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September 21
Prepared by James Stoness with
the Bronze Plaque Tour in Bergen Op Zoom
On Tuesday the veterans of the South Alberta Armoured Regiment
(SAR) visited a memorial in Huibergen and placed a wreath during
a short service.
The Brick Factory, nearby Centium, and Wouse Plantage proved
to be an area of difficult fighting for the Canadians. Aboard
the bus they drove along a narrow dirt road surrounded by thick
forests. Peaceful and beautiful today, it is difficult to visualize
the nightmare through which the SAR tanks threaded their way
in 1944 when fallen trees, booby traps, and enemy troops hidden
in the woods threatened every inch of their passage. They also
encountered shoe mines, and the dangerous destroyer of tanks,
the panzerfaust.
Later, SAR veterans and their families travelled to Bergen Op
Zoom which was the Fourth Armoured Division's objective. Here,
they had encountered an extremely difficult crossing of the
Zoom River in the face of determined enemy resistance. In places
a steep embankment prevented passage to the tanks, and other
places were protected with concrete anti-tank teeth.
 It
was here, in Bergen Op Zoom, that a tragic accident occurred
when one of the Canadian's own shells struck the rear of Major
Dave Currie's tank causing several casualties. Dave Currie,
who would receive a Victoria Cross for his action at St. Lambert-sur-Dives,
narrowly escaped injury.
The SAR veterans and their families, along with local veterans
and their families attended a reception sponsored by Leon Rosenboom
who has been made an SAR Honorary Member. At the reception a
live orchestra played music from the 1940's. Guests pressed
around the veterans to thank them for liberating their city.
Mothers passed their babies to eighty-seven year old veteran
Bob Fairhurst, for pictures. Later in the day the veterans thanked
Leon Rosenboom for all his work done on behalf of the SARs. |
