RAFA Bulletin FEBRUARY 2019 #228
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FEBRUARY 2019 / NR 228 PUBLISHED EVERY THREE MONTHS “We Leave No One Behind” The words of Lt Gen Mart C Kruif, the former Commander of Land Forces of The Netherlands Regularly, from time thousands of civilian casualties, to time, the remains such as concentration camp of WWII aircrew and victims, bomb raid casualties, executed resistance workers soldiers are recovered and collaborators and so-called here in The Netherlands. When “line-crossers,” who had been they are identified, they are buried killed whilst trying to reach the with full military honours. How is Allied lines after September Remains of missing WW2 soldiers and airmen continue to be found this whole procedure carried out? 1944. Many of these war victims had been Cross, commenced the difficult task of reco- vering and identifying the many thousands On behalf of the Netherlands Mi- reported missing and still lay on the of decomposing bodies and establishing nistry of Defence, and in accordance battlefields in their former slit tren- war cemeteries in the liberated part of the with the Geneva Conventions, a spe- ches, unmarked field graves, tem- Netherlands. After VE-Day allied Graves cialized unit, under the Command of porary cemeteries, mass graves and Registration Units came to the Netherlands Captain Geert Jonker, has been made even in burnt out vehicles, tanks, to recover and re-inter their own war dead. responsible for the tracing, exhumation crashed aircraft or ship wrecks. From that time, the Recovery & Identification and identification of missing World Captain Geert Jonker In January 1945, at the HQ Unit’s main task became to take care of civi- War II casualties - both military and civilian - of the Dutch Free Forces of the Interior in lian casualties and - as agreed in the Geneva on Dutch territory (and occasionally abroad) Eindhoven (in the liberated southern part of Conventions - the estimated 35.000 German the Netherlands), its commander HRH Prince regardless of their background or nationality. Continuation on page 3 The main aim of this unit is to provide Bernhard ordered the establishment of the closure to next of kin and ensure a re-inter- Recovery & Identification Unit. It consisted REGULAR ITEMS ment in a marked grave. The Netherlands of an HQ and six platoons (a total of 58 Agenda Page 2 government considers this to be both a duty officers and men) and was commanded by Announcements Page 3 of care and a debt of honour. Lt. Col (Reserve Officer) Dr. A. Van Anrooy of Chairman’s Chat Page 3 The Recovery & Identification (the Dutch) RAMC - The Netherlands Army Unit, Royal Netherlands Arrmy Medical Service. Coming Events Page 4 In the final stages of World War II, it was The unit was issued British and Canadi- Looking Back Page 5-6-7 established that tens of thousands of Dutch, an-made uniforms, equipment and vehicles Club Limburg News Page 8 German and Allied soldiers had been killed and, in close cooperation with the Dutch Red 1 RAFA AMSTERDAM BRANCH THE BULLETIN FEBRUARY 2019 IMPORTANT DATES FOR YOUR DIARY 2018 10 March 14.00 hrs Annual General Meeting, British School of Amsterdam 4 May 10.00 hrs Remembrance Ceremony, De Nieuwe Ooster, Amsterdam 4 May 17.45 hrs Remembrance Ceremony, Blenheim Field Grave, ZO Beemster 10 - 12 May 10.00 hrs European Area and National Conferences, Birmingham, England 29 Jun 17.00 hrs RAFA/Edambusters BBQ, Maartensdijk We record with sadness the passing of the following members: Mrs T Beugels Brunssum Maj Gen G Verschueren Maastricht Mr G J Beumer Amstelveen Mr L Versteeg Haarlem Mr E Carfrae Zandvoort Mr P Wierix Roosendaal Mrs K Harries Dumfries, Scotland Mr J Koster IJmuiden Mr F M S Smith Hazerswoude Dorp Mr J H ten Have Amsterdam AMSTERDAM BRANCH 1077 Welfare If you know a member who is ill or in need of the that we may be able to offer, please inform the Honorary Welfare Officer John Bright, or any other committee member. Membership Please let the Membership Secretary or any Committee member know whenever address changes take place or if you are aware that a member has died. We don’t mind how many times we are told because it prevents the extremely embarrassing and hurtful situation for others when mail is still addressed to someone who has passed away. Internet Please help us cut down on costs by allowing us to add your e-mail address to our distribution list. Members on e-mail have the added benefit of receiving the bulletin early and in colour. 2 RAFA AMSTERDAM BRANCH THE BULLETIN FEBRUARY 2019 The Royal Air Forces Association Announcements The Chairman’s Chat Membership Thank you to to all but a handfull of members who have paid their subscrip- In the 39 years that I have been involved with the Amsterdam Branch tion for 2019. Those who have not, will shortly be receiving a reminder. I have witnessed many changes. We have now almost gone full circle Welcome to the following new members: by ending up in a similar situation to that which existed in the 1960s, which was Mr G Hazell - Ordinary Member before the late Peter Sainsbury became involved and turned the branch into a huge Mr W Mulders - Associate Member success. Sadly, we no longer have the facilities, sponsors and empathy that existed Text from page 1 continued war dead on Dutch territory, for whom one toward the Royal Air Force and RAFA in those early days, at that time less than single war cemetery was established in 1946. 25 years after the end of WWII. Therefore, at the present time, I really do not know In 1951 the unit transformed into two operational Graves Concentration Compa- how matters will pan out in the Branch’s future. Any suggestions about this vital nies: No. 118 GC-Coy and No. 158 GC- Coy, within the Dutch version of the RASC. question, of how to ensure the continuation of our Branch, from you, our mem- These companies also had to be able to be deployed for Cold War duties. The recovery bers, would be most welcome. of civil and German casualties went on, but as by now the Allied GRUs had completed One thing that hasn’t changed over the years is our commitment to welfare their tasks and had left the Netherlands, these companies also started taking care of provision. The number of cases here in the Netherlands that require our financial the bodies of Allied soldiers that were still assistance are now few and far between, but we do, where possible, keep an eye frequently being found. In 1972 both GC-Coys were de-mobilized. open for members who are ill, hospitalised, incapacitated etc. In cases such as Their task was taken over by a newly establis- hed section at the Dutch RASC Training Cen- these, the sending of a card, making a telephone call, or the receipt of flowers, can tre, which was named after its first predeces- sor: Recovery & Identification Unit.Today, the work wonders. unit’s work is still nowhere near completion. Remains of missing WW2 soldiers and airmen Something else that, I believe, has grown much stronger in recent times, is remem- continue to be found in the Netherlands; in mainly individual field graves, but also entire brance. The number of people attending the ceremonies we organise has increased aircrews of Allied bombers. In their archaeo- immensely; the same can be said of ceremonies organised by local groups across osteological laboratory at Soesterberg three identification specialists work on about thirty the country. Examples of this are the lighted candles placed, on each war grave to forty WW2 cases each year. Their unique task combines the fields of before Christmas, at Holten and Oosterbeek. forensic archaeology, conflict archaeology, archaeo-osteology, odontology and military 2019 will be a less demanding year for Ricky and me since we will no longer have history. Modern day techniques such as DNA- testing, isotope testing and three-dimensional to worry about what to buy or produce for the bingo evenings. The change is facial reconstruction have found their way to the RIU laboratory, making it also possible to something that didn’t really impact until sometime after the final bingo evening; re-open cold cases going back as far as the this was due to our continued involvement in the Remembrance Ceremony, the 1950s. This unit closely cooperates with its international counterparts in addition to the Christmas Lunch, the end of 2018 accounts, membership matters and various re- Defence Sections of The Hague embassies. The Dutch government considers the ports. However, I am sure we will still find things to keep us busy now that things work of the RIU to be a duty of care and a debt of honour; this not only to the fallen, are slowing down. who gave their lives so that the Netherlands could be free, but also to their comrades Finally, a reminder to you all that our AGM will and to their next of kin who sometimes have had to wait for over seventy years for their take place on Sunday 10 March 2019 and I hope loved ones to be identified and their demise to meet you there. accounted for and brought to light. Photos RIU 3 RAFA AMSTERDAM BRANCH THE BULLETIN FEBRUARY 2019 RAFALO’s round-up Coming Events Amsterdam Branch Annual General Meeting SUNDAY 10th March 2019 British School of Amsterdam, Fred Roeskestraat 94A, 1076 ED Amsterdam 14.00 hours Dedication Agenda Item Chairman’s Opening Remarks 1. Apologies of Absence 2. Minutes of the Previous Meeting 3. Matters arising from the Minutes The new Chief of the Air Staff On 3 December 2018 it was 4.