Holten Canadian War Cemetery, Netherlands

From Findagrave and the casualty lists of the Royal 22E Regt. Both from Montreal is the only link. Jean Roland & Roland Laporte

 

Excellent post Pieter - very interesting.

Just wondering, you say that Winifred Brewster is one of the few women casualties buried in The Netherlands. I visited Sittard War Cemetery a couple of months ago where Vivienne Hole is buried (who is probably the only ENSA casualty of WWII?). Do you know of any other women burials in NL?

 

Thanks for the replies and additions Stolpi, Ramacal and smdarby.

You are right Stolpi. There is even a considerable number - 209 - of casualties who were killed after hostilities ended. Trooper George Crawford being the last of them. He died on 26 October 1946.

Vivienne Hole and Winifred Brewster are buried in a Commonwealth war cemetery. There are also four women buried at the American cemetery in Margraten.

 

The 10th Medium has three Gunners buried at Holten, all KIA in May1945.
I have had to explain to relatives of these men over the years why they were buried in a Canadian Cemetery.

Rob

 

Pieter, I noticed that some headstones carried a later date than May 5th, 1945, but was unaware of the large amount: 209 out of 1393 burials. What were the causes of death of those who died after the end of the war ?

 

Mostly soldiers who died of wounds, who were killed while clearing mines and in accidents.

 

Agreed - died of wounds, lots of unexploded ordnance still around, lots of vehicles, lots of people with weapons, plus of course in any large population there will be deaths due to illness and natural causes.

I found an interesting story for a post-war (British) casualty buried at Overloon. Maj Ronald L. Crouch DSO, MC (IV.A.8.), of the Royal Artillery, was shot dead by a Dutch sentry on 26/6/45. He was reportedly speeding in his car and refused to stop when the sentry took aim and killed him instantly. He was initially buried near Maastricht before being moved to Overloon.

There are quite a few post-war Canadian casualties buried at Groesbeek also, from what I can remember.

 

That's correct: 146.

 

..........................and again tonight. A wonderful tradition.

God bless the Dutch!

 

I was at Groesbeek last year … see:X-mas Eve 2017 at the Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery

Unfortunately missed this year's edition, but this Christmas Eve candles also were lit again at Jonkersbosch (Nijmegen) and Groesbeek (Canadian Cemetery).