The war memorial in Ruinerwold has been renovated quite a bit. It has been expanded with an information column, intended to better convey the war story. A milestone for the historical society that has been studying the local war history for many years.
The renovated monument, including information column, was unveiled this afternoon by two special guests: Sarah Webb and her son. Webb is Stanley Webb’s niece. That was one of seven soldiers en route from Great Britain to Berlin in December 1943 in a Halifax bomber. Above Meppel the aircraft was fired upon by a German fighter plane. Kilometers away, in the meadows between Ruinerwold and Havelte, the plane crashed.
That story deserved a monument. “Because they gave their lives for our freedom,” says Albert Boverhof of the historical society in Ruinerwold. “His colleague Egbert Wever nods in agreement. “Boys around twenty years old who just got shot up.”
Although the monument was already built in 2017, the information board had to wait a while because the information was not yet complete. “It was quite a quest to find out everything. When that was finished, the corona crisis broke out and we postponed it. That is why the date of May 4, 2022 was ultimately chosen,” says Boverhof.
Dozens of Ruinerwolders came to the Hardenweg to attend the unveiling. The large turnout made mayor Inge Nieuwenhuizen of De Wolden proud. “This is very good for me. It means that people will not forget the war,” said Nieuwenhuizen. “This revelation touches me because there is no present without a past. Especially today it is extremely important that we have to fight for our freedom. Sometimes it seems so obvious, but it really needs a lot of attention. Especially when we see what is now is happening in Ukraine. That’s how close we get to the facts that others have fought for our freedom.”
Tonight there will be a special memorial service in the church of Ruinerwold, after which visitors will take a walk to the grave where the six fallen soldiers found are buried. “Tonight’s commemoration is important,” said Nieuwenhuizen, who opens the door to more memorial places. “If there is a need, we will do it together.”
All seven soldiers were killed in the accident in 1943. Six are in the cemetery in Ruinerwold. Where the seventh is is unknown. A major search was organized in 2017 and 2018 during which a piece was excavated. Without success. “There is another theory. He may also be buried in the cemetery in Meppel. I wonder every time, but we will never get out of it,” continues Boverhof disappointed.