www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday June 14, 2008 - 7 The memories of war linger Conflicts in world today expose children to sorrow Continued Deerfield Golf Club from page 3 blonde girl, he estimated to be no older than four, lying on the ground. "I'll always remember that," said Becks. "I questioned my parents if she was alive and they said, `No, we have to keep on going, keep on going.'" This would not be the last time he saw death. With the war creeping ever closer the Dutch, who had collaborated with the Germans, began to flee out of fear a vengeful populace would lynch them. This was fortunate for Becks's family as they were able to take refuge in a home, abandoned by such an individual. By this time, the intensity of the battle between the Germans and the allies had knocked out Ede's electricity, gas and water supplies. Food was also extremely scarce owing to the destruction of agricultural lands and a German embargo on food shipments made in response to Dutch train operators going on strike. With the onset of a particularly harsh winter, Becks remembers people setting fire to anything that would burn in a desperate bid to stay warm. Around 20,000 Dutch people would die during this period, which became known as the Hongerwinter (Hunger Winter). Where Becks was staying, the home had a well. Soon the home was filled with refugees while many more lined up around the block just to get water. The well also attracted German soldiers who took up residence in the house. "These Germans were quite decent," recalled Becks. "That has to be said. They all had their children at home too, more than likely, so they were thoughtful. They were the enemy, but we were all stuck in a small space together using the same water pump, the same toilet, you had to be civilized and they were civilized." While the well helped many, it also set the stage for a terrible tragedy on one fateful December day. As the war drew to a close, the Germans began launching long-range V-1 rockets against England. These rockets were launched in Germany and travelled over the Netherlands to their target city, which was usually London. However, as this technology was new, the rockets did not always reach their destination. "We could hear the rocket going overhead and then the sound from the engine stopped," said Becks. "It hit our house." The refugees, who had gathered to use the well, didn't have a chance. "They were lying all over the place and we had to climb over them," said Becks. "Everything was destroyed." Disoriented by the explosion, Becks grabbed the hand of one of his small cousins and left the shattered remains of the house. Fortunately, they were found a day and a half later by Becks' parents who had miraculously survived the explosion. While the family was still together whether they would remain that way was still very much in doubt. As the winter passed, the famine con- Robert Becks tinued. With no food at hand, Becks's parents would walk 20 kilometres to farmland where they would dig in the ground with their hands in search of potatoes. Sometimes they were successful in this effort, but getting the food to their new shelter was a difficult task. If the Germans caught them with the potatoes they would confiscate them, and this happened on more than one occasion. During this period, Becks remembers his body wasting away to the point it was skeletal. "The inside of my arms, my ears, behind my legs, this was all open because of malnutrition," he described. All of this ended on May 5, 1945, when the first Canadian tanks rumbled into Ede. As the soldiers removed obstacles in the road, put in place by the retreating Germans, one of the Canadians approached Becks and gave him a wooden maple leaf, which he has treasured ever since. While shipments of food and supplies were soon brought to the beleaguered residents of Ede, at that moment the soldier gave Becks just a small piece of chocolate and some toothpaste. Given his condition, anything more would have been fatal, noted Becks. With the war over, the people of Ede and Arnhem went about the process of trying to rebuild their lives, but even with the fighting ceased people continued to die from the large number of mines and unexploded ordinance left behind. For children like Becks, adjusting to life after the war was not easy. A clap of thunder was enough to drive him and his classmates under their desks. Becks eventually immigrated to Canada where he now lives with his wife, children and many grandchildren. He says he is disturbed by the current conflicts in the world, which are forcing a generation of children to go through what he had to endure. "It's even worse now," he said. "Look at Baghdad, look at all these places, how are these children going to ever get through that?" NOW! Book Online www.golfdeerfield.com FATHER'S DAY GIFT CARD Buy a $500 Gift Card for Father's Day and you will get 2 green fees and a golf cart (up to $150 value) absolutely FREE!! DEERFIELD 3RD LINE HWY 25 2363 North Service Road Just East of Bronte Road QEW 905-847-5555 Oakville World leader of women's intimate apparel EXT DED EN SALE prices from WAREHOUSE $ 99 $ 4 to 8 2320 Bristol Circle Unit 4, Oakville (Dundas & Winston Churchill) 99 EXTENDED EXTENDED EXTENDED EXTENDED Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Saturday Sunday Friday June 17 June 18 June 19 June 20 June 21 June 22 12pm-6pm 11am-6pm 11am-9pm 11am-9pm 10am-6pm 10am-6pm