- Contributed by听
- AgeConcernShropshire
- People in story:听
- George Charles BROWN
- Location of story:听
- Hook of Holland
- Background to story:听
- Army
- Article ID:听
- A7363316
- Contributed on:听
- 28 November 2005
THE CHARTER DATED JULY 1945
At the end of the 2nd World War the Burgermasters of the Island of Goeree and Overflakkee signed a Charter to thank the Royal Artillery and the Royal Engineers for the work they had done on their Island. The Island of Goeree and Overflakkee is off the coast of Holland, south of Rotterdam.
The wording of the Charter reads:
"The inhabitants of the Island of Goeree & Overflakkee, represented by the Burgomasters, herewith express their great gratitude to the Commander, Officers, N.C.O.s and Soldiers of the Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers for their noble work pf demining this Island and so reconstituting its soil to the use for which God made it at the beginning of things: to grow crops upon it, to feed man and cattle, and to bear happy and free human beings."
Given this month of July 1945. The Burgomasters of the following towns on the Island of Goeree and Overflakkee signed the Charter.
Ouddorp; Goedereede; Stellandam; Melissant; Herkingen; Dirksland; Sommelsdijk: Middelharnis; Stada.t' Haringvliet; Nieuwe-Tonge; Oude-Tonge; Den Bommel and Ooltgensplaat.
"Seeing that by thee we enjoy now great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy provindence. We accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness."
The Acts, XXIV:2,3.
The original Charter is held by Janet Powell, elder daughter of the late George Brown. George was given the Charter by the Burgermasters in 1945.
Note: George's War story "George Brown's War with the Middlesex Regiment" can be found at A6373947; and his widow Dorothy Brown's story "A Wartime Childhood in Hull, Boston and Leicester" can be found at A4136519.
Sory: This story has been submitted to the People's War site by Muriel Palmer (volunteer) Age Concern Shropshire Telford & Wrekin on behalf of Dorothy BROWN (author) widow of George BROWN and has been added to the site with her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.
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