Royal Canadian Legion

The 450 Ceremony
Benschop, the Netherlands

On Sunday 03 October 2004 our Colour Party joined the Royal British Legion in Benschop, the Netherlands to honour and remember those who lost their lives in this area during World War Two. Benschop is a village just south west of Utrecht in the Netherlands and is a part of the municipality of Lopik.

Extracts from an article written by Joop van Vielt best describes the reason we were there. Although there was very little fighting on the ground in this area during WW II the people suffered. Among other things the German Air Raids took their toll. Moreover in the skies above the district were fierce battles. The following is an account of some of the tragic events that took place in this area during WW II.

On 05 June 1944 a twin engine Vickers Wellington Bomber JN-H of 150 Squadron was on its way to attack targets in Essen, Germany. The crew would usually comprised of five but on this occasion there were six with an extra pilot on board. The aircraft in flames and its bomb load still on board crashed in Benschop. The Captain Tommy Kay was from New Zealand and there were two Canadians and four Britons making up the crew. All were killed and were buried in the Cemetery Rusthof, Oud Leusden near Amersfoort.

On 22 June 1943 a Handley Page Halifax Bomber EQ-T of a Royal Canadian Air Force Squadron of the RAF was shot down and crashed burning into the River Lek. Two crewmembers were able to parachute to safety due to the efforts of the Captain, Clifford Reichert from Canada, in maintaining flight. On hitting the ground he was killed along with the other four. Those lost in the waters of the river were posted as "missing" and have no known graves. In 1980 Mr. Van Vielt was one of a group who erected a monument to the victims of the crash on the Lek Dijk using part of one of the engines of the stricken aircraft on which the names of missing airmen are recorded.

At the unveiling of the monument in attendance was one of the two surviving crewmembers, George Pridham from Canada . George had been seriously wounded by German gunfire and as a result lost one leg. Many next of kin and other relatives of the crew have since visited the monument to pay their tributes to those they once knew and loved, after years of more uncertainty as to what happened to them. A local Scouting Troop now bears the name "Clifford Reichert".

On 03 September 1943 an Avro Lancaster Bomber AR-G of 460 Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, RAF crashed in Benschop having been shot down by a German night fighter. Again the Captain Robin McPhain of Australia managed to control the aircraft long enough for two of his crew to bale out before the crash in which he and the four others of his crew lost their lives. They too were buried at Oud Leusden.

Behind the farmhouse where the aircraft crashed there is a plaque dedicated to memory of those who parishes. Following considerable research contact was made with both the two surviving members and the next of kin to those who died. The erection of this small memorial was so appreciated by the relatives that in turn they presented plaques from the RAAF and the Australian Returned Service League to the community. These plaques are now part of a display in the community hall of Lopik.

On 15 February 1942 a Spitfire Fighter Aircraft was shot down over Lopik X4503 of 1401 Flight was on a special meteorological observation mission and the pilot a Scott, Wing Commander Jock Forbes of the RAF lost his life and is buried at Oud Leusden.

At the conclusion of the battle of Arnhem in September of 1944 remnants of the Airborne Force tried to avoid capture by crossing the River Rhine but many were killed in the river by German gunfire or drowning. Among those bodies that were carried down stream was Private Clarence Ash of the South Staffordhire Regiment. His body was recovered a Willige Langerak. Also washed ashore in Lopik was a Private Italo Grumoli of the Parachute Regiment whose remains were first buried locally then re-interred in the Canadian War Cemetery at Burgen-Op-Zoom.

Those buried in the graves in Benschop are from the crash of Short Stirling Bomber R9282, BU-Q from 214 Squadron. The pilot was Squadron Leader William Clarke of England . With six other crewmembers he took off from RAF Chedburgh at 1927 hours on 03 September 1943 the target Hamburg , Germany . Hamburg was attacked between 2105 and 2121 hours. While returning the aircraft was shot down by a German Messerschmidt ME 110 night fighter.

The wireless operator, Tom Burke, one of the survivors reported: About an hour before reaching the target there was a failure of the aircraft's electronics so there was no cockpit instrument lights. Amongst the problems facing the pilot was that he had to continue without an artificial horizon. Nonetheless the target was reached and the load of incendiary bombs released but those on the starboard side remained hung up. The Flight Engineer was unable to open the bomb bay door neither electronically nor manually.

On leaving the target we were hit by flack just before the rear gun turret but fortunately the damage was not serious. Arriving over the Netherlands the clouds thickened so the Captain climbed to 21,000 feet (6,400m) Approaching the coast we were attacked by a night fighter, the first burst of gun fire put one of our four engines out of action. The rear gunner reported an enemy plane and was probably killed soon after since nothing more was heard from him over the intercom. At the same time the middle upper gunner fired his weapon but without any result. A second attack by this nigh fighter put another engine out of action and to the horror of the remaining crew the incendiary bombs were ignited. Yet a third engine was hit which led to a fuel leakage.

Meanwhile the pilot had the presence of mind to turn the aircraft 180° in order to allow the crew an opportunity to bail out over land. Then came the order to jump but nobody could leave the aircraft immediately due to the enemy gunfire. We lost altitude fast as by this time only one engine was operating. As I left my post the last words from our skipper were "sorry boys this was the best I could do". The Flight Engineer jumped first and after him the Middle Upper Gunner followed by the Bomb Airman before I reached the escape hatch. The Captain was still at his controls with the Navigator to his right. Then I jumped, I hadn't been in the air very long before I opened my parachute. I could see the aircraft hit the ground and a pillar of flames developed.

That I live to tell the tale is due to the undaunted spirit and unshakeable courage with which our Captain faced his duty.

Squadron Leader William "Bill" Clarke was 32 years old, married to Winifred and had two sons. The youngest, also Bill was born on 13 January 1943 , only five weeks before his father died. The Squadron Leader was co-owner of the Vincent HRD Company makers of legendary mark of large motorcycles. He was himself an enthusiastic racer.

Contact was made with the next of kin to the Air Gunner, John Caldwell Adam, a Scott and know he was a reputable amateur boxer.

To date we have had no success in tracing any relatives of the third victim the Navigator George Johnson. It is known he was a resident of Darlington , County of Durham. The town from where he came has approximately 100,000 inhabitants with over 1,000 Johnson's in the local telephone directory but the search continues to find a contact.

In conclusion the aircraft that crashed in Lopik included some of the best known of various British warplanes and the pilots came from a different one of the important Commonwealth countries as indicate below.

Following the ceremony there was a reception where we spent time associating with our friends from the Royal British Legion. It was over much to quick as we bid farewell until next year.