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

Liberationday Wageningen May 5 2010

May 5, Liberationday. 65 year ago Holland was liberated and the surrender was signed in Wageningen (near Arnhem).
This year a lot of people (100.000) because the 65. Liberation. Every year there is a large event in Wageningen. I visited Wageningen and if you want to see photos, click here.

About 7000 Canadian students were in Holland in the first week of May and ofcourse they were present in Wageningen. See the photos.

At the end of the day there is a big procession with the veterans. Its great to see them, walking of riding in the old armytrucks.
See here for the photos.
see the photos of Wilko.

Commemoration May 4

On May 4 we commemorate all the people who were killed in war. Mostly I visit the commemoration in Tilburg or Goirle, where I live. But this year I went with my two brothers in law to the military War Cememtery "Grebbeberg"at Rhenen (near Wageningen-Arnhem). This cemetery is the final resting place of Netherlands military casualties who were killed in action in May 1940. Over 400 were killed during the battle over the southern ares of the Grebbeline. Today there are 850 military graves in this military war cemetery. Read more about the Grebbeberg
It was a solemn but beautiful memorial. I guess more then 2000 people were presented and many, many young persons.
See the photos.
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