HELMOND 55  YEARS ON -  SEP 1999
Tue 21 Sep 99 The Royal Norfolk D-Day Veterans were again off on their travels. Being the 55th Anniversary of The Royal Norfolk liberation of Helmond in Holland, the visit was a rather special event. We were sorry that Bill Holden his wife Doreen and Vida could not be with us this year.
By coach to Harwich, ferry to The Hook and on to Helmond, we arrived at the West-Ende Hotel at 18.30. After dinner we met our hosts, the Vrienden and members who had travelled over by car.
Wed 22 Sep. We were given our instructions for the day, along with Vic Everitt’s joke, which was to become a daily habit! At Overloon Cemetery Malcolm Jordan read the Exhortation and the names of the fallen and Ernie Smith laid a wreath. Others were laid by Mrs Pollard and members of the Vrienden. The Standard was carried by Stan Rasberry. Those who had personal tributes and crosses placed them on the appropriate graves. After a visit to the Dutch National War Museum the next stop was our own Memorial at Molen Beck, a very special place in our memories. The Monument of Norfolk Stones is in a pyramid, based on the Third Division sign. The stones were brought over by F Maas. Bill Holden and a friend took on the none-too-small task of laying them in the chosen design. The completed Monument was unveiled and dedicated by our then President Sir David Thorne in 1988. Nigel Bird read the Exhortation and the names of those killed there and Peter Gould laid a wreath alongside one by the Vrienden.
In Venraij Nevil Griffin placed a wreath on the civilian War Memorial and Vic Everitt (died 2001) read the Exhortation. We noticed bullet marks high on the wall of a house next to the church. Ours or theirs - who knows now?
Thu 23 Sep. The Coldstream Guards, also guests of the Vrienden, joined us. At Nederweert War Cemetery and at Margraten the Coldstream Guards and Vrienden laid wreaths. At Margraten we saw that the marble crosses were being cleaned and polished. We also noted that the American crosses did not appear to have ages on them, neither were there any inscriptions other than name, rank and Regiment or Division. It seemed to me to be rather impersonal. Leaving there on a lovely sunny day we made our way to Valkenburg. We made our own arrangements for lunch, the only time during the week, apart for our free day, when we would do so. Every other day our lunches were always provided. This was due to the generosity of the Vrienden and was very much appreciated. After eating and souvenir hunting we met up at the Caves entrance for a walk into the Gemeente Grot Valkenburg. Here the Burgemeester welcomed us, speaking of the friendships which have survived 55 years and that we now live in peace. George Dicks replied for The Royal Norfolk Veterans and presented a picture of Norwich, home of The Royal Norfolks. We saw the repainted memorial tablet in remembrance of the D-Day Veterans’ visit to the caves in 1981. On small shelves were 12 lighted candles and a flower arrangement. The names of those involved were displayed: AJ Pratt, WH Holden, G Duncan, JV Erp, P Rooijackers and JV Lieshout. It was an experience to be several hundred feet underground in these enormous caves and then to walk arm-in-arm four abreast through the semi-darkness into the daylight. We returned to the hotel and after dinner the Dutch provided a coach and driver who gave his time free, to take us to Kanthoeve for an evening of music, singing and some dancing, interspersed of course by drinking and eating!
Fri 24 Sep was a free day so we all went our own ways. Thieu Vincent kindly drove four members to Meerlo where, at the library, Wilfred Manders was staging an exhibition of the liberation of the town. He had worked very hard with two friends and it was an excellent display. Wilfred is a young man who has a great liking for his friends in The Royal Norfolk D-Day Veterans. He usually attends on at least one evening during our stay, dressed in the full wartime uniform of The Royal Norfolk Regt. He is obviously very proud of his uniform and connections with the Regt.
Sat 25 Sep. BEVRIJDING 1944-1999. Liberation Day for Helmond and a busy day for us. We made our usual visit to Royal Norfolk Plain where George Dicks placed a wreath at the Liberation memorial and Vic Everitt (died 2001) spoke the words.
During lunch at the West-Erich Hotel, the guests of the Municipality, George Dicks told us that he had been handed an envelope. The letter said that the writer had been a 15 year old boy when The Royal Norfolks liberated Helmond 55 years ago. On that day a Royal Norfolk soldier gave him a bar of Rowntrees chocolate and his aim had always been to thank the liberators. He thanked the soldiers for liberation without damage to the town. Included in the envelope were, in Guilders, the equivalent of £150 to pay off the bar of chocolate including 55 years inflation. The giver suggested that it would perhaps buy a good old Genever. However it was decided that the money would be divided between the Vrienden and our own funds. This would benefit us all in our exchange visits. To say we were amazed at this person’s generosity is putting it mildly. We can still be surprised by the Helmonders gratitude to us, even after 55 years. It makes us feel quite humble. After lunch we left for Hortensiapark and St Josephs Chapel where a service was held in the presence of Burgemeester Wim van Elk and his wife and a General of the Netherlands Army and his wife. Mr van Elk spoke of the special bond Helmond has with veterans because it had been a rest centre for soldiers on the Maas front. Dutch soldiers formed a guard of honour for the five people who laid wreaths at the chapel entrance, Fred Howell laid our wreath and got his picture in the local paper too! The chapel is a small round building containing some beautiful statues and on the walls are the names of 122 townspeople who were killed during the war - not only in Helmond but also places such as Auschwitz. The next event was a service of Remembrance at St Lambertus Church. The Slavisch choir sang here as they had done at St Josephs. Pastor Smulder welcomed us and there were hymns and prayers amid speeches from the Coldstream Guards representative and our own DB "Friar" Balsam. Friar said how privileged he felt being at St Lambertus on behalf of his Regiment and that we should give thanks that our children and grandchildren have been spared the horrors of war during the last half-century. He thanked the people of Helmond and Netherlands for all the kindness they have shown us. He quoted from a letter he wrote home telling of his arrival in Helmond and the great welcome they had received. It was interesting to listen to the writings of a young man of that time and was very much in keeping with the happenings on this day in 1999. He asked that we join with him and remember all those who died in that conflict in this land, both soldiers and civilians - a debt of Love which we can all pay. Without them we would not be here today and we hope that Peace and Friendship will continue to grow and last forever. During the service we sang Land of Hope and Glory. What a splendid sound we made in that huge church! I am sure there were lumps in throats and tears in many eyes during the singing. It was a very moving moment. We made our way to the Kasteel for a reception. Once again there were Dutch soldiers forming a guard of honour and we really did have the Red Carpet treatment in to the Kasteel. John Lincoln gave the address and a picture of Norwich was presented to the Burgemeester. Presentations were also made by the Coldstream Guards and the Vrienden. Every liberation veteran received a 55 year Commemoration medal. It was nice to see the ladies being called to receive medals for members of their family who had died in the interim period.
Sun 26 Sep. At the Reichswald Forest Cemetery Vic Everitt (died 2001) laid a wreath and gave the Exhortation while Stan Rasberry was again in attendance with the Standard. At Kervenheim we saw the forming-up point for the attack. At the Kervenheim Cemetery a wreath was laid by Mrs D Lawn on The Royal Norfolk memorial. The Vrienden also laid a wreath as did a member of the German veterans who had joined us for the first time. At Vogelsangshof speeches of welcome, reconciliation and peace were made by Sigrid Ehrentraut, Chief Magistrate of the area, Heinz Kapper, Ernst Wecker - a German veterans, and by Herr Meiners, Burgemeester of Kervenheim. Terry Smith presented a picture of Norwich to our hosts and bouquets were presented by Pat Smith, Lucy Best and Beryl Griffin. At the St Antonius service the Lords Prayer was read in German, Dutch and English. A wreath laying ceremony was performed at the Town Memorial. We walked to the schloss where many of the German population sheltered in the thick walled crypt during the battle. A delicious tea with home-made gateaux and flans at the Pfarrheim was next on the list, for which Lucy Best expressed our sincere thanks.
Mon 27 Sep. We left for the Maas area visiting Wanssum, Blitterswijk and Meerlo, stopping at a very small but remarkable museum. The building was just a one-up, one-down cottage. The items collected to depict the war were so numerous that it seemed impossible to exhibit more, hut we were told that there were more that they hoped to show later. The only off- putting thing was the pungent smell from the local mushroom factory! At Blitterswijk we saw the building which housed D Coy HQ during the campaign (see the picture in John Lincoln’s book "Thank God and the Infantry"). It is now a very nice private house. Reporters from "The Limburger" joined us and Ernie and Nevil were photographed with other veterans. During lunch Vic Everitt (died 2001) had the attention of an attractive lady reporter to whom he recounted events of the time. In the Council Chamber, facing the Burgemeester of Meerlo in a semi-circle, the veterans were seated in chairs normally occupied by Council Officers and served tea and cakes. The rest of the party were further back in the chamber. The reception included a welcome from the Burgemeester, accompanied at the top table by Cyril Wells and John Lincoln. Cyril presented a picture of Norwich on behalf of the Veterans. The Burgemeester mentioned that his daughter had married a Norwich man. They had a shop in Amsterdam which sold the best fish and chips in Holland! We returned to Helmond for dinner and our usual last night party, joined by The Coldstream Guards and, of course, the Vrienden. The evening included our usual raffle. There were many prizes and sterling work was done by Peter and Margaret Gould, Marion Keech and Vic Everitt (died 2001). As a result the sum of one thousand guilders was raised, to be divided between The Vrienden Funds and The Royal Norfolk Veterans Funds. A splendid effort. The ladies of the Vrienden were presented with "goody bags" as a gift from the veterans. The rest of the evening was spent dancing and watching a small cabaret by the ladies of the Vrienden and singing to the music of A van Riek who had entertained us earlier in the week at Kanthoeve.
Tue 28 Sep. After a last look around Helmond it was a midday coach departure to The Hook and the ferry. It is always sad to say goodbye especially when we have such a rapport with the Vrienden in Helmond. However, a new Standing Order cheered everyone up. In future all veterans on greeting or saying goodbye to any lady member of either Vrienden or D-Day Veterans will kiss three times in the Dutch manner. This order was immediately complied with - our contribution to the Millennium! We were in Norwich by 9.15 pm, tired and weary, but after most enjoyable holiday. It is difficult when saying thank you, not to omit someone. There is however an exception - Richard our driver who worked tirelessly on our behalf and brought us safely back. Other than this, may we just say "Thank you" to everyone who helped in any way: organising, laying wreaths, presenting pictures and bouquets, speaking Exhortations, pushing wheelchairs etc. You know who you are and so do we! Your contribution helped make things run smoothly and gave the rest of us a holiday to remember. Thanks a million! One last mystery to clear up: who took snaps all day without a film in his camera? I will give you a clue - he is certainly not a slave! No prizes for the correct answer.

RULE BRITANNIA

Beryl Griffin

And see Bill Holden MBE from B&C 84 Jun 95   Helmond Visit Sep 1998 by Beryl Griffin    Helmond Sep 2001 by Beryl Griffin