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 Oct. 27 Goirle

Wednesday, Oct.27.2010,16.30 hours, it's raining a little bit, like 66 years ago by the liberation of Goirle. About 50 people knows this and they came to the RK Cemetery in Goirle for the liberation-commemoration, organized by de veterans De Wapenbroeders.
The chairman, mr. Jan Schrijver welcomed us and he gave us an important message: freedom is not obvious.
The Commemoration was attended by about 60 persons, including Peter and Cynthia Condé, Pauline and Michael Randall, Jimmy James and Richard Evans (Normandy Veterans Associaton, Cardiff) from U.K. It was a beautiful and emotional memorial. At the individual Roll Call of Honor, the names of the soldiers called, and Gerard Beerens, a veteran, replied to present.
Gerard and one of the schoolkids, Anne van Wezel, brought us a poem about war and peace.
One minute of silence was one minute of silence!!
Three (school) kids, Alex and Linda Houtpen and Anne van Wezel placed the poppys on behalf of the Federal Wapenbroeders (Veterans). The song We'll Meet Again by Marij van Belkom was heartwarming!! The lowering of the Banners closed the dignified ceremony 2010.
We'll meet again in oct. 2011.
see the pictures
Abonneren op: Posts (Atom)