And this is why I love the Dutch! (Look how beautiful a gesture this is!)

**Silk** · 1st August 13, 06:25 AM

Originally Posted by Baker04

Thanks, very moving....my father served (and survived) with the Canadian Army during the liberation of Holland

Has he every gone back Baker?? They do a wonderful liberation day parade every year I believe and I've watched the videos and they are equally as touching when you see them with the vets!

Silk

**Silk** · 1st August 13, 06:28 AM

Originally Posted by Walter82

That brought a tear to the eye. What a wonderful thing to do. My great uncle, a proud scot, died on Armistice day near Ypres. I am so very touched to see a community remembering the sacrifice made by so many and from many countries and walks of life. It must be a great community to live in.

I remember Ypres Walter! It was a terrible battle that is well known in Canada too. I believe the pic at the bottom of my post was at a memorial for Ypres but I will check it for you and post a pic of its inscription if it is.

Silk

**Silk** · 1st August 13, 06:33 AM

Originally Posted by Downunder Kilt

Most certainly, where do you want to start, Boer war the Bushveldt Carbineers in the Northern Transvaal , WWl at Gallipolli in Turkey, the Western Front France, The Australian Lighthorse at Bersheeba. WWll, the Kakoda Track PNG, Changi Thai-Burma Railway (start to finish), France in numerous areas, The Desert Rats of Tobruk.

Some of those names I don't recognize, some I know Canadians were in too... we were at the Boer War in South Africa as well and of course Gallipolli, the Western Front, France... Tobruk sounds familiar to me too! But it was not unusual for Canadians to be fighting alongside with Australians now was it? I know I've read accounts of it different times.

Silk

**Silk** · 1st August 13, 06:36 AM

Originally Posted by Grizzled Ian

You can't drive far in northern France and Belgium without spotting another CWGC cemetery, from east of Amiens and fanning north and south throughout the British sector. It requires steely determination to resist stopping at every one, just to say "G'day" to any Aussies who might be resting there.

There is also a memorial to each of the five Australian divisions, located from Polygon Wood in Belgium to Pozieres, and the bronze map at each one shows all five, and other sites of special significance to Australia, including the main Australian memorial just north of Villers-Bretonneux. I have also been to a CWGC cemetery west of Caen to visit My Good Lady's uncle, aircrew shot down on the night of 5-6 June 1944.

But you will find memorials of significance to Canada and Newfoundland when you make your visit, all lovingly tended, peaceful, restful places....

Well I don't know if I will ever get to visit. That's why I really appreciate finding photos and videos and accounts of others visiting since I have to live through them vicariously. ;) But I'm glad the CWGC is doing a good job from what you're saying!

Silk

**Liam** · 1st August 13, 06:55 AM

My Uncle Robert Edward Rennie was a RCAF pilot of a Lancaster that was shot down on Nov. 6, 1944. He was buried in Heerde Cemetery.

**grizz** · 1st August 13, 07:22 AM

My Uncle was shot down on D Day. The magic of visiting his grave was to discover a wreath from an English crew member who had bailed out, survived, and returned to honour his fallen mates. We'd always believed that all had perished.

**Silk** · 1st August 13, 07:26 AM

Originally Posted by Liam

My Uncle Robert Edward Rennie was a RCAF pilot of a Lancaster that was shot down on Nov. 6, 1944. He was buried in Heerde Cemetery.

I couldn't make out the text so I just went to that site to try to read it. It's sad. I couldn't believe how many pages I had to turn just to get through the losses from Nov. 4 too.

So I assume he was one of the RCAF pilots who was put into one of the RAF squadrons then? SilkP.S. Here's the link if anyone else has trouble reading it... it's still hard to make out the writing even when zooming in. http://www.lancasterbombers.net/Loss...files/book.swf

Liam, what squadron was he in? If it's there I can't read it. But this fellow is doing a "virtual museum" for Canadian fighter pilots and air gunners and he is asking for people to send him information. You can see the various squadrons he has so far that contained Canadians: http://www.flyingforyourlife.com/gallery/#.Ufp_o9LVAk0

**grizz** · 1st August 13, 07:43 AM

Indeed your boys stood shoulder to shoulder...and fell...with our ANZACs.

Shoulder to shoulder, in the dark-chill of Dawn Service, we silently weep for them as yer' man's poem's recited.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place: and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
John McCrae (1872–1918)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McCrae

**grizz** · 1st August 13, 07:47 AM

Thanks Silk,

Generation upon generation of French folk are equally grateful to us for sacrificing our sons for their liberty.

**grizz** · 1st August 13, 08:12 AM

Keep faith Silk,

I too never believed that I'd tread where kith and kin lie. But then it happened. We are blessed. Commonwealth War Graves Commission protects our loved ones in tranquil gardens where once there seethed mud and blood http://www.cwgc.org/ It endeavours to identify each lad. Sadly most German soldiers, some mere boys of 15 and 16, lie in unnamed graves marked, "hier liegt ein Soldat Deutsch"