Dutch Soldiers To Be Honoured

A Dutch Army Brigade is set to be granted the Freedom of the City of Wolverhampton in recognition of its eminent services to freedom and its long-standing friendship with the city.

City Mayor Phil Bateman said " I wanted to introduce this honour during my year of office. But the time will not permit. But if the city does provide and supports this proposal. It will be very popular with much of the war time population here in Wolverhampton. I am pleased that I have been able to start the bulk of the arrangements. The City did much to make the Dutch feel at home here during those war time years. Those friendships have remained strong. I was so impressed during November last year when I joined the Dutch Brigade at the War Graves site in Jeffcock Road. I felt I needed to do something....and the act is underway!

Wolverhampton City Council is considering convening a special meeting later this month to agree to grant the honour to the Princess Irene Brigade.

The Brigade was based in an encampment in Wrottesley Park from 1941 before taking part in the campaign in Western Europe and being the first Allied troops into the Hague.

Every year, representatives of the Brigade and its successor Regiment attend the annual Dutch War Graves Ceremony at the city’s Jeffcock Road ceremony, where members of the Brigade are buried.

The Mayor of Wolverhampton, Councillor Phil Bateman, said: “The histories of the Brigade and our city are entwined and we still enjoy a great friendship with its members to this day.

“The Brigade made a great contribution to the fight for freedom during the Second World War and in honour of this it is proposed it is granted the Freedom of the City.”

Around 40 members of the Brigade still live in the Netherlands, with a further 200 or so dispersed around the world.

If the proposal is agreed by the council, an appropriate celebration will be organised to mark the honour.

Although being awarded the Freedom of the City does not carry any rights or responsibilities, it is a considerable honour that is only bestowed rarely.

Current holders of the Freedom of Wolverhampton are West Midlands Fire Service, the Defence College of Aeronautical Engineering Cosford, the Staffordshire Regiment and the 210 (Staffs) Battery RA.

A special council meeting has to be held in order to confer the Freedom of the City, with no-less than two thirds of councillors voting having to agree the proposal.