WELCOME

WELCOME

During the second World War the Allied and German soldiers, who were killed in Goirle and in the neighbourhood, were buried at the Roman Catholic cemetery from the parish St. Jan in Goirle.

After the war the remains of the German soldiers were reburied in Ysselsteijn (near Venray) and most of the allied soldiers were reburied in Bergen op Zoom (War Cemetery and Canadian War Cemetery) and in Leopoldsburg (Belgium, War Cemetery).

Every year we commemorate the victims of World War II, both soldiers and civilians.
We know their names, but who were the persons behind the names? What were their lives before they died? Where did they come from? How did they die? Under what circumstances?

It is my intention to give the victims a face, to write and keep the story behind the gravestones because we always will remember the soldier who died for our liberty.

We can forget names, but not faces.
I will try to write down all their stories for the next generation so they will know who was commemorated. But how ? Last year november I met Barrie Walters on the internet and together we decided to start the projct Keeping their Memory Alive. (See: But for a stone....)

Maybe you can help us in this matter. Send me or my friend Barrie a letter or an e-mail with additional information, a photograph or a copy of any personal document, which I can use for The Memory Book or a website.

Thank you in advance for your help
Gerrit Kobes
Goirle (Netherlands)
Click here to mail me

Barrie Walters
Rochford Essex (U.K.)
Click here to mail me

COMMEMORATION 27 OCTOBER 2009

On Tuesday October 27th 2009 it was exactly 65 years since Goirle was liberated from German oppression.
Throughout the Second World War and during the liberation, many Allied casualties were killed in Goirle. Of these 27 Allied casualties and 1 local soldier are buried in the cemetery of the Roman Catholic Church of St.John in St.Jansstraat, Goirle.

The Veterans organisation of Wapenbroeders Federal Section Midden-Brabant, organised a Commemoration Service on the 27th October 2009 at the Cemetery .We feel it is our duty to show our respect and gratitude to the mostly young people who have given their lives for our freedom.

The Commemoration was attended by about 60 persons, including Barrie and Geraldine Walters and Peter and Cynthia Condé from U.K. It was a beautiful and emotional memorial. There was a welcome address by the president of de Wapenbroeders, mr. Jan Schrijver and after him a speech by the mayor of Goirle, mrs. M.G. Rijsdorp.
At the individual Roll Call of Honor, the names of the soldiers called, and Barrie replied to present. He also put a stone on the gravestone of his father, Lional Walters.
The Scouts places the poppys on behalf of the Federal Wapenbroeders (Veterans). The song We'll Meet Again by Marij van Belkom was heartwarming!!
See the photos.
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