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Sneek, Perth Regiment Monument
Location
Marktstraat, 8601 CR Sneek, Friesland
Year of unveiling
1945
Designer
Koninklijke Makkumer Aardewerk- en Tegelfabrieken
Commemorated group(s)
Allied Forces
Description
The Perth Regiment monument in Sneek consists of a tableau with the wooden Maple Leaf
emblem of the Canadian regiment in its center. Underneath the emblem two small copper
memorial tablets are attached.
The woodcut is surrounded by twelve decorative plates in the Makkum style with depictions of
the emblems of the Canadian regiments that were stationed in the province of Friesland:
- O Canada thanks a lot!
- The Ontario Regiment
- The Three Rivers Regiment
- The Onward Calgary Regiment
- The Perth Regiment
- The Cape Breton Highlanders
- The Irish Regiment of Canada
- The Princess Louise Fusiliers
- The Canadian Provost Corps
- The Prince Edward Island Light Horse
- The Royal Canadian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
- The North Nova Scotia Highlanders
Text on the monument
Text on the woodcut:
‘THE PERTH REGIMENT AUDAX ET CAUTUS’
Text on the left memorial plaque:
‘Aangeboden aan de burgers van Sneek door de officieren van het Perth Regiment in
dankbare waardering voor hun vriendelijkheid en gastvrijheid. Moge dit roemrijke wapen
voor altijd zijn een herinnering aan de oprechte vriendschap, die het Regiment en de burgers
van deze gemeente verbindt.
Oktober 1945.’
The right plaque bears the English translation of this text:
‘Presented to the citizens of Sneek by the Officers, Non Commissioned Officers and men of
the Perth Regiment in grateful appreciation of their kindness and hospitality. May this
honoured crest be for ever a remembrance of the sincere friendship that binds this Regiment
and the citizens of this community.
October 1945.’
Background
The Perth Regiment monument reminds the inhabitants of Sneek of the Canadian battalion
that was billeted with local families until a ship would be available to take them to their
country.
The Perth Regiment started its involvement in the Liberation on 8 November 1943 in
Naples, Italy. Through Marseilles and Mons (Belgium) it advanced toward the Netherlands,
to Nijmegen, Arnhem, Doesburg and Harderwijk. In 1945 the Perth Regiment was involved
in battle in the Northeast of the province of Groningen. It fought fiercely at Holwierde and
on 4 May 1945 it liberated the towns of Nansum, Biessum and Delfzijl. Their last battle
took place near the Eems Channel in the vicinity of Delfzijl.
The people of Sneek received the Regiment into their community with great hospitality. On
1 June 1945 the Regiment arrived in the town. Many activities were then organized to make
the months-long waiting period as agreeable as possible. The Contact Committee Canada
Sneek (CCCS).was founded to organize activities such as sailing matches on the Sneek
Lake, soccer matches, tugs-of-war and shooting competitions, as well as dance nights.
Special church services were regularly held for the Canadians. The Perth Regiment took the
initiative to accompany the services with ‘Church Parades’ that attracted large audiences.
The Perth Regiment stayed in Sneek till the end of November 1945. The last Canadian
soldiers left in the night of 27 to 28 November.
This was however not the end of the contact between the people of Sneek and the
Canadians. Many families on both sides of the ocean started corresponding and telephoning
and occasionally visiting each other. The Perth Regiment came to Sneek as official guests
on several occasions, in 1985 and 1990 for the commemorations of 40 years and 45 years of
liberation. Thirty-five veterans undertook the journey to Europe once more in 1995 to
participate in a number of commemorational activities and celebrations in Sneek.
Memorial services
None known
The monument was unveiled in October 1945. The twelve decorative plates
commemorating the Canadian regiments were loaned to the Municipality of Sneek by Mr.
J.W.H. Dormaar (then director of the Lankhorst Cable Factory). In 1999 Mr. Dormaar gifted
the collection to the municipality.
Links
Dutch municipalities on internet
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