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29 March 2003 once again seen us back in Wilnis Holland. This time we had the honour to witness the unveiling of a beautiful monument dedicated to the memory of the three Canadian Airmen who were killed when their Vickers Wellington aircraft crashed in a field in the vicinity of the village. German night fighters shot down the aircraft on 05 May 1943 while on return to its home base in Dalton, Yorkshire in the United Kingdom. Two of the five aircrew, the navigator, Flight Sergeant Gordon Carter and the wireless operator Flight Sergeant Howard Hoddinott, was able to parachute out of the doomed aircraft and were taken prisoner by the Germans. They survived the war both of who are now deceased.
The remaining three crewmembers Flight Sergeant Joseph Evariste Adrien Thibaudeau, born 28 July 1921 in St. Eustache, Quebec at age 21 (Right in Photo). Flight Sergeant Joseph White, born 28 September 1921 in Thorold, Ontario at age 21 (Centre in Photo). And Warrant Officer Class I Robert Benjamin Moulton, born 28 July 1921 in Brockville, Ontario at age 30 (Left in Photo) perished in the crash at Wilnis, Holland.
The pilot of the aircraft Warrant-Officer Robert Benjamin Moulton was thrown clear of the crash on that fateful day. His body was found near the crash site and he was subsequently buried with full military honours by the German occupying forces at the Wilnis cemetery in May of 1943. The well preserved remains of Thibaudeau and White who until September 2002 were officially listed as "Missing in Action", were finally recovered in with the wreckage of the aircraft, which crashed in a peat bog and disappeared almost immediately. In addition partial remains of WOI Moulton were also recovered, and have been added to his grave so in fact the three brave airmen, in the presents of family members, were finally given the proper burial ceremony on the 27th November 2002.
It was said that the three crewmen who paid the ultimate price did so not because the aircraft was shot down by enemy fire, they like the other two could have bailed out. They died because the stricken aircraft would have crashed into the town of Wilness, the three heroic airmen stayed with the aircraft and managed to avoid the town thereby saving many lives.
It was to this heroic deed that the town of Wilnis erected this beautiful monument honouring the sacrifice and preserving the memory of these three Airmen. In addition it will serve as a symbol of peace and honour the memory of all those military and civilians who gave their lives for the liberation of Netherlands. The monument is made of slanted cut granite plates, which enclose a highly polished and mirrored stainless steel plate. Above the mirror three bronze maple leaves have been fitted, they symbolise the three crewmembers who were killed. The reflection of the sky in the mirrored plate evokes the image of a mission of peace and freedom that has no ending. Enclosed inside the monument, parts of the wreckage of the Vickers Wellington HE 727 NA-K has been preserved.
We had been invited by the Military Attaché to the Netherlands, Colonel Mike Whitty to provide a Colour Party for the event. In the early morning of 28 March 2003 members of the Royal Canadian Legion from the Lahr area, Zone Commander Thomas Andrews, Comrades Reg Bonnar and Lucien Parraut left for Holland. Arrangements for our stay in Holland were made by the Zone Commander at the Dutch Military Kaserne in Ede. Arriving in Ede at approximately 1500 hours we were met by Comrades Jocelyn Gelinas and his wife Valerie from Branch 003. Comrade Teus Meerveld the manager of the Hotel at the Kaserne in Ede had our rooms ready as usual and invited us for happy hour at the mess. Following a delightful couple of hours in the mess we went into town for supper. After supper we returned to barracks since we wanted to leave early in the morning for Wilnis.
Saturday 29 March 2003 we left Ede for Wilnis at approximately 0730 hours since the highway was clear we arrived in Wilnis early and decided to look for a place to have breakfast. We parked in a tiny parking lot and as we were getting out of the car a lady Ms. Verkaik-de-Bryn appeared on her balcony and asked if we were Canadians there for the ceremony that day. We assured her we were and asked her if there was a place in the village where we could have breakfast. She said that nothing would be open but we were welcome to come into her home she said she had coffee, biscuits, peanut butter and jam which was incredible considering there was five of us. We thanked her very much for the hospitality and asked if there may be someplace nearby that would be open. She told us how to get to the next village that would have a café. She said she would see us at the memorial service and wished us good luck.
Returning to Wilnis after breakfast we were met by Comrade Steve Milton from Branch 003 and several of our Dutch Comrades Corina Pott, Mark Hoedeman, Ben Zonnenberg, Gert Jan't Holt and Céline Garbay. Steve and Mark joined us with the Colour Party, which gave us an impressive six flags for the event.
The ceremony got underway at approximately 1200 hours when a presentation summering the events that that brought us together was given the dignitaries. We marched the Colours into the cemetery where the religious portion of the ceremony took place by the graves of the three Airmen conducted by Lt. Commander Karen Fillmore, Canadian Forces Chaplain from SHAPE HQ in Belgium. The ceremony, under sunny skies and the tiny cemetery filled to capacity was very touching highlighted by the children from five local schools in the area placing flowers on the graves. The Act of Remembrance was recited by three of our Legion members Thomas Andrews in English, Céline Garbay in French and Ben Zonnenberg in Dutch. In attendance were many local community members and a small contingent of Canadian military personnel from the NATO Air Base in Geilenkirchen.
Following the graveside ceremony the Colour Party led the procession to the nearby memorial where the unveiling took place. Speeches from local dignitaries and representatives from Canada were made and the monument was unveiled. The monument was shroud by one of the unused parachutes recovered from the wreckage of the aircraft. A reception followed in the community hall behind the church where we had the opportunity to chat with old friends and make some new ones. Ms. J Verkaik-de Bru˙n the lady that offered us into her home came by to see how we made out with breakfast. She gave us her address in case we are ever in the area again to be sure to visit her confirming once again the hospitality extended to Canadians by the Dutch people. It's happened to us before where we were invited into the homes of complete strangers in Holland, "strangers" however is not a fitting word since as soon as you enter their home they make you feel like you were born there, it's really quite amazing.
Unfortunately all good things must come to an end so we said goodbye to our friends and returned to Ede went for supper and turned in for the night having a long trip home in the morning.
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| The Monument | Another view of the monument | Colour Party Members Lucien Perraut and Josh Gelinas | Celine Garbay, Thomas Andrews, Reg Bonnar, Corine Poot and Mark Hoedeman | Ben Zonnenberg receits the Act of Remembrance |
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| Marching on the Colours at the graveside ceremony | Celine Garbay, Thomas Andrews, Ben Zonnenberg, Reg Bonnar, Corine Poot and Mark Hoedeman | Colour Party prepares for the dedication |
