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Walter Strang (1908-1945): from unknown to known soldier
HOEVELAKEN/HOLLAND - On April 19, 2008, exactly 63 years after Walter Strang fell in the liberation of Hoevelaken in the Netherlands, a renewed monument to honour this soldier was unveiled at the ill-fated spot where he lost his life. Until recently, Strang was an 'unknown' soldier insofar that only his name, rank, and nationality were known. Theo Zuurman, an inhabitant of Hoevelaken, through intensive research, has discovered more and more about Walter over the past few years. In order to renew the existing monument Zuurman established late last year the Walter Strang Foundation.
Walter's nephew Lionel Strang, Hon. Col. Hugh Stewart of the Scottish Toronto Regiment, Ken Froland (veteran of WWII) of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment, and six schoolchildren from Hoevelaken took part in the actual unveiling of the monument. Strang had served in both regiments as a volunteer. Others who attended the ceremony - apart from further representatives of those regiments - included Col. John Roeterink, military attache at the Canadian Embassy, Major Theo de Vries of the Dutch Army, the Thank-You-Canada organisation, Dutch veterans and former resistance fighters, and burgomaster Gerard Renkema. During his speech the burgomaster contemplated the question 'Why pay so much attention to just one fallen soldier after 63 years?' I think that remembrance can be much more meaningful when you reduce it to the actual human being. By paying attention to one person, to someone with a name, a life, a family, you start to understand what price was paid for our freedom here in Europe. In him, those other untold millions who fought for our freedom also become known. All of them deserve our greatest thanks!
A stainless steel sheet with a life-size picture of Walter Strang has been placed behind the original 1946 'anonymous' monument, that consist of a white cross and a commemorative plaque. This life-size image is repeated but as a cut-out, symbolising the way Walter's life was suddenly cut short. The steel represents his birthplace Glasgow - at the time a city of heavy (steel) industry -, the infantry, and the German mortar that fatally wounded him. The sheet of 2 metres height and 2.6 metres width further contains Walter's signature, a short biography, the emblems of the two regiments in which he served, and at the request of the family the biblically inspired text: "My sheep which was lost, has returned".
After the unveiling Pipe Major Doug Swann of the Toronto Scottish Regiment played the Lament. PHOTO ALWIN BIJVOET
A delegation of the Toronto Scottish Regiment with fifth from the left Hon. Col. Hugh Stewart flanked by Col. John Roeterink and nephew Lionel Strang. PHOTO ALWIN BIJVOET
Veterans of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment and some schoolchildren from Hoevelaken. PHOTO ALWIN BIJVOET
The stainless steel monument in Hoevelaken (Holland) in honour of Walter Strang and - through him - all those who died for the freedom of Europe. PHOTO WALTERSTRANGFOUNDATION.ORG
Burgomaster and en Ian Strang in the naming ceremony of the Walter Strang lane
The committee for
street names of the municipality of Nijkerk decided in spring 2007 that one of the new
streets in Hoevelaken will be named after Walter Strang.
A street sign bearing his name was officially unveiled on Walter Strang's birthday: 1 December 2007. Een
straatnaambord met zijn naam is officieel onthuld op de geboortedag van Walter Strang: 1 December 2007. The
Nijkerk burgomaster, Mr. Gerard Renkema, together with Ian Strang, a great-nephew of Walter unveiled the street sign.
"It cannot be taken for granted that people make sacrifices..."
During the ceremony burgomaster spoke the following words: "Welcome in the municipality of Nijkerk, and specifically in the pretty village of Hoevelaken. An especially warm welcome to our military guests from Canada and to Ian Strang, the second cousin of the man we are honouring today. The fact that all of you have come to the Netherlands in order to commemorate with us Walter Strang's birthday and thus the Second World War is very special to me. No words can express what you have meant to our lives and to our future. Thanks to your sacrifices of the past we can live in freedom today. And thanks to Walter Strang's sacrifice....
... At present the village has some 9000 inhabitants. Hoevelaken is still expanding, however modestly. One example is the new development you see here. And new houses, new areas, require new streets. The committee for street names has decided to name this street 'Walter Strang lane', also because it is adjacent to the 'Frans Tromp lane', named after the Hoevelaken schoolmaster who was executed by the Nazi Germans. As burgomaster I am very pleased with the name chosen. I consider it of great importance to commemorate people such as Walter Strang. The Second World War may have ended a long time ago but it is still stamped on many peoples' memory. It cannot be taken for granted that people make sacrifices for the liberation of another country. But this is precisely what Walter Strang did, just as many of his fellow-soldiers. Therefore, it is just and proper that Walter Strang will be forever honoured in the Nijkerk municipality through the street bearing his name..
... Now I would like to invite the grandson of the youngest brother of Walter Strang - Mr Ian Strang - to unveil together with me the street sign. The sign 'WALTER STRANGLAAN', in honour of him and other war dead. In honour also of those who liberated us.