Mark Hakvoort m’avait écrit il y a deux semaines… Il pensait répondre à Jacques Desjardins.
Dear mister Jacques Desjardins
Thanks for sharing this information. A wonderfull website and an amazing story about mister Lamontagne.
My name is Mark Hakvoort from Holland. I am chairman of the association remembrance post Hollands Kroon. See our website http://www.shhk.nl
We are planning to unveil a remembrance post for mister Lamontagne and his crew 15 June.
We are looking forward for your reply.
Best regards
Mark
Puis…
As mentioned in the earlier introduction, we are a Dutch association. Our main goal is to mark the location of a crash with a remembrance post.
At the post we have a short story about the crash and crew. With a QR scan people can go to our website for more information.
On 15 June we are unveiling also a remembrance post for the crash of the Wellington BK340.
We invited several people. The town mayor Mrs Rian van Dam, the Canadian ambassade, the United Kingdom ambassade, Dutch veterans, the farmer Ven Nieuwenhuijzen were also Lamontagne landed with parachute, the family Sjaak van der Veldt (his father was a resistance hero and gave back the parachute frame to mister Lamontagne during his visit in 90th) , local historical associations, etc.
Is there more information about the crew available?
Best regards Mark
Puis…
Hello Pierre
We did have today the unveiling of the remembrance post for Wellington BK340. Sadly it was raining a lot during the ceremony. A lot people joined us.
Also the family of Van de Velde. Their father met Gilles Lamontagne in 1991. See pictures.
The other unveiling of an English crew of Mosquito DZ386 was in better circumstances.
Best regards
Puis…
Photos are from the family of Van de Velde. Their father met Gilles Lamontagne in 1991
The unveiling took place at Koggenrandweg near Lambertschaag. This remembrance post was erected to commemorate the crash of the Wellington BK340.
Wellington BK340 wreckage and motor found at the farming land of the family Kranenburg.
The five Canadian crew members survived the crash by timely parachuting out of the aircraft. In her speech, Sgt. Mitchell expressed her admiration for the way World War II is commemorated in the Netherlands. In Canada, they do not have this tradition, especially since Canada was never occupied.
The weather was not favorable during this unveiling; in the pouring rain, the remembrance post was unveiled by Sgt. Nicole Mitchell and Mayor Rian van Dam.
On the right is Warrant Officer/ Adjudante Nicole Mitchell, CD/ Canadian Defence Attaché Assistant/Assistante à l’Attaché de défense du Canada
Warrant Officer Nicole Mitchell and Mayor Rian van Dam
Both then laid a wreath at the remembrance post.
There were also flowers from the Wieringermeer Historical Society. The veterans, led by Dick Doornik, also provided a beautiful ceremonial contribution here.
Hans Elling played the national anthem of Canada.
All photos from Martin Blaauw.
Source: https://shhk.nl/crashinfo_bk340_en.html#Verslag
RCAF 425 Alouettes III 