60th Anniversary of Holland’s Liberation

From 6 June 1944 up to the beginning of October, Canadians in Northwest Europe were mainly fighting in country areas and small towns. They were deeply involved in fierce fighting and rarely even saw civilians, who were typically evacuated by one side or the other at the first sign of battle. No Canadians entered Holland until early October when all four divisions became involved in the Scheldt battles. By then, several major towns and cities had been liberated by Allied forces, and rear echelon units began to set up operations. These troops, often wildly enthusiastic about getting into a theatre of operations, had the opportunity to try out the local wines and spirits. Returning to their billets after a night on the town, they often let out enthusiastic “war whoops” and yells, including yodeling “whoo whoo whoos”, hand clapped over the mouth. Like lightning, the word spread that the Canadians were all “wild red Indians” and may even be dangerous! Fathers quickly warned their Dutch daughters, “Be careful of Canadians. Don’t even speak to them. Be home before dark!” Naturally the daughters ignored this advice as much as they dared. These Canadians were so interesting, and foreign!
By early spring, First Canadian Corps troops from the Italian front had arrived to take over the left flank of the First Canadian Army, and were lucky enough to draw the task of liberating the very populous areas of Northwest Holland, with most of the major cities. In a few weeks, the war ended, and thousands of combat soldiers were withdrawn to bases in Holland, to await repatriation to Canada. Shipping was in short supply. There were many times as many Americans either anxious to get home, or headed for the Pacific War. When you put thousands of healthy young men, relieved at being out of combat at last, in contact with thousands of young, healthy (and pretty!) Dutch girls and women, happy to be newly liberated, something is bound to happen! Romances sprang up everywhere! Marriage to lovely young Dutch girls became a popular hope, over the protests of authority figures on both sides! ( I know, I was one of the first officers to finally get permission to marry the school teacher whose house I had taken over for my battle headquarters some months before!) Sixty years later, many now rather ancient ex-soldiers, mainly aged eighty or over, have returned to Holland to help celebrate the days of long ago. Wives, like the one I have loved for more than sixty years, and of course many children, and grandchildren, have also come over. Many are anxious to see, some for the first time, the gravesites of fathers, grandfathers, or great uncles. Many have contacted former comrades of the dead dear ones, comrades only too willing to share the sad details of the loss. Now we have a reversal. Dutch musicians and showmen are touring Canadian cities and towns. They bring ever-popular Dutch tulip bulbs and also the newest in Dutch music, as a payback for what Canadians brought to them sixty years ago. Luluk Purwanto and the Helsdingen Trio, with the Stage Bus, will visit over sixty towns and cities throughout Canada, between May and September. Don’t miss the show! And plant the tulips!