World War II veteran Cornelis De Leeuw, 96, with the Anzac quilt he was recently presented with. Photo / George Novak
World War II veteran Cornelis De Leeuw, 96, with the Anzac quilt he was recently presented with. Photo / George Novak
Twelve Tauranga veterans have been awarded Anzac quilts to pay tribute to their bravery and sacrifices made during wartime.
Among those recently presented with Anzac quilts was 96-year-old Cornelis Johannes De Leeuw, who was a private in the Dutch Army's Stormtroopers Regiment in 1944.
Mount Maunganui RSA manager Peter Mosssaid the dozen returned servicemen were recognised at a special presentation ceremony at the clubrooms earlier this month.
Each quilt was crafted personally by local quiltmakers, with each recipient's name, service number and the quilt maker's name embroidered on it, he said.
Moss said the veterans had served in World War II, J-Force, Korea and, in the case of De Leeuw, as a resistance fighter in his homeland.
"It was a wonderful way to thank these amazing gentlemen and honour their sacrifice for their country, and to show them their courageous war efforts are not forgotten.
"Most of these men have walkers or are aided by walking sticks, and it was very moving to see them proudly marching in to receive their quilts during the presentation ceremony."
Anzac quilts were presented to Cornelis De Leeuw (fourth on the left) and 11 other veterans at Mount Maunganui RSA earlier this month. Photo / Supplied
The other 11 veterans presented with Anzac quilts were Ronald Buckle, Trevor Blanks, George Nicholson, Robert Lasenby, Robert Kilgour, John Morris, Laurence O'Shea, Charles Jackson, Ronald Browne, James Aird, and Bernard Reid.
Moss said the Anzac quilts movement in New Zealand is similar to the Quilts of Valour initiative started in the United States which now also operates in Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom.
Moss said he hoped, given time, that all RSAs across the country would adopt the Mount Maunganui initiative.
De Leeuw emigrated to New Zealand from Holland in May 1951, while the rest of his family, including his late parents, followed in the 1950s.
De Leeuw, a retired teacher, has lived in Tauranga for about 10 years and his sisters Jacqueline Struik and Willy Vermeulen also lived in the city.
He was born and raised in the town of Oudenbosch, close to the Belgian border. and joined the Dutch Army Stormtroopers Regiment at age 19.
He fought alongside his late older brother Eduard and the regiment also known as Regiment Stoottroepen in Dutch was attached to the Canadian allied forces.
"Oudenbosch was liberated on October 31, 1944, following the invasion of German-occupied France on June 6, 1944," he said.
"Once our town was liberated, we asked an American army officer whether we could guard some of the prisoners and assist them with their resistance efforts."
De Leeuw said he and Eduard's roles were to help to guard German collaborators and to help guard a river to prevent German collaborators and traitors from crossing it.
"I feel very honoured and moved about receiving an Anzac quilt and it now has pride of place on my bed.
"To me, this quilt is very beautiful and brings back many memories of the war. It is also a reminder of the gratitude I have received from New Zealand for my service."
De Leeuw said the quilt presentation ceremony brought mixed emotions.
"The whole experience was supposed to be a celebration, but I felt sad because I was thinking of my friends who died in the war. I felt a bit lonely as they weren't here.
"I feel very humbled and privileged and very grateful to be honoured in this way."
