September 24 was the annual local veterans day, organized by the Municipality of Schagen and the committee Veterans Schagen. Our foundation was invited to tell us about our activities here. In village hall Ahoj in Tuitjenhorn, about 50 visitors watched and listened to the presentation that Chris Dijkshoorn gave.

Photos: Pierre Mettes

Unveiling of the 15th remembrance post Anna Paulowna on September 17, 2022

On September 17, 2022, our 15th remembrance post was unveiled. This happened at the Veerdijk in Anna Paulowna. Those interested were received in the Dutch Reformed Church in Anna Paulowna. From there, visitors were taken to the site of the unveiling in original American army trucks from the Medemblik War Museum.

The remembrance post was unveiled by the mayor of the municipality of Hollands Kroon, Rian van Dam. This is where the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley Mk.V Z6462 crashed on January 16, 1941 after it suffered an engine failure. All five crew members were able to leave the aircraft in time and survived the crash. On the Veerdijk, near the place where the plane crashed, Chris Dijkshoorn from our foundation told us exactly what happened here.

Mayor Van Dam said in her speech that she tried to imagine what the crew members must have felt when they knew the plane would crash. To end up as a soldier of the United Kingdom in a country where you have never been before, and then be captured by the occupying forces. Mayor Van Dam has attended nearly all of our commemorative posts' unveilings, and on several occasions she has tried to imagine what the heroes we commemorate at our unveilings must have felt at those crucial moments. She concluded that this is actually impossible.

After the words of Chris Dijkshoorn and mayor Van Dam, Dirk Bak blew "God save the King" and "We'll meet again" with his trumpet. The veterans present, as always, provided a beautiful, solemn ceremonial, after which the unveiling of the remembrance post was carried out. Mayor van Dam laid a wreath at the remembrance post.

After this, those who were interested had the opportunity to drive with the American army trucks past the places where the five crew members ended up. In all these places Chris told who had landed with additional background information. The afternoon ended wherever we started, at the Reformed Church in Anna Paulowna.

Click here for all information about the Z6462 crash, all photos and reports

Family of Thomas Walter Gostick commemorate in Winkel

On August 31, 2022, Jack and Gill Salter arrived from York, England. Jack's father was the cousin of Thomas Walter Gostick, gunner of the Wellington bomber that crashed in the Groetpolder on November 16, 1940. Thomas was called Sonny within the family. Thomas's mother, and therefore Jack's aunt, always talked a lot about her son, but her husband didn't allowe talking about Sonny. Jack had to promise his great-aunt that he would visit Thomas' grave someday. Jack and Gill came across in their remake Morgan, a special car that they would drive on to Germany for a Morgan day held there.

Jack and Gill were very impressed with the ceremony that was held. The veterans of Hollands Kroon and Schagen were present. The May 4 foundation was also present and had provided coffee, tea and a petit four. There were also a number of former residents present. At the commemoration, beautiful words were spoken by Geertje Hannema, daughter of the former owner of the plot where the six crew members died, and by Alderman Lilian Peters on behalf of the Municipality of Hollands Kroon. Dirk Bak blew the Last Post and the English national anthem. After the ceremony, Jack and Gill were taken by Chris to the remembrance post, which was pleced and unveiled in 2021. Chris showed the spot where the plane came down. It was a beautiful memorial that left many impressions.

Click here for all information about the crash of the P9286 in Winkel

Photo: Marc Moussault