Tour of Northeast Holland

Stolpi and I embark on another tour in September. I am after the latitude and longitude coordinates for map reference 903238 located near the EMS JADE Canal. Two members of my Dad's regiment ( 7th Recce, 3rd Cdn Div ) were KIA by sniper fire on May 4th, 1945.
Thank you in advance.

 

Owen,

Many thanks for this. I have the war diary at the office. I will reply in more detail by noon Toronto time.

 

Don't mean to pry, but I'd be very interested to know where else you intend to visit in north-east Holland. Are there many interesting sites?

 

We will focus on the exploits of the Canadian Army in 1945 and start in the Rhineland with (day 1) Ops 'Veritable' & 'Blockbuster' and 'Blockbuster II' (Xanten); (day 2) Rhinecrossing at Rees & break out of Rees Bridgehead into Holland (Bienen & Emmerich; Zutphen & Deventer); (day 3) fight for Groningen and Delfzijl Pocket; (day 4) Final battles in northern Germany; (day 5) Ist Cdn Corps Ops 'Quick Anger', 'Canonshot' & 'Cleanser'.

 

903238 is the location of 7 Recce HQ. The WD mentions that during a skirmish at 8839 (see picture) Corporal Morrison died and later Sergeant Dabbs died of wounds.

 

Excellent. Been down to the Scheldt Estuary a few times, but never been to Canadian First Army battlefields in northeast Holland. Since I live fairly close by in Alkmaar, there is no excuse really. I also need to get around to reading Zuehlke's book (On to Victory), that has been sitting on my bookshelf for a few months!

It would be good if you could post some photos when you get back.

Have a good trip,

Shaun

 

Randy and I will make the trip mid-September and we'll do our best to get some interesting photographs ....

 

Nijmegen,

Many thanks for getting this right. I too have the war diary but missed the action across the canal at MR8839.

Owen,
Thanks for taking a peak. Can you restate the coordinates?

 

My pleasure!

 

All I need now is the address or coordinates. I am in touch with relatives of Morrison and can hopefully get them a photo or two.

 

Owen,
Thank you very much!
Greatly appreciated...

 

Owen, the google earth map shows a building just over the ems jade canal. I presume that is the point from where the sniper killed Morrison and Dabbs.

Thanks again for the link.

 

Randy

many times I wish I had your job as - so far this year - you have managed to tour Itaiy - Alaska and now Holland- lots of air miles I guess

Cheers

 

Tom,
Just trying to follow in your footsteps without the stint in the Churchill tank!
Hope you have recovered from the fall.

Cheers

 

Randy

The fall was taken mainly with the head so no problem as that is pretty thick

Cheers

 

Randy,

Do you have access to 'We Were There' by Portugal? 'River Assault - Operation Duck' by John Sliz, has excerpts from accounts of the incident from Sgt Whiteside leading 2 Tp and Lieut. Crabtree leading another Tp nearby. They indicate these men were from 2 Tp and that Morrison had just arrived back at the unit after being married in Scotland. They were the last shots fired at 7 Recce.

I was at Leer on a RRR tour last year, it's an interesting operation. 'River Assault' would have been very useful while we were there. You may have seen John's mention of his book here:
http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/58772-the-battle-of-leer-germany/

 

Klambie

We have "River assault" (or rather ordered a copy) but not Portugal's "We were there".

Do not know the latter.

 

Kevin

Crabtree won the MC.
Await the details on " We Were There"...