HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1995-05-03, Page 22—THE HURON EXPOSITOR, May 3, 1995
Feature
Holland recalls Canada war effort
May 4 is Canada Day in
Holland this year.
Normally it's the day the
Dutch remember World War II,
but it's also the day the coun-
try was liberated after five
years of enemy occupation
rule.
They were Canadians who
battled to free the Dutch and
it's Canada's heroic effort 50
years ago that the Dutch are
celebrating this year.
The Dutch are pulling all the
stops to commemorate the 50th
anniversary of Holland's liber-
ation --officially May 4. The
war was officially over four
days later when the German
forces capitulated, almost five
years to the day when the Nazi
army overthrew Dutch forces.
Michael Bell, Canada's
ambassador to the Netherlands,
is right in the midst of the
liberation party organizing.
The embassy is working
closely with the various "thank
you" committees.
"It's an extraordinary event
... it's a massive undertaking."
The national parade in
Apeldoorn is expected to attract
300,000 people on May 7. Add
to that some 6,000 Canadian
war veterans, who the Dutch
want to see on parade to give
them the biggest thank you
since the war.
"There will be a warm wel-
come."
Canada's official contribution
to the ceremonies is a delega-
tion of 170, supported by a
color party, troop of soldiers
and marching band.
Then there are all the smaller
events that won't get national
coverage. Bell says he receives
letters every day from towns
and villages requesting the
embassy to send a representa-
tive --to lay a wreath, give a
TRAGIC LOSSES - The end of the war did not mean the
end of casualties, as Gordon DeJong of Harpurhey can
attest. DeJong (second row, far right) had served in the
Underground prior to the end of World War II. When the war
ended he joined the Dutch army and worked clearing land
mines. One morning he was one of 18 men (many shown in
this picture) who left camp. Delayed by a flat tire, DeJong
was briefly separated from his fellow service men. An
explosion killed all but three of the 18 men. DeJong was the
only man, except the Lieutenant and Sergeant Major, who
survived the explosion.
The ultimate sacrifice
As we observe the anniver-
sary of the end of World War
[I we remember the sacrifices
made by almost everyone.
Most importantly we remem-
ber those who made the ulti-
mate sacrifice: the soldiers who
lost their lives in defence of
freedom.
We remember the soldiers
who fought for us and still
carry the memories of war
today.
SACRIFICES AT HOME
Although not as great as the
sacrifices on the war front,
people at home in Huron and
Perth Counties made sacrifices
during the war.
Such ordinary staples as
butter and sugar were luxuries
indeed during the time of war-
time rations.
Just ask Wilson McCartney,
of RR 4 Seaforth, who just
celebrated his 87th birthday on
April 28.
"We were rationed on sugar,
butter, gasoline and tires...stuff
like that," he said when The
Huron Expositor contacted him
on Monday. "We had tires just
hanging on a thread."
Huron County people would
have to go to Stratford and get
coupons for tires from the
government agent there. Some
people would only get two
tires.
"They were not too lavish
with the tires at that time."
He recalls that there was very
little sugar available during the
rationing.
It is surprising what people
did without when they had to
for the war effort, he said.
His most vivid memories are
of World War I, including
going to Brucefield where the
Kaiser was burned in effigy.
He remembers the signing of
the Armistice in World War I.
In those days, the Bell Foun-
dries were the site of shell
production for the war.
Mr. McCartney was born in
1908. He attended S.S. #3
Tuckersmith school.
SHINEN'S
MEN'S & LADIES' WEAR
30 MAIN ST., SEAFORTH
ANNIVERSARY
SALE DAYS
TAX FR
On Regular & Sale Priced
Items!
We will deduct the amount
equivalent to the tax off the purchase
price (excludes all postal products)
Now until
MAY 13/95
a'
speech, or attend a church
service.
So far, the embassy has been
able to comply with all the
requests.
Seventeen Canadians and 30
Dutch work at the embassy.
Bell sounds typically Cana-
dian when he says he may end
up sending some of the Dutch
out to services at some point
"because we would like to have
a representative wherever we
can."
That's the attitude the Dutch
remember of the fighters of 50
years ago.
Unlike Canada, where com-
memorating the war's end is
low key affair, the opposite is
true in Holland.
"You hear stories wherever
you go in this country of the
liberation. you can't talk to a
Dutch man or woman without
them having the most remark-
able images of that day when
the liberators came to their
village or town."
It gives Bell the sense of the
Dutch's attachment to their
country. Recovering their lib-
erty was important and it was
the Canadians who gave it
back.
Parades and prayers
highlighted VE Day
When Germany surrendered
to end World War II in May
1945 the Seaforth-area
survivors who were still in
active service say it had been
expected as only a "matter of
time".
Some were on leave and
others in hospital beds when
hostilities ended. Those on duty
say it should be obvious how
they felt, most just wanted to
go home and celebrations were
subdued because military
discipline was not relaxed to
mark the occasion.
On the home front things
were a bit wilder.
They burned Hitler in effigy
at both Hensall and Walton,
and there were many similar
spontaneous bonfires in
Seaforth according to
newspaper reports from that
week.
The Huron Expositor
published on Fridays back then,
and the May 11 edition notes
news of Germany's surrender
reached town at about 3 p.m.
on that Monday, May 7.
A special public service of
thanksgiving was held at
Northside United Church that
afternoon, and another at First
Presbyterian Church Monday
evening.
Seaforth's Main Street
businesses shut down until
Wednesday, and after much
clamoring students were let out
from the local high school.!.
"Later in the evening the fire
siren brought crowds to Main
Street," a report on Monday's
activities in the local paper
said, "where a few impromptu
bonfires, started by exuberant
youngsters, blazed for a time,
but a heavy downpour of rain
soon thinned out the crowd,
although the celebrating
continued for some hours."
On Tuesday there was an
afternoon parade to Victoria
Park in Seaforth where another
special service followed.
The weekly newspaper's
verbatim report continued:
"...the Colors, carried by John
Earle and William Edgar;
Flight Lieutenant J. A. Munn,
President of the Legion;
Seaforth Highlanders Band;
men in uniform from World
Wars I and Med by squadron
leader A. Copeland;members of
the Legion; Seaforth council
and officials of adjoining
municipalities; High School
Cadets; children's choir, led by
Miss M.E. Turnbull, and school
children."
The parade went to the
Cenotaph where a wreath was
placed for the fallen, and the
main address was delivered by
Seaforth Mayor J. J. Cluff.
Tuesday evening there was a
concert at Victoria Park and a
dance at the Armouries.
Celebrations were similar on
VE Day that May Monday
when news of the surrender
reached Hensall, the Expositor
reported, with music by the
Hensall Citizens Band and
Dashwood Band and "one of
the largest parades on record":
" A huge bonfire at which
the effigy of Hitler was burned,
was one of the highlights of
the affair, and a torch parade
added much to the occasion."
The Town Hall Bell rang,
firemen played an impromptu
ball game with local citizens
and there was a big dance later
that night at Town Hall.
Among a sampling of
surviving area servicemen this
newspaper was able to contact:
Gerald Groothius was- still -in
action with the Dutch
Underground on VE Day
defending Electricity Central
and a factory at Hengelo in the
Netherlands Two in his unit
were killed but the German's
were not able to demolish the
facilities. Motorcycle dispatch
rider Bill Wilbee was in
Germany, but notes there was
no big "to do". George Case
and Wilbert Maloney were both
on leave, and Frank Phillips
was recuperating from war
injuries at a hospital at Exeter
in Devonshire in England.
TEEM FARA1 !TESYOU TO ITS
EN
HOUSE
DAWN TILL DUSK
Friday May 5th,
Saturday & Sunday May 6th & May 7th
Special
Children's
Draw
Lots of
Free Door
Prizes!
Free
Coffee &
Cookies
Everything is grown in our own
greenhouses from seed or cuttings
MANY VARIETIES TO
CHOOSE FROM.
• Bedding Plants • Geraniums
• Tuberous begonias • Hanging Bags
• Hanging baskets • Potted planters
• Perennials • Colour Bowls
• Nursery stock and wind break trees
• Landscape plans available
Also asparagus and hydroponic
tomatoes.
Wholesale and Retail
jtee to (KW ted a,ruftGieei
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Since 1981"
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salt with the purchase
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Other NOVATEK products
available include:
• Various models and sizes of
water softeners
• Automatic filters
• Aquaflo reverse osmosis
drinking water units
• Aquaflo distillers
• Aquaflo point of use filters
• Replacement cartridges
available in bulk or in single
packages
Offer in effect until June 1, 1995
Your focal authorized dealer
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Londesboro & HEATING 5a24-8734.11.'
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Remember to call W.G. Thompson
OPER ATOR S:
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Deal where your business is appreciated.
S ON�3 f
Seaforth Hensel! Mitchell Ailsa Craig Granton Pt. Albert
345-2545 262-2527 348-8433 293-3223 225-2360 529-7901