War Cemeteries, some pictures I wish to share

[Alex van de Wetering]

Attached are some pictures from a few weeks ago. The area around Calais is packed with bunkers and fortifications, including the remains of the cross Channel guns and hide-outs for the Railway cannons, also able to propell shells across to the UK. The Canadians were in charge of silencing these guns, some of which stayed active right to the end.

Calais Canadian War Cemetery. The War cemetery is actually right opposite a famous service station "Site des deux caps" along the freeway.

Alex

[Dean (Ajax)]

I have been to a few of those, and Many more, they are Very Moving, and truly bring home the cost of War.

Dean

[Alex van de Wetering]

I was in the Nijmegen area today and decided to pay a visit to the Jonkerbos War Cemetery. Dean; your comment says it all.....very moving.

Alex

[Alex van de Wetering]

I visited the Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery yesterday. I was surprised by the number of casualties with dates from July 1945!


Groesbeek is to the south-east of Nijmegen...very close to the German border. During Market Garden the 82nd US Airborne landed in Groesbeek.

Alex

[maple_leaf_eh]

Some troops get involved in crime.

A friend of mine who has been the longtime archivist for the Canadian Military Engineer Association told a story about an inquiry he received. It seems an Engineer died in Holland and the family didn't know why. So he researched. Well, he was shot dead by military police after attempting to rape a Dutch civilian. How do you tell the family? So, he hedged the story that the MPs were involved, the honour of civilian was involved, there was no enemy action, and the soldier had died relating to the woman's honour.

(If you are reading this story for the first time and know what I am talkng about - story for breaking the news.)

[Robert Bergeron]

gents,

I am going to France and Holland end of April and early May for VE Day celebrations. Could you tell me what are in your opinion the essential not to miss and have to visit Canadian sites in France and Holland please ?

I do not have that much time so i will have to choose.

Thank-you very much.

Robert

[Alex van de Wetering]

Robert,

Well "not to miss" is a personal thing, I guess. I would say Bernieres-sur-Mer and the Falaise/Vimoutiers (Tiger 1 as monument) area in Normandy. The huge bunkers near Calais (Wissant, Cap griz nez, cap blanc nez), Scheldt area in Belgium/Holland and in Holland maybe Holten, Rijssen, Nijverdal.

Alex