Crash information JN884 Slootdorp

Loudoun family present at Dolfijnweg unveiling

April 16, 2022. With more than 100 interested parties at the unveiling of the remembrance post at the Dolfijnweg on April 16, it appears once again that the stories and memories of the events of the Second World War are still alive. That is nice to see, after all it is one of the objectives of our foundation.

At the Dolfijnweg, at the farm of the Juurlink family, invited guests and interested parties gathered where the coffee and tea were provided by Marlies and Reinier Woudstra. The barn was set up as a reception and presentation room especially for this occasion. The interest in what happened in WWII around crashed planes in the Wieringermeerpolder arose for Mark Hakvoort, our chairman, because of what happened here. In his presentation, Mark showed pictures of the crew members of the Halifax JN884, told anecdotes, and with enthusiasm Mark told, sometimes in detail, what happened on July 26, 1943. A special welcome was given to the Loudoun family. Dave Loudoun is the son of tail gunner Jock Loudon who was the only crew member to survive the crash, he died in 2003. Dave came to the Netherlands for this occasion together with his wife Jane. Grandson Tom Loudoun performed the official unveiling of the remembrance post. In 1979 Jock Loudoun and his wife Vera were in the Wieringermeer. Piet Terpstra, then deputy mayor, arranged the reception of Jock and Vera. Piet Terpstra has since passed away, but his wife Ria and son Alex were also present today. In addition to Mark's presentation, there were speeches by the mayor of Hollands Kroon, Rian van Dam and the deputy head of mission of New Zealand, Hannah Frost.

On this beautiful spring day, the group then went outside for the official unveiling of the remembrance post. Dirk Bak blew the national anthems of England and New Zealand. The presence of no fewer than fourteen veterans, led by Dick Doornik, completed this ceremony.

At the war graves in the cemetery in Middenmeer, Dirk Bak blew The Last Post and flowers and wreaths were laid by the Loudon family, the Veterans, the Embassy of New Zealand, the Freedom Flame Foundation (Edith van de Bovenkamp), the neighbors and former residents of the Dolfijnweg and Praamweg (Juurlink family, Hoitink family, Woudstra family, Hakvoort family, Sijtsma-Spits family and Scholten family) and the Wieringermeer Historical Society (Jan Wouts, Fred de Vries and Roellie Schiere). Mayor Rian van Dam of the municipality of Hollands Kroon also laid a wreath at the war graves. A wreath was laid by Tess Hakvoort on behalf of Sue and Alan Riddell, family of James Stewart (the flight engineer of the crashed Halifax).

After the ceremonies, funeral services Wieringermeer offered the opportunity to conclude with coffee or tea.

The board of Stichting Herdenkingspalen Hollands Kroon would like to thank everyone who was present on this day and who contributed to this impressive and unforgettable event. In addition, we would like to express our appreciation for our mayor who has a warm heart for our foundation and our goals and who is always present at our commemorations and unveilings.

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