Liberation Route Marker 208: An important visitor

An important visitor
In March 1945, after 'Operation Blackcock', British soldiers take a well-deserved breather in Weert. The men play a fierce football competition and participate in sports in the gymnasium of the Episcopal College. They know this break will not last long. Field Marshal Montgomery is coming to inspect and decorate the troops.

After its liberation on September the 22nd 1944 by the 1st Battalion The Suffolk Regiment, Weert offered long or short-term shelter to both British and American soldiers.

Soldiers were billeted in large buildings, such as the Episcopal College and the barracks, or in factories and schools and the homes of local people. On the one hand, having spent weeks on the front line, the troops could take a breather; on the other, there were soldiers from units such the Engineers, who carried out various tasks in the vicinity of Weert.

Field Marshal Montgomery had already visited the troops in Weert three times for a so-called ‘investiture’ (a medal ceremony). This always happened in the Episcopal College. Located in the town centre, the complex was ideal for accommodating large groups of soldiers. In practice, this meant that the staff of a particular unit was billeted here and the rest of the troops found shelter in and around Weert.

Audiospot - An important visitor

Liberation Route Europe is a certified Cultural Route of the Council of Europe. With hundreds of sites and stories in nine European countries, the route links the main regions along the advance of the Allied Forces in 1943-1945.
The entire route consists of themed routes that can be travelled by by hiking, walking, cycling and car. These routes pass numerous historical and interesting sites and tell stories from a multitude of perspectives that were important in the final phase of World War II.
Many routes feature listening spots, offering the opportunity to listen to a historical story at a location. In addition, many ‘Vectors of Memory’ have been placed, indicating that the passer-by is on one of the Liberation Routes.
The routes can be found on the Liberation Route Europe website or in the app through which many stories can also be listened to.

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Source

• Text: TracesOfWar & Liberation Route Europe
• Photos: Arjan Vrieze