Memorial Fallen Parachians Majella Church

At the end of April 2020, the memorial stone for the 24 war dead, parishioners who perished during the Second World War, was relocated in the former Gerardus Majella Church in Ambon Square. The stone was actually supposed to be unveiled during a special Liberation Concert on Sunday 3 May, but due to the corona crisis, the programme had to be changed.

The Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra (NedPhO) rents the building and, in consultation with Stadsherstel, the memorial stone has now been given a nice spot in the foyer near the public entrance on Batjanstraat. The stone is made of a soft, porous type of marble and therefore cannot be placed outdoors. The foyer on Batjanstraat is not freely accessible, but the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra has agreed to organise an annual viewing opportunity around Liberation Day. The Friends of Stadsherstel made the placement of the memorial stone possible.

The memorial stone had fallen into forgetfulness, as it had been in storage there for some time after the church moved to Lombokstraat. Until Paul Proost, vice-chairman of the location board of the Anna Bonifatius-Gerardus Majella parish Amsterdam East, received a call in autumn 2019 from the daughter of Wouter van der Pol whose name appears on the memorial stone. She knew of the existence of the memorial stone in the storeroom and asked if the memorial stone could be made visible again as part of 75 years of liberation. Her father was an apprentice machinist. On 3 July 1943, he was throwing coal on the fire of the steam locomotive he was working on. Just before Leiden station, the train was attacked by an English fighter plane; her father was killed instantly. (Source: Paul Proost)

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Source

• Text: Rick Hoogervorst
• Photos: N.N.