Woensdrecht, ‘Woman gently cheering up a war victim’

Location
‘t Driehoekje, Woensdrecht, Noord-Brabant

Year of unveiling
1949

Designer
H.C. Visser

Commemorated group(s)
Allied Forces

Description
The monument ‘Woman gently cheering up a war victim’ in Woensdrecht is a stone statue of a female figure and a wounded soldier. The statue is 2 metres 50 high, one metre wide and one metre deep.

Text on the monument
The names of a number of perished Canadian soldiers have been inscribed on the monument. On 4 May 2000 a plaque has been added. The monument is a lasting reminder of the people who helped regain freedom. The statue symbolizes the yearning for peace.

Background
‘Woman gently cheering up a war victim’ reminds the inhabitants of Woensdrecht of the Canadian soldiers of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry who were killed in October 1944 in the battle of Woensdrecht. The people of the village felt the need to express the experience of occupation and regained freedom through a memorial.

Memorial services
The memorial service at the Woensdrecht war monument, which is maintained by the municipality, takes place on the 4th of May. The meeting commences at 7 pm and consists of a service in the Roman Catholic church, followed by a silent procession to the monument. Members of the Dutch National Reserves form a guard of honor. After an address by a representative of the town council the Last Post is blown. The two minutes of silence at 8.00 pm are concluded with the Dutch national anthem, the Wilhelmus. The service concludes with the laying of wreaths and flowers. The program takes approximately one and a half hour. The annual service is organized by the municipality of Woensdrecht (information service), phone +31(0)164 – 61 11 38, e-mail J.I.Prop@woensdrecht.nl.

The memorial service at the Woensdrecht war monument, which is maintained by the municipality, takes place on the 4th of May. The meeting commences at 7 pm and consists of a service in the Roman Catholic church, followed by a silent procession to the monument. Members of the Dutch National Reserves form a guard of honor. After an address by a representative of the town council the Last Post is blown. The two minutes of silence at 8.00 pm are concluded with the Dutch national anthem, the Wilhelmus. The service concludes with the laying of wreaths and flowers. The program takes approximately one and a half hour. The annual service is organized by the municipality of Woensdrecht (information service), phone +31(0)164 – 61 11 38, e-mail J.I.Prop@woensdrecht.nl.

More information
The monument is situated at ‘t Driehoekje (corner of Onderstal and Dorpsstraat) in Woensdrecht.

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