Dutch War Grave Reformed Cemetery Silvolde

30 March 1945. Johan Derk Heersink living in Bontebrug between Silvolde and Ulft.

The first Englishmen came from the Dinxperlo side. They were the shock troops, who had to pave the way. The occupation troops came later. During the occupation, the Germans had marked the houses, which had a shelter accessible from the outside, with a large letter K. German soldiers were now hiding in several houses. From these marked cellars, they tried to shell the English tanks with anti-tank weapons. The English shot at anyone who moved near that letter K. One of the first houses the shock troops saw was the Heersink family's farm. Father Heersink and his sons looked out the basement window and started waving at the liberators. Seeing that movement close to the cellar window, the English fired a shell, which landed in the cellar window and exploded. Johan Derk Heersink, 25, was killed in this incident on 30 March 1945. Johan Derk Heersink is buried in the Dutch Reformed Cemetery in Silvolde.

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Source

• Text: Maarten Koudijs
• Photos: Maarten Koudijs