Remarkable scenes of gratitude greet Canadian war veterans in the Netherlands
As a former Spitfire pilot who flew 60 missions over Nazi-occupied Europe during the Second World War, George Brewster is not one to be rattled easily. But the warmth and gratitude of the Dutch people who have come out to cheer him and other Canadian Second World War veterans this weekend have left him speechless.
At 102 years old, Brewster is visiting communities in the Netherlands as part of a Canadian delegation to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the war. Alongside 21 other Canadian vets, ranging in age from 96 to 105, Brewster is reliving the crucial final months of intense combat that took place in Holland.
The city of Apeldoorn, liberated by Canadian troops on April 17, 1945, was alive with celebration as thousands of residents lined the streets, draped Canadian flags from their balconies, and cheered on a parade with the veterans and bagpipers. Volunteers handed out Canadian flags and pins, and many homes were decorated with red maple leafs.
Brewster and his fellow veterans, most of whom were pushed in wheelchairs, were treated like celebrities as onlookers reached out to shake their hands and express their heartfelt gratitude. “I’m a very ordinary person who has lived through many extraordinary events, but only by the grace of God. And I’m humbled by this,” Brewster shared.
The push through Holland and the Rhineland by the First Canadian Army in 1944 and 1945 saw a series of vicious battles that helped seal the defeat of Hitler’s Third Reich. Canadian soldiers led the charge to liberate the Netherlands from the Nazis, with an estimated 175,000 Canadian soldiers serving in the First Canadian Army and 6,700 losing their lives.
Canadian General Richard Rohmer accepted the surrender of Nazi forces in the Netherlands in the town of Wageningen on May 5, 1945, now known as Liberation Day in the Netherlands. The Canadians played a crucial role in saving countless Dutch from starvation by quickly bringing in food supplies and remaining in the country for months afterward.
The gratitude of the Dutch people towards the Canadian veterans is overwhelming. Ronald and Shawna Grin, a father-daughter duo, expressed their love and appreciation for the veterans, noting the sacrifice made by young soldiers who fought for their freedom. Shawna, moved by the young age of some fallen soldiers, visited Canadian war cemeteries to pay her respects.
More than 200 other Canadians, including family members of soldiers who fought in the Netherlands campaign, are also part of the delegation. Ellen Mole, who joined a bagpipe band during commemorations in 2010, felt compelled to return to the Netherlands to honor the veterans and their sacrifice.
The emotional day was made even more special as William Seifried celebrated his 100th birthday, with the parade crowd singing Happy Birthday in his honor. Seifried, an infantryman with the Royal Regina Rifles, served as a reconnaissance scout ahead of the front lines, a dangerous role.
Leading the Canadian delegation is Honorary Lt.-Gen. Richard Rohmer, a reconnaissance pilot during the war. Rohmer emphasized the importance of maintaining strong collective security relationships, such as NATO, to prevent history from repeating itself.
The Apeldoorn parade is just one of several commemorations taking place this weekend. Governor General Mary Simon is scheduled to lay a wreath at the Holten Canadian War Cemetery and attend commemoration events in Wageningen. The celebrations serve as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by Canadian soldiers 80 years ago and the ongoing importance of international partnerships for peace and security.
