Netherlands 2023 Blog
Day 1
After a slight airline delay, the group linked up at the airport, boarded the buses, and moved towards the first visit.
The group first went to the Hartenstein Villa, famous as the British Headquarters during the Battle of Arnhem during Operation Market Garden. The museum has a wonderful exhibit called the “Airborne Experience”.
Hartenstein Villa, Home of the Airborne Museum, famous for its role as the British Headquarters during the Battle of Arnhem during Operation MARKET GARDEN, Photo: Louis Lemaire
The group then proceeded to the hotel, where we kicked off the event with a small reception.
Colonel-Commandant, BGen(R) Josee Robidoux welcomes the tour group, Photo: Louis Lemaire
Locations visited:
- Airborne Museum, Hartenstien
- Hotel Mercure, Nijmegen
Day 2
The Blackburn Observation Post, Groesbeek
Group 2 listening to historian Brad St-Croix in Leuth
Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery, Photo: Rolland Winters
Clay Grave Sculpture at the Freedom Museum Photo: Rolland Winters
Locations visited:
- Canadian Windmill Observation Post, Groesbeek
- Leuth
- Groesbeek Canadian Cemetery with Faces to Fallen
- Freedom Museum
Day 3
Gravesite of Private M. Gagne, the only Second World War Canadian soldier buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery Germany, Photo: Nick St-Amand
The Hochwald Gap today from the German perspective, Photo: Nick St-Amand
Xanten Germany, at the end of Operation Blockbuster, site of many famous Canadian war photos, Photo: Nick St-Amand
Oversteek Bridge in Nijmegen, site of the Veteran of the Day Sunset March, Photo: Nick St-Amand
Locations visited:
- Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany
- Various sites of Canadian Army during Operation Blockbuster
- Xanten, Germany
- Nijmegen Sunset March
Day 4
V1 Rocket at the Deleen Airfield Museum, Photo: Brandon MacDonald
Giant German Bunker at Deleen, Photo: Brandon MacDonald
Bunker infrographic at Deleen, Photo: Brandon MacDonald
Dutch Air Assault Brigade Memorial, Deleen, Photo: Brandon MacDonald
Locations visited:
- Deleen
- Deleen Airfield Museum
- Several German Luftwaffe hangars that were disguised as barns, and now are actually used by farmers as barns, one was a car garage
- German Bunker near Deleen
- Netherlands Air Assault Brigade memorial (Indonesia and other wars)
- Wijchen site of CDN HQ in NL during Second World War
Day 5
Enigma Machine at the Dutch Signals Museum (Verbindingstroepen Collectie), Photo: Nick St-Amand
The C&E Plaque which now sits at the Verbindingstroepen Regiment’s home station in Stroe Netherlands, presented by Colonel-Commandant BGen (Retired) Josée Robidoux and unveiled by HRH Princess Margriet of the Netherlands, Photo: Nick St-Amand
Signing the Flag that we will leave for our Dutch Colleagues, Photo: Nick St-Amand
Colonel-Commandant BGen (Retired) Josée Robidoux presents a copy of Semaphore to Satellite, Canada’s C&E Branch History, to Colonel Collin van Loon, 3 May 2023, Photo: Louis Lemaire
HRH Princess Margriet of The Netherlands is presented a C&E Branch Brooch by Colonel-Commandant Brigadier-General Josée Robidoux (Retired), Brooch was made by Theresa Merlo of Kingston (left), Photo: Kim Long
Locations visited:
- Dutch Signals Museum (Verbindingstroepen Museum), Amersfoort NL
- Verbindingstroepen Regiment, Stroe NL
Day 6
Holten Cemetery Cross of Sacrifice, Photo: Nick St-Amand
John Frost Bridge, Arnhem, Photo: Nick St-Amand
Silent walk with the town of Groesbeek to their Cemetery, Photo: Nick St-Amand
Video of the Ceremony at Groesbeek
C&E Branch volunteers provided the guard around the cross of sacrifice. Pipes and Drums was the RCMP Band.
Additional Material
A video about Faces to Graves Foundation, which is trying to find pictures of all Second World War personnel buried in these cemeteries (mostly Dutch, but parts of the video are in English).
Locations Visited:
Day 7
Retired members of the C&E Branch (and family!) gather to parade at Wageningen, photo by: Louis Lemaire
Liberation Parade (YouTube, for skip to 48m:43s)
A special moment, HRH Princess Margriet was present at the parade. Unforgettable experience for C&E Branch Members!
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gH40vVTsQJE
Liesbeth Langford recounts her story from her book, Written by Candlelight, her recollections of growing up in occupied Netherlands, Photo by: Louis Lemaire
Liesbeth Langford recounts her story from her book, Written by Candlelight, her recollections of growing up in occupied Netherlands, Photo by: Dustin Nauta
Locations visited:
- Wageningen NL for Liberation Day Parade
- Dinner at Mercure Hotel with Liesbeth Langford
Thank you for sharing these photos! I had an amazing time and I hope to do another battlefield tour in the future.
The importance of such events to maintain our collective understanding of the history and sacrifices of our comrades cannot be overstated. It is a critical component of our competence as military professionals. Well done to those who participated, coordinated and sponsored and otherwise supported this.
All the photos are amazing, truly reflects the incredible experience had by all
Thank you for sharing these photos!