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Veerpont Bep Glasius (Stavoren)
Veerpont Bep Glasius (Stavoren)
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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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Hotel Zeezicht
Hotel Zeezicht
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Fûgel frij
Fûgel frij
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The Kûfurd
The Kûfurd
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Galerie - Atelier Theo Schouten
Galerie - Atelier Theo Schouten
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Veerpont De Vriendschap (Texel de Cocksdorp)
Veerpont De Vriendschap (Texel de Cocksdorp)
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Camping Lan en Mar - Terras Chalet
Camping Lan en Mar - Terras Chalet
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Zuiderhaven Harlingen
Zuiderhaven Harlingen
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Vuurtoren van Lemmer
Vuurtoren van Lemmer
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Slottuin Rijs
Slottuin Rijs
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Monument De Veenwerker
Monument De Veenwerker
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Groot Deersum
Groot Deersum
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Shipwreck at Wierum (visible at low tide)
Shipwreck at Wierum (visible at low tide)
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d' Ald Herberch 'Yn 'e Ielaek'
d' Ald Herberch 'Yn 'e Ielaek'
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De Kade
De Kade
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Vogelkijkhut Fochterloërveen
Vogelkijkhut Fochterloërveen
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Vakantiehuis Lytse Mar
Vakantiehuis Lytse Mar
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Hotel Restaurant Princenhof
Hotel Restaurant Princenhof
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Klipper Zwarte Valk
Klipper Zwarte Valk
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Soal Beach Resort - Strandstudio type A | 2 persoons
Soal Beach Resort - Strandstudio type A | 2 persoons
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Scheepstimmerwerf De Hoop
Scheepstimmerwerf De Hoop
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De Mindfulgids
De Mindfulgids
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Unema State
Unema State
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