HRH Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands, RIP

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Just earlier tonight, Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands died at 93 years of age. The past few years he had been ill quite regularly, and just recently the doctors found an incurable form of cancer.

Because of his role during WW2 veterans of all ages regarded him as the favourite member of the Dutch Royal House.

May he Rest In Peace.

After the German invasion on 10 May 1940, the royal family was forced to flee to the United Kingdom. For safety reasons, Princess Juliana and her children departed for the Canadian capital, Ottawa, a month later. Prince Bernhard visited his family there on several occasions, but he spent almost the entire war in London, the seat of Queen Wilhelmina's government-in-exile. Between 1940 and 1945, he played an active part in the Allied struggle against Nazi Germany, both in London and, from September 1944, in the Netherlands. As Supreme Commander of the Netherlands Armed Forces, he was present when the terms of surrender were negotiated in Wageningen in May 1945. He was reunited with his wife and family in the Netherlands in August 1945.
Source

[Bill Murray]

Hanno:

A sad day, indeed for Holland. From all that I have read about him, Prince Bernhard was the ultimate gentleman, good father, good husband and........a true Dutch patriot.

Interesting the last in that he was born a German, was educated in large part in Germany and was a member of the old German aristocracy and still loved his Netherlands and it's people and gave his life to your country.

He was a true good Dutchman, not a bad pilot either by the way, and I know you and your countrymen and women will miss him.

Bill

From the heart, to all of Holland and the Prince's close loved ones, my condolences, and for Prince Bernhard

Karmen

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Bill & Karmen, thanks.

Berhard was a remarkable man - read an unbiased account of his life here.
Because of his love for aviation he will be buried with military honours in his Air Force uniform on 11 December in Delft. The Prince's coffin will be transported on a 25-pdr gun carriage. My old unit, the Delft Student Rifle Guard, will accompany their patron to his last resting place in the New Church. I wish I could command the platoon once more.



Hanno

HANNO,

What a wonderful photograph you posted. It's great to see this man, and the parrot adds a wonderful touch of human gentleness too. I haven't read "his story" yet, but I will. Just from what's said in this thread so far, I understand that the world has just lost another big and strong-hearted warrior that it will miss dearly but can keep his memory and accomplishments alive into the future. Remember ... what this man was and did and how he added to and changed the world, people, as he went through life.

Good.

Karmen

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Today Prince Bernhard was laid to rest next to his wife Juliana, who died less than a year before him. The funeral was full of military honours: his coffin was brought to the church on top of a horse-drawn 7-Veld field gun, used against the German invaders in May 1940. The road from the Palace in The Hague to the New Church (well over 13 km.) was lined with 6,000 military and 400 veterans, while the escort consisted of 800+ military on foot and horseback. Eight 25-pdr field guns fired salutes. Guests wore military uniforms as appropriate. While he was carried into the church, the Royal Netherlands Air Force saluted him with a missing man formation of three F16's and one Spitfire. It pulled up and then disappeared up into the grey skies above....it was magnificent and it moved me a lot.

I am proud to say it was well received, quite uncommon as the Dutch public at large is indifferent about military matters.

Hanno

I am proud to say it was well received, quite uncommon as the Dutch public at large is indifferent about military matters.

HANNO,

And there is the extra special signifigance for this mans positive impact on the people, hey? Recognition and appreciation in actions that show it. I hope he received a lot of that recognition and "genuine" appreciation (praise ain't the same) from people while he was here to know how valued he was.

Karmen

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Vets Dottir
I hope he received a lot of that recognition and "genuine" appreciation (praise ain't the same) from people while he was here to know how valued he was.

Karmen, the older vets in this country would still die for him. They could always call on him whenever they were in need, decades after they served. In that sense he was our "minister of veterans affairs" (no indeed, we don't have an official one). Picture below shows two veterans of the WW2 Dutch Internal Forces standing guard at Nijmegen the day after his death.

The public at large knew more about his work for the World Wildlife Fund, which he helped founding. Once a big game hunter, he turned to protecting wildlife when he came to see threatened species need help. Just recently, he asked the rich & famous in Holland if they were spending any money on wildlife preservation.

A great man, but not without his faults.

Hanno

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Bill Murray
He was a true good Dutchman, not a bad pilot either by the way,

Not a bad pilot indeed, he flew many types of aircraft over the years....but only after his death we learned he NEVER held a pilot's license

H.

[Bill Murray]

Hanno:

My admiration for HRH only grows larger!!!

On the other hand, it does prove that being one of the Royals does give one a bit of license, doesn't it.

Reminds me, I once read that Winston Churchill even holding the position of First Lord of the Admiralty or whatever it was called never had so much as a harbour pilots license and was in at least nominal command of what was then I believe the world's largest Navy. Go figure.
Cheers,
Bill