CANADIANS

[Flying10uk]

This is it in plain speech:

IF IT WASN'T FOR THE CANADIANS, THE DUTCH WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN LIBERATED SO SUCCESSFULLY

I HAVE NOT SAID THAT THIS ISN'T THE CASE. I WAS RESPONDING TO POST 7.

I could have said "Deutsch-Englische Soldaten" but it wouldn't have been very relevant, to this thread, because this thread is about Canadians and it was also intended to be a "play on words", as in "French=Canadians/German-Canadians". I have never heard of "French-English", discounting the residents of the Channel Islands, of-Course.

My immediate response to post 7 was much more "out-spoken" than the response that is seen now. This was toned downed after quick reflection and I believe that only the author of post 7 noticed my immediate response to what he had written.

Gil, I do not believe that my German is so bad that you do not understand a word of what I am talking about, considering that you are half German and I studied the language for over 6 years, albeit quite a few years ago.

[Gil Boyd]

Ich neige sowieso dazu, alles zweimal zu sagen, Jim, also entschuldige ich mich dafür.

Ja, wenn ich halbdeutsch bin, kann ich meinen Glauben sagen, und einer ist, dass die Briten und Kanadier das Leben der Niederländer während des Zweiten Weltkriegs nach so vielen Jahren in deutscher Hand erträglich gemacht haben.

Bleib sicher und glaube immer an die Geschichte.
Es kann nicht neu geschrieben werden.

[Ovidio]

Na Junge, du schreibst aber perfekt deutsch.
Schön zu sehen, dass ich bei weitem nicht alleine bin im Beherrschen dieser schönen, schwierigen Sprache.
Macht's gut meine Freunde!
Und benimmt euch...gut

[Gil Boyd]

Ja Danke

[old rockape]

The Dutch people owe a debt of gratitude to all who fought for their freedom. As a child I remember visiting the Commonwealth war graves to lay flowers. All the school children took part on Liberation day. Even now I will visit the War graves (American, British Canadians) and remember the soldiers left behind that became part of Holland.
Mrs Rockape

[Gil Boyd]

I sat on the fence when I heard the comments earlier.
All I can say is, as someone who is heavily involved with the Hartenstein Museum and Oosterbeek Cemetery for obvious Parachute Regiment reasons, with someone with family buried there, I have always been moved emotionally by the sight of the youngest children who each year stand so reverently beside their nominated Paratroopers grave and lay their flowers.
They have to research the fallen soldier and know everything about that person, in so doing, hoping that dreadful war never returns to their shores.
The Dutch people are very English in many of their views, so in short if you don't like us Brits you won't like the Dutch.
Answer: Go out and buy some Edam cheese and a bunch of tulips for your loved one.........and move on!

[old rockape]

I don't understand the last part of your post.

Maria aka Mrs rockape

[Flying10uk]

Perhaps he was referring to "German-Canadians" whom the rest of us have never heard of before? A bit like "French-Canadians" only different.

I haven't actually made any derogatory comments about Canadians and/or Canadian soldiers and nor would I. Post 12 was a response to post 11 as well as being a response to post 7. Post 14 was a response to your post 13, Gil, when you said that it was supposed to be a bit of fun (post 13), while also responding to the previous posts.

I do try to be fairly careful what I post but if people decide to only read part of what I have written/said and then misinterpret it that is not my problem.

Gil, you did confirm yourself, to me, several years ago, that George B., a relative of my mother, did fight in the battle of Arnhem, which there never was any doubt about anyway. Therefore, in my opinion, my family made it's own small contribution to the liberation of Holland and the Dutch people during WW2.

[Gil Boyd]

Flying10uk,
Roger that fully appreciate your families committment to Market Garden, and yes everybody interprets emails and the posted words differently. How sensitive we have all become. Nothing like looking into someone's eyes when statements are made I suppose.

Maria,
Sarcasm ....................and a general comment to those who made earlier statements and perhaps don't understand us Brits and Dutch people.

[Surpmil]

Around here there's a saying, "You can always tell a Dutchman, but you can't tell him much." In fairness, the term "Dutchman" became more or less synonymous with German through Pennsylvania etc.

On the other hand, one of the true old breed around here used to enjoy telling us, "If it's not Dutch, it's not much!" as often as possible.

As for any similarity to the English, I suspect there is a considerable resemblance in many in the North East of England, but not much to someone from Cornwall or Somerset, or most other counties - fair?

Bygones are bygones, we the aforesaid are all on the same side now, though some unfortunately have yet to grasp that.