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PORT PERRY "WEEKEND STAR" FRIDAY, JULY 7, 2000-7 ¢ =X Reunion in France, Holland brings back flood of memories for Sunderland man By Heather McCrae Port Perry Star Every year Stewart Bray attends the reunion of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry, the regiment in which he served as corporal from 1943 to 1945 during the Second World War. When he learned last year that his reg- iment was going to place commemorative plaques in France and Holland to mark . the year 2000, he vowed to make the trip. In May Mr. Bray and his wife, June, retumed from a 10-day trip to Europe. Accompanying 29 other Riley veterans from the RHLI regiment, they took part in several ceremonies and plaque -unveil- ings. It was also a time for remembering those who didn't make it home after the war, and comrades who have since passed away. -"It seems we are getting fewer in num- bers every year," Mr. Bray said. 'The regimental senate decided last year to place proper plaques at Verrieres, France and Woensdrecht, Holland. The battles fought there are significant in the RHLI's history, because they were crucial to Allied advances during the war. The seven-day battle of Verrieres Ridge began July 25, 1944, and opened - the door to the Allied advance on Caen from the Normandy beaches after D-Day. Woensdrecht, about 65 kilometres north of the. Belgian port of Antwerp, stood blocking the way onto the South Beveland peninsula, and German fortifi- cations controlling access to the port. Antwerp was vital as the Allies needed the port. The RHLI took the village on October 16, 1944, holding on for six days until sav- age German counterattacks . ceased. Fifty-three RHLI soldiers died at Verrieres, and 200 were wounded. Twenty-one died at Woensdrecht, arid 167 were wounded. 'Stewart Bray of Sunderland was part of a delegation of Royal Hamilton Light Infantry veterans that flew to Holland, France and Belgium to ded- icate plaques to the 'many RHLI soldiers who died in the Second World War. For this year's trip the regiment raised $25,000 for the plaques, while the veter- ans all paid for their trip across the Atlantic. Each member of the regiment came home with commemorative 4 plaques. Mr. Bray says he really wanted to go to Verrieres: "That was the first big battle, starting at the breakthrough of the Falaise Gap," he said. Return to European battleground Mr. Bray was 22 when he first stepped on French soil. It wasn't long before he and his comrades were involved in some of the fiercest fighting of the Normandy campaign, in what is known as the Falaise Pocket. They defeated the Germans, cap- turing many troops 'and much equipment, and in mid-August moved up the coast towards Dieppe where the RHLI had been involved in the infamous raid a a couple of years earlier. On Sept. 15, 1945 at 3 a.m., as Mr. Bray was moving into position for an early morning attack, he stepped on a land mine, badly wounding his heel. Winding up in a hospital in England, he retumed to Canada around Christmas time. - During his months away at war his fiancee, June Sutcliffe, kept all the letters he sent to her. All are still tucked neatly away in.a scrapbook. After returning home to Raglan, Mr. Bray spent several months in hospital before the couple married that fall. This Sept. 29 they will be celebrating their 55th' wedding anniversary. Sunderland has been their home for the past 12 years. Accompanying the Brays overseas this spring were two of their daughters, Linda Wagg and Carol-Dayes. No doubt, their™ knowledge of World War Two history was 'rekindled as their father discussed battles and pointed out significant landmarks. The entire trip was an emotional one. | "All the memories flooded back," said 'Mr. Bray. And it was especially moving when he came across the tombstones of two buddies at cemeteries in Holland and France. "They were just 19 and 20 when they died"," he said. This wasn't the first time the Brays had - attended post war celebrations in Europe. In 1994 they retumed to France to take part in the official ceremonies commemo- rating the 50th anniversary of D-Day. "Every town we visited, every parade we were in, and at every ceremony we were royally treated," said Mr. Bray. "These people are forever thankful for what Canada did for them." The visit last month had a definite impact on Mr. Bray's daughters, as they are hoping to attend the 60th anniversary of the Dieppe Raid in two years time. "I'll be 80 then, but I'm just as apt to go then, too," said Mr. Bray. : "It's an education Hp for Wai again," I woiing, th PTS Te ery J TR I FE I A a TTL nam "Adrienne Reader, 16, began her when a char- journey on July 3 tered bus arrived at the local service club's hall on Simcoe St. 'school (It was lo any. 7 high ations In New York Clty, - +. dod Sadone. nig k 0 er: a od hearer and Robekahs, Renckate. e Oddfellows an - Wanamaker, said * To be considered for the tip; applicants. must biepare an 'oddfello and Re re. fy 'the only organization re Su leatey 'by the UN to be granted access "into- the building's inner sec- "Ron : a past 'Grand. "Master of the Grand Lodge of ~ Ontario and current iuribdiction 4 chairman of the UN sponsored Oddfellows tions. ; "Other students boarding on July. 3 in Port Perry were Oshawa's Desmond Cole, who's by 'the Brooklin |a {vs and Rebekahs; Victoria Maystruck of Millbrook; 3 and Lisa 'MacDonnell of