Eems Canal Between Farmsum and Delfzijl, Holland

Circa 1945

Dutch civilians cross a damaged lock and/or bridge structure spanning the Eems Canal which separated the Dutch towns of Delfzijl and Farmsum. Delfzijl, on the right side of the photo, was liberated by the Cape Breton Highlanders on May 1, 1944. Farmsum, on the left side of the photo, was liberated by the Irish Regiment the following day. Both units were part of the Canadian 5th Armoured Division.

Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 15-2 (16.2)
Image Information: Received as electronic file
Source: Ties Groenewold Collection, Holland, 2015
 

Cape Breton Highlanders Repair Vehicles

Delfzijl, Holland

Circa May, 1945

Soldiers from the Cape Breton Highlanders appear to be working on some of the battalion’s vehicles. Visible are two bren gun carriers and a motorcycle. The photo was probably taken in early May, 1945, shortly after the liberation of Delfzijl. Note the number 62 on the fender of the bren gun carrier on the left. This was the unit number for the Cape Breton Highlanders.

Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 15-2 (20.2)
Image Information: Received as electronic file
Source: Ties Groenewold Collection, Holland, 2015
 

Cape Breton Highlanders With Carriers

Delfzijl, Holland

Circa May or June, 1945

This photo was taken in Delfzijl sometime shortly after its liberation, probably in May or June. A group of bren gun carriers belonging to the Cape Breton Highlanders move off heading north along the Singel, a street in the old town. The photo is taken from a fountain in a square at the end of the street. The vehicle in the foreground is a typical bren gun carrier while the other vehicles are wasps, bren gun carriers converted to flame throwers, as evidenced by the large fuel tanks on the rears of the vehicles. Note that the carriers have been cleaned and the extra gear and equipment normally carried on board during combat, have been removed. The men are wearing only their uniforms and a web belts. They may be off to take part in a parade. Note the number 62 on the rear of each vehicle which was the unit number for the Cape Breton Highlanders.

Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 15-2 (7.2)
Image Information: Received as electronic file
Source: Ties Groenewold Collection, Holland, 2015
 

Harry Blinkhorn

Cape Breton Highlanders

Delfzijl, Holland

Circa May or June, 1945

Pictured above is Cape Breton Highlander Harry Blinkhorn in Delfzijl sometime after its liberation. The photo was probably taken in May or June, 1945. The view is looking north toward the Singel, a street in the old portion of Delfzijl. Note the fountain/monument behind the soldier which was located in a square at the end of the Singel. The view in the photo is very simialr to the view in the previous photo. Note the CBH sign with the reminders from home. It was common at the time to name key battalion places with popular names or locations from home. “The Bay” was a reference to Glace Bay, NS. The exact significance of the sign is unknown, but the 62 was the unit number for the Cape Breton Highlanders.

Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 0-3 (25-1.2)
Image Information: Scan of a photographic copy of original photo
Source: Robert MacLellan Collection
 

Group of Cape Breton Highlanders

Delfzijl, Holland

Circa May or June, 1945

A group of Cape Breton Highlanders, possibly from “A” Company, in Delfzijl after its liberation. The photo was probably taken in May or June, 1945. The view is looking roughly north along the Buitensingel, a ring road that circled the old portion of Delfzijl on the west side.  The sign is probably the same sign as in the previous photo. The location is in very close proximity to the location in the previous photo.

Standing behind the sign on the far right, with his hand on his hip,  is Pte. Steve “Big Steve” Humeniuk of Sydney, NS. The boy on the far left is a local Dutch boy. The other men are unidentified. Note that the man with no shirt is wearing a souvenir captured German belt and buckle.

Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 0-1 (7-24.2)
Image Information: Scan of original photo
Source: Cape Breton Highlanders Museum, Sydney, NS, 2014
 

Cape Breton Highlanders Pipe Band

Delfzijl, Holland

Circa May or June, 1945

The pipe band of the Cape Breton Highlanders marches down a street in Delfzijl sometime after its liberation, probably in May or June, 1945. The photo is looking roughly northeast along Oude Schans/Marktstraat in the old town. Dutch civilians appear to be delighted. Just behind the band can be seen marching troops from the rest of the battalion.

Pipers in the front row, left to right, are John J. MacMillan of Reserve Mines, NS; John MacDonnell of Inverness, NS; and Pipe Major William (Bill) Gillis also of Inverness.

Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 15-2 (13.2)
Image Information: Received as electronic file
Source: Ties Groenewold Collection, Holland, 2015
 

Cape Breton Highlanders Pipe Band

Delfzijl, Holland

Circa May or June, 1945

The pipe band from the Cape Breton Highlanders march down a street in Delfzijl sometime after its liberation, probably in May or June, 1945.  Dutch civilians watch the procession. In the front row, on the far left, is Piper John J. MacMillan of Reserve Mines, NS, and on the far right is Pipe Major William (Bill) Gillis of Inverness, NS.

Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 15-2 (14.2)
Image Information: Received as electronic file
Source: Ties Groenewold Collection, Holland, 2015
 

Cape Breton Highlanders Pipe Band on the March

Delfzijl, Holland

Circa May or June, 1945

The pipe band from the Cape Breton Highlanders march down a street in Delfzijl sometime after its liberation, probably in May or June, 1945. Dutch civilians watch the procession. The photo appears to have been taken from an upstairs window.

Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 15-2 (12.2)
Image Information: Received as electronic file
Source: Ties Groenewold Collection, Holland, 2015
 

Senior Officers of the Cape Breton Highlanders and 8th Hussars

Delfzijl, Holland

Circa May, 1945

Senior officers of the Cape Breton Highlanders and 8th Princess Louise’s New Brunswick Hussars in Delfzijl, in May, 1945, just after the end of the war. The two units worked closely together throughout the campaigns in Italy and Holland. The 8th Hussars were an armoured unit from New Brunswick.

On the far left is Major G.R.H. (Bob) Ross of the 8th Hussars. He assumed command of the 8th Hussars in August, 1945 and commanded the unit until 1946, and then commanded it again from 1948-1951.

In the centre is Lt-Col. Robert Boyd Somerville, the commanding officer of the Cape Breton Highlanders. He took command of the battalion in August, 1944, in Italy, and left the unit in June, 1945, to take command of the 11th Canadian Infantry Brigade.

On the far right is Lt.Col. J.W. Eaton, the commanding officer of the 8th Hussars. He commanded the 8th Hussars from 1944-1945.

The car the men are leaning against is a German Mercedes that Lt-Col. Eaton used as his staff car. Note the white 52 partially visible on the back of the car. The number 52 was the unit number for the 8th Hussars.

Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 0-1 (7-40.2)
Image Information: Scan of original photo
Source: Cape Breton Highlanders Museum, Sydney, NS, 2014
 

Group of Cape Breton Highlanders

Delfzijl, Holland

Circa May or June, 1945

A group of Cape Breton Highlanders in Delfzijl, circa May or June, 1945. In the back row, left to right, are Joe MacIsaac, Hec MacKinnon, Ronnie MacNeil and Lou Hartigan. In the front is Phonsey Gouthro.

Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 0-1 (7-6.2)
Image Information: Scan of original photo
Source: Cape Breton Highlanders Museum, Sydney, NS, 2014
 

Group of Cape Breton Highlanders

Delfzijl, Holland

Circa May or June, 1945

A group of Cape Breton Highlanders in Delfzijl, circa May or June, 1945. On the far right is CSM Ronald Hawkins, MM. Note the vehicles behind the men, including a bren gun carrier, two trucks and a motorcycle.

Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 0-3 (25-3.2)
Image Information: Scan of a photographic copy of original photo
Source: Robert MacLellan Collection
 

Men From "C" Company on the March

Cape Breton Highlanders

Delfzijl, Holland

Circa May or June, 1945

Cape Breton Highlanders “C” Company on the march in Delfzijl, circa May or June, 1945. On the far right is Acting Sergeant Major Joseph Corkery of Sydney Mines, NS, and leading the column is Cpl. Hugh “Hughie” MacDougall of Glace Bay, NS.

Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 0-3 (24-1.2)
Image Information: Scan of a photographic copy of original photo
Source: Robert MacLellan Collection (permission to copy original photo courtesy CBH veteran Joseph Corkery, Sydney Mines, NS, 1990’s)
 

A Cape Breton Highlander

Delfzijl, Holland

Circa May or June, 1945

This is believed to be Cape Breton Highlander T.M. Winters from Parrsboro, NS. His identity is not confirmed. The photo was taken in Delfzijl, circa May or June, 1945. It was common at the time to name key battalion places with popular names or locations from home. The sign behind his head appears to read East Bay Road, a reference to East Bay, Cape Breton.  The 62 on both signs was the unit number for the Cape Breton Highlanders.

Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 0-3 (21-4.2)
Image Information: Scan of a photographic copy of original photo
Source: Robert MacLellan Collection (permission to copy original photo courtesy CBH veteran Earl Wilson, Sydney, NS, 1990’s)
 

Two Cape Breton Highlanders

Delfzijl, Holland

Circa May or June, 1945

Two Cape Breton Highlanders in Delfzijl, circa May or June, 1945. The identities of the two men are not confirmed, but they may be Reggie Connors on the left and Stuart “Stu” MacDonald, DCM, from Thorburn, NS, on the right. Note the sign with the reference to home, in this case, Senator’s Corner, Glace Bay, NS. The buildings in the background, on the right, have been identified as former German barracks.

Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 0-3 (21-5.2)
Image Information: Scan of a photographic copy of original photo
Source: Robert MacLellan Collection (permission to copy original photo courtesy CBH veteran Earl Wilson, Sydney, NS, 1990’s)