Hello all, Is there anyone here who can help me with the following. I am looking for Canadian units that were housed in the barracks of Wezep and Oldebroek in 1945 and later. What I mainly look for are names of units and war diaries. Any other information is also welcome. Thanks in advance. Best Regards Arno
There is a book about Oldebroek during period 1940-1945 Boek: Wie herdenken we in Oldebroek? – Studiegroep Luchtoorlog 1939-1945
Hi Philip, Thanks. I have the book. But not much is written about the period when the canadians stayed here.
This information mention’s a photo of a MC from the 48th Highlanders of Canada. The 48th were part of the 1st Cdn Infantry Brigade, 1st Cdn Division. This Division fought through Sicily and Italy until they were moved via Op Goldflake from Italy to NW Europe. I’ll see what else I can find……but a LOT of Canadian units went through that area during the liberation, and of course at the end of the war, a LOT of Canadian units were moved back to Holland as they waited their turn to return to Canada. To find out which units stayed in those locations would be a huge task, but as I said, I’ll see if I can find any other information that you can look through War Diaries of the 1st Canadian Infantry Brigade are at this link: War diaries : T-11063 - Héritage The above is for the Brigade HQ, it “may” give you information on Location’s of the individual units within the Brigade…….their is NO SEARCH ENGINE on these files, so you will have to go “page by page”. Brigades usually had a summary each day of the location of all their units. But as I said, when the war ended, a LOT of Canadian units from different Divisions, Brigades and Regiments passed back thru Holland…..so unless you have other clues, looking for the information in individual WD would be a lot of work
Found the following records in 1st Cdn Brigade Ops Log. It shows the 49th Recce (West Riding) Regiment reporting Wezep clear on the 19 Apr 1945. The 49th Recce was a unit of the 49th (West Riding) Division. War diaries : T-11063 - Héritage
I would assume from the Arnos' posts that some Canadian troops were actually housed in the barracks for some period of time, and were not just passing through. I'm not sure how the photograph of the 48th Highlanders motorcycle relates at all. 1st Canadian Infantry Div didn't go that far north in that area. I've just been looking at this. If Canadians stayed in these places in April 1945 they were probably from 3rd Canadian Infantry Division. If it was later and for longer, I don't know.
I partially agree Chris. I have checked through the 1st Brigade WD, and as you can see, all I was able to confirm was indeed the 49th Recce DID pass thru Wezep. Their is no mention of the 48th passing through……but when the war ended, Canadian Troops were repatriated back through Holland to England……and many units of the First Canadian Army could have been billeted in the barracks in either town. And you are correct, the 3rd Division DID take that route, up to Zwolle and onward, so would have passed right along this route. As I said in my info to Arnos, discovering “which Canadian Troops” may have stayed their (if indeed any did) would take a lot of work going thru WD’s…….the only thing I could suggest, is going through the WD’s of the Command units (such as Brigades, Division’s, Corps etc)…….as I have found that these war diaries normally “tracked” the units they were responsible for almost every day. AND most of these WD are digitized and available on online…….as the Infantry Regiments WD’’s are NOT on line “yet”…..hopefully soon. So it’s “possible” that these WD’s could tell you if units were sent their, as they withdrew from Germany and the front lines. BUT normally they tracked by Map Reference, and now that the WD above gives us the 4 figure MR for Wezep, I can keep an eye out for it (as well as the towns name) Recently, I posted a “report” by one Canadian Unit that gave information on their Re-pat, thru Holland, to England and onward. (In fact I”ll go back and read it and see where their route was) The post that Philip made, gives links to information on who was moving thru Wezep…..it does NOT tell us which units were billeted at the Barracks, and indeed if ANY Canadian were housed their. It’s interesting though, so I’ve been seeing if I can spot ANYTHING that can point me to a Canadian Unit that may have been there, but nothing so far
thanks for the info guys. The only thing I have found so far about the barracks is that the barracks at Oldebroek have been liberated by the Westminster dragoons of the 2nd British Army. These stayed for a very short time and the Canadians arrived the same month, who set up a tank repair workshop at the barracks near Oldebroek. I've searched through quite a few war diaries. Unfortunately without result.
I wonder if they had their postions at the barracks at Harde now ASK, as this was already in use, no doubt it is easier to go their, instead of setting up something new.
It was certainly already in use. barracks Oldebroek has been around since 1877. The tonnet barracks (t Harde) are from after the war. The barracks in Wezep were built by the Germans! Both barracks were heavily used by the Germans and housed a number of well-known units.
I just had a look at the war diary for 35 Light Aid Detachment (attached to 3rd Canadian Anti-Tank Regiment) but they moved up further east. The most likely troops involved would be any tank units which supported 3rd Canadian Infantry Division during their push north. Which of those have you investigated?
I don't mean to be too negative but I don't think the Westminster Dragoons were ever in the area.... some sort of confusion? I don't think Allied forces reached that area before the start of Operation Anger. edited PS maybe 49 (West Riding) Reconnaissance got mixed up with Westminster Dragoons? The following is a page of communications from 1st Canadian Corps about the West Riding unit exploring the area and you can see Wezep is mentioned.
I partly agree, but I think you could probably guide your search by where each division went before the end of hostilities, and where they were at that point. e.g. 1st Division didn't push north with 2nd and 3rd, and eventually went into the western Netherlands. So it seems pretty unlikely that they would have gone through that area, coming or going.
Okay that could well be. Concerns westminster dragoons that comes from the book (wie herdenken we in en om oldebroek?) The diary's that I have read are actually all artillery units and most tank units. Which are online on baclac.
