T H E C O V E N A N T E R
Luckily were among them a Dutch officer of the dike DUKW ‘s were lying where the
and a warrant officer. These two interrogated wretched things were driven into like cattle
me directly and forced me to clarify which because there weren’t enough seats by far. It
resistance group I was a member of and to was awfully cold in these DUKW‘s because
give the names of other members. I gave they were open and there was no shelter
them some names amongst that of mr. whatsoever. At some time my wife appeared
Quant from Goes and some names of the with our two children, her parents and
“escapeline” in Dutch Flanders. The warrant other relatives.She refused to leave without
officer replied that he was also a member of me but was gently forced to go aboard. I had
that escape line and was satisfied that I was to stay and assist this evacuation which did
trustworthy. I was thereafter brought to the not pass speckless, lots of panic and anxiety.
British commanding officer who introduced After the boats had left fear seized me by
himself as colonel Leg and thereby he the throat, I let my wife and children go;
pointed to his leg. would I ever see them back? How will the
Only some time later it dawned upon me Germans react, will they let the boats go to
what was happening, at the top of the dike Dutch Flanders unharmed? And how will
huge machines were digging and shoving things work out on the other side; naturally
ground away while lots of boats were nobody could answer these questions and
approaching which, to my great surprise, therefore I was also in some state of anxiety.
also had wheels. The police sergeant in Oudelande and I
These practical and almost everywhere would stay behind to watch the abandoned
to be launched DUKW ‘s drove right up the farms and houses and look after the people
dike, through the hole that in the meantime who stayed behind to take care of the cattle.
was created and into the polder with many In the night of October 30th we heard a
heavily armed men aboard. Some hours great deal of drone from aircraft and canon
later almost a complete army camp was rumbling and later on we were told that
built by bringing in rolling material as the allied forces launched the final attack
kitchen trucks, radio trucks, artillery and on Walcheren and especially Vlissingen. I
the installation of tents. In the meantime a went back to Oudelande and told the police
physician Fransen van de Putte had joined sergeant that it was my duty now to go back
us who was an important asset because he to Vlissingen to report to my resistance
was also a resistance member and knew the group and to report for regular police duties
area very well because of his occupation there. He understood and I left for Vlissingen
as a general practitioner. On ordnance
on my bicycle as fast as I could, on the way
maps he pointed out the farmhouses and
wondering how my wife and children would
I was requested to accompany a patrol to
make out, I felt anxious and powerless! This
persuade these people to leave their houses
having told I would have loved to shake the
in order for the British troops to advance
hands of all present veterans and tell them
unhampered. It wasn’t an easy job to do, we
met a lot of opposition, people yelled at us
how happy I am to see and greet them again
and reacted furiously but we also experienced
and to express again how grateful we are for
some relief and gratitude. My wife Marie
their devotion at that time. And of course
had no idea what happened to me but was
that we understand how difficult it will
informed during the day by relatives and
be to stand still in remembrance of all the
some soldiers. Both sides were still firing at
comrades who gave their lives here for us
each other, the Germans were also under
here and especially in Baarland. Because our
fire of fighter aeroplanes, it was in a word health does not make this possible, we will
still a bloody mess. At nightfall my job was be with you in thoughts when the deceased
finished and I learned that the decision will be honoured on Wednesday.
was made to evacuate all inhabitants of
Finally, again our grateful thanks for “our
Oudelande and Baarland to Dutch Flanders.
liberation” we wish you all the best and a
In Oudelande was only one police sergeant
safe journey home!
and with him and the assistance of some
Adieu Cameronians,
civil officers everybody was informed to
leave their houses at dawn and go to the
Thijs & Marie Way
Zeedijk. The misery that was hereby brought
on is almost impossible to describe: All
kinds of vehicles coming from everywhere
packed with adults and children at the
crack of dawn. Prams and wheelbarrows,
bicycles with elderly people on it who had
to be supported on either side by their
relatives, almost unbelievable! At the foot

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