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Home My WebLink AboutThe Wingham Advance Times, 1995-05-10, Page 11WEDNESDAY, MY 10, 1995 "IM:S Personal recollection of the end of WW II Editor's Note: Fifty years ago this week, people all over the world were marking the end of the war in Europe. Many have vivid memories of the day, May 8, 1945, what they were doing, what they ' felt. The Advance -Times spoke to a number of veterans of the con- flict and civilians, some of whom currently in Holland at V -E Day celebrations, about that fateful day. Here are their recollections. THOUSANDS THRONG THE STREETS , (Holland, 1945) I . was a member of the No. 1Provost Corps (military police) and had been overseas for two years. My- experience in the last days of the war is best explained in this excerpt from my Provost Corps history book: "When fighting stopped on May 4, company headquarters was still at Bameveld with sections at Apel- doorn, Amersfoort and Varthuizen. The full import of "cease fire" seemed not to be felt; there was no sudden excitement and certainly no noteworthy celebration. That the end was not unexpected probably dulled its vast signifigance; for some days it had been dovious that collapse of the enemy was only a matter of time..• the division "On May 6 and 7, commenced its triumphal entry into the liberated cities and towns of western Holland. Progress was slow, so great was the enthusiasm and welcome of the Dutch people. Thousands thronged the streets, cheering our troops and stopping vehicles to extend personal heart- felt greetings. Here indeed could be sensed the joy and relief of a peo- ple from whom the black pall of en- emy occupation had been lifted. If convoys were delayed for an hour or so, what matter? The war was over and we were among friends." -The_ people were putting flowers ® on our hats and tunics.. We could hardly get down the streets. One lady took my 'picture with some Dutch people. I gave her my Army address and she sent me copies. R. John Currie, No. 1 Provost Corps, Ist Canadian Army, Alphin on the Rhine, Holland We were living in town and one night heard the bells ringing. My friend, Marion (Templeman) Clark and I put my daughter Joyce in the buggy and went downstreet. I re- member the wheel on the buggy broke as we went downtown. People were gathered down near where Bakelaar Jewellers is now. At that time, the radio station was there and the people were listening to a radio broadcast saying the war was over. My Dave (Crothers) had been overseas since October of 1942. Joyce was born in December of that year and he had never seen her, ex- cept in pictures. He joined the El- gin Regiment and served in its ar- mored corps. He always said he didn't want to be drafted. Dave came home in March of 1946 and we went to meet him at the train in St. Thomas. It was the first time he had laid eyes on Joyce and she didn't want to go to him because she didn't know him. He had been away almost four years. Georgeina Crothers, Wingham, Wife of serviceman, mother I was in Northern Holland with the Perth Regiment at Godlinze. Some of the heaviest fighting came in the last days of the war as we pushed the Germans further and further north. 1 was on a flamethrower on May 4 when we got word that the fight- ing was over. We were the last Ca- nadians fighting in Holland ho and wthe ere certainly happy thing was over. After enlisting with the Perths in 1940, I had been overseas since Oc- tober of 11)42. We started at the bottom of Italy and came up into France, Belgium and then Holland. It was definitely one of the lucky ones and never got a scratch, even though the fighting was fierce. I have been back to Europe 22 times since then and wouldn't miss this for the world. „ Casemore, Lloyd "Casey Perth Relent, 5th Canadian Array Div., Godlinze, Holland Everybody went crazy on May 8 when we learned the war was filial- ly over. We hived in southern Hol- land and had beenliberated by a Polish division in September of 1944 and then the Canadians came. We had spent three days in our basement before we saw the Allied tanks come over the dike, firing on the retreating Germans. We were so glad to see them go. Marie deVos, School girl, Southern Holland We lived in the western part of Holland above the big rivers, so we had to put up with the Germans a bit longer. Once the peace was signed, those Germans went into our houses and took bicycles and baby buggies es- " pecially. They loaded everything up and left. We were up in Germany going into position about 6 p.m. on the night of May 5. We went into our position and had loaded our guns when our ser- geant -major, who was standing in a gateway where the tanks went through, hollered up to us, "This is it boys, it's all over. We were still on duty, but went to an old barn where movies were being shown and got to know some of the people. Two German ladies even produced a drink for us. How did we feel to think it was over? We were pretty thrilled, we'd been through the whole episode right from D -Day. Lloyd "Red" Elliott 19th Canadian Army Field Reg. Oldenburg, Germany We knew fora few days that the war would soon be over, so we had some flags and rope ready. When we learned it was finally over, we hung flags from the upstairs win - Kase Vanden Heuvel School boy, Western Holland CHE dow of the old school down to the bottom floor in the shape of a V, facing Frances Street. Stewart Beattie, Principal, Wingham Public School L� We had heard a rumor about a ceasefire, but nobody really be- lieved it. The ceasefire came into effect at 8 a.m. the morning of May 5, but we just held our positions. The next day we fired our loaded guns into the air. George Tervit, 19th Canadian Army Field Reg., Oldenburg, Germany Year round service provided You don't have to wait until tax time to get anwers to your tax questions. 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