General Chat

Of course you know that it is the 4th May, but for us in The Netherlands it is our Remembrance Day. Remembering those who died in WWII. Tomorrow the 5th it is our Liberation Day. Now we can remember what it is like to be free. Free from domination - I ask myself for how long. I hope never to see another war, but I also pray that my children and grandchildren never have to go through what I did or my husband. I was in London in the war and my husband in Rotterdam, hiding under the floor, away from the enemy! I won't go further. Have so much to tell, but no here.

Oh Sylvia! I feel awful now. When I saw the title of your thread, I thought you were going to say it was Star Wars Day. (May the 4th be with you)

It's my sister in laws birthday today ! Mine in nine days time, I have respect for all those who died & suffered in ww1 & ww2. But I'll stick to our rememberance day, god bless our young men who will never get old... Elaine x

Yes Sylvia, I am sure your husband will have many tales to tell of growing up in occupied Holland, perhaps he would allow you to retell them on here I would be fascinated to read them. I lived in Germany for a while in Bracht on the german /dutch border. and often went shopping in Venlow, as we crossed the border into Holland and left Germany behind it seemed the atmosphere lightened. Though I have a fondness for Germany too. Did you ever attend the Nijmegan Marches ? I felt so proud when the british squaddies came into sight. My hubby never took part but my brother did. best wishes Terri

Without having really thought about it previously, I had assumed it was the same as ours here. Those of us old enough to remember WW2 will never forget those who didn't return, also those who returned and were so affected by what they had gone through. Presumably, you and your husband had not met at this time Sylvia? Norah

Hi Sylvia My father served with the British Guards Armoured Division during ww2, fighting through Holland taking part in the taking of the bridge at Nijmegen and supporting the withdraw from Arnhem. It was here that he was wounded for the second time in 2 days and was returned to the UK. So my families blood lies on your soil. So yes we do know the date in this house hold. Hopefully will be in Holland later this year as my wife has a cousin living in Arnhem. I served with Dutch Marines in Norway. Great bunch of blokes. Regards to all over there. Malcolm Lay

Norah, I've been watching some old snapshots on tv taken in WWII here which were taken by amateur photographers and which had not been shown before. They had what they called the NSB-ers here and they were pro-German, so when the German troops marched into Holland they waved and cheered - real sickening. Anyway they got their deserves at the end of the war. Just leave that sort of thing to the people! I wish the hooligans of today were left to the ordinary people. I'd put them on the village square and let the villagers deal with them! Or am I being old-fashioned? As for the women who fraternised with German soldiers, they had all their hair shaved off and their heads painted - by the locals at the end of the war. My husband's family had a milk, cheese, butter shop in Rotterdam during the war, bombed out twice and had to start all over again. But they were not short of food, because they were always able to do a swap for other things. It tears your heart out when you see small children, hungry looking for food in the dustbins, no shoes on their feet and cold, wet weather. Yes, my husband has seen some terrible things, people being shot on the street. He was lucky not to be found when hiding under the floor. He had made a secret area for himself - a bit cramped, but better than being sent to Germany.