger tank, so he drove his tank into a house landing in the basement and collapsing the house. He and his crewmembers were trapped for three days in while the battle happened around them before they got out.
nice to read these stories. Some people i know were in the Dutch resistance and are still in contact with the canadian more then a few times a year. I almost had the honour to meet some of them. But because change in plans on their side made me miss it Also ive spoken to people that invited allies in their home.. always nice to hear is was greatly appreciated hopefully next time.
Love the responses to my comment.I'm sure those who fought there thanked the dutch people many times over,but like the soldiers who fought there the kindess of the dutch should be remembered always.Like the canadians the dutch are a specials people and I know from the letters home that they made the last few days of Bills life good days and for that his family is grateful.
