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Taxi Charity takes three Second World War veterans to Scheldt commemorations
Volunteer cabbies from the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans travelled to Zeeland with veterans Geoff Roberts MBE, Paul Terry and Ivan Staines for a weekend of commemorations with Dutch dignitaries, local communities and representatives of the British Embassy.
The Battle of the Scheldt was fought in 1944 to secure access to the port of Antwerp and help Allied forces advance through the Netherlands. The fighting claimed the lives of many British and Allied servicemen and civilians.
On Saturday 31 October, the charity’s taxis led a convoy of historic military vehicles from the Liberation Museum Zeeland in Nieuwdorp to the Sloedam, where a commemorative service was held. About 150 local schoolchildren joined the journey in the vehicles.
The Sloedam service included an address by Hugo de Jonge, King’s Commissioner in Zeeland. The veterans and drivers returned to the museum for lunch before travelling to Baarland, where Scottish troops landed in October 1944, for a further commemoration.
The group also visited the Liberation Museum Zeeland, met local volunteers and attended a barbecue. Taxi Charity trustee Linda Baker donated her father Don Turrell’s Glengarry, Cameronians cap badges and photographs to the museum.
Keith Allan, Deputy Ambassador at the British Embassy in The Hague, said: “What a great weekend in Zeeland joining the King’s Commissioner, Mayors, the local community and three British veterans of the Second World War including our Arnhem hero Geoff Roberts MBE to remember and honour those who fought in the Battle of the Scheldt - Slag om de Schelde - and helped to liberate the Netherlands.
“The Battle of the Scheldt was a fierce battle that claimed the lives of many British and Allied servicemen and civilians. A less well-known battle compared to Arnhem and others but very important. At the Sloedam and Baarland we remembered the Scottish 52nd Lowland Division and Cameronians who made amphibious landings in Buffalos.
“Many thanks to everyone involved in delivering a wonderful weekend of commemorations, including the excellent Bevrijdingsmuseum Zeeland. And thank you to the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans for bringing our veterans to Zeeland and for taking such good care of them.”
Paul Cook, Vice Chair of the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans, said: “It was a real privilege to bring our veterans to Zeeland and to be part of such a special weekend. The welcome we received from our Dutch hosts was wonderful, and it was particularly moving to see the local community and so many young people involved in remembering the sacrifices made by those who fought for their freedom.”
