Veteranen- en Bevrijdingsdag ´s-Hertogenbosch - herdenkingen - Royal Welsh Bridge - 27 oktober 2015
Veteranen- en Bevrijdingsdag ´s-Hertogenbosch - herdenkingen - Royal Welsh Bridge - 27 oktober 2015
de foto's zijn nog niet geselecteerd en gesorteerd
photos still unselected and unsorted, Veterans and Liberation Day 's-Hertogenbosch 27th October
- herdenking bij Wilhelminabrug door werkgroep klein Monument Kring Vrienden. Piet Kerssens (7-3-1921) werd op 26 oktober 1944 getroffen toen hij een gewonde soldaat van de door de Duitsers kapotgeschoten brug wilde halen. Hij overleed in de nacht van 26 op 27 in het hospitaal in Rosmalen. Er was ook even aandacht voor Enrico Marcolina (24-mei-1922), hij stierf op 26 oktober toen hij bij de Wilhelminabrug vanuit het raam van een fabriek aan de Sint-Janssingel keek waar de Duitsers aan de overkant bij het station lagen. Hij werd getroffen door een kogel van een Duitse sluipschutter die aan de Stationsweg zat.
Beide mannen zijn begraven op Groenendaal in Orthen. Bij alle gevechtshandelingen stierven rond de bevrijding 236 Bosschenaren.
- herdenking bij Welsh Monument in Hintham door Gemengd Koor 's-Hertogenbosch, met een korte toespraak door Pierre Kisters, The Maesteg Male Choir zong Stand by me, de Exhortation werd uitgesproken door liberator Owen Butcher, de Kohima exhortation door liberator Ted Hunt, het Gemengd Koor ’s-Hertogenbosch zong het ‘World War II Requiem’. / De "derde Britse veteraan" op de foto's is Bill (W.B.) Evans, een voormalige burgemeester van Maesteg in Wales en voormalig Trade Union official. Hij was niet betrokken bij de bevrijding van de stad, maar hij was meegekomen met het koor uit Wales. (update 27/12) /
De kransleggingen werden gedaan door achtereenvolgend door luitenant kolonel Kilmister en Gooderson namens de Welsh veteranen, door het Welsh koor, door de veteranen Niewold en Hessels namens de Bossche veteranen, het Gemengd Koor ’s-Hertogenbosch en tot slot kon het publiek ook bloemen leggen.
Kitty van der Doelen van de stichting Vrienden va het Welsh Memorial las haar gedicht voor. Na de afsluiting door Jan de Wit werden de volksliederen van Great Britain, Wales en Nederland gespeeld.
Inno van Riemsdijk van het Gemengd Koor was de ceremoniemeester.
- onthulling plaquette en namen Royal Welsh-brug Veemarktweg (gemeente) zie de teksten hieronder, text below
- veteranendag met een concert door de Koninklijke luchtmacht-kapel in Theater aan de Parade
- lezing bevrijding van Den Bosch door Jan de Wit in de Pleinzaal (about October 1944)
- veteranen- en bevrijdingsconcert Gemengd Koor 's-Hertogenbosch en het Maesteg Male Choir
zie ook de Boschtion-foto's voor de herdenking van oktober 2014
©2015 Gerard Monté
zie evt ook de opening van de Royal Welsh Bridge in 2015
de tekst van de plaquette
The Royal Welsh brug
Na een bezettingsperiode van vierenhalf jaar en een zesdaagse krijgshaftige bevrijdingsslag door de 53e Welsh Divisie (thans Royal Welsh), werd de stad ’s-Hertogenbosch op 27 oktober 1944 bevrijd.
’s-Hertogenbosch heeft zijn relatie met de Royal Welsh gekoesterd, in het besef dat de naoorlogse ontwikkeling van de stad in zijn volle breedte tot bloei kon komen dankzij de inzet van dappere militairen uit Groot-Brittannië, en in het bijzonder uit Wales. Als eerbetoon is met de naamgeving van de Royal Welsh brug en het zichtbaar maken van de Roll of Honour - de 146 namen van de Britse militairen die voor de vrijheid van ’s-Hertogenbosch het hoogste offer brachten - uiting gegeven aan de dankbaarheid van de getroffen oorlogsgeneratie en alle daaropvolgende generaties. (’s-Hertogenbosch, 27 oktober 2015)
The Royal Welsh Bridge
After four-and-a-half years of occupation and a heroic liberation battle by the 53rd Welsh Division (now Royal Welsh), the city of 's-Hertogenbosch was liberated on 27 October 1944.
’s-Hertogenbosch has always cherished its relation with the Royal Welsh, in the full awareness that the post-war development of the city could only be successful in every way, thanks to the efforts of the brave soldiers from Great Britain, and in particular those from Wales. In their honour, the city named the Royal Welsh Bridge and displayed the Roll of Honour - the 146 names of the British soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom of ’s-Hertogenbosch - to express the gratitude of the war-stricken generation and all subsequent generations.(’s-Hertogenbosch, 27 October 2015)
(tekst van het stadsbestuur)
De tekst met samenvatting in het Engels van de toespraak van wethouder Jos van Son. Deze flyer werd uitgedeeld aan de Britse gasten.
The Royal Welsh Bridge 27 October 2015
Summary contribution deputy mayor Van Son
A special site, a special bridge, and a special name. That name will be discussed in more detail
later in a historic outline, so please allow me to tell you the story of the setting and the intention.
The Royal Welsh Bridge as such is an important link for the Railway Zone. That railway zone
contains important areas where substantial spatial developments are taking place. This
infrastructure link is also necessary to reduce the through traffic at the current inner-city ring. But
in addition - and perhaps in the first place – all these bridges here give this area and major quality
boost. A quality boost in the public space. Following the construction of these bridges, the area on
either side of the railroad and the road will look totally different in 10 years' time. Imagine that
those who stood here five years ago, will have had no idea that architect Marius van den
Wildenberg and urban planner Andries Geerse could have managed to invest in the quality of the
public space with an inspiring design of a fishnet stocking. We particularly thank Ton Bierbooms of
ProRail in this connection. Contractor Heijmans bv and their subcontractors were faced with the
task to build special bridges at this spot. Heijmans did it energetically and expertly. I want to
complement and congratulate Heijmans bv on this achievement. And last but not least I also want
to thank the people directly involved in the area. The work carried out here has caused quite some
nuisance for you. You have been critical, but always from a positive stance: you were always
prepared to find practical solutions, in cooperation with us. I thank you for it!
Ladies and gentlemen, the municipality is proud of this area, this bridge, and also of the name we
gave the bridge. With this name and the names of the 146 soldiers who perished, the Royal Welsh
Bridge will keep an important piece of our history alive. A period in the history of ’s-Hertogenbosch
that must never be forgotten and that we have now given a more lasting place. Thank you very
much.
Summary contribution J. de Wit (the Dieze during the liberation of ’s-Hertogenbosch)
At the time of the liberation of 's-Hertogenbosch in 1944 this area was the main water and road
traffic junction around the centre of 's-Hertogenbosch: the Dieze Bridges. To the right you can see
in front of you the old road bridge (Dieze Bridge) that was built just after the war. That is where a
heavy battle was fought on 24 October 1944. The Welsh Division wanted to take the city of ’s-
Hertogenbosch in two days, but it took them six. Heavy opposition and the bad weather were
among the causes. How the liberation proceeded is outlined below. It is particularly the heroic,
hard struggle of the 53rd Welsh Division that 's-Hertogenbosch wants to honour by immortalising
the name 'Royal Welsh' in our city. For that purpose the new road bridge across the river Dieze
was chosen, near the scene of one of the fiercest battles. An important battle in 1944 because that
way the British wanted to prevent fighting in the historic fortified city. This bridge was the direct
road to the largest German force deployed around the railway station, but it was exactly that force
that, after the bridge had been taken by the British, succeeded in recapturing it and eventually
blowing it up. That forced the Welsh Division to advance from the north-east side right through the
inner city. Their superior strength made the Germans pull back and eventually the heaviest fighting
took place near the central station and the south-western section. A total of 146 soldiers of the
Welsh Division lost their lives in our city, an estimated 275 Germans died and 257
's-Hertogenbosch civilians did not survive those liberation days. Between 1940 and 1944 more
than 500 citizens of ’s-Hertogenbosch died during acts of war.
Backside: general information about the liberation of ‘s-Hertogenbosch
The liberation of ‘s-Hertogenbosch
The 53rd Infantry Division (Welsh Division) fought between 17 and 30 September as flank of the
Market Garden Operation to Arnhem. On 16 October the order came in to concentrate the Division
East of the town 's-Hertogenbosch, a pivotal point in the operation Allen liberating North Brabant
West of the corridor. The main goal was to free the entrance from the sea to the harbour of
Antwerp. Major General Ross Commander of the 53rd Welsh Division planned to launch his attack
to 's-Hertogenbosch with three Brigades up: The 160 Brigade leading, supported by tanks and
flamethrowers North and South of the railway line, 71st Brigade was to advance South of the
railway astride the road between Heesch and 's-Hertogenbosch. The 158 Brigade was held in
reserve, ready to move up with the 53rd Reconnaissance Regt. and one Squadron of Dragoons to
seize on the first day the canal bridges in 's-Hertogenbosch should the chance occur.
22 / 23 October 1944. The attack started at 6.30 hrs. Nuland was liberated at 10.00hrs but the
advance to 's-Hertogenbosch was hold up by unidentified mines in Kruisstraat. The tracks were so
sandy that a column of 111 motor vehicles and tanks got stucked. In the early morning
flamethrowers and infantry pushed through Bruggen and in the end of that day Rosmalen was
captured. After two days the bridges in 's-Hertogenbosch were still 4 miles away. General Ross
had to change his plan.
24 October 1944. At 02.00 hrs a night attack astride the railway line became a surprise for the
Germans. The East Lancs were the first reaching the outskirts of 's-Hertogenbosch one hour later
followed by 1/5 Welch arriving at 5.30hrs with two platoons at the Diezebridge that was guarded
by a small resistance group. Both parties were surprised by this succes. Tanks were called up to
hold this bridgehead. But they never arrived in time. At 10.30 hrs the bridge was blown by the
Germans. That failure in the morning became a succes in the afternoon. All bridges over the canal
were blown but there was a lock. One lockdoor was closed and there was a narrow path on top of
that door. A and B Companies of 7th Royal Welch Fuseliers arrived at 16.30 hrs from Rosmalen
and Hintham in front of that lock. Supported by tanks and flamethrowers they dashed over the
lockdoor and established a bridgehead. Between 19 and 24 hrs a Baileybridge was built by the
Royal Engineers under German artilleryfire but nevertheless the bridge was finished.
25 October 1944. At 10.55 hrs 1st East Lancs followed by 7 RWF crossed the Baileybridge an
hour later followed by 1/5 Welch. East Lancs advanced along the Southern rampart, 7 RWF went
into the streets to get the Market square in the centre and 1/5 Welch advanced along the
centreside of the canal. At 17.30 hrs the centre was liberated. During the night patrols went to the
river Dommel, border between the centre and the West of the town to reconnoitre how to cross the
Dommel.
26 October 1944. At 11.00 hrs 1/5 Welch crossed the Dommel jumping over a gap in the
stationbridge that was partly blown. They went into a big house on the far side and found in the
rooms some 25 Germans. The whole day both parties fought up and down in the rooms.
Meanwhile East Lancs supported by flamethrowers jumped over another partly blown riverbridge
to the West and built another bridgehead followed by 7 RWF advancing to the station area. They
found an empty German Headquarters. The night was full of light by burning houses around the
station.
27 October 1944. At 8.00 hrs a desperate German counterattack was repulsed by 7 RWF. They
advanced through still burning houses passing the twintower Leonardus church. In the evening
they were released by 6 RWF who did the rest of the liberating work around the area of the
cattlemarket. East Lancs were ordered to get large German barracks in the Western outskirt
supported by flamethrowers but stopped when it was clear that only one German soldier slept in
the cellar. At 20.00 hrs 's-Hertogenbosch was now liberated.
(c) J. de Wit / 27 October 2015 / City of ‘s-Hertogenbosch /gerarddenbosch