´óÏó´«Ã½

Towards the end of the war I was serving with the Leicestershire regiment in Holland. With the Canadian army we had advanced across the Waal river and captured Arnhem, cutting off the rest of the country.

I remember towards the end of April the Dutch people were starving to death, many had died despite the fact that the war was drawing to a close elsewhere. I don’t think many people know or realise what actually happened around that time. The Swedish or Swiss Red Cross (I forget which) actually came up and negotiated with the German commander who was in charge of the forces remaining in Holland, asking permission for food to be sent through. He actually agreed, and one day Canadian lorries packed with supplies drove through our lines, and the German forces allowed them to pass through theirs as well. The RAF also dropped food to the Dutch people which I’m sure was much appreciated.

When the truce was signed later we were still holding that same line. I remember one of our officers coming to see us to tell us the news. He told us to get ready because the next day at five o’clock in the morning we were going to cross our lines and disarm the German forces we’d been facing off with. Needless to say that was some of the best news I’ve ever heard, and we were all filled with jubilation that night! That is exactly what happened the next morning, we went over and took the German’s weapons, although it almost felt like they were in charge when we got there! They still had their weapons and obviously knew the area better than us, and they were standing around on street corners directing us about!

The Dutch people were obviously extremely relieved, everyone has heard about their celebrations and amazing gratitude, much moreso than anyone else back home. A Belgian man explained it to me once, he said that we had been spared the horrors of occupation and dealing with traitors and collaborators. To this day young Dutch people have asked me if I am a veteran and then asked to shake my hand. The spirit of gratitude there lives on much stronger than it seems to here, especially in the younger generations.

This story was submitted to the People’s War site by James Barton and has been added to the website on behalf of William Dell with his/her permission and they fully understand the site’s terms and conditions.

© Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.