Locations
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Jacobuskerk Church in Delfstrahuizen
Jacobuskerk Church in Delfstrahuizen
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Heeg (Heech)
Heeg (Heech)
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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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BinnenInn 12-Person House
BinnenInn 12-Person House
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Boutique Hotel Joure - Standaard kamer
Boutique Hotel Joure - Standaard kamer
Direct boekbaar
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Vintagemarket
Vintagemarket
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Information Point Makkum (Hotel Vigilante)
Information Point Makkum (Hotel Vigilante)
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Leer Atelier Gre@tt
Leer Atelier Gre@tt
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Scharsterrijnbrug
Scharsterrijnbrug
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Vakantieboerderij Uitwellingerga
Vakantieboerderij Uitwellingerga
Direct boekbaar
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Ottenhome Heeg- boten - Linssen Grand Sturdy 33.9
Ottenhome Heeg- boten - Linssen Grand Sturdy 33.9
Direct boekbaar
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B&B Pension Perruque - Budgetkamer met balkon
B&B Pension Perruque - Budgetkamer met balkon
Direct boekbaar
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Logement Hartje Leeuwarden
Logement Hartje Leeuwarden
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Willem Barentsz Expedition Ship
Willem Barentsz Expedition Ship
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Villa Friesland
Villa Friesland
Direct boekbaar
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Vertrouwen Harlingen
Vertrouwen Harlingen
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De Twirre
De Twirre
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Aan het Water - Tuinwoning
Aan het Water - Tuinwoning
Direct boekbaar
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The Princessehof National Museum of Ceramics
The Princessehof National Museum of Ceramics
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Strandcamping Terherne
Strandcamping Terherne
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The Hannemahuis
The Hannemahuis
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De Oranjerie
De Oranjerie
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Attema-Sate
Attema-Sate
Direct boekbaar
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Zijda Yachting - Victoria
Zijda Yachting - Victoria
Direct boekbaar
