Thanks to all Canadians for liberating our country end of WWII

[DutchGT500]

It is May 5 2010. 65 years ago our country was liberated by Canadian forces. Today 1700 Canadian students are in The Netherlands to pay respect. The students symbolically represent each Canadian soldier that died fighting in the Netherlands for our freedom. We, Dutch, are still incredibly grateful to those Canadians that freed us from the Nazi regime. Great respect to all and to those that didn't survive. This is one story.

 

Born in Blackstock, Ontario on the family farm in 1921, Roy Edward Carter joined the RCAF on May 22, 1942. He trained at No. 6 ITS (Initial Training School) and and No.4 AOS (Air Observer School) in London, Ontario. He was awarded his Navigator's wing upon graduation and embarked for overseas on Aug 26,1943.

Following overseas training at #24 Operational Training Unit, Long Marston and 1666 Heavy Conversion Unit, Wombleton, he was posted to 431 Iroquois Squadron (Croft Yorkshire,UK) on May 22,1944

 

After completing 6 Ops ( sorties), including one on D-Day to St.Lo, he and his crew were shot down on 16/17 June, 1944 in Halifax NA514 coded "SE-B."

 

The aircraft was downed by a German nightfighter near Nistelrode, Holland during a night trip to bomb Sterkrade in Germany. All of the crew, except the pilot, F/O Blachford (died in the crash), were able to bail out. Two died in the fall( F/O Lough and Sgt. Gould), two were captured almost immediately (Sgt. Hattey and Sgt. Kennedy) . Sgt. Tom Masdin and Roy managed to evade the Germans. Tom was caught and taken as a POW.

 

Apparently ,they had trouble opening the escape hatch in the cockpit, but eventually Roy was able to jump out of the burning aircraft. He landed safely in a field near Boekel, Holland, a fair distance from where the plane actually crashed. Thus he had a chance since the Germans would only search the immediate area of the crash. He buried his chute ( as recorded in Roy`s ` line-shoot`-left at a safe house in Erp) and contacted a local farmer where he was given refuge. Thus began his trek to freedom using many hiding places under the guidance of the local resistance groups.

 

On Sunday, July 9th the Nazi S.D., arrived at the door dressed in their black trenchcoats and carrying machine guns. The three airmen were having breakfast in preparation for their escape to Belgium and then to one of the `freedom lines`.

 

Against all principles of the Geneva Convention concerning POWs, the Gestapo burst into the room and herded the 3 officers into the backyard, lined them up against a brick wall and shot them numerous times, despite the fact they were unarmed. Roy was badly wounded but was able to get into the house. He was killed in the doorway leading to the kitchen. (The doorway was pointed out to his mother, years later (1964) when she travelled, accompanied by her daughter Isabel, and along with other `Silver Cross` mothers, to Holland on a pilgrimage).

 

The S. D.(Sicherheitsdienst )/Gestapo now ordered the 60 year old Coba Pulskens to fetch a sheet to cover the still-warm bodies. In an act of defiance she went upstairs and brought down a new and large Dutch flag, which she had been keeping for the day when the Netherlands would be liberated from the barbaric occupation of the Nazis ( radios and Dutch flags where forbidden in occupied Holland).

 

It should be noted that Coba lived on a busy street corner and all of this action was being witnessed by neighbours, many to be called later to the trial of the murderers. Coba herself was arrested, spent seven months in solitary confinement and then carted off to the notorious Ravensbruck concentration camp where she died in the gas chamber in the spring of 1945 at the age of 61. She is remembered as a heroine in Holland and England. According to survivors in the death camp, she had voluntarily stepped forward to take the place of a young mother, with children, in the hope of saving their lives. She apparently had said earlier. `If someone has to give his life, I hope to do it. I can better be missed than others`.

 

The bodies of the three airmen were first taken to a nearby hospital (where an alert doctor took photos of them) and then removed to the concentration camp at Vught.,near S`Hertogenbosch. They where cremated, presumably to remove any evidence of the crime that had taken place in Tilburg.

 

Because the remains of the three airmen were never found, they are listed officially as `missing in action`.

 

A plaque in memory of Coba Pulskens and the three airmen was erected at her house in Tilburg in 1947. It can still be seen there at 49 Diepenstraat..

 

On Oct 27,1994 a large granite monument was unveiled on Coba Pulskenslaan in Tilburg to honour the three airmen, heros to the Dutch in their terrible years of occupancy by the hated Nazis. The dedication was part of the events marking the 50th anniversary of liberation.

 

Relatives of the three airmen from Canada, Australia and England attended the unveiling ceremony in Tilburg. Brothers Robert and Fred represented the Carter family.

 

Roy and his fellow evaders had the opportunity at any time to turn themselves in and become POWs. They chose not to and to the Dutch people, who where eventually liberated by Canadians in many towns and cities, these airmen were heros and are still remembered today. School children from a nearby elementary school look after the granite monument and a service of remembrance is held every year.

 

There is a footnote to this story of heroism in Nazi-occupied Europe during the last world war.

 

The S.D. (Dutch Nazis) and Gestapo men who carried out the arrests and executions on July 9th ,1944 where eventually tracked down and tried in front of a British Military Court(Allied Special Court for War Criminals) in Essen, Germany (June 7th ,1946 formerly Krupp Hotel, Essen).

 

On evidence of former Dutch resistance workers and Coba`s family, and the photos of the bodies taken by Dr. Borman of St. Elizabeth`s Hospital in Tilburg( the Dutch police had taken photographs also and had the identity disc belonging to F/O Carter J28855)

 

Four of the ten Nazis, were found guilty of murder and sentenced to death by hanging. The others were acquitted. They were to be hanged to death in Sept of 1946. The Carter family has no definite proof that the sentence was carried out.

[svtkeith]

It is May 5 2010. 65 years ago our country was liberated by Canadian forces. Today 1700 Canadian students are in The Netherlands to pay respect. The students symbolically represent each Canadian soldier that died fighting in the Netherlands for our freedom. We, Dutch, are still incredibly grateful to those Canadians that freed us from the Nazi regime. Great respect to all and to those that didn't survive. This is one story.

 

Born in Blackstock, Ontario on the family farm in 1921, Roy Edward Carter joined the RCAF on May 22, 1942. He trained at No. 6 ITS (Initial Training School) and and No.4 AOS (Air Observer School) in London, Ontario. He was awarded his Navigator's wing upon graduation and embarked for overseas on Aug 26,1943.

Following overseas training at #24 Operational Training Unit, Long Marston and 1666 Heavy Conversion Unit, Wombleton, he was posted to 431 Iroquois Squadron (Croft Yorkshire,UK) on May 22,1944

 

After completing 6 Ops ( sorties), including one on D-Day to St.Lo, he and his crew were shot down on 16/17 June, 1944 in Halifax NA514 coded "SE-B."

 

The aircraft was downed by a German nightfighter near Nistelrode, Holland during a night trip to bomb Sterkrade in Germany. All of the crew, except the pilot, F/O Blachford (died in the crash), were able to bail out. Two died in the fall( F/O Lough and Sgt. Gould), two were captured almost immediately (Sgt. Hattey and Sgt. Kennedy) . Sgt. Tom Masdin and Roy managed to evade the Germans. Tom was caught and taken as a POW.

 

Apparently ,they had trouble opening the escape hatch in the cockpit, but eventually Roy was able to jump out of the burning aircraft. He landed safely in a field near Boekel, Holland, a fair distance from where the plane actually crashed. Thus he had a chance since the Germans would only search the immediate area of the crash. He buried his chute ( as recorded in Roy`s ` line-shoot`-left at a safe house in Erp) and contacted a local farmer where he was given refuge. Thus began his trek to freedom using many hiding places under the guidance of the local resistance groups.

 

On Sunday, July 9th the Nazi S.D., arrived at the door dressed in their black trenchcoats and carrying machine guns. The three airmen were having breakfast in preparation for their escape to Belgium and then to one of the `freedom lines`.

 

Against all principles of the Geneva Convention concerning POWs, the Gestapo burst into the room and herded the 3 officers into the backyard, lined them up against a brick wall and shot them numerous times, despite the fact they were unarmed. Roy was badly wounded but was able to get into the house. He was killed in the doorway leading to the kitchen. (The doorway was pointed out to his mother, years later (1964) when she travelled, accompanied by her daughter Isabel, and along with other `Silver Cross` mothers, to Holland on a pilgrimage).

 

The S. D.(Sicherheitsdienst )/Gestapo now ordered the 60 year old Coba Pulskens to fetch a sheet to cover the still-warm bodies. In an act of defiance she went upstairs and brought down a new and large Dutch flag, which she had been keeping for the day when the Netherlands would be liberated from the barbaric occupation of the Nazis ( radios and Dutch flags where forbidden in occupied Holland).

 

It should be noted that Coba lived on a busy street corner and all of this action was being witnessed by neighbours, many to be called later to the trial of the murderers. Coba herself was arrested, spent seven months in solitary confinement and then carted off to the notorious Ravensbruck concentration camp where she died in the gas chamber in the spring of 1945 at the age of 61. She is remembered as a heroine in Holland and England. According to survivors in the death camp, she had voluntarily stepped forward to take the place of a young mother, with children, in the hope of saving their lives. She apparently had said earlier. `If someone has to give his life, I hope to do it. I can better be missed than others`.

 

The bodies of the three airmen were first taken to a nearby hospital (where an alert doctor took photos of them) and then removed to the concentration camp at Vught.,near S`Hertogenbosch. They where cremated, presumably to remove any evidence of the crime that had taken place in Tilburg.

 

Because the remains of the three airmen were never found, they are listed officially as `missing in action`.

 

A plaque in memory of Coba Pulskens and the three airmen was erected at her house in Tilburg in 1947. It can still be seen there at 49 Diepenstraat..

 

On Oct 27,1994 a large granite monument was unveiled on Coba Pulskenslaan in Tilburg to honour the three airmen, heros to the Dutch in their terrible years of occupancy by the hated Nazis. The dedication was part of the events marking the 50th anniversary of liberation.

 

Relatives of the three airmen from Canada, Australia and England attended the unveiling ceremony in Tilburg. Brothers Robert and Fred represented the Carter family.

 

Roy and his fellow evaders had the opportunity at any time to turn themselves in and become POWs. They chose not to and to the Dutch people, who where eventually liberated by Canadians in many towns and cities, these airmen were heros and are still remembered today. School children from a nearby elementary school look after the granite monument and a service of remembrance is held every year.

 

There is a footnote to this story of heroism in Nazi-occupied Europe during the last world war.

 

The S.D. (Dutch Nazis) and Gestapo men who carried out the arrests and executions on July 9th ,1944 where eventually tracked down and tried in front of a British Military Court(Allied Special Court for War Criminals) in Essen, Germany (June 7th ,1946 formerly Krupp Hotel, Essen).

 

On evidence of former Dutch resistance workers and Coba`s family, and the photos of the bodies taken by Dr. Borman of St. Elizabeth`s Hospital in Tilburg( the Dutch police had taken photographs also and had the identity disc belonging to F/O Carter J28855)

 

Four of the ten Nazis, were found guilty of murder and sentenced to death by hanging. The others were acquitted. They were to be hanged to death in Sept of 1946. The Carter family has no definite proof that the sentence was carried out.

 

 

 

 

Thanks Dutch...I had 2 uncles that were there and 2 more that was in Normandy...3 of them are

 

still living they don't talk much about them days.

[shel-b001]

Thanks Dutch . Another piece of history that we all hope our children & their children will read & remember that people died or gave their life to make it better for all of us.

[twobjshelbys]

Amazing piece of history. Thanks for sharing it with us.

[SVT NAJA]

Patrick,

 

Great post. Thanks!

 

And I salute our Canadian neighbors and allies.

[DutchGT500]

I saw the documentary on tv yesterday and I was touched by those Canadian students who were sometimes two years younger or the same age as the fallen soldiers they represented that when they indeed stood on their grave in Groesbeek that they got tears in their eyes or were crying. Some were standing on their grandfathers grave but others had no single family connection. It was impressive. When I saw that I know the Dutch-Canadian relationship will never die. The younger generation, and I am just 46, will still be remembering this. The story about the little coat that Bob Elliot and his crew had made for little Suzy back in 1944 and that Bob and Suzy fell in love at each other in 1981, about 37 years later, when Bob was invited to The Netherlands because of Suzy's parents 60 years marriage anniversary.

 

Maybe you want to watch it too. It is in Dutch but there is a lot of English in it. It is 55 minutes so watch it with your wife and children. Follow this link and click on blue button down below bekijk uitzending

 

http://www.nederland2.nl/uitzendinggemist/programma/de-canadezen-komen/5576

 

The documentary is called 'The Canadians are coming'. and is a very special project in the first week of May 2010, about 7000 Canadian students between 14 and 17 years to the Netherlands to commemorate 65 years of liberation. A student for every Canadian killed. It is envisaged that during the commemoration on May 4 a Dutch and a Canadian child every Canadian war grave, lays a flower. The students will be in several places in the Netherlands to participate in the commemoration of the liberation. For the documentary maker followed in January Eikelboom (NPS) preparations in Canada, even in the far north, The Northern Territories. One of the first applications came from Yellowknife, a town where Inuit live and where the village elders decided that they do is so important that they travel as a community of their children will finance. Eikelboom was also in Toronto, where students through a walk-a-thon "collected money for the trip and he spoke with families of Canadian soldiers. Stories from the other side, the Dutch were liberated by the Canadians. It uses special war images from the Canadian archives.

[Hooper T]

It is May 5 2010. 65 years ago our country was liberated by Canadian forces. Today 1700 Canadian students are in The Netherlands to pay respect. The students symbolically represent each Canadian soldier that died fighting in the Netherlands for our freedom. We, Dutch, are still incredibly grateful to those Canadians that freed us from the Nazi regime. Great respect to all and to those that didn't survive. This is one story.

 

Born in Blackstock, Ontario on the family farm in 1921, Roy Edward Carter joined the RCAF on May 22, 1942. He trained at No. 6 ITS (Initial Training School) and and No.4 AOS (Air Observer School) in London, Ontario. He was awarded his Navigator's wing upon graduation and embarked for overseas on Aug 26,1943.

Following overseas training at #24 Operational Training Unit, Long Marston and 1666 Heavy Conversion Unit, Wombleton, he was posted to 431 Iroquois Squadron (Croft Yorkshire,UK) on May 22,1944

 

After completing 6 Ops ( sorties), including one on D-Day to St.Lo, he and his crew were shot down on 16/17 June, 1944 in Halifax NA514 coded "SE-B."

 

The aircraft was downed by a German nightfighter near Nistelrode, Holland during a night trip to bomb Sterkrade in Germany. All of the crew, except the pilot, F/O Blachford (died in the crash), were able to bail out. Two died in the fall( F/O Lough and Sgt. Gould), two were captured almost immediately (Sgt. Hattey and Sgt. Kennedy) . Sgt. Tom Masdin and Roy managed to evade the Germans. Tom was caught and taken as a POW.

 

Apparently ,they had trouble opening the escape hatch in the cockpit, but eventually Roy was able to jump out of the burning aircraft. He landed safely in a field near Boekel, Holland, a fair distance from where the plane actually crashed. Thus he had a chance since the Germans would only search the immediate area of the crash. He buried his chute ( as recorded in Roy`s ` line-shoot`-left at a safe house in Erp) and contacted a local farmer where he was given refuge. Thus began his trek to freedom using many hiding places under the guidance of the local resistance groups.

 

On Sunday, July 9th the Nazi S.D., arrived at the door dressed in their black trenchcoats and carrying machine guns. The three airmen were having breakfast in preparation for their escape to Belgium and then to one of the `freedom lines`.

 

Against all principles of the Geneva Convention concerning POWs, the Gestapo burst into the room and herded the 3 officers into the backyard, lined them up against a brick wall and shot them numerous times, despite the fact they were unarmed. Roy was badly wounded but was able to get into the house. He was killed in the doorway leading to the kitchen. (The doorway was pointed out to his mother, years later (1964) when she travelled, accompanied by her daughter Isabel, and along with other `Silver Cross` mothers, to Holland on a pilgrimage).

 

The S. D.(Sicherheitsdienst )/Gestapo now ordered the 60 year old Coba Pulskens to fetch a sheet to cover the still-warm bodies. In an act of defiance she went upstairs and brought down a new and large Dutch flag, which she had been keeping for the day when the Netherlands would be liberated from the barbaric occupation of the Nazis ( radios and Dutch flags where forbidden in occupied Holland).

 

It should be noted that Coba lived on a busy street corner and all of this action was being witnessed by neighbours, many to be called later to the trial of the murderers. Coba herself was arrested, spent seven months in solitary confinement and then carted off to the notorious Ravensbruck concentration camp where she died in the gas chamber in the spring of 1945 at the age of 61. She is remembered as a heroine in Holland and England. According to survivors in the death camp, she had voluntarily stepped forward to take the place of a young mother, with children, in the hope of saving their lives. She apparently had said earlier. `If someone has to give his life, I hope to do it. I can better be missed than others`.

 

The bodies of the three airmen were first taken to a nearby hospital (where an alert doctor took photos of them) and then removed to the concentration camp at Vught.,near S`Hertogenbosch. They where cremated, presumably to remove any evidence of the crime that had taken place in Tilburg.

 

Because the remains of the three airmen were never found, they are listed officially as `missing in action`.

 

A plaque in memory of Coba Pulskens and the three airmen was erected at her house in Tilburg in 1947. It can still be seen there at 49 Diepenstraat..

 

On Oct 27,1994 a large granite monument was unveiled on Coba Pulskenslaan in Tilburg to honour the three airmen, heros to the Dutch in their terrible years of occupancy by the hated Nazis. The dedication was part of the events marking the 50th anniversary of liberation.

 

Relatives of the three airmen from Canada, Australia and England attended the unveiling ceremony in Tilburg. Brothers Robert and Fred represented the Carter family.

 

Roy and his fellow evaders had the opportunity at any time to turn themselves in and become POWs. They chose not to and to the Dutch people, who where eventually liberated by Canadians in many towns and cities, these airmen were heros and are still remembered today. School children from a nearby elementary school look after the granite monument and a service of remembrance is held every year.

 

There is a footnote to this story of heroism in Nazi-occupied Europe during the last world war.

 

The S.D. (Dutch Nazis) and Gestapo men who carried out the arrests and executions on July 9th ,1944 where eventually tracked down and tried in front of a British Military Court(Allied Special Court for War Criminals) in Essen, Germany (June 7th ,1946 formerly Krupp Hotel, Essen).

 

On evidence of former Dutch resistance workers and Coba`s family, and the photos of the bodies taken by Dr. Borman of St. Elizabeth`s Hospital in Tilburg( the Dutch police had taken photographs also and had the identity disc belonging to F/O Carter J28855)

 

Four of the ten Nazis, were found guilty of murder and sentenced to death by hanging. The others were acquitted. They were to be hanged to death in Sept of 1946. The Carter family has no definite proof that the sentence was carried out.

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you very much for posting this! I will show it to my Father who is a Canadian Veteran and a Sherbrooke Fusilier, the Famous Canadian Tank Regiment. (Link Sherbrooke Fusiliers ) He will really appreciate it.

 

Canada is a small country but historically fierce when it comes to defending freedom or assisting a friend.

[kstrong]

Thanks Dutch for posting.

My father was a Green Beret and served in the Canadian Army from 1940-1947. He was in France, Germany, Norway, Dieppe (lost part of his foot in the massacre), and Holland.

Dad loved the people of Holland and spoke well of them every chance he could. He especially like the females. :happy feet:

Whenever Dad got a promotion, he would do something to get busted back down to private. The Germans tortured the Officers but not the Privates he would say.

My Mum also served in the Canadian Army from 1943-1946. She was an accountant! She and a bunch of other women used to knit gloves, tuques, scarves and socks to send to the soldiers.

I greatly respect all the soldiers of WWII as well as the current day military people. We have our freedom because of these folks.

[DutchGT500]

I hope you and your father, mothers like the documentary. I linked it in my last post.

[glhs0075]

Thank you for sharing this with us.