Keeping their Memory Alive.: september 2010

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

On Wednesday October 27th 2010 it will be exactly 66 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, are organising a Commemoration Service at 16.30 hours on the 27th October 2010 to be held 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.

We warmly invite you to attend this Commemoration.

The programme is as follows:
. Flag Ceremony
. Advance of the Banners
.Welcome address by the President of the Central Division of the League
of Brabant Wapenbroeders, Mr.J.C.M. Schrijver
. Individual Roll Call of Honour
. Poem, by a veterian.
. ‘Last post’
. One Minutes Silence
. Poem, by the children of a local primary school
. Laying of flowers at the War Graves Monument.
. Song “We’ll Meet Again”
. Thanks
. The lowering of Banners and flags by a local Guild, will close the ceremony.

We would like to know by 21st October 2010 whether you are able to be present at this ceremony and/or you wish to lay flowers at the monument. You can e-mail to: schrijver30@zonnet.nl or to me or reply by earliest post.

Your response would be greatly appreciated.

On behalf of the Board

FINDING A FAMILY THROUGH A STONE........

A Halifax bomber, with a Canadian and British crew crashed in the night 23th. of april 1944, burning.

The plane must have been hit. Six of the seven crewmembers died. They weree buried at seven in the morning. The German Ortskommandant ordered that.
The local community felt for them, the pastor performed a service and the local flower shop brought some flowers. There was a catholic mass for those who were catholic. The remaining of the Canadian crew are taken to Bergen op Zoom.
The British members, Leslie Hanson and Lionel Walters are still buried at Goirle.
The son of Lionel found 60 years later his family by a tone.

Read the story BUT FOR A STONE.

WELCOME

COMMEMORATION 27 OCTOBER 2010

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