2007 Ceremony in Holland in honour of L/Cpl. Henry Eric Harden VC
Two ceremonies were held in Holland in honour of LCpl Henry Eric Harden VC, RAMC who had volunteered to serve with the Royal Marines and was attached to 45 RM Commando. LCpl Harden was killed on 23 rd January 1945 aged 32.
On Saturday 5th May 2007 Members of the Rheindahlen Branch of the Royal British Legion attended a ceremony at the village of Brachterbeek in Maasbracht where two commemorative plaques, one in Dutch and the other in English, in memory of LCpl Harden were dedicated and unveiled.
On Sunday 6th May 2007 they attended a Remembrance Service at Nederweert War Cemetery where LCpl Harden is buried. Steve Reid laid wreathes on behalf of the British Legion at both ceremonies and there were large contingents of Dutch and British Veterans present including some who were there when LCpl Harden was killed. The RAMC Contingent was led by the Chairman of the RAMC Association, Brigadier Malcolm Ratcliffe and the visit by the Commando Veterans was organised by John White. Also present was a Chelsea Pensioner, Bob Taylor, who has an interesting background, his original surname was von Schneider and he was born in Schleswig Holstein, Germany, his family moved to England before WWII and he served with the British Commandos during the War. A bugler from the Royal Marines, Stew Vise, from HMS Raleigh at Torpoint in Cornwall , played the Last Post and Reveille on both occasions. The ceremonies were organised by a local school teacher, Peter Roufs and the Guest-of-Honour was LCpl Harden's daughter Julie Wells who was wearing her father's medals including the VC.
My thanks to Pete Richardson, Secretary of the Rheindahlen Branch of the Royal British Legion for allowing us to use these photos and information. Their website can be found at http://www.rblrheind.com/index.htm
(album created and posted by Pete Rogers)
Update by Pete R. 26/3/10 : The following was provided by Peter Roufs to the Rheindahlen Branch on events they did not attend and is quoted from their website:
Since 1995 the Commandos and Royal Marines that liberated our area have formed a wonderful bond of friendship with our school and especially with the children. The school is a Primary School in the village of Brachterbeek and is called; "De Tweesprong". Every year the children make Christmas Cards and send them to the Veterans. Every year when the Veterans come, they amuse them with singing, dancing etc. In 1996 Bill Millin (Lord Lovat's Piper) visited the school and played for the children who had attended their First Holy Communion. The Veterans call this bond of Friendship a " Living Monument ". This year was also very special because Julia Wells, the daughter of Eric Harden VC, accompanied the Veterans and we had some important members from the RAMC Headquarters in our midst!
When the British guests came to the school on Monday 7th May we offered them Limburgian Vlaai and coffee. Then we went with them to the school hall and sang together the British and Dutch National Anthems. Then Julie Wells and two children lit three candles in front of a large photograph of Eric Harden. We held a two-minute silence and the Royal Marine Bugler Stew Vise played the Last Post and later gave a drum show. Malcolm Ratcliffe, presented our School Director Mr Har Palmen with a wonderful little statue. The children danced and performed and everyone sang some old songs: "Lily of Laguna" and "The Cook from the Kitchen.” At the end of the show the children and British guests mixed together and held hands and sang "We'll Meet Again”.
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Date: 18/12/2008
Size: 18 items
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Henry Eric Harden VC
45 RM Commando. Click to open picture for more info. See also CVA Victoria Crosses. Photo courtesy of John Robertson
Date: 21/05/2009
Views: 11781
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Julie Wells at Harden Bridge 2007
Julie Wells, daughter of Lance Corporal Harden VC, at the May 2007 ceremony at Harden Bridge. Photo courtesy of Pete Richardson, Secretary of the Rheindahlen Branch of the Royal British Legion
Date: 05/05/2007
Views: 4016
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Wreath laid by Julie Wells May 2007
The wreath laid by Julie Wells at the Remembrance Service at Nederweert War Cemetery where her father, LCpl Harden VC is buried. Photo courtesy of Pete Richardson, Secretary of the Rheindahlen Branch of the Royal British Legion
Date: 06/05/2007
Views: 2713
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Harden Bridge
One of the original plaques at the Harden Bridge unveiled 1947. Made of bronze and stolen in 1965, they were replaced in stone by the Municipality of Maasbracht. Photo courtesy of the Rheindahlen Branch of the Royal British Legion.
Date: 14/07/2007
Views: 3542
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New plaque unveiled 5th May 2007
The new plaque in English that was unveiled on 5 th May 2007. Photo courtesy of Pete Richardson, Secretary of the Rheindahlen Branch of the Royal British Legion
Date: 06/05/2007
Views: 2648
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In memory of Lance Corporal Henry Eric Harden VC
May 2007. Mayor Frans Wilms of the Municipality of Maasgouw, Malcolm Ratcliffe, Julie Wells and John White. Photo courtesy of Pete Richardson of the Rheindahlen Branch of the Royal British Legion
Date: 05/05/2007
Views: 2926
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Harden Bridge wreaths
May 2007 ceremony at Harden Bridge in honour of Lance Corporal Henry Eric Harden VC,Photo courtesy of Pete Richardson, Secretary of the Rheindahlen Branch of the Royal British Legion
Date: 05/05/2007
Views: 3928
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Harden Bridge Ceremony 2007
In honour of L/Cpl Henry Eric Harden VC. Open picture for names. Photo courtesy of Pete Richardson, Secretary of the Rheindahlen Branch of the Royal British Legion
Date: 05/05/2007
Views: 2457
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Harden Bridge -1
May 2007 ceremony at Harden Bridge in honour of Lance Corporal Henry Eric Harden VC, Photo courtesy of Pete Richardson, Secretary of the Rheindahlen Branch of the Royal British Legion
Date: 05/05/2007
Views: 3364
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John Morris No 2 Cdo at Harden Bridge
May 2007 ceremony at Harden Bridge in honour of Lance Corporal Henry Eric Harden VC,Photo courtesy of Pete Richardson, Secretary of the Rheindahlen Branch of the Royal British Legion
Date: 05/05/2007
Views: 3092
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Harden Bridge - 3
May 2007 ceremony at Harden Bridge in honour of Lance Corporal Henry Eric Harden VC, Photo courtesy of Pete Richardson, Secretary of the Rheindahlen Branch of the Royal British Legion
Date: 05/05/2007
Views: 2829
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Harden Bridge - 4
May 2007 ceremony at Harden Bridge in honour of Lance Corporal Henry Eric Harden VC, Photo courtesy of Pete Richardson, Secretary of the Rheindahlen Branch of the Royal British Legion
Date: 05/05/2007
Views: 3184
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Harden Bridge - 5
May 2007 ceremony at Harden Bridge in honour of Lance Corporal Henry Eric Harden VC, Photo courtesy of Pete Richardson, Secretary of the Rheindahlen Branch of the Royal British Legion
Date: 05/05/2007
Views: 3266
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Harden Bridge - 6
May 2007 ceremony at Harden Bridge in honour of Lance Corporal Henry Eric Harden VC, Photo courtesy of Pete Richardson, Secretary of the Rheindahlen Branch of the Royal British Legion
Date: 05/05/2007
Views: 2930
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Harden Bridge - 7
May 2007 ceremony at Harden Bridge in honour of Lance Corporal Henry Eric Harden VC, Photo courtesy of Pete Richardson, Secretary of the Rheindahlen Branch of the Royal British Legion
Date: 05/05/2007
Views: 3180
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Harden Bridge - 8
May 2007 ceremony at Harden Bridge in honour of Lance Corporal Henry Eric Harden VC,Photo courtesy of Pete Richardson, Secretary of the Rheindahlen Branch of the Royal British Legion
Date: 26/03/2010
Views: 5020
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Harden Bridge - 9
Local young people participate at the May 2007 ceremony at Harden Bridge in honour of Lance Corporal Henry Eric Harden VC,Photo courtesy of Pete Richardson, Secretary of the Rheindahlen Branch of the Royal British Legion
Date: 05/05/2007
Views: 3404
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Ceremony in honour of L/Cpl Henry Eric Harden VC .
May 2007. Stew Vise, Julie Wells, Malcolm Ratcliffe, John White and Fred Walker outside the church in Linne prior to a wreath laying ceremony at the Commando Memorial Plate in the churchyard. Photo courtesy of Pete Richardson.
Date: 05/05/2007
Views: 3428
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