Locations
2041 to 2064 of 2318 results
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Herman Serveert
Herman Serveert
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Douwe Egberts Café Leeuwarden
Douwe Egberts Café Leeuwarden
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Suvelfabryk
Suvelfabryk
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Beach Resorts Makkum
Beach Resorts Makkum
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Tourist Info Harlingen
Tourist Info Harlingen
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Zonnewind Zeilreizen
Zonnewind Zeilreizen
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De HerdersHoeve
De HerdersHoeve
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Boutique Hotel Joure - Jouster Suite
Boutique Hotel Joure - Jouster Suite
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d'Oude Herbergh - Vakantiewoning de Koumelker
d'Oude Herbergh - Vakantiewoning de Koumelker
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Scharl Bell Tower
Scharl Bell Tower
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Ambush at Oldeholtpade
Ambush at Oldeholtpade
On 12 April, the bridge over the Tjonger in Mildam fell into the hands of the Royal Canadian Dragoons reconnaissance regiment. Because the occupier had blown up many other bridges, the Canadians attached great importance to preserving this bridge for the crossing of other Canadian units. That is why dozens of armoured cars, mobile artillery guns and numerous other vehicles were sent to Mildam that day to reinforce the bridgehead over the Tjonger.
In one of those armoured cars, a Staghound, was 24-year-old Trooper Wilfred Robert George Berry from Ontario. The young Canadian had volunteered for military service in Europe. And had already fought with the Royal Canadian Dragoons in Italy. At the end of February 1945, they were transferred to Northwest Europe.
For Berry, the war ended in Friesland. In Oldeholtpade, on the road to Wolvega, his vehicle drove into an ambush along with at least one other Staghound. In the vicinity of a broken-down German car, German soldiers had hidden with Panzerfausts. The Panzerfaust was a very powerful and easy-to-use anti-tank weapon. The first shot missed, but the second projectile hit the front Staghound, on the side where driver Wilfred Berry was sitting at the time.2 The Staghound went off the road and overturned. The three other crew members got injured, but were able to leave the vehicle and took cover behind the second Staghound. One of them stated:
"[…]Flames burst through the turret, where the officer and I were half in and half out of the hatches. Any skin surface not covered was burned and the flames badly singed our eyebrows, eyelashes, moustaches and hands, sending me and the officer both wounded to the field hospital."3
Immediately after the first Staghound was hit, the second Staghound opened fire on the Germans. Seriously injured, Wilfred Berry remained in the vehicle. After about fifteen minutes of shooting back and forth, the other Staghounds retreated towards Oldeberkoop. The exact reason for this remains unclear. Berry was already dying and was briefly cared for by the elderly Andriesje Dekker-Oosterhof in the vehicle when the shooting had stopped. The tragedy had unfolded right in front of her house. He died in the wreck shortly afterwards.
Berry's remains were eventually transferred to the farm on "De Bult" in Oldeberkoop and buried there. After the war he would be reburied at the Canadian war cemetery in Holten. The other crew members were eventually able to return to their units after receiving medical treatment. The commander only had burns on his face.
The event made a deep impression on the inhabitants of Oldeholtpade. In 1945, a monument to Berry was erected. And in 1965, a street was named in his honour.
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Gortershoek Bed & Breakfast en Groepsaccommodatie
Gortershoek Bed & Breakfast en Groepsaccommodatie
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The WasWadPad
The WasWadPad
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Zijda Yachting - Kimberly
Zijda Yachting - Kimberly
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Beach Resorts Makkum - Beachvilla 6 personen
Beach Resorts Makkum - Beachvilla 6 personen
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Lutz Watervilla's - Wettervilla Njoggen
Lutz Watervilla's - Wettervilla Njoggen
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Demonstration horse-driven lifeboat
Demonstration horse-driven lifeboat
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To B or not to B
To B or not to B
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Drink & Eetlokaal Proefverlof
Drink & Eetlokaal Proefverlof
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Mummy Crypt in Wiuwert
Mummy Crypt in Wiuwert
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E-bike charging point - Tea garden and mini campsite De Dille
E-bike charging point - Tea garden and mini campsite De Dille
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Ottenhome Heeg- boten - Valk Kruiser 1200
Ottenhome Heeg- boten - Valk Kruiser 1200
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Skrok - Bird hide
Skrok - Bird hide
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National Park 'Lauwersmeer'
National Park 'Lauwersmeer'
