WW2 Liberation Stories

Battlefield tour organized by the RCH association
to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Liberation of the Netherlands and commemorate the fallen
Green West Battlefield Tour, 1-6 May 2025

General

• Detailed description and tour diary – Prepared by John Cochrane, tour organizer and Treasurer of the Royal Canadian Hussars Association.

• Diary of a participant on the Green West Battlefield Tour, prepared by Paul Notman, grandson of the late Corporal Allan Notman.

Days 1, 2 and 3 – Belgium, Breskens Pocket and the Battle of the Scheldt

• Booklet about Operation Switchback – Prepared by hosts Michael van de Velde and Frank Dumez.

• Photos of visit to Adegem Canadian War Cemetery – courtesy of Jos de Putter.

• Photos of visit to Adegem Canadian War Cemetery – courtesy of Peter Verdurmen.

• Photos of visit to the Leopold Canal Area – courtesy of Jos de Putter, and tour participants.

• Photos of visit to the Leopold Canal Area – courtesy of Peter Verdurmen.

• Photos of visit to Breskens Pocket, Switchback landing site and the ScheldeSlag Museum in Biervliet  – courtesy of tour participants.

• Photos of visit to Breskens Pocket, Switchback landing site and the ScheldeSlag Museum in Biervliet – courtesy of Peter Verdurmen.

Day 4 – Memorial Day in Dreumel and Wamel, Netherlands

• Plan for the visit to Dreumel – Prepared by host Yvonne Dijkslag and freinds.

• Photos of visit to Dreumel – Courtesy of “Stichting Tremele” (historical society of Dreumel) and its Chairman Jos van Koolwijk ( info@tremele.nl ). Photos by Tonnie van Rhijn.

• Document describing Troop 12 observation post and quarters in Dreumel – Courtesy of Ruud van Dinter.

• Subsequent visit by the relatives of the late Master-Corporal Sigley.

Day 5 and 6 – Liberation Day in Nijmegen and Groesbeek, Netherlands

• Photos of visit to Nijmegen Bridge – courtesy of tour participants.

• Photos of visit to Groesbeek Canadian Military Cemetery – courtesy of Saskia Peters of Faces to Graves and tour participants.

• Presentation at Groesbeek Cemetery by Joyce Arendsen, a student.

• Student Joyce Arendsen’s graduation essay paper on the Liberation of her town.

Other

• 15. Visit plan – prepared by John Cochrane.