Dutch flag in Canadian tank
 

A few years ago I received a partially burned very old red / white / blue flag. I think the Dutch national flag. This flag I got from an old man who had experienced the liberation of Apeldoorn. This flag was then rescued from a burning Canadian tank at the battle of Apeldoorn April 17, 1945. On the flag is the following imprint: ARTHUR & ??????, 1942 and the "Broad Arrow". Does anyone know what the purpose of this flag was in a Canadian tank, along with the text mentioned above. Did every Canadian tank have this standard on board?

Greetings from Holland, Wout Jansen

Wout,

What an exciting find! It certainly wasn't a standard item on every tank.

Seeing this was made to War Office order, my guess is these were handed out maybe thinking it was wise to show the public that the troops entering Holland were friendly soldiers?

I am sure many were amazed by the large number of flags which were kept in hiding by the Dutch population and feverishly flown when the liberation came!

Attachment 102931

Very nice. I bought a flag at an auction a few years back thinking it was French later realizing it was a Dutch flag. Obviously a souvenir brought back. Cheers Brian

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2I2bilNkEVw

In the theme of this thread.

Dutch flag
 

On 17 April 1945 two tanks attacked the Deventer bridge in Apeldoorn.
The first one was set on fire and during the retreat they collided in the dark against other tanks that were lined up along the road. This involved several deaths.
This flag comes from the first tank. Were that tanks of the 1st Hussars?

The 1st Brigade, supported by tanks of the 1st Hussars (6th Canadian Armoured Regiment), attached to the 1st Division from 6 April, faced moderate resistance, artillery and mortar fire on the right flank. The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment approached Teuge, three miles east of Apeldoorn, at noon on 13 April, with the RCR keeping abreast on the left. By midnight the brigade had closed up to the Apeldoorn Canal, running north-south through the eastern portion of Apeldoorn itself, and The Royal Canadian Regiment was running patrols in the suburbs. That night a squadron of the 1st Hussars and a company of RCR tried to cross the canal, but were rebuffed with the loss of two tanks.

https://www.canadiansoldiers.com/his.../apeldoorn.htm

Rick, thanks!