‘High regard’

WNSR members, past and present, trace path of peers to 80 years of Dutch liberation

Some past and current members of the West Nova Scotia Regiment retraced some of the steps of their Second World War regimental peers recently, attending 80th anniversary ceremonies marking Liberation Day in the Netherlands

Between April 27 and May 6, the delegation of WNSR and WNSR Regimental Association members travelled to Holland. The group included WNSRRA vice-president Lieutenant-Colonel (retired) Todd Harris and Lieutenant-Colonel (retired) George McGrath, both former WNSR commanding officers; Master Warrant Officer (retired) Dave Blanchard, Master Warrant Officer (retired) Darrel Leighton, Sergeant (retired) Garry Randall and Sergeant (retired) Laurie Arnburg. They were joined by Sergeant Jason Fudge, currently serving at North Atlantic Treaty Organization Headquarters Belgium under 2 Canadian Air Division HQ Royal Canadian Air Force as qualifications manager for the air operations support technician trade.

“It was great to see my WNSRRA friends and be at such an amazing place that holds a part of the regiment’s history in such high regard. We were all proud to be a part of this event,” says Fudge.

The WNSRRA travelled on invitation from Oranjecomité Hoogland to the region’s Victory in Europe Day celebrations, which take place May 5 in Holland.

“The trip was planned five years ago on the invitation of Mr. Piet Smink (author of “The Liberation of Hoogland”), but the event was cancelled because of COVID. Piet passed our names along to Oranjecomité Initiator Maarten Boersen, who contacted us with an invite for this year,” says Randall. “There were many highlights, but one which was very touching for me was to meet Piet Smink. Having been a very young boy during the war, West Novas were certainly heroes to him.

“I will never forget how the Dutch, old and young, continue to remember our soldiers! ‘We Will Remember Them’ is not just four repeated words for the people of Hoogland. It is an act of honour and duty.”

The delegation also met members of the D-Day Dodgers Foundation, who provided a tour of the very locations where WNSR members fought 80 years ago, including the Canada-Netherlands Memorial, the De Man met de Twee Hoeden Monument, and the Oosterbeek Airborne Museum. Operation Cabbonshot’s success in April 1945 paved the way for the Liberation but, to claim the important victory, the WNSR had to overcome a barrage of mortar, self-propelled guns and snipers from German troops lying in wait.

“It was an amazing time, sitting and looking at the same ground as my brothers-in-arms back in 1945. It was hard to believe the chaos that happened here when you look at the ground today,” says Fudge.

En route to the Holten Canadian War Cemetery, the D-Day Dodgers had a surprise waiting for the group by the IJssel River.

“To give them a real feeling of what their fellow West Novas had experienced during Operation Cannonshot, our friend, Frank, came over with his DUKW (amphibious duck boat). We went all the way from Wilp to Deventer in the DUKW. An amazing experience for them!” said D-Day Dodgers co-founder Jimmy Hilgen.

Harris says the visit to the graves afterwards was very emotional.

“The big thing that struck us was how beautiful the cemeteries were,” he said. “They really put a lot of effort into maintaining them – I mean, not a blade of grass was out of place. The other thing that really struck us was just – there are so many gravestones. Just to see that many in person, all lined up like that. That was impactful.”

May 2, the West Novas attended the Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery Remembrance Ceremony with Second World War veterans, locals and visiting Canadians; all paying respect to the over 2,600 Commonwealth soldiers who died during the Second World War, 2,339 of which were Canadians.

“What can we do for them? Show respect, keep their memories alive and never forget they saved the world. We often repeat the words ‘Never Again.’ They gave their lives for us to be able to celebrate 80 years of liberation,” says Randall.

Just prior to the ceremony, the West Novas also presented Hilgen a copy of the regiment’s history, “West Novas: A History of the West Nova Scotia Regiment,” to show their appreciation for the foundation’s hospitality. The limited-edition book was signed by many past commanding officers and regimental sergeant-majors, and the visiting WNSR delegation members.

Finally, the group participated in the Hoogland Remembrance Ceremony with their hosts from Oranjecomité. The ceremony included a service at the local church and a wreath-laying, as well as the igniting of the Liberation Fire at the “Needle,” the local cenotaph. Unlike those held in Canada, the ceremony in Hoogland is conducted almost entirely by civilians. The enthusiasm of both the participants and spectators stood out to the entire West Nova group.

“I’ve never ever felt so appreciated, especially in another country. It was amazing how much support there was,” says Harris. As a first-time visitor to the Netherlands, he was deeply touched by the reception.

“There are Canada flags everywhere, on people’s homes. It was amazing.”