Q: Hillegom (NL) liberated May 1945 by which units

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by maple_leaf_eh

Hanno, this business of studying old trucks has a different emotional impact when you put it that way. Which regiment(s)?

Terry, I wish I knew

Mind you, the western part of The Netherlands was only liberated after the German occupation forces surrendered. So there were no large operations conducted to take the West by force, it was more a matter of entering the area to show the people the Allies were taking control. Prime interest was to reinstate civilian control.

I will post a few pictures of vehicles with unit markings hoping someone can identify the unit(s).

Thanks,
Hanno

[Hanno Spoelstra]

The picture posted in Did Canadian army in ETO use 4x2 CMPs? does not show any markings, except proves that 4x2 15-cwt CMPs were used.

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

. . . as this picture shows the same type of CMP in May 1945. This definitely is a Canadian Army truck as only (a) Canadian unit(s) liberated my home town.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

I will post a few pictures of vehicles with unit markings hoping someone can identify the unit(s).

Picture of Provost Jeep, first Canadian vehicle to enter Hillegom on 7 May 1945. Unit sign "83". Can anyone tell which unit it belonged to? I am very bad at translating unit and formation signs. . .

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Staghound. Unit sign "44".

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Sherman Hybrid IC Firefly. Unit sign "174".

[Mark W. Tonner]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Sherman Hybrid IC Firefly. Unit sign "174".

AoS Serial 174 - 12th Armoured Regiment (Three Rivers Regiment), C.A.C. (1st Cdn Armd Bde)

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Thanks Mark!

Now I need to figure out how & when these units operated in the western part of Holland.

Hanno

[Mark W. Tonner]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Staghound. Unit sign "44".

AoS Serial 44 with white bar above - 1st Armoured Car Regiment (Royal Canadian Dragoons), C.A.C. (Corps Troops)
Fmn Sign - I Cdn Corps

[Mark W. Tonner]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Picture of Provost Jeep, first Canadian vehicle to enter Hillegom on 7 May 1945. Unit sign "83". Can anyone tell which unit it belonged to? I am very bad at translating unit and formation signs. . .

AoS Serial 83 with white bar above - No. 3 Provost Company, C. Pro. C. (Corps Troops)
Fmn Sign - I Cdn Corps

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Picture of Provost Jeep, first Canadian vehicle to enter Hillegom on 7 May 1945. Unit sign "83".

Another picture of the same Jeep, thanks to Mark we know it belonged to No. 3 Provost Company, C. Pro. C. (Corps Troops), I Cdn Corps

PICT0134.jpg

[Little Jo]

Hi

I was born in Hillegom and was 3 years of age when the town was liberated by Canadian troops. My aunty in Holland has a book about the 4 years of occupation by German Forces. In the book there are some photographs that shows the Canadian Troops arriving in the town. There is even a street scene photo of towns folk showing me as a 3 year old with my 12 year old aunty.

I have always been told by family that it was the canadian Forces that first entered and liberated the town.

Hope that helps, Cheers

Little Jo

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Hi all - Jo is my latest recruit to join MLU. Have known him through work in my previous life. Welcome Little (yea right) Jo and be prepared to be infected by anything green pretty soon.

Bob